Philip Loring
@philiploring.com
Anthropologist and storyteller. Global Director of human dimensions science @nature_org. Author: FINDING OUR NICHE. Stubbornly optimistic that radical change is closer than we think. Opinions mine (but science-based). he/they 🏳️🌈
Pinned
Philip Loring
@philiploring.com
· Feb 25
I believe in unicorns
If you want to change the world, you should too.
conservechange.medium.com
“When we put into the world an alternative notion of how it could or should be, we take a little bit of power away from the people who tell us that this is all we can have.”
Why I want you to believe in unicorns:
conservechange.medium.com/i-believe-in...
Why I want you to believe in unicorns:
conservechange.medium.com/i-believe-in...
On a plane home. guy in the seat in front of me, on the phone: “no the mega church in Davis is where we want to put our money. The developer says he can guarantee high revenue and a % of profits. The people who go to these things will put their whole life savings in without a second thought.”
September 18, 2026 at 8:33 PM
On a plane home. guy in the seat in front of me, on the phone: “no the mega church in Davis is where we want to put our money. The developer says he can guarantee high revenue and a % of profits. The people who go to these things will put their whole life savings in without a second thought.”
Reposted by Philip Loring
imo it’s not really notable who all these “free speech” folks will go to bat for but rather who they seemingly will not defend
August 23, 2026 at 10:29 PM
imo it’s not really notable who all these “free speech” folks will go to bat for but rather who they seemingly will not defend
Reposted by Philip Loring
"Musk’s meddling in the site’s algorithm to suppress certain kinds of posts and elevate others is well documented. So if your anti-fascist posts on X are still getting views, it’s either because these posts are so toothless as to escape Musk’s notice, or because they are in fact useful to him."
It Is Past Time for You to Quit Elon Musk's X
Yes, I'm talking to you. 🫵
publiccomment.blog
August 17, 2026 at 7:20 PM
"Musk’s meddling in the site’s algorithm to suppress certain kinds of posts and elevate others is well documented. So if your anti-fascist posts on X are still getting views, it’s either because these posts are so toothless as to escape Musk’s notice, or because they are in fact useful to him."
"Female subjugation is the only way men can achieve things" says a lot about what they think about men that I don't think is what they think they think.
Republican candidate Madison Cawthorn:
“Men did greater things when it was harder to see boobs. …When you look at a town in Africa like all the women are walking around just topless… They look the exact same for the last 3,000 years.”
“Men did greater things when it was harder to see boobs. …When you look at a town in Africa like all the women are walking around just topless… They look the exact same for the last 3,000 years.”
August 14, 2026 at 7:03 PM
"Female subjugation is the only way men can achieve things" says a lot about what they think about men that I don't think is what they think they think.
In living systems there is a some refer to as “the law of limited competition”. It’s a part of coexistence theory, which helps explain persistence of diversity. It says, in short, “compete to the best of your ability but don’t wage war”
Modern humans are the only case I know of that break that rule
Modern humans are the only case I know of that break that rule
Anthropic set AI agents loose on the same task. They started a turf war.
Anthropic set AI agents loose on the same task. They started a turf war.
Anthropic researchers found AI agents can clash, collude and coordinate in unexpected ways, raising new questions about whether today’s safety tests capture the risks of multi-agent systems.
techcrunch.com
August 13, 2026 at 11:23 PM
In living systems there is a some refer to as “the law of limited competition”. It’s a part of coexistence theory, which helps explain persistence of diversity. It says, in short, “compete to the best of your ability but don’t wage war”
Modern humans are the only case I know of that break that rule
Modern humans are the only case I know of that break that rule
All morning I've been wondering why people are randomly posting shots from the music video
August 12, 2026 at 4:11 PM
All morning I've been wondering why people are randomly posting shots from the music video
Oh and come to think of it, don't Genies generally end up back in the bottle after the three wishes?
Genies aren't real. This metaphor is silly. We can do whatever the hell we mobilize social and political will to do.
Technology doesn't drive social change. Social values guide technology adoption.
I mean ffs.
Technology doesn't drive social change. Social values guide technology adoption.
I mean ffs.
We can’t put AI back in the bottle. So each and every week in Congress, I’m laser-focused on passing real solutions that help us protect jobs, safeguard our national security, and outcompete our adversaries.
August 11, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Oh and come to think of it, don't Genies generally end up back in the bottle after the three wishes?
Genies aren't real. This metaphor is silly. We can do whatever the hell we mobilize social and political will to do.
Technology doesn't drive social change. Social values guide technology adoption.
I mean ffs.
Technology doesn't drive social change. Social values guide technology adoption.
I mean ffs.
We can’t put AI back in the bottle. So each and every week in Congress, I’m laser-focused on passing real solutions that help us protect jobs, safeguard our national security, and outcompete our adversaries.
August 11, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Genies aren't real. This metaphor is silly. We can do whatever the hell we mobilize social and political will to do.
Technology doesn't drive social change. Social values guide technology adoption.
I mean ffs.
Technology doesn't drive social change. Social values guide technology adoption.
I mean ffs.
New research confirms: AI, on sum, is a loser for global climate
Short of significant policy to curb fossil fuel interests (ha!), AI will amplify CO2 emissions, not mitigate them, even when considering the prospects of any renewable gains AI buildout could motivate
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Short of significant policy to curb fossil fuel interests (ha!), AI will amplify CO2 emissions, not mitigate them, even when considering the prospects of any renewable gains AI buildout could motivate
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
AI-driven productivity gains enable more CO₂ emissions than they avoid in a global energy–economy model - npj Climate Action
npj Climate Action - AI-driven productivity gains enable more CO₂ emissions than they avoid in a global energy–economy model
www.nature.com
August 11, 2026 at 8:44 PM
New research confirms: AI, on sum, is a loser for global climate
Short of significant policy to curb fossil fuel interests (ha!), AI will amplify CO2 emissions, not mitigate them, even when considering the prospects of any renewable gains AI buildout could motivate
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Short of significant policy to curb fossil fuel interests (ha!), AI will amplify CO2 emissions, not mitigate them, even when considering the prospects of any renewable gains AI buildout could motivate
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Susan Collins is trying to appear moderate to win her reelection there is no courage in her no vote she deserves no credit thank you for coming to my Ted Talk
August 4, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Susan Collins is trying to appear moderate to win her reelection there is no courage in her no vote she deserves no credit thank you for coming to my Ted Talk
Centrism is extremism wearing a face of deep concern and an attitude of reasonability.
i'm sorry what the fuck. gillibrand attends a church which teaches that COVID was God's punishment for permitting gay marriage?
August 2, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Centrism is extremism wearing a face of deep concern and an attitude of reasonability.
Jesus Fucking Christ.
July 24, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Jesus Fucking Christ.
This is entirely the point 👇
Let’s be really clear about this lettuce situation: it’s not just the destruction of public health tracking, it’s also years and years of ending regulations that would have prevented conditions causing outbreaks in the first place, combined with climate change that makes them more likely to happen.
July 17, 2026 at 2:05 AM
This is entirely the point 👇
Herbert Cola
your baseball pitcher name is your grandfather’s first name and the last thing you bought i’ll go first mine’s Dominic Sandals
July 16, 2026 at 3:50 AM
Herbert Cola
I know it gets clicks to call conservatives stupid but they have a pretty fucking coherent and effective (and insidious) theory of change.
My god. The Heritage Foundation, which mercilessly attacked transgender kids in order to protect the "integrity of women's sports," is now attacking the legal basis for women's sports. The transgender student decision is barely 2 weeks old.
July 14, 2026 at 5:23 AM
I know it gets clicks to call conservatives stupid but they have a pretty fucking coherent and effective (and insidious) theory of change.
A soul is finally free of the hateful, indoctrinated, and self loathing individual it was trapped within.
July 12, 2026 at 3:34 PM
A soul is finally free of the hateful, indoctrinated, and self loathing individual it was trapped within.
👇👇
Today is a great day to not resort to casual homophobia
July 12, 2026 at 3:21 PM
👇👇
Siri, through CarPlay, just described a photo someone texted to me.
How do we opt out of this? I don’t want Apple’s AI analyzing every texted photo I get.
How do we opt out of this? I don’t want Apple’s AI analyzing every texted photo I get.
July 9, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Siri, through CarPlay, just described a photo someone texted to me.
How do we opt out of this? I don’t want Apple’s AI analyzing every texted photo I get.
How do we opt out of this? I don’t want Apple’s AI analyzing every texted photo I get.
See, I think he actually knows better but knows that there are plenty of people out there who actually don’t.
That explanation fits his MO better IMO.
That explanation fits his MO better IMO.
Trump actually thinks asylum seekers are people from “insane asylums”—and he’s enabled by people in the administration and the media who do not correct him.
Trump: "Some countries had no mental institutions. The mental institutions were taken -- all of those people were taken to our southern border and allowed to just walk freely into our country under Sleepy Joe Biden."
June 24, 2026 at 12:27 AM
See, I think he actually knows better but knows that there are plenty of people out there who actually don’t.
That explanation fits his MO better IMO.
That explanation fits his MO better IMO.
I mean, “hate” is a *really* strong word. I try not to allow hate into any part of my life even for the most despicable people out there. And I really enjoy a good VR game. Half Life Alix? OMG.
June 23, 2026 at 1:34 PM
I mean, “hate” is a *really* strong word. I try not to allow hate into any part of my life even for the most despicable people out there. And I really enjoy a good VR game. Half Life Alix? OMG.
If you are an aspiring writer and what motivates you most is to bring characters you know and love into new spaces and situations, DO IT! With joy! You aren’t clogging anything. Whatever gets you writing!
We are storytellers by nature. Don’t let anyone gatekeep you from that.
We are storytellers by nature. Don’t let anyone gatekeep you from that.
June 20, 2026 at 10:00 PM
If you are an aspiring writer and what motivates you most is to bring characters you know and love into new spaces and situations, DO IT! With joy! You aren’t clogging anything. Whatever gets you writing!
We are storytellers by nature. Don’t let anyone gatekeep you from that.
We are storytellers by nature. Don’t let anyone gatekeep you from that.
Finally some good news!
McDonald's is frying up some apple pies to honor America's 250th birthday, for the first time in more than three decades.
McDonald's is serving fried apple pie again for America's 250th birthday
McDonald’s is frying up some apple pies to honor America’s 250th birthday. The company said on Tuesday that it’s bringing back its fried apple pies for the first time in more than three decades.
bit.ly
June 16, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Finally some good news!
If you like and support small, independent publishers, think about pitching in to help Red Hen Press, a great California press facing some hard times
www.gofundme.com/f/we-need-yo...
www.gofundme.com/f/we-need-yo...
Donate to We Need Your Help to Save Red Hen Press, organized by Red Hen Press
A Message from Kate Gale, Publisher and CEO,
and Tobi Harper Petrie, Deputy and… Red Hen Press needs your support for We Need Your Help to Save Red Hen Press
www.gofundme.com
June 10, 2026 at 10:07 PM
If you like and support small, independent publishers, think about pitching in to help Red Hen Press, a great California press facing some hard times
www.gofundme.com/f/we-need-yo...
www.gofundme.com/f/we-need-yo...
Any song from the Riverdance soundtrack. (I worked at a store called Learningsmith)
every person who has ever worked retail for even a week has at least one song they can never hear again without being involuntarily transported back to the store
Don’t limit it to the 90s, they constantly played this song right up until their death. Like every other damn song over the store speakers…. I worked there almost 2 decades ago and I still can’t stop it from entering my brain every so often, so thanks for this.
June 10, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Any song from the Riverdance soundtrack. (I worked at a store called Learningsmith)