Roger Watt

I am so so sorry, everyone, we have lost one of the greats. Ivana Markova died on Sunday 1st December. A light has gone out. For more info, see this link, where you can also leave tribute (note there will be a delay in the messages appearing). blogs.lse.ac.uk/condolences/20…

@LoveInner Maybe we do #A-Mahler-A-Month next year!

@RWatt42 Yes! With pleasure.

Interesting pattern 9 Then 3, 2, 1 Then 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 I would say it's an arbitrary outcome to an arbitrary and pointless process, but at least there is some order in the chaos. Ranking works of art is crass and totally devoid of any understanding of what art is. Discuss.

@DrMBotha I think you could even say “this shit just shites itself”

"Woke fillings" 😂 this shit just writes itself

@DrMBotha It has several starter packs (lists of accounts) that are relevant.

@DrMBotha Go there, Monique, it’s really good.

It seems like there's an exodus on here. Where can I find people? Is it mostly 🟦sky?

@DrMBotha Unstoppable force isn't the same as perpetual motion machine. Academia shapes academics as perpetual motion machines - because motion can be demanded and then seen, measured and compared whereas forces cannot.

And I know how people see me, so maybe I'm also trying to humanize myself to people on the outside who think of me as an unstoppable force or endless well, by being more open and actually showing the vulnerability that a lot of us share.

Sharing because I realise that I'm probably not the only one who struggles with it, but I'm trying to offer myself the same compassion I extend to others when they are burnt out, and often failing.

@DrMBotha Down-time is always productive just not on the timescale of a day or a week or a month. It's the critical understanding that you achieve year in year out that matters most, not words written per day.

The internalisation of productivity, neuronormativity, and unbearably high standards for myself has created genuinely unliveable expectations for what I should be able to achieve day in day out.

@DrMBotha 😀 "wild" is maybe rather too understated...

NEW PREPRINT ALERT! We used an AI image generator to understand social stereotypes of autism and prejudice towards autistic people. The results are... Frankly wild. A (kind of bizarre) thread. osf.io/preprints/osf/…

When "We will remember" is said, I can still allow myself to remember. With anger.

This year I wasn't fit to play - it was to be my last anyway. Personally, I will miss my moment of public anger. A trumpet can sound very angry as one spits out staccato semiquavers and then drop the sound down to a horrified whisper.

Remembrance Sunday, 2024. I have played the Last Post at the war memorial for my small town this day every year for the last 25+ years. I have always played it with anger foremost, followed by despair, followed by grief. The utter waste of conflict.

A voice spoke unto me in the gloom. “Smile and be happy for things could be worse” And I did smile and I was happy and, lo, things did get worse. Unknown author

@AlanWatsonFeat1 @JoAnnunaki We’ve had a similar glut in the Trossachs until two or three days ago. Thousands of redwings have arrived and cleared the lot.

Some more photos of the absolute abundance of berries on the rowan trees (Sorbus aucuparia) in Glen Affric 2 days ago. There was also lots of old man's beard lichen (Usnea filipendula) on some silver birches (Betula pendula), along with the last of their autumn-coloured leaves.

Incisive research by @tmburns08 . And William James would have approved of the conclusions about the effects of identity conflict and distress.

@DrMBotha Tired but not silenced😀. Making people think is hard, not much valued until long after, but it's the critical step in getting to understand humanity. One day, someone close to me will ask me what I think about their autism. Because of your work, I am looking forward to that day.

Maybe I'm just feeling it more today than most days. Maybe I'm just physically tired. It just all feels so self sustaining, despite the increase in incredible people doing meaningful research with autistic people and their families and our networks.

I've been studying how researchers make sense of autistic people formally for four years. I have a year left on this fellowship. Truth is I am so worn. It's so bleak. When I'm done I need to refocus for a little while because it's genuinely so packed with contempt.

@DrMBotha It's also a recipe for great teaching/mentorship.

That's love - seeing people in their full glory, who they were, are, and might be, and letting them grow in the directions that they want, including in the ways that don't serve you.

Someone I dated tried to convince me to not go to university. He was controlling, saw me do well in further education, and wanted to keep my life as small as possible, telling me I could just find any job, get married, and move to his hometown. I now have a BA(hons), MSc, & PhD