Former astronomer and ex-academic in recovery; current k-pop stan and ADHD non-binary lefty nuisance. British-Irish, born in England, long-term resident of the occupied north of Ireland. Living proof that having a PhD doesn't make you more sensible or interesting than anyone else. Rarely serious, often swearing. I also write novels (badly), play video games (somewhat competently), code in Python (pretty well actually), and accumulate new hobbies (with more enthusiasm than skill).
Former astronomer and ex-academic in recovery; current k-pop stan and ADHD non-binary lefty nuisance. British-Irish, born in England, long-term resident of the occupied north of Ireland. Living proof that having a PhD doesn't make you more sensible or interesting than anyone else. Rarely serious, often swearing. I also write novels (badly), play video games (somewhat competently), code in Python (pretty well actually), and accumulate new hobbies (with more enthusiasm than skill).
One of the things I love about the fediverse is that when I post about Northern Ireland, people genuinely engage. They care. They want to learn more.
You have to understand, living in Northern Ireland means living in the full knowledge that the British government sees us as an expensive, embarrassing inconvenience, and that the average British person doesn't know shit about the Troubles and doesn't really want to. Meanwhile, Irish-Americans often have a skewed view of the conflict that is outright offensive: they don't care about Northern Ireland, they care about some Hollywood version of the conflict they invented in their heads.
I find it endlessly touching to discover, again and again, that some of you DO care about the truth.
No more Irelandposting from me for a bit: but thank you, everyone, for listening.
