The Etymology Nerd

the gooner and the caveman

A man in a gnome hat stands on a soapbox.

Oct 29 • 

Adam Aleksic

239

32

feeling without thinking

There are two ways you can look at media: immerse yourself, or detach yourself.

Oct 17 • 

Adam Aleksic

476

17

notes on slop

“Slop” is subjectively defined, and yet shares certain universal features: it is always seen as negative, and connotes mass distribution to an ignorant…

Oct 11 • 

Adam Aleksic

383

17

why platforms are killing the hashtag

Today I write in anticipatory nostalgia for the cornerstone of a more democratic internet—one which is slowly being stolen from us.

Oct 5 • 

Adam Aleksic

525

21

September 2025

the engagement economy

how we replaced attention with its own metric

Sep 17 • 

Adam Aleksic

308

12

how to look at social media

a guide for regaining agency in the algorithmic milieu

Sep 8 • 

Adam Aleksic

416

13

what the evils of TV reveal about the evils of social media

Any time I think too hard about how social media is affecting us, I always end up back at the television.

Sep 2 • 

Adam Aleksic

306

16

August 2025

neural networks are changing our vibes

Last week, I published two op-eds that initially seem unrelated but actually aren’t.

Aug 25 • 

Adam Aleksic

371

13

against content

I’ve always felt that it’s very strange to have “followers” on social media.

Aug 12 • 

Adam Aleksic

598

19

stay on your phone

(within reason)

Aug 5 • 

Adam Aleksic

1,027

81

July 2025

how social media subjugates us

You’re hunched over on the toilet, pants around your ankles, watching me on TikTok.

Jul 25 • 

Adam Aleksic

371

12

algorithmic performativity

Chat, we all act differently when we’re being watched.

Jul 19 • 

Adam Aleksic

486

17