Archive - The Etymology Nerd

stay on your phone

(within reason)

14 hrs ago •

July 2025

how social media subjugates us

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

Jul 25 •

algorithmic performativity

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

Jul 19 •

ALGOSPEAK IS NOW OUT IN BOOKSTORES

oh my god it’s been a crazy week.

Jul 15 •

I see more stars online than in the sky ✨

At some point in the last century, we collectively began looking at more representations of stars than stars themselves.

Jul 4 •

June 2025

May 2025

you're literally worshipping your phone

how scrolling becomes a religious act

May 18 •

what the “algorithm” is, what you think it is, and why those aren't the same

Isn’t it so convenient how I can upload a video to TikTok, and then the algorithm immediately understands that you’re my target audience?

May 9 •

the default isn't always best

“I woke up as the sun was reddening; and that was the one distinct time in my life, the strangest moment of all, when I didn't know who I was.”

May 5 •

April 2025

there is no online authenticity

at the end of the day, everything is slop

Apr 28 •

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts