A Cambridge University academic who received rape threats after posting a photo of himself with a Ph.D. The thesis criticized X’s failure to post offensive messages on social media, saying the site is “no longer a suitable forum for scholars … to share their views with each other.”
Ally Louks’ post about her success in life without correction—along with her selfie—has been viewed more than 116 million times since it was published last month after some accounts took the title of her book, “Olfactory Ethics: The politics. of modern and contemporary prose,” as evidence of an impenetrable “awakened” academic jargon. Some argue that his abstract thesis strengthens the case for dehumanization.
One X user described Louks’s brain as “sick and rotted by leftism” while another suggested that, instead of earning a Ph.D., it would be better to “get married and have kids.” Some mistakenly argued that American taxpayers’ money was being “wasted” in funding such studies.
In turn, many X posters came to Louks’ defense, criticizing the “feminist” and “senseless comments” directed at the Cambridge graduate, as well as the desire of online critics to disparage women with disciplinary experience.
While starting a global discussion about the value of Ph.D. and personality—and the “tragedy of male loneliness” among X users—Louks also evoked more threatening messages. Cambridgeshire Police have confirmed that they are investigating possible hate incidents, with Louks criticizing “disgusting and illegal” comments from other X users.
“Nobody should have to deal with this,” he told X.
‘Targeted Hate, Insults and Threats’
The episode also underscored the growing divisiveness felt by academics using X since it was bought by Elon Musk in October 2022, with the site’s algorithms increasing the volume of right-wing voices and rules on offensive posts loosened in the name of promoting free speech. .
Talking to Times Higher EducationLouks, who now teaches at Cambridge, said “it is clear that the X platform is no longer being deployed to prevent its users from abuse.”
“Targeted hate speech and threats should be automatically flagged and removed, and the option to report a tweet should actually work. This is no longer the case,” he added.
On suggestions that the wave of hate directed at him may be symbolic of so-called academic Twitter, which is increasingly migrating to other sites such as BlueSky, Louks said “it seems to me that X is no longer a suitable platform to work on.” academics, as a community, to share their ideas with each other.”
“That being said, I would like to reach a wider, less educated audience with my work, so I plan to stay on the platform,” he added.
Many have praised Louks’ calm and humorous response to Internet hoarding. “It’s rare to see one react to the insanely angry, kind-hearted, good-humored and down-to-earth attitude that Ally Louks displayed throughout this crazy episode,” commented the Yale University-based academic.
While she acknowledges that other young women scholars may react differently to this kind of global controversy—through retweets and sub-discussions, it’s estimated that her post has been viewed more than 200 million times—Louks said she was “not overwhelmed by the vitriol” she faced. .
“I can only speak for myself, but the hate speech was so stupid and outlandish that it came across as funny,” she said. “I felt that if I left the platform, the trolls might think that they had touched me in some way. That would be no more than a crime.”
Ironically, as some internet commentators have pointed out, the attack on Louks has now made his dissertation the most viewed Ph.D. thesis of all time—although only its cover and abstract have been posted online, with the full thesis currently unpublished.
“I wouldn’t know how to verify this claim, but my thesis is banned, so no one has read beyond what is assumed,” said Louks, adding, “The most exciting part, for me, will come when I can publish mine.” work and discuss it fully with the students.”
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