Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness) header
Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness) profile picture

Vanessa Smith

@normal_ness

We’re all normal to ourselves. I write. Hates hustle, loves shiny objects. Can’t even influence an ant. Anthropology & sociology graduate. Author of books.

 Brisbane, QLD, Australia
normalness.com/
Joined February 2012
  • Tweets197K
  • Following1.9K
  • Followers2.4K
8.7KMedia
Photo by Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness)Photo by Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness)Photo by Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness)Photo by Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness)Photo by Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness)Photo by Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness)Photo by Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness)Photo by Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness)Photo by Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness)Photo by Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness)
Well, shock horror, the phone call I was waiting for has not arrived within the designated window.
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To be disabled is almost always to be traumatized. It’s living in a body that can’t keep you safe. It’s doctors dismissing you. It’s family and friends abandoning you. It’s living in a society that doesn’t see your value. It’s constantly having to prove your life is worth living.
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Struggling, because I need to do stuff and I’m not working tomorrow, but the weekend wasn’t restful so I’m not feeling up to working today. But doing less is a step towards homelessness which would make me sicker than pushing now. There’s just no winning.
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Finding a shitty middle ground is not accomodating my needs but that’s the best I can do right now, and it’s not good enough. No advice needed, I’m just sick of it all.
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I cracked only about 20 applications this morning, which isn’t much for me. Gonna take a break now and save energy for a phone call later.
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Oh for fucks sake is the fucking horse race on my fucking birthday again? I hate it when that happens. Happy birthday, enjoy seeing signs of animal cruelty all day.
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#PoveratiXmas 2026 is almost here 🎅 Start prepping those wishlists and pay links, and get ready to spread a bit of #MutualAid cheer. (The lovely Fiona/phonakins is hosting over on Bluesky, and has handed the reins to me here on Xitter. 😊) #MutualAidAustralia 🎄🎅🎁
A cartoon Santa Claus wearing red sunglasses a red short-sleeve shirt red swim trunks with white polka dots and a red Santa hat with white trim stands barefoot on a green surfboard with leaf patterns. He carries a large white sack over his left shoulder and holds a smaller white sack in his right hand while a second larger white sack filled with colorful wrapped gifts floats to his right. Blue water splashes from the left side of the surfboard. A large green Christmas tree with a yellow star and hanging ornaments stands behind him. Red black and orange stars float in the air around the scene. Below the illustration in large red letters is the text #POVERATIXMAS. Beneath that in dark blue letters is COMING DECEMBER 2026. Smaller black text reads Start prepping those wishlists and setting up paylinks. Purple text reads #PoveratiXmas. Red text at the bottom reads Get ready to share widely and hopefully some Xmas Angels will make some wishes come true!

ALT A cartoon Santa Claus wearing red sunglasses a red short-sleeve shirt red swim trunks with white polka dots and a red Santa hat with white trim stands barefoot on a green surfboard with leaf patterns. He carries a large white sack over his left shoulder and holds a smaller white sack in his right hand while a second larger white sack filled with colorful wrapped gifts floats to his right. Blue water splashes from the left side of the surfboard. A large green Christmas tree with a yellow star and hanging ornaments stands behind him. Red black and orange stars float in the air around the scene. Below the illustration in large red letters is the text #POVERATIXMAS. Beneath that in dark blue letters is COMING DECEMBER 2026. Smaller black text reads Start prepping those wishlists and setting up paylinks. Purple text reads #PoveratiXmas. Red text at the bottom reads Get ready to share widely and hopefully some Xmas Angels will make some wishes come true!

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Vanessa Smith retweeted
Todd Davenport (@sunsopeningband) profile picture
Todd Davenport@sunsopeningbandOct 31
Never mind there’s zero evidence for any of this, and in fact we have good evidence it doesn’t work the way it’s claimed, but this framing that pits “experts” against patients is so tired. The “experts” are suggesting something that, on average, doesn’t work. So…are they? 🤔
SRF News (@srfnews) profile pictureSRF News@srfnewsOct 30
Ein Therapieansatz bei Long Covid spaltet Betroffene wie Fachleute. Die Idee: Das Gehirn habe die Symptome in einer ersten Krankheitsphase erlernt und könne diese mit mentalen Übungen wieder verlernen. srf.ch/wissen/corona/umstrit…
Long Covid mit Hirntraining behandeln: Was steckt dahinter?

Long Covid mit Hirntraining behandeln: Was steckt dahinter?

Ein neuer Therapieansatz bei Long Covid weckt Hoffnung auf Heilung. Doch Fachleute warnen vor gesundheitlichen Risiken.

srf.ch
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Vanessa Smith retweeted
stranger (@strangerous10) profile picture
stranger@strangerous10Oct 29
The fact Jillian Segal waited til after her Senate appearance this week before releasing an updated report with further crackdown measures on Universities and public freedoms, after already being caught lying at the antisemitism RC, is an absolute disgrace and she must be sacked.
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Does anyone know if I have to actually disclose disability to Centrelink for jobseeker payments?
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I’m not interested in being referred to a DES as I do not think they’re equipped to help me find an appropriate job.
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Extra extra ways of fucking you over. I had to wait to have one phone call before I could book the next phone call, and I still can’t submit my fucking claim.
Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness) profile pictureVanessa Smith@normal_nessOct 27
Wow they find new ways to fuck you over. Can't submit my claim until l've had a video appointment for my ID & I can't get an appointment until fucking Friday. I've done all I can now 🤷‍♀️
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Ok wait I was wrong, I could submit my claim. Finally.
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I think I’m gonna be crashing out early today. This is why I didn’t want to apply for fucking Centrelink, it’s a huge energy sap and it limits how many jobs I can apply for.
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So this job told me and others that we were successful but also didn’t offer us like… a position. The comms were very poor but my best guess reading through the lines is that it was a preemptive pool application round but it wasn’t exactly made clear.
Vanessa Smith (@normal_ness) profile pictureVanessa Smith@normal_nessOct 21
It has been a month since I was told I was being post interview reference checked for a job. I feel like they're offering it to others and I'm waiting for those acceptances to come through before they reject me. (I have followed up, but am unsure when or if I’ll hear back due
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(Yes, I am a successful applicant who still has no income, no government support, and runs out of money soon. And yes, with moderate M.E., being homeless will probably kill me.)
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YouTube shoved an ad on my home page while I was waiting for a stream to start, and it bricked the tv because I couldn’t back out it. I had to full on unplug the fucking tv to remove the memory of the ad from the tvs YouTube app.
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Part of an email I just sent to a recruiter: "please note that disability adjustments are not 'preferences', they are needs." I'm so sick of this.
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EthicalJobs would be a better job board if they stopped mixing in unpaid jobs with paid jobs. Keep unpaid work somewhere else, leave it for the rich and privilege.
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📢 Ever been told to take your mask off at a hospital appointment? If you’re immunosuppressed, or offered a flu vaccine because of your age, a pregnancy or a health condition, or in a Clinically Vulnerable household take our quick survey. Closes 7 Nov forms.gle/TzeMmLhRUdvtgtGCA
Your experiences of healthcare and infection risk

Your experiences of healthcare and infection risk

A 5-minute survey from Clinically Vulnerable Families. It closes at 11:59pm (UK time) on 7th November 2026.

docs.google.com
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