ADDED: From the company's statement:
"Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated," said Mr. Musk. "I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans. Twitter has tremendous potential – I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it."
Defeat the bots. You've got to be human. And if you are human — be free.
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78 comments:
Godspeed, Elon!
It will not make him any money so this is a donation to free speech.
It was as if thousands of leftists cried out in terror, and tried to silence everyone again.
A great disturbance in the farce.
Teh whinging… teh gnashing of teeth… the rending of Rompers… teh mincing…
Get over it, fascist Dimocrats!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo9buo9Mtos
collective hive: On Noez! fascism has arrived. My butt hurts!
I don't agree that he can't make money on this. First, he can fire a lot of people, reducing expenses. Second, he can actually provide value that people would be willing to pay a small amount for (say $2 or $3 a month) in return for no ads, and no bots, but also give the option of twitter with ads.
It will not make him any money so this is a donation to free speech.
He didn't make a pocket full of money by squandering it on good intentions. There's has to be a bigger, and better upside. I'm just not smart enough to see it.
Ho-ly cow. I didn't think it would work.
What his plan is, I remain unsure - but I'm pretty damn sure it's going to be interesting.
There are so many people not taking this news well. Seriously, watch for tens of thousands of lgbtq people to attempt suicide for the millionth time again over this news.
This messaging system, with the low-level satellite network, could be combined to some very interesting communication channels, and for some very interesting purposes.
I quit Twitter after they banned Trump. Figured I didn't want to associate with people who would do that sort of thing. Maybe it's time to consider returning.
If only all the Musk-haters would move to Canada, or somewhere else that appreciates government-approved and government-mandated speech.
Ayn Rand, the prophecy? Unlike since J. P. Morgan in his prime. The spacetime of the "anti's" is oscillating. Buckle up. As Breezy said.
I wouldn't second guess his purpose, but the value of the corporation is in the software is reproducible at a lower price and cost, and the Twittering community is fungible over time, space, and consensus. Fortunately, he operates an independent infrastructure, so he cannot be easily cancelled.
Whiners and complainers can start their own company.
Or buy one.
Aren't those the new rules?
He needs to fire all the speech crime fascists. Yesterday.
As Joe would say: This is a big fucking deal.
For $44 billion, I'm pretty sure I could create a Twitter rival with better features and attract just as many users. Heck, I could do it for half that much (as long as I can keep the change).
'Ho-ly cow. I didn't think it would work.'
Musk is not the smartest man in the world, although he is brighter than most.
His power is this: We all have great ideas every day. 'Let's build a rocket that can go to Mars. Let's make cars that don't require gasoline.' You get the point.
But he somehow, through personality or just great management skills, he is able to make these things real.
He just gets shit done. Amazing.
'For $44 billion, I'm pretty sure I could create a Twitter rival with better features and attract just as many users.'
You really don't think he factored this in?
Really?
Our country's civil discourse is in real danger, now that Twitter's ban on Babylon Bee might be removed.
I’m way south of San Francisco but we could hear the wailing and screams down here near San Bernardino.
"I’m way south of San Francisco but we could hear the wailing and screams down here near San Bernardino."
The wailing probably echoed through the Cajon Pass like a Santa Ana wind!
I knew nothing about these things, but there were a lot of articles last week about how no one ever defeats a "poison pill". It's a good thing we have experts.
Blogger n.n said...
Fortunately, he operates an independent infrastructure, so he cannot be easily cancelled.
At present Twitter could be cancelled. Liberty Cablevision (MY ISP) could decide that in the interest of protecting me, they will not let me access Twitter.
I do have a couple of other options but if they both decided to block Twitter, I won't be able to get it.
As you note, he does have an independent infrastructure, or at least the beginnings of one in Starlink.
One thought I had was that he lets other ISPs and countries block Twitter. Then he says "Hey, look up here! If you want Twitter, you can get it through a Pi phone (his Starlink cellphone)"
Depending on how badly people want Twitter, it might be a good marketing tool. It only works if isps generally ban Twitter. That may give an incentive to to keep Twitter open to free speech. It is free speech, including "disinformation" and "hate speech" that gets individuals banned from Twitter.
In any event, glad to see this happen. Never got into Twitter much but reactivated my account last week so I could follow the news as well as laugh at the wailing of the fascists.
John LGKTQ Henry
'The wailing probably echoed through the Cajon Pass like a Santa Ana wind!'
Maybe it's just the Babylon Sisters...
Still nearly a $3 difference between the price now and $54.20. Easy money.
Turned out a good investment for some, a bad investment for others, and a decent day for the US Treasury.
The odds just got getting better. Eventually, that bet against Musk, will cover the points, and win big.
I felt a great disturbance in the Twittersphere. As if millions of algorithms suddenly Tweeted out in terror and were silenced.
Now, for the love of God, please Elon, please buy the Detroit Lions.
"Now, for the love of God, please Elon, please buy the Detroit Lions."
I don't think he's interested in dumpster fires.
I'd kind of consider joining it now.
Well, again.
Well, I have an account but never use it. Why bother when actual fascists control the dialog?
If there's one thing Twitter been valuable for, it's stupid people self-identifying.
Turing Test. I'm not a robot.
“The wailing probably echoed through the Cajon Pass like a Santa Ana wind!”
Just so much wind in sails.
One thought I had was that he lets other ISPs and countries block Twitter. Then he says "Hey, look up here! If you want Twitter, you can get it through a Pi phone (his Starlink cellphone)"
That makes SO much sense!
It's consistent with his idea of having Starlink as a general customer for the SpaceX launches. SpaceX might not have enough paying customers if not for Starlink. Starlink might not have enough paying customers (in the rest of the world, at least) if there were other ways to route around censors.
That's great, but it's seriously disturbing that we have to look to some tech billionaire to restore what some other tech billionaire took away. The real answer is to break these companies into a thousand pieces.
"A great disturbance in the farce."
All-time great punchline.
authenticating all humans
But can you be an authentic human with a nom de guerre? Asking for gadfly.
I wonder if Elon could somehow convert bots posting on Twitter into bitcoin miners for his new company? That might make Twitter worth what he's paying!
BEST TWEET Celebrating this!!!....
https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods/status/1518665849971695616?
The biggest thing is that there is now a very real possibility that Twitter won't be able to influence the coming elections with their shenanigans. I'm cautiously excited!
The 'What's happening' sidebar in Twitter is devoid of all things Musk : )
Quayle said... [hush][hide comment]
This messaging system, with the low-level satellite network, could be combined to some very interesting communication channels, and for some very interesting purposes.
Yup. And just like you can make calls from facebook, wanna bet you'll be able to make Twitter calls very soon? (I'm assuming you can't, as I left twitter long ago).
If Elon Musk bans the bots, how will you people get your RT talking points. Be aware of what you wish for
Wow! Good news for a change.
Mike Sylwester said...
Our country's civil discourse is in real danger, now that Twitter's ban on Babylon Bee might be removed.
=========
more like head to head battle for title of 'Paper of Record' between the Bee and NYT
UPDATE: Musk bans everyone except Trump from Twitter. Developing...
Twitter's financial quarterly report due this week must have been an absolute disaster for the board to turn on a dime this fast, and with no negotiation whatsoever.
Publish the records on who decided to twitter ban who, starting with who banned Trump- name, date, and reason. People lost livelihoods because of secret Twitter decisions. Publish the records. Let the Games begin.
Howard said...
If Elon Musk bans the bots, how will you people get your RT talking points. Be aware of what you wish for
Well at least the rest of us don’t have to worry about the bot ban getting our programming deleted
Once Elon gets the "mind control" algorithm figured out, he'll definitely have the last laugh.
I backed up my tweets when I left. I wonder if I can come back with my old tweets. The idea of starting from scratch does not fancy me.
Warning: He's not going to be some conservative hero or icon. He's a businessman. He also has to function in today's media environment. He'll bring some positive changes. He won't do a lot of things right-wingers would like him to do. We know that. But some conservatives will complain and caterwaul when he fails to do everything they want. Try not to be one of those people, and if you are, understand that the general public is smarter and more clear-sighted than you are.
Howard, if Elon bans the bots you won’t be able to upload the RT talking points to them. Perhaps that explains why you are against Musk taking over.
I'll predict now that there will be commenters on Twitter who will purposely post the most extreme, disgusting and provocative stuff solely to sabotage in two ways: (1) if the comments are allowed to stand it taints the discourse, or: (2) if it is banned they can accuse Twitter of not allowing free speech.
Who is John Galt?
(interesting. On my Android phone just now using the SwiftKey app I typed "who i" and it autocompleted "s John Galt?")
Anyway...
John LGKTQ Henry
heyboom said...
...there will be commenters on Twitter who will purposely post the most extreme, disgusting and provocative stuff solely to sabotage...
If everybody is verified, twitter could threaten the offender with breaking their anonymity, if any, should the offensive post not be taken down by the poster. Truly vile posts are most of the time anonymous.
Groomer Enabler Howard: "If Elon Musk bans the bots, how will you people get your RT talking points. Be aware of what you wish for"
As noted elsewhere, Elon buying Twitter is like 9/11, Pearl Harbor, Charlottesville, the 2016 election, and invasion of Ukraine combined.
Keep your spirits up Howard. Just a few sex change operations on 5 year olds is all it will take to put you back in a good mood.
Lem said:
If everybody is verified, twitter could threaten the offender with breaking their anonymity, if any, should the offensive post not be taken down by the poster. Truly vile posts are most of the time anonymous.
Yeah, I'm hoping that will be a deterrent.
Again with the You People...
Must be Shemp Howard.
Howard can’t think for himself, so he assumes that nobody else can either.
How do I short Parag Agwal?
Hope he relocates Twitter to Austin.
"[T]here were a lot of articles last week about how no one ever defeats a "poison pill"." – @MikeR
I'm no poison pill expert, but I'm pretty sure that the poison pill was not defeated here. Rather, the board agreed, effectively, to deactivate the poison pill (however it is that the M&A types talk about that).
’…I'm pretty sure that the poison pill was not defeated here.’
The purpose of the poison pill was to prevent a takeover, so it failed per se.
'For $44 billion, I'm pretty sure I could create a Twitter rival with better features and attract just as many users.'
That’s the Truth Social business plan, which so far seems to be a bust.
"Blogger heyboom said..."I'll predict now that there will be commenters on Twitter who will purposely post the most extreme, disgusting and provocative stuff solely to sabotage in two ways: (1) if the comments are allowed to stand it taints the discourse, or: (2) if it is banned they can accuse Twitter of not allowing free speech." (emphasis added)
So what? If it's truly vial it gets banned and the bad-faith complainants get ignored. I don't think it will be that hard. People act like the current Twitter "deciders" were acting in good faith and were stumped by legitimate ethical quandaries. They weren't.
We'll see.
"Hope he relocates Twitter to Austin."
Oh, he can do better than that. Oklahoma City. Birmingham, Alabama.
What Mike said at 9:03. There are a lot of bad faith arguments being made by the censorship supporters.
Not sure if the label of censorship supporter is aimed at me. I am absolutely not. Just throwing a sort of straw man scenario out there. My point was that there will be bad actors purposely trying to stir up trouble as "revenge" for Musk taking away their power. I am ecstatic about the possibility that there will be a level playing field for everyone on the platform.
I don't even have a Twitter account, I just follow the daily postings on Twitchy.
Heyboom,
I understood it was strawman proposition, so my comment was not aimed at you, and I don't think Mike was criticizing you directly, either- he was pointing out that the strawman arguments are being used by the Left to justify all their censorship.
Reddit and Youtube have ads, why not twitter? It might make it profitable.
Twitter gets its revenue from ads.
Blogger Yancey Ward said.."Heyboom,I understood it was strawman proposition, so my comment was not aimed at you, and I don't think Mike was criticizing you directly, either- he was pointing out that the strawman arguments are being used by the Left to justify all their censorship."
Correct. I think you're right, Heyboom, and I think the trolls should be ignored. Old-Twitter wasn't moderating, it was suppressing speech it didn't agree with.
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