I’ve not said very much on the Musk Twitter Takeover, because I have complex thoughts, rather than any clear thesis; and I think many won’t agree or find my take tedious. But, some have asked, so I’ll say this: I think that social media – and Twitter in particular – is enormously important. It’s common to hear things like “Twitter isn’t real life,” but that’s not true. The user base of Twitter includes many prominent journalists and politicians who use the platform to form their views of world events, and who are influenced by the tweets they read there. The manual and algorithmic manipulation of these platforms via the boosting of select voices and the muting of others influences political discourse all over the world. Social media manipulation is a big part of the reason that lockdowns happened, it is a key ingredient in the vaccinator hysteria, and its importance is only growing. Social media is also hugely important for us. The populist backlash of 2016 would never have happened without the major social media platforms, and while the owners of social media have taken steps to mute the opinions of ordinary people and dissidents, with a little bit of skill and resilience, you can defeat their countermeasures and reach a wide audience anyway.
Elon Musk is one of the most overrated people on earth (Michelle Obama being the most overrated person on earth btw). Because of this fact people had unrealistic expectations and are now disappointed.
Musk is a slightly above average guy with alot of money. That is not enough to take on any of these horrible money-burning tech companies. Eventually I think it will improve, he just needs to get some people that know what has to be done on board.
Honestly wish somebody would buy all social media companies with the sole purpose of shutting them down.
"The US Constitution requires a softer, asymmetrical approach in America."
There still are challenges to censorship here in the U.S., but our constitution relies upon the system of checks and balances between the branches of government (replicated at the state level), and that system appears to have fallen. With none of the branches defending them (in spite of all branches being sworn to do so), constitutional "requirements" become less and less meaningful.
This is a worst-case scenario for which the founders had no remedy. Their design required a certain prevalence of conscience and morality that we collectively lack today.
Whether or not Twitter is "real life," it is lame. It always has been. Who would send a text message to the world? Who would believe that it would matter, and more than yelling at clouds does?
PS: You're an exceptional writer. I read your most recent piece in The Asylum. I haven't the breadth of knowledge to determine how much of your analysis is truly plausible, but I was left very troubled, wondering how much, at your core, you might have a general loathing for people like me.
Personally, I've never liked social media, even though I've had periods where I was using it heavily for promotional reasons.
The reason is because I never found it very social. Certainly few followers or those I followed would be welcomed in my home. Some would, yet I still don't know them well enough other than their writing style or opinions. They probably feel them same of me. (I am not including Substack here, I would genuinely have most I engage with here over for a chat).
I generally believe social media has caused more division than social connection. It divides using snippets of thoughts with no deeper understanding. It creates talking points that need no further understanding. It generally dumbs down the user, and dulls the thinking synaptic systems of the brain.
Alas, this is what digital does to us in general. The heavy hand of algorithms doing our primary thinking.
A practice lost but still around in small towns of group breakfasts still exist. Usually it is farming communities where real discussion is had, this is real connecting. And, it's gone, now centered into a little plastic box having a sentence or two. This is why I like this platform, at least there is more intelligent human intercourse (the use of intercourse always cracks me up, it's an old Victorian way of saying conversation).
A far as its importance? I'm 50/50. I believe we have crossed the line where technology creates more negative than positive results. All tech has downsides, now it seems it has taken over.
I spend some time in financial media sites. Posters are seldom banned there, since validity is easily determined in tomorrow's tape, and "misinformation" results in financial losses. We have a practical measurement for determining what information is right or wrong. Some people try to manipulate that system by lying about things where they have a financial interest in the lie. If they are caught, they can have legal penalties. But it's up to each investor to decide whether what they read or hear from others is valid. Success comes from understanding reality well enough to recognize deception. Deception is everywhere. It's our nature.
The solution for non-financial media can be the same. Readers need to learn to understand reality well enough to recognize deception. That is a rare skill these days due to the failed education system having indoctrinated several generations in artificial realities. Anyone who accepts that gender is optional will believe any other deception. Many people still don't fall for the deception. We need to teach the others.
Twitter is influencing the world in the same way fast food companies are. Quick, super convenient, contains nothing but junk and rots our body and brain.
Slow down, cook a healthy home made meal, and read some thoughtful content on Substack.
Sadly, the demographic that is attracted to twitter and junk food won’t change, so I don’t subscribe to that camp.
We, in the USA, are still blessed to have individuals whose creative gifts have birthed alternate platforms for discourse. Preservation of that right is essential. Many thanks to those whose minds provide the rest of us a more complete picture of the world we are exposed to today. God bless you all.
I have to philosophically disagree with: "I think that social media – and Twitter in particular – is enormously important." precisely because of intelligent people like you; your insights, context and nuance do nt get the play nor the consideration in an ever contracting world of words and sound bite communication....people fall for the convenience thinking they can capture something in a Tweet or other SM vehicle for manipulating the masses.....but it is reality thus we need to have discussion and action to deal with it in a way which maximizes the utility while mitigating the unintended consequences which seems to continually spiral out of control as the Head Girls seek ever greater control. . . thought provoking post as usual and, as you can see from my response, rather than going along, I am trying to add to the discussion in a productive fashion which is the intent and sort of thing we need more than ever.
Musk is a red flag. World's richest, controls: space travel (space station deliveries ++ top secret US stuff), controls social media (Twitter being a big slice, he may have vested interests elsewhere), controls self-driving cars which can go offline or rogue at his whim, controls ever-increasing numerous satellites surrounding Planet Earth (astronomers complain about these ruining night photos). In all, Musk is BIG AI. Not comfortable with that, given his ability to supersede international agreements (Ukraine satdat). He was borne from a weird father (married his step-daughter a la Woody Allen, mother is a model at 70 something - not ageist but what is the purpose). Oh and the Neurolink. Probably why Zuckerberg cashed in his chips on Meta. A bigger, better New World is being put in place. And the critical thinkers believe in him. This is a behavioral psychology experiment on a global scale. Or maybe it's not an experiment. After Covid Fear 1.0.
I was suspended from Twitter for life last March. I appealed the decision for the third time last week, hoping the new management would see things differently. I was told today the decision stands. My alleged violations of Twitter policy had to do with tweets about early treatment with Ivermectin.
Elon Musk is one of the most overrated people on earth (Michelle Obama being the most overrated person on earth btw). Because of this fact people had unrealistic expectations and are now disappointed.
Musk is a slightly above average guy with alot of money. That is not enough to take on any of these horrible money-burning tech companies. Eventually I think it will improve, he just needs to get some people that know what has to be done on board.
Honestly wish somebody would buy all social media companies with the sole purpose of shutting them down.
"The US Constitution requires a softer, asymmetrical approach in America."
There still are challenges to censorship here in the U.S., but our constitution relies upon the system of checks and balances between the branches of government (replicated at the state level), and that system appears to have fallen. With none of the branches defending them (in spite of all branches being sworn to do so), constitutional "requirements" become less and less meaningful.
This is a worst-case scenario for which the founders had no remedy. Their design required a certain prevalence of conscience and morality that we collectively lack today.
A great balanced read as usual. I two had great hopes that Musk would make the right changes. Still early days let's wait and see.
"Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings".
Heinrich Heine
Karl Marx was a distant cousin FYI
Whether or not Twitter is "real life," it is lame. It always has been. Who would send a text message to the world? Who would believe that it would matter, and more than yelling at clouds does?
That's a thoughtful essay. Thank you.
Good first thoughts.
PS: You're an exceptional writer. I read your most recent piece in The Asylum. I haven't the breadth of knowledge to determine how much of your analysis is truly plausible, but I was left very troubled, wondering how much, at your core, you might have a general loathing for people like me.
I love that picture. It's not very representative but incredibly evocative. Any details about it?
Personally, I've never liked social media, even though I've had periods where I was using it heavily for promotional reasons.
The reason is because I never found it very social. Certainly few followers or those I followed would be welcomed in my home. Some would, yet I still don't know them well enough other than their writing style or opinions. They probably feel them same of me. (I am not including Substack here, I would genuinely have most I engage with here over for a chat).
I generally believe social media has caused more division than social connection. It divides using snippets of thoughts with no deeper understanding. It creates talking points that need no further understanding. It generally dumbs down the user, and dulls the thinking synaptic systems of the brain.
Alas, this is what digital does to us in general. The heavy hand of algorithms doing our primary thinking.
A practice lost but still around in small towns of group breakfasts still exist. Usually it is farming communities where real discussion is had, this is real connecting. And, it's gone, now centered into a little plastic box having a sentence or two. This is why I like this platform, at least there is more intelligent human intercourse (the use of intercourse always cracks me up, it's an old Victorian way of saying conversation).
A far as its importance? I'm 50/50. I believe we have crossed the line where technology creates more negative than positive results. All tech has downsides, now it seems it has taken over.
I spend some time in financial media sites. Posters are seldom banned there, since validity is easily determined in tomorrow's tape, and "misinformation" results in financial losses. We have a practical measurement for determining what information is right or wrong. Some people try to manipulate that system by lying about things where they have a financial interest in the lie. If they are caught, they can have legal penalties. But it's up to each investor to decide whether what they read or hear from others is valid. Success comes from understanding reality well enough to recognize deception. Deception is everywhere. It's our nature.
The solution for non-financial media can be the same. Readers need to learn to understand reality well enough to recognize deception. That is a rare skill these days due to the failed education system having indoctrinated several generations in artificial realities. Anyone who accepts that gender is optional will believe any other deception. Many people still don't fall for the deception. We need to teach the others.
Twitter is influencing the world in the same way fast food companies are. Quick, super convenient, contains nothing but junk and rots our body and brain.
Slow down, cook a healthy home made meal, and read some thoughtful content on Substack.
Sadly, the demographic that is attracted to twitter and junk food won’t change, so I don’t subscribe to that camp.
We, in the USA, are still blessed to have individuals whose creative gifts have birthed alternate platforms for discourse. Preservation of that right is essential. Many thanks to those whose minds provide the rest of us a more complete picture of the world we are exposed to today. God bless you all.
I have to philosophically disagree with: "I think that social media – and Twitter in particular – is enormously important." precisely because of intelligent people like you; your insights, context and nuance do nt get the play nor the consideration in an ever contracting world of words and sound bite communication....people fall for the convenience thinking they can capture something in a Tweet or other SM vehicle for manipulating the masses.....but it is reality thus we need to have discussion and action to deal with it in a way which maximizes the utility while mitigating the unintended consequences which seems to continually spiral out of control as the Head Girls seek ever greater control. . . thought provoking post as usual and, as you can see from my response, rather than going along, I am trying to add to the discussion in a productive fashion which is the intent and sort of thing we need more than ever.
Musk is a red flag. World's richest, controls: space travel (space station deliveries ++ top secret US stuff), controls social media (Twitter being a big slice, he may have vested interests elsewhere), controls self-driving cars which can go offline or rogue at his whim, controls ever-increasing numerous satellites surrounding Planet Earth (astronomers complain about these ruining night photos). In all, Musk is BIG AI. Not comfortable with that, given his ability to supersede international agreements (Ukraine satdat). He was borne from a weird father (married his step-daughter a la Woody Allen, mother is a model at 70 something - not ageist but what is the purpose). Oh and the Neurolink. Probably why Zuckerberg cashed in his chips on Meta. A bigger, better New World is being put in place. And the critical thinkers believe in him. This is a behavioral psychology experiment on a global scale. Or maybe it's not an experiment. After Covid Fear 1.0.
I’m just sitting back enjoying the wrecking ball to their sacred institution.
Maybe KFC can throw a misguided promo celebrating it.
I was suspended from Twitter for life last March. I appealed the decision for the third time last week, hoping the new management would see things differently. I was told today the decision stands. My alleged violations of Twitter policy had to do with tweets about early treatment with Ivermectin.