Social Media Discussion

[malchior]

So the next question is will his impulsive, beholden to nothing but his whims, see him taking out loans against his TSLA to follow through (or will funding be secured through other means) or will he turn a different way if things don't instantly come up roses for him?

What's the price of dogecoin? His whim was to monetize twitter through subscription payable in dogecoin, which he had invested in "as a joke."

The man leaves me so deeply conflicted. His vision often sees so much good made real and his actions... don't...

The man doesn't leave me too conflicted. I've read enough about his 'style' of leadership to see this is more of his usual dirty tricks. He bullies and cons and manipulates everything to get his way. His 'vision' is often someone else's vision he's stolen and hawked as his own. He certainly has business skills and got Tesla and SpaceX through critical phases. However, it often relied on government subsidies, stock manipulation, and other unsavory practices to say the least. There is a reason he often aligns with Trump. He is cut from the same cloth. At least, most of Musk's stuff as far as we know is mostly above board when he is skirting the line.

[pr0ner]

From what I recall, Musk aims to make Twitter's algorithm open source, and allow users to choose what types of tweets they see and what order they see 'em in. Letting users choose their own algorithm -- even if only to listen to the lies they want to hear -- versus being manipulated by Twitter's proprietary algorithm that routinely serves up vast quantities of curated bullshit anyway, doesn't strike me as all that worrisome. ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

If that's all I suspected he were going to do, I'd be less concerned. I don't know much about algorithms and things like that, but I do know that Twitter recently kept suggesting I might be interested in Ohio State content, so there's clearly something amiss there.

Twitter already has an "algorithm" that lets you avoid seeing "vast quantities of curated bullshit". It's the "Latest Tweets" option. That only shows me tweets from people I follow and the occasional "promoted" tweet. It doesn't show me tweets people I follow have liked, or tweets it thinks I'll like, which you get if you select "Home", and you can also easily curate your experience beyond that in the settings.

Also you damn well know if Musk buys Twitter and takes it private (which he wants to do now), it's not going to be just about an algorithm.

[Octavious]

I'm hoping they tell him to piss off, but as everything is shit I'm sure they will take it.

[pr0ner]

It's very much a hostile takeover by Musk. I don't think Twitter has any other option other than to take it, because to not do so likely wrecks their stock price.

[Skinypupy]

It's very much a hostile takeover by Musk. I don't think Twitter has any other option other than to take it, because to not do so likely wrecks their stock price.

Well, seeing as how a Musk takeover would likely destroy the platform entirely (likely sending it the way of Gab, Parler, etc.), I'm not sure that's a particularly viable option either.

[pr0ner]

It's very much a hostile takeover by Musk. I don't think Twitter has any other option other than to take it, because to not do so likely wrecks their stock price.

Well, seeing as how a Musk takeover would likely destroy the platform entirely (likely sending it the way of Gab, Parler, etc.), I'm not sure that's a particularly viable option either.

This feels apt:



Also, you do make a very good point re: Musk destroying the platform entirely.

[Isgrimnur]

Elon to the SEC:

[Smoove_B]

Wait until he realizes he could just as easily buy a presidential nomination.

[noxiousdog]

Wait until he realizes he could just as easily buy a presidential nomination.

Why else do you think he wants Twitter?

[Isgrimnur]

He's foreign-born. No presidency for him.

[Smoove_B]

He's foreign-born. No presidency for him.

Ah, good point. I guess we'll see if money can fix that too.

[noxiousdog]

He's foreign-born. No presidency for him.

Why should that stop him?

Snark aside...

There's no way this is anything other than grift or politics. He's either doing it for bribes or control.

[Hrothgar]

It's very much a hostile takeover by Musk. I don't think Twitter has any other option other than to take it, because to not do so likely wrecks their stock price.

Well, seeing as how a Musk takeover would likely destroy the platform entirely (likely sending it the way of Gab, Parler, etc.), I'm not sure that's a particularly viable option either.

The board's fiduciary responsibility is to the shareholders. That would end if Musk took the company private. The whole idea of so called vulture capitalism depends on this. As long as the shareholders are taken care of, the fate of the company is a secondary concern.

[Rumpy]

There's no way this is anything other than grift or politics.

Or both. If he gets full control, he can post whatever he wants and not have to deal with consequences, not have to worry about deleting tweets. Then he can unban people that share his political views, and the platforming begins.

[Daehawk]

I think he is kinda nuts. Used to think better of him..like Dr Oz...that is a big nut. Maybe he could get Oz to be his VP. Dr Phil could be Secretary of State.

[coopasonic]

I think he is kinda nuts. Used to think better of him..like Dr Oz...that is a big nut. Maybe he could get Oz to be his VP. Dr Phil could be Secretary of State.

Elon isn't crazy. Narcissistic, sure, but that's not crazy. He knows exactly what he is doing and he's having fun along the way. He may be a total ass hole, but he's a pretty smart asshole which solidly differentiates him from Trump. I'm less familiar with Oz and Phil to judge them. We can just blame Oprah for giving them a platform.

[Max Peck]

I'm no stock market guru, but is buying up shares on the sly, then announcing a hostile takeover bid that you don't plan to execute, then waiting for the share price to rise as the suckers buy in so that you can buy them out, then dumping your shares at a profit something that could work?

[coopasonic]

manipulating the market via social media? Elon? *gasp*

[gilraen]

I'm no stock market guru, but is buying up shares on the sly, then announcing a hostile takeover bid that you don't plan to execute, then waiting for the share price to rise as the suckers buy in so that you can buy them out, then dumping your shares at a profit something that could work?

That's pretty much exactly what Mark Cuban tweeted yesterday - that Musk is "fucking with the SEC" (actual quote) to drive up the price of shares so he can dump his minority ownership at a huge profit.

[Rumpy]

Musk should just grow a mustache so that he can have something to twirl now.

[Max Peck]

Elon Musk strikes deal to buy Twitter for $44bn

The board of Twitter has agreed to a $44bn (£34.5bn) takeover offer from the billionaire Elon Musk.

Mr Musk, who made the shock bid less than two weeks ago, said Twitter had "tremendous potential" that he would unlock.

He also called for a series of changes from relaxing its content restrictions to eradicating fake accounts.

The firm initially rebuffed Mr Musk's bid, but it will now ask shareholders to vote to approve the deal.

Mr Musk is the world's richest man, according to Forbes magazine, with an estimated net worth of $273.6bn mostly due to his shareholding in electric vehicle maker Tesla which he runs. He also leads the aerospace firm SpaceX.

"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," Mr Musk said in a statement announcing the deal.

[Zarathud]

The beginning of the end of Twitter….

[malchior]

The beginning of the end of Twitter….

This is the weirdest buy in history. I don't know what investor thought giving Musk money to ruin a platform was a good idea.

[coopasonic]

The beginning of the end of Twitter….

This is the weirdest buy in history. I don't know what investor thought giving Musk money to ruin a platform was a good idea.

Somebody that wanted that ex-president to have more influence? I'd say more, but we're not in R&P.

[Skinypupy]

The beginning of the end of Twitter….

He'll either swing wide the gates and it'll naturally turn into 4chan, Gab, etc., or he'll keep it mostly intact for fear of losing advertising revenue. My money would be on the latter.

I would also bet that there will end up being lots of angry people who are currently viewing Musk as the "savior of free speech".

[El Guapo]

Given Musk's talk about free speech on Twitter, has there been any mention of unbanning Trump?

It's funny because I don't love the optics of how that would happen (if it does), but at the same time I think Twitter did Trump and the GOP a big favor by banning Trump because greater direct public exposure to Trump tends to hurt Trump and the GOP's overall popularity. So I kind of hope that he does get unbanned.

[Daehawk]

Free speech should not include falsehoods and lies.

I have enough parts after 28 years of PC'n to put together a server and some software if Musk wants to buy it for a billion Im happy.

[Blackhawk]

The beginning of the end of Twitter….

I don't see the downside...

[Rumpy]

Given Musk's talk about free speech on Twitter, has there been any mention of unbanning Trump?

I don't think so, not specifically, but if you read between the lines, it's entirely possible he would given his stance and political opinions. I could easily see him enabling like-minded individuals, and I could see Twitter becoming a right-leaning platform when theoretically a social media platform should be neutral given that they are international.

[gbasden]

Given Musk's talk about free speech on Twitter, has there been any mention of unbanning Trump?

I don't think so, not specifically, but if you read between the lines, it's entirely possible he would given his stance and political opinions. I could easily see him enabling like-minded individuals, and I could see Twitter becoming a right-leaning platform when theoretically a social media platform should be neutral given that they are international.

It's a very small sampling, but I know a number of leftish folks in my extended social media circles are talking about walking away from Twitter.

[Rumpy]

Given Musk's talk about free speech on Twitter, has there been any mention of unbanning Trump?

I don't think so, not specifically, but if you read between the lines, it's entirely possible he would given his stance and political opinions. I could easily see him enabling like-minded individuals, and I could see Twitter becoming a right-leaning platform when theoretically a social media platform should be neutral given that they are international.

It's a very small sampling, but I know a number of leftish folks in my extended social media circles are talking about walking away from Twitter.

It will be interesting to see what unfolds when his ownership becomes active. I imagine it's not going to happen straight away.

[Kraken]

If it becomes a hive of scum and villainy, I guess scum and villains need a hive and hope they enjoy theirs. I also hope it quickly loses relevance to those who aren't scummy villains.

If the Leopards Eat Your Face Party took over OO, I'd be sad to lose my internet home, but I'd be even sadder to witness its fall.

[Anonymous Bosch]

Free speech should not include falsehoods and lies.

Rubbish. The remedy for abuse of free speech is more speech, not censorship. As a far more distinguished gent than I aptly put it:

[Alefroth]

How do the people that think this is the end of Twitter think that is going to happen?

[Max Peck]

Musk is a troll and loves sowing chaos. Of course he'll unban Trump.

[Max Peck]

Rubbish. The remedy for abuse of free speech is more speech, not censorship.

How has that been working out for the last few years on social media, in the face of relentless campaigns of disinformation? Have you made a lot of progress by debating with Russian troll farms and Chinese bots?

[LordMortis]

Musk is a troll and loves sowing chaos.

So much this

Of course he'll unban Trump.

I tend to think this is the case under "free speech" but it will very much hurt the Musk brand. Of course, non unbanning Trump will hurt the Musk brand and he's 4Chan child at heart, so I go back to thinking unbanning in time for elections will be thing.

We'll see.

Have you made a lot of progress by debating with Russian troll farms and Chinese bots?

That's where I'm at. I see what disinformation overload is doing and I fear for idea of free speech. That said, I Twitter wasn't the vehicle for free speech before Musk and won't be after, no matter how he promotes it.

[Unagi]

Rubbish. The remedy for abuse of free speech is more speech, not censorship.

How has that been working out for the last few years on social media, in the face of relentless campaigns of disinformation? Have you made a lot of progress by debating with Russian troll farms and Chinese bots?

This is where I am caught up on things. Automated bots abuse free speech to a degree that can't be matched by simple 'grassroots' push-back on bad ideas.

[Unagi]

That's where I'm at.

Oops, I hadn't even read your reply - didn't mean to nearly echo you there.

[stessier]

Why would banning bots be considered an action against the principles of free speech (as I assume we all agree Twitter can do whatever it wants and not actually violate Constitutionally protected Free Speech).