Twitter under Musk....

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C R

Über Member
It's not an epithet often used by conservatives.

Well, it is scary that it has taken so long for the "mainstream adjacent" to realise which way things are going.
 
Government just blocks the IP address. Many southern states have done something similar for Pornhub. China allows very few western IP addresses in. The problem is that it opens the door to the totalitarian blocking of sites the government doesn't like.
Vpn, tunneling, tor, etc. to name just a few ways to circumvent government blocks.
However the bigger point is that almost always it works against the purpose, so X might get more popular just because it was banned and what you say yourself, it dramatically increases the risk of the government deciding other things might not be good for us too.
The other thing is what do you win with it? It's a bit the same as all those anti-vaxxers during covid. Reasoning is pointless but so is banning there favorite conspiracy hangout.
 

Psamathe

Active Member
Vpn, tunneling, tor, etc. to name just a few ways to circumvent government blocks.
I agree but those means only apply to a smaller determined group which would address the bulk of access. Those determined will always find ways round but they probably hold such views already so their accessing the site(s) is not an issue.
However the bigger point is that almost always it works against the purpose, so X might get more popular just because it was banned and what you say yourself, it dramatically increases the risk of the government deciding other things might not be good for us too.
The other thing is what do you win with it? It's a bit the same as all those anti-vaxxers during covid. Reasoning is pointless but so is banning there favorite conspiracy hangout.
I agree. Two aspects are the technicalities and the social impact (it being counterproductive). In a broader context (ie blocking/banning undesirable/illegal sites) I think those determined and already down any particular rabbit hole will continue so will source the content they seek despite blocks/bans. Governments seem to fail to appreciate the positives and negatives of blocks/bans. Brazil handled their blocks very well - they had limited objectives and their target was broad and they achieved their aims.

Ian
 

multitool

Pharaoh
Interesting dilemma for Farage re:Musk.

Farage has always tried to distance himself from extremist figures, or give the appearance of so doing. One such person is Yaxley-Lennon, who Farage has criticised in the past. Now that Musk, at whose teat Farage is sucking, has openly supported YL , Farage faces a difficult calculation as whether embracing YL will lose more support that Musk's money will bring.
 

tarric

Member
Interesting dilemma for Farage re:Musk.

Farage has always tried to distance himself from extremist figures, or give the appearance of so doing. One such person is Yaxley-Lennon, who Farage has criticised in the past. Now that Musk, at whose teat Farage is sucking, has openly supported YL , Farage faces a difficult calculation as whether embracing YL will lose more support that Musk's money will bring.
Although he rarely if ever gets directly involved (I can't be bothered trawling through years of reports) he spends a lot of time stirring up racial division and I very much doubt that he's that stupid he doesn't know what he's doing. Yaxley-Lennon is just a useful tool who brings a lot of useful fools, the likes of who Farage needs and cultivates.
 
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Psamathe

Active Member
Farage has always tried to distance himself from extremist figures, or give the appearance of so doing.
I think Musk is becoming an extremist figure eg his outspoken support for AfD, Yaxley-thingy, etc. I consider people who speak out supporting extremist policies and people to be extremist themselves. That said, I can't see many of Farange's current supporters worrying too much about that. But might impact his achieving more support ... except I suspect Musk will have long forgotten his current interest in politics and have moved on long before people have to decide about General Election crosses on boxes and much of the electorate has a very short memory.

Ian
 

Psamathe

Active Member
I wonder how much of Musk's political stance/Tweets is centred on narcissism? If he were tweeting that Ms Phillips is right or that Starmer's policy on economic growth is a good way forward, would we all be talking about him?

Like somebody discovering addiction, they need ever more to satisfy their cravings.

Ian
 

glasgowcyclist

Über Member
Rage-bait for engagement.
 

Rusty Nails

Country Member
Rage-bait for engagement.

And it's obviously working.

Meanwhile he carries on regardless, probably laughing. Why should he worry...he's the world's richest man, he influences/directs presidents, and has his own social media platform to insult anyone he wants to.

He may change and lose his influence, but it will be caused by money and not insults.
 

mjr

Active Member
And it's obviously working.
Is it, though? A lot of people have finally closed their twix accounts after the latest outbursts. It must be dying off at last.

It served its purpose, though. What was it, $44bn to buy the USA presidency?

And many of the fools have moved to bluesky, which can be bought before the next election, if it hasn't already.
 

Rusty Nails

Country Member
Is it, though? A lot of people have finally closed their twix accounts after the latest outbursts. It must be dying off at last.

It served its purpose, though. What was it, $44bn to buy the USA presidency?

And many of the fools have moved to bluesky, which can be bought before the next election, if it hasn't already.

It has worked.

There is still usefulness in it for Musk.
 

Psamathe

Active Member
Maybe an aspect deserving of a separate thread but I think beyond Musk considering himself entitled to rule (both the US and non-US) his behaviour highlights the problems of inequality (income/financial) in western society and the impacts that causes. Reported today:
FTSE 100 bosses make more money by noon today than average worker in a year
Bosses will hit milestone marginally quicker this year on the third working day of 2025 with median hourly pay of £1,298, says High Pay Centre

The chief executives of FTSE 100 companies will have made more money in 2025 by midday on Monday than their average worker does in a whole year, according to the latest measure of inequality between bosses and their employees.
(from https://www.theguardian.com/busines...y-by-noon-today-than-average-worker-in-a-year)
Ian
 

Psamathe

Active Member
Just listening to "The Rest Is Politics Podcast" (Alistair Campbell & Rory Stewart) and they came up with an interesting idea/question: Who in the UK is feeding Musk all his stuff? They figured Musk doesn't (or didn't) have a clue who Jess Phillips is, doesn't have time to get to know what's going on in UK politics, and the current issue he's latched on to wasn't current news so wouldn't have featured on his "radar".

Which does raise the question as to who in the UK is prompting him, feeding him the names, the issues, etc.

Ian
 
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