# Now that Elon Musk has bought Twitter - now the Pit edition (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 25, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442 "2022-04-25T22:50:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 165
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2023, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3284 "2023-02-19T06:31:19Z")
Here’s a pretty good thread about why Elmo is paywalling 2FA and why it won’t save him any money. Short version; scammers spam false 2FA requests in order to get kickbacks from unscrupulous telcos, Twitter _used_ to have a person who looked for these scammers and shut them down, Elmo fired them because they weren’t doing hardcore coding, and he just now looked at their monthly bill. AGILE! > ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2023, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3285 "2023-02-19T11:22:55Z")
Having now read the Twitter thread, it is so Muskian. But perhaps he sees something that we mere mortals do not. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3286 "2023-02-19T20:50:35Z")
I suspect that removing 2FA will increase the amount of undectable robot traffic, creating lots of junk content - ads, propaganda, etc. - without paying Twitter anything for it. It will also create a lot more administration overhead because of people reporting hacked accounts, fighting against moderation notices because a bot posted something under their handle, etc. I would expect that the total cost to Twitter is higher than the cost of global 2FA. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2023, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3287 "2023-02-19T21:19:21Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I suspect that removing 2FA will increase the amount of undectable robot traffic, I’ve wondered if musk is perfectly content to let bots and troll farms increase, in order to increase ad impressions. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3288 "2023-02-19T22:09:09Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > It will also create a lot more administration overhead because of people reporting hacked accounts, fighting against moderation notices because a bot posted something under their handle, etc. I think the term for bots posting under your handle is called “identity borrowing”. It’s similar to identity theft, but rather than trying to steal from the account, the hackers are using the compromised accounts to boost their promoted accounts and tweets about their promoted products. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3289 "2023-02-20T13:49:38Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I suspect that removing 2FA will increase the amount of undectable robot traffic, creating lots of junk content - ads, propaganda, etc. - without paying Twitter anything for it. This apparently needs clarifying. Only text-message-based 2FA is being paywalled on Twitter. The announcement includes this: > We encourage non-Twitter Blue subscribers to consider using an authentication app or security key method instead. These methods require you to have physical possession of the authentication method and are a great way to ensure your account is secure. So they are not paywalling Two-Factor Authentication, only the one (likely most common) method. It still is probably a dumb thing to do, but please everybody stop responding as though they’ve made it impossible to have 2FA without paying now. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3290 "2023-02-20T14:44:52Z")
Here, to me, is the real problem. Decided to tag Elmo because, wtf, my time there is limited. It’s not even worth opening any more. > ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3291 "2023-02-20T15:01:30Z")
You cannot tell me that the breakup of the gathering place of the American press was not intentional. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3292 "2023-02-20T15:06:05Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > And fuck you, you pathetic, whiny-assed pos. I object to the orthographic ambiguity here. The term “pos” may, quite appropriately in this context, be interpreted as meaning “piece of shit”. But in that case it should be capitalized. It could also acceptably be used as an abbreviation for “pustule”, in reference to pus-filled, blister-like sores (though “pus” is more conventional). While both interpretations are admirably appropriate descriptions of Elmo, the ambiguity as to your actual intended meaning leaves your readers in a state of anxiety. . ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3293 "2023-02-20T15:08:08Z")
Piece of shit, for the abbreviationally-challenged. 😁 Thank you for bringing this to my concern. We all strive to make a better Board. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3294 "2023-02-20T15:15:46Z")
Hey! I would also have accepted Point of Sale. Since that seems to be what he’s about (for Blue) while not caring about post sale support. As for Piece of Shit, I don’t buy it. I mean, Musk is too slimy, too likely to spread filth such as Ye and his ilk everywhere. He’s more much more like a slimy, near liquid semi-solid rather than a firm P.o.S. I would fully accept pus though. Since he’s an infected wound that’s leaking all over everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3295 "2023-02-20T15:43:45Z")
Would that render POP? ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3296 "2023-02-20T15:59:33Z")
Well, we’d all like to pop the little fucker, yes… ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3297 "2023-02-20T16:11:50Z")
Furthermore, I’ve been doing some digging with my contacts about potential reasons for this move, and the more we talk about it, the more it would make sense to just get rid of 1FA and SMS 2FA altogether and require _all_ users to use a more secure method of 2FA. There’s no good reason to keep either of those anymore other than a slight level of convenience, and this would be a very Apple/Tesla move anyway. Push the envelope forward and all. The real question is why Twitter is keeping SMS 2FA for subscribers, not why they’re getting rid of it for everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3298 "2023-02-20T16:15:23Z")
Still, it _is_ probably Musk’s fault that the messaging around this change was so bungled. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3299 "2023-02-20T16:24:02Z")
Musk sees things from a 20,000 foot view and due to this he can see things beyond the scope of us mere mortals. Plus, you know, Agile! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3300 "2023-02-20T16:26:56Z")
Less Agile, more Fragile. Edit: > [@scudsucker](#): > > Fragile. Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3301 "2023-02-21T00:51:01Z")
Just got put in Twitter jail for calling ex-Trump spokesperson Jenna Ellis the Whore of MAGAlon, is it really my fault if Elmo doesn’t understand the Bible? ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3302 "2023-02-21T01:15:20Z")
I mean misogyny is gross no matter what side is doing it. But good one I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3303 "2023-02-21T01:49:37Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Just got put in Twitter jail for calling ex-Trump spokesperson Jenna Ellis the Whore of MAGAlon, is it really my fault if Elmo doesn’t understand the Bible? Yeah, you deserve to be in Twitter jail for that. It’s hard to resist a nice pun, but this is one that you should have resisted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=164) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=166)