# 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:** 204
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4064 "2023-04-03T00:34:00Z")
I didn’t even know it showed that. I always used an extension to be able to tell the difference between the two verified accounts. I wonder if that extension will continue to work. Edit: nope, still works. It’s called “eight dollars” if you want to look for it. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4065 "2023-04-03T19:28:22Z")
Elmk has now replaced the Twitter bird logo with doge, possibly to obfuscate the fact that he’s being sued for a quarter of a trillion dollars over fraudulently promoting dogecoin. > **[Elon Musk changes Twitter icon to Doge after seeking lawsuit dismissal](https://cointelegraph.com/news/elon-musk-changes-twitter-icon-to-doge-after-seeking-lawsuit-dismissal)** > > Dogecoin has rallied over 20% in the past hour in response to the move. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4066 "2023-04-03T20:43:24Z")
Crap, he really did. What’s next? White font on black? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4067 "2023-04-03T20:52:01Z")
All his lawyers have decided now is a great time for a stiff drink. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4068 "2023-04-03T21:00:09Z")
I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4069 "2023-04-04T01:06:02Z")
Meh, it’s undoubtedly one of Elmo’s typically misguided or self-serving changes and probably connected with the lawsuit, but inasmuch as it’s a fine image of a dog, I approve! Although now for consistency he needs to dump the Twitter name, too, and change it to “Bark”. Otherwise the name and the logo are incongruous. But then, so is Elmo. This is the actual Shiba Inu that it was based on: > ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4070 "2023-04-04T01:12:44Z")
I mean, that could just as easily be a doghouse as a birdhouse. ---
**Author:** ![ralfy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ralfy/32/600_2.png) [@ralfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralfy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4071 "2023-04-04T03:41:59Z")
These were reported by Reuters, MSNBC, U of Mich business articles, Business Insider, the NY Post, and others. The company lost $3 billion before Musk took over, and was losing every year except for two. The main cause was very high costs. Meanwhile, advertisers were pulling out before the company was purchased because their promoted tweets were being shown alongside child porn. At the same time, platforms like Mastodon showed lots of child porn. So far, Musk has been able to cut down costs in order to cause losses to drop by over 90 pct. Had he not taken over, it was predicted that losses would have risen to $6.5 billion the following year. Finally, he replaced advertising with a subscription model, partly to minimize the presence of 'bots (estimated at 5 pct of content but likely higher). Fortune and others reveal that this model was considered by other platforms, like Meta, during early 2022, and will likely be used to make up for lack of advertising revenues. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4072 "2023-04-04T03:46:44Z")
> [@ralfy](#): > > These were reported by Reuters, MSNBC, U of Mich business articles, Business Insider, the NY Post, and others. Then link those sources. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4073 "2023-04-04T04:09:48Z")
> [@ralfy](#): > > At the same time, platforms like Mastodon showed lots of child porn. I want a cite for that, too. Completely counter to my experience. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4074 "2023-04-04T04:15:30Z")
> [@ralfy](#): > > Finally, he replaced advertising with a subscription model, partly to minimize the presence of 'bots (estimated at 5 pct of content but likely higher). Do you think bot handlers can’t afford $8? And how’s that whole “replacing ad revenue with subscriptions” thing working for Elmo? > **[Twitter Blue relaunch has made just $11M on mobile in its first 3 months |...](https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/24/twitter-blue-subscriptions-spendings-mobile-users/)** > > Twitter Blue has helped the microblogging network generate around $11 million globally from mobile users since its relaunch in December. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4075 "2023-04-04T04:38:03Z")
AFAICT, news sites such as the ones you mention have reported that Musk claimed that his cost-cutting measures saved Twitter from bankruptcy. I’m not seeing any such sites independently confirming Musk’s claims. And Twitter has lost way more advertisers since Musk took over than previously. Child porn [is endemic on tech platforms and has remained so on Twitter since Musk acquired it.](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/06/technology/twitter-child-sex-abuse.html) Musk’s “cost-cutting” in the form of dumping staff and not paying bills has, unsurprisingly, made Twitter less effective and responsive in removing illegal content. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4076 "2023-04-04T10:19:13Z")
Given the abject stupidity of **ralfy** ’s posts elsewhere on every other topic, it’s safe to dismiss this as more of the same. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4077 "2023-04-04T11:16:26Z")
You mean his “facts” might have been rectally extracted? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4078 "2023-04-04T14:02:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Do you think Could’ve stopped there. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4079 "2023-04-04T14:14:19Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > And Twitter has lost way more advertisers since Musk took over than previously. Child porn [is endemic on tech platforms and has remained so on Twitter since Musk acquired it.](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/06/technology/twitter-child-sex-abuse.html) Musk’s “cost-cutting” in the form of dumping staff and not paying bills has, unsurprisingly, made Twitter less effective and responsive in removing illegal content. And - again - Musk himself has admitted the site is overrun with bots. There has also been a big surge in [neo-Nazi posters](https://newrepublic.com/post/170176/twitter-suspends-white-supremacist-nick-fuentes), some of whom have been explicitly unbanned by Elon. It’s going great. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4080 "2023-04-04T14:17:08Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > And - again - Musk himself has admitted the site is overrun with bots. There has also been a big surge in [neo-Nazi posters](https://newrepublic.com/post/170176/twitter-suspends-white-supremacist-nick-fuentes), some of whom have been explicitly unbanned by Elon. > > It’s going great. They used to be better at screening out porn accounts that used trending tags to get exposure (heh). Now you click on a trending topic (like I clicked on “Bayern vs Dortmund” the other day) and you inevitably get a bunch of porn accounts. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4081 "2023-04-04T15:59:19Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > you inevitably get a bunch of porn accounts. But do they have blue check marks? If so they can’t be spam. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4082 "2023-04-04T18:48:19Z")
> **[Elon Musk’s swollen inventories of unsold Tesla cars have Wall Street worried](https://fortune.com/2023/04/03/elon-musk-tesla-q1-production-sales-swelling-inventories-of-unsold-cars-has-wall-street-worried/)** > > Even by Tesla’s own official count, the number of cars in stock is reaching levels not seen since the third quarter of 2020—despite the generous use of rebates to entice consumers. Well, that can’t be good. If you are Musk, or a TSLA bag holder. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4083 "2023-04-04T22:10:57Z")
Unpaywalled version: > **[Elon Musk’s swelling inventories of unsold Tesla cars have Wall Street worried](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-swelling-inventories-unsold-142222021.html)** > > Even by Tesla’s own official count, the number of cars in stock is reaching levels not seen since the third quarter of 2020—despite the generous use of rebates to entice consumers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=203) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=205)