# 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:** 209
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4164 "2023-04-09T02:04:33Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > As an extreme prescriptivist, I strenuously object to the notion that “extreme” and “conservative” can, in any legitimate sense, be applied simultaneously to the same subject. I don’t follow. Are you saying conservative is a binary true or false with no degrees? As in, there’s no such thing as moderately conservative or slightly conservative? If there are gradients, then extreme would simply be a descriptor for the end of the scale that signifies most conservative. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4165 "2023-04-09T02:17:26Z")
So essentially it’s a matter of having no idea how NPR/PBS/CPB work. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4166 "2023-04-09T12:25:18Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > > As an extreme prescriptivist, I strenuously object to the notion that “extreme” and “conservative” can, in any legitimate sense, be applied simultaneously to the same subject. > > I don’t follow. Are you saying conservative is a binary true or false with no degrees? As in, there’s no such thing as moderately conservative or slightly conservative? If there are gradients, then extreme would simply be a descriptor for the end of the scale that signifies most conservative. I’ll concede that it’s fuzzy, inasmuch as there is no “scale” that consists of only _conservative_ positions/viewpoints/outlooks; and when _extremism_ comes into the picture, it can no longer be legitimately described as conservative. I’ll further concede that this undermines my point as a prescriptivist, but I’m sticking to my assertion. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4167 "2023-04-09T12:37:39Z")
There are policies that are adopted by people that label themselves as conservative. Some of those advocate those policies in a moderate way, and some of them demand them in an extreme way. I get why old school conservatives may not appreciate the co-opting of the term, but it is the Republican party that those objections should be directed towards. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4168 "2023-04-09T12:46:16Z")
Oh, believe me, I do (as I object to the continued existence of the Republican Party itself). But I also don’t think that the rest of us should just capitulate and let the radical reactionaries co-opt the term without resistance. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4169 "2023-04-09T13:50:13Z")
> **[Mehdi Hasan Dismantles The Entire Foundation Of The Twitter Files As Matt...](https://www.techdirt.com/2023/04/07/mehdi-hasan-dismantles-the-entire-foundation-of-the-twitter-files-as-matt-taibbi-stumbles-to-defend-it/)** > > So here’s the deal. If you think the Twitter Files are still something legit or telling or powerful, watch this 30 minute interview that Mehdi Hasan did with Matt Taibbi (at Taibbi’s own demand): H… Great article on the Taibbi nonsense, demonstrating how dishonest and bad a journalist Taibbi is, and the total bullshit his “Twitter files” were. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4170 "2023-04-09T14:06:31Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’ll concede that it’s fuzzy, inasmuch as there is no “scale” that consists of only _conservative_ positions/viewpoints/outlooks; I thought conservative meant wanting to maintain the status quo, or even going back to the previous status quo. Is that not correct? I could envision a racist conservative wanting to go back to the Jim Crow era, compared to an extreme conservative wanting to go all the way back to slavery. Am I not understanding correctly? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4171 "2023-04-09T14:08:02Z")
I’ll agree it’s a good article, but it’s also rather frustrating. It’s a lot of words that tell me what I already know, and it’s a lot of words that those who don’t know won’t read. The damage from the “twitter files” is done, and won’t be fixed by pointing out that those pushing them were a bunch of liars. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4172 "2023-04-09T15:23:11Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I thought conservative meant wanting to maintain the status quo, or even going back to the previous status quo. Is that not correct? > > I could envision a racist conservative wanting to go back to the Jim Crow era, compared to an extreme conservative wanting to go all the way back to slavery. Am I not understanding correctly? I don’t know about _not understanding correctly_, but _my_ understanding is that “wanting to go back to [a] previous status quo” is where _conservative_ goes away and _reactionary_ enters the picture. I assign them to separate sets. The racists you envision would both be reactionaries. ETA: And “conservative” doesn’t _have_ to mean _demanding to preserve a current status quo_. It can encompass a preference for moving forward carefully, in an effort to avoid unforeseen adverse consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4173 "2023-04-09T15:28:53Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Great article on the Taibbi nonsense, demonstrating how dishonest and bad a journalist Taibbi is, and the total bullshit his “Twitter files” were. Wow. Mehdi eviscerated him, surgically and professionally. Like all communication in our current world, not sure how many minds it will change, but good on Mehdi for fighting the good journalistic fight. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4174 "2023-04-09T15:56:01Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I’d be willing to place a bet that all these advertisers are scammers. Of course they are. Twitter is now a scammers dream. Open season for harvesting suckers. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4175 "2023-04-09T17:03:11Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > “wanting to go back to [a] previous status quo” is where _conservative_ goes away and _reactionary_ enters the picture. Let’s say I’m a middle-aged conservative, and all my life I have been against gay marriage. Then it became legal in the 2000s. My views haven’t changed, I’m still against gay marriage. Would you characterize my consistent lifelong view as having changed from conservative to reactionary? If yes, fair enough. I would agree to disagree with that but would have a better understanding of what you mean. (And just for the record, I personally am very much pro gay marriage.) EDIT: Also if the answer is yes, it occurs to me that if someone now tries to overturn gay marriage, you would characterize those who are pro-gay marriage as the conservatives, and the ones against as reactionaries. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4176 "2023-04-09T17:52:09Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > > “wanting to go back to [a] previous status quo” is where _conservative_ goes away and _reactionary_ enters the picture. > > Let’s say I’m a middle-aged conservative, and all my life I have been against gay marriage. Then it became legal in the 2000s. My views haven’t changed, I’m still against gay marriage. Would you characterize my consistent lifelong view as having changed from conservative to reactionary? Depends. Are you a) expending time/energy/funds to return to a state of no marriage licenses for same-sex couples, or b) just bitching impotently about it? If a), I’m calling you reactionary. If b), you may well just be a conservative (and a crotchety asshole one, at that). > [@](#): > > EDIT: Also if the answer is yes, it occurs to me that if someone now tries to overturn gay marriage, you would characterize those who are pro-gay marriage as the conservatives, and the ones against as reactionaries. As I mentioned above, it’s fuzzy. But, at least on a case-by-case basis, I’m still going to assign a _progressive_ descriptor to any efforts that **oppose** the reactionary efforts. Personal/individual rights and freedoms, all else being equal, ratchet toward expansion, not contraction. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4177 "2023-04-09T21:04:59Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > EDIT: Also if the answer is yes, it occurs to me that if someone now tries to overturn gay marriage, you would characterize those who are pro-gay marriage as the conservatives, and the ones against as reactionaries. What if someone tries to overturn Dobbs so that Roe would once again be the law of the land? Reactionary? Conservative? ---
**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 9, 2023, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4178 "2023-04-09T21:16:20Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > What if someone tries to overturn Dobbs so that Roe would once again be the law of the land? Reactionary? Conservative? No. But perhaps you don’t see a difference between overturning incremental progress and overturning a reactionary ruling that instantly destroyed 50 years of progress and set us back to pre-1973. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4179 "2023-04-09T21:28:21Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > But perhaps you don’t see a difference between overturning incremental progress and overturning a reactionary ruling that instantly destroyed 50 years of progress and set us back to pre-1973. 50 years _of being egregiously wrong,_ that is? ---
**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:** [April 9, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4180 "2023-04-09T21:28:43Z")
I dearly hope we spend at least fifty more posts debating what “conservative” means, never mind what we all understand it to have meant in context, because that’s super interesting! ---
**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 9, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4181 "2023-04-09T21:49:20Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > 50 years _of being egregiously wrong,_ that is? If it was so “egregiously wrong”, why did none of the Supreme Court nominees from the lunatic right say so during their confirmation hearings? Why did they instead _ **lie** _ and say or imply that Roe v Wade was “settled law”? Most of the “conservatives” on the court are in fact a bunch of lying ideologues who have as little concern for actual jurisprudence as they have for womens’ fundamental rights and 50 years of \*stare decisis". I’m done with this bickering. This thread is supposed to be about Elmo. ---
**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 9, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4182 "2023-04-09T21:54:13Z")
Elmo, in his wisdom, has determined that putting a special badge on certain accounts will help prove that people really are who they say they are. I can’t believe nobody thought of this before now! 😐 [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FtSk0FpWAAEVO0X?format=jpg&name=medium) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FtSk0FpWAAEVO0X?format=jpg&name=medium) ---
**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 10, 2023, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4183 "2023-04-10T01:11:57Z")
> **[Twitter lawyer quits as Musk’s legal woes expand, report says](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/04/twitter-lawyer-quits-as-musks-legal-woes-expand-report-says/)** > > Twitter is now facing probes from the FTC and German authorities. Agile counsel. Alternatively: he is setting up an exit strategy, to wit, “I _would have_ reinvented Twitter but then all these government compliance meddlers got in the way, (shrug emoji).” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=208) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=210)