# 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:** 225
**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 22, 2023, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4484 "2023-04-22T10:52:33Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > > [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > > > Also, unless I’m very mistaken, you aren’t paying for identity verification, right? You’re basically just paying for the checkmark itself. > > That’s basically correct, though I believe Elmo does require those paying for the checkmark to also give him a working phone number. > > You know, so he can sell it to telemarketers. $8/mo for a link to an image of a small blue checkmark is a pretty good scam. I’m thinking of starting a similar business. I’m going to call it “Elmo Genie”, and the terms are even better than Elmo’s. The business model is that you send me only $5 a month (or a one-time payment of $600, good for life) and in return, I promise to wish you good luck (because you’re obviously gonna need it). ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4485 "2023-04-22T13:23:34Z")
It’s now not possible to search Twitter or click on trending topic unless logged into a Twitter account. It’s happened before, albeit temporarily, so we’ll have to see whether it persists. > [@](#): > > The fact that search is no longer usable for those not signed in is pretty interesting. CEO Elon Musk has been actively trying to get people to become Twitter subscribers. He has even removed the legacy blue checkmark from famous people’s accounts in recent days. Search could have been switched off to entice users onto the platform, including those who left due to the controversy after Musk took over. > **[The login prompt for Twitter Search has returned just months after Elon Musk...](https://www.neowin.net/news/the-login-prompt-for-twitter-search-has-returned-just-months-after-elon-musk-wanted-it-gone/)** > > Twitter's search feature appears to be unavailable to people not signed into the site. It was possible to search while logged out until recently. To use search, you'll have to log in with an account. ---
**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 22, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4486 "2023-04-22T16:44:07Z")
#BlockTheBlue is trending heavily. Seems reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4487 "2023-04-22T16:58:13Z")
I just use the “following” tag, and ignore “for you”. I know that everyone in “following” is someone I chose to follow, so I already verified their authenticity. Unfortunately the change means it’s much more difficult to verify authentic accounts now, so I’m much more reluctant to follow more accounts. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4488 "2023-04-22T22:10:06Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > > [@Sherrerd](#): > > > > \*_Security: Your account must be older than 30 days upon subscription and have a confirmed phone number ._ > > Someone’s never heard of tracfone. My understanding is that TracFone offers service for a minimum of 90 days (per their refill cards). So Elmo would be able to sell the numbers of people with TracFone accounts just as easily as those with landlines or more-prestigious cell phones. Of course the telemarketers might come back and complain 91 days later, but why would Elmo care?? > > [@wolfpup](#): > > $8/mo for a link to an image of a small blue checkmark is a pretty good scam. I’m thinking of starting a similar business. I’m going to call it “Elmo Genie”, and the terms are even better than Elmo’s. The business model is that you send me only $5 a month (or a one-time payment of $600, good for life) and in return, I promise to wish you good luck (because you’re obviously gonna need it). Don’t be giving that stain any ideas. ‘_Being wished Good Luck by a Certified Genius–that’s worth paying for, right???_’ I mean, this is the guy who carried a sink into Twitter headquarters, assuming everyone would be impressed by the brilliance of the concept. ---
**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 22, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4489 "2023-04-22T22:14:14Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > My understanding is that TracFone offers service for a minimum of 90 days (per their refill cards). You can buy 30 day plans > **[$20 1GB Prepaid Smartphone Plan - Tracfone](https://www.tracfone.com/plans/30-days-smart-phone-prepaid-plan-unlimited-minutes-tracfone)** > > Get unlimited talk and text, and 1GB of data with the $20 30-day prepaid smartphone plan today at Tracfone! > [@Sherrerd](#): > > Of course the telemarketers might come back and complain 91 days later, but why would Elmo care?? The point is more that giving a phone number doesn’t in any way confirm someone’s identity. As a side note, they’ve gotten a lot cheaper since I last used them. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4490 "2023-04-22T22:18:37Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > The point is more that giving a phone number doesn’t in any way confirm someone’s identity. Yes, exactly—it’s clear that it’s just another way for Elmo to make money (from the sale to telemarketers and, presumably, data aggregators in general)—even if the buyers will complain after a mere 30 days rather than the 90 I’d assumed. TracFones used to be available for $5 apiece. What with inflation I doubt that’s still true, but even so, it would be a relatively inexpensive way to avoid giving Himself anything that actually has value. IF having a blue check is seen as desirable, anyway. ---
**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 22, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4491 "2023-04-22T22:25:16Z")
Elmo has now stuck a checkmark on the account of legendary shitposter dril, who’s been one of the posters at the forefront of #BlockTheBlue. Dril is taking things in stride. > > > Dril then changed his profile name, which makes you lose the checkmark - and Elmo put it back. Agile bullying! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.E](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.e/32/8932_2.png) [@Mr.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.E)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4492 "2023-04-22T22:40:16Z")
Gifting Twitter Blue to all the biggest accounts that don’t want them in an effort to stop this protest is both funny and pathetic. I don’t give a fuck, I’ll block them anyway. Goodbye Stephen King, Goodbye Dril, I’ll still see screenshots of all your tweets worth seeing. ---
**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 22, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4493 "2023-04-22T22:49:30Z")
As of this moment he’s checkmarkless as he changed his nane again. We’ll see if Elmo wants to keep hot-potatoing him. He also forced one on Chrissy Teagan just now, and Matt Binder too. > > > Catturd ™ @catturd2 ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4494 "2023-04-22T23:06:39Z")
Did you know if Twitter gold rejects your verification application, they still keep your first $1000? > She got her lawyers involved and got her money back, so in the end she’s only out the self-respect of letting everyone know you were going to give a billionaire $1000 a month for a gold checkmark. Which is kinda just as bad or worse. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4495 "2023-04-22T23:12:05Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I mean, this is the guy who carried a sink into Twitter headquarters, assuming everyone would be impressed by the brilliance of the concept. He gave everyone fair warning that he was going to sink Twitter. The sad thing is that I’m sure he’s smugly convinced he’s “winning” something in all this. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4496 "2023-04-22T23:13:40Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > TracFones used to be available for $5 apiece. What with inflation I doubt that’s still true At the moment they have one $5 model. > **[ALCATEL MYFLIP 2 Reconditioned (A406DL)](https://www.tracfone.com/phone/alcatel-myflip-2-reconditioned)** > > RECONDITIONED. The Alcatel MY FLIP 2 is a modern flip phone with the essential features to get things done with none of the hassle. The 2 ---
**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 22, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4497 "2023-04-22T23:22:40Z")
Oh, and at some point, Elmo gave the New York Times their checkmark back. Gotta love this business model of getting people to subscribe to your service by giving it for free to people that don’t want it. Agile marketing! ---
**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 22, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4498 "2023-04-22T23:41:30Z")
> So in other words, we’re back to the same “lords and peasants” system Elmo was complaining about when he bought the place. Trump has his check back, which would seem to confirm this - no way in hell is he springing for $8. ---
**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 23, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4499 "2023-04-23T00:13:57Z")
> ---
**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 23, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4500 "2023-04-23T00:35:05Z")
Christ, that’s like going to cemeteries and baptizing dead people. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4501 "2023-04-23T00:35:42Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I just use the “following” tag, and ignore “for you”. I know that everyone in “following” is someone I chose to follow, so I already verified their authenticity. …because I live in the southern hemisphere, I typically alternate between “for you” and “following” because while I’m active on Twitter, most of the people I actively follow are fast asleep and don’t shop up in the following tab. Even with Elon’s multiple changes, it still worked quite well for me. Until yesterday when I started being spammed by fan accounts 😃 I woke up this morning and “for you” seems to have fixed itself. No more having to explain why my feed was wall-to-wall photos of Hailee Steinfeld LOL ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4502 "2023-04-23T01:34:09Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > because while I’m active on Twitter, most of the people I actively follow are fast asleep Adjust your sleep schedule, join us in the [Eastern Standard Tribe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Standard_Tribe). ---
**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 23, 2023, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/4503 "2023-04-23T02:40:40Z")
> I wonder how Elmo’s Saudi financiers feel about this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=224) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=226)