# 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:** 402
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8026 "2023-12-04T05:09:16Z")
OK, my sense of reality is crumbling around me. The verification checkmark on TFG’s Twuth Social is actually pink? As in the color of commies and ‘teh gay’? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2023, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8027 "2023-12-04T07:51:37Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m afraid that one’s authentic. He must have had a **real** grownup help him with it. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2023, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8028 "2023-12-04T08:06:35Z")
The problem with assessing the legitimacy of that “Twuth” is that when you see a line like “_… I could have said, ‘drop to your knees and beg’, and he would have done it_” it’s simultaneously both outrageous parody and distinctly Trumpian. The problem with these assessment is that Trump is so profoundly stupid and utterly lacking in self-awareness that it’s all essentially self-parody. I mean, who could have seriously believed the UV-light-up-the-ass and bleach injections as a cure for COVID as a serious statement from a president of the United States? But it was. I could certainly have been fooled myself, but I happened to remember from previous news reports that the orange fuck really did say all this. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2023, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8029 "2023-12-04T08:39:50Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > He must have had a **real** grownup help him with it. I mean, he occasionally had people tweeting for him when he was president. I wouldn’t be surprised if he still does that. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8030 "2023-12-04T11:21:15Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The problem with assessing the legitimacy of that “Twuth” is that when you see a line like “_… I could have said, ‘drop to your knees and beg’, and he would have done it_” it’s simultaneously both outrageous parody and distinctly Trumpian. He’s Poe’s Law made flesh. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8031 "2023-12-04T12:29:06Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > One of my (slightly less likely) concerns with buying a Tesla is a concern that one day, Elon will decide you must have some feature, or must _lose_ some feature, and an over-the-air update will lock your car until this happens. And as he grows demonstrably more crazed, the more that seems likely - regardless of what the “owner” wants or prefers. So, basically, he’d be the automotive version of the old Ma Bell. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2023, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8032 "2023-12-04T12:46:44Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I mean, he occasionally had people tweeting for him when he was president. I wouldn’t be surprised if he still does that. It used to be you could sometimes tell when he wasn’t tweeting because one of his staff had an android phone, and some of the tweets would come from that instead of his iPhone (and in a remarkable coincidence, those tweets would be more lucid). But, of course, Elmo now charges the shit out of people using APIs, and there’s no way to figure that out on that platform without spending a bunch of money. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8033 "2023-12-04T13:01:05Z")
Elon is going to be like Hal, only more juvenile. He’ll lock Tesla owners in the vehicle and when they tell him to unlock the damn doors, he’ll just send a poop emoji. He might let you out if you agree to sign up for a lifetime subscription on twitter. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8034 "2023-12-04T13:09:40Z")
I posted this in the cybertruck thread, but I think it’s also worth posting here. Elmo became impatient with the new high cost of insurance on his difficult to repair vehicles, so he started his own insurance coverage. Mad hijinx ensued. [Tesla launched its own car insurance. These drivers say it's a lemon.](https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/tesla-insurance/#:~:text=own%20car%20insurance.-,These%20drivers%20say%20it%27s%20a%20lemon.,sales%20because%20of%20high%20premiums). ---
**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:** [December 4, 2023, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8035 "2023-12-04T13:21:31Z")
The whole point of the insurance business is to collect as much as possible in premium payments while paying out as little as possible. The typical insurance company does this by burying the policyholder in excuses and opaque technical analyses that justify the failure to pay out. Musk has invented the agile version of that, where you just collect the money and then don’t do anything else. You don’t need to give excuses to the claimant, you can just ignore them. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8036 "2023-12-04T13:31:20Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > We used to say that Fiat stood for “Fix It Again, Tony.” Somewhere there must be similar “explanations” for Honda, Nissan, GMC, etc. Volkswagen might be a challenge. Yonks ago Mad Magazine had a cartoon involving a VW Beetle squashed between two trucks, declaring it the “ **V** ery **W** orst Place To Be In An Accident”. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8037 "2023-12-05T18:56:23Z")
Legal Eagle on Elon’s suit against Media Matters. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HfQ-B9g_RqE/maxresdefault.jpg "Elon Musk's Thermonuclear Defamation Suit Is a Dud") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfQ-B9g_RqE) ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8038 "2023-12-05T19:28:09Z")
Can you give us a summary or something interesting from the video? ---
**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:** [December 5, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8039 "2023-12-05T19:47:20Z")
Nothing particularly new, just a solid summary of a lot that’s gone on about the Media Matters lawsuit to date. 1. It talks about defamation, but isn’t about defamation. business disparagement (higher requirements and per next point, almost a given to fail). 2. _Musk’s own case admits that the allegations are factual_, but required account manipulation (kinda, sorta true in a technical sense, but not in any sense that couldn’t happen in the wild). And of course, many other examples have been found outside Media Matters version. 3. It’s a dressed up SLAPP effort, and by dressed up, we’re talking Emperor’s New Clothes level dressing (and how appeals courts in Texas have ruled against SLAPP for federal cases - see next point). 4. Review of the choice to file in a presumed ‘friendly’ court, especially for appeals above. Hope that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8040 "2023-12-05T19:56:53Z")
Thanks! That matches another analysis I’ve heard. Another point I’ve seen: it’s a “the litigation itself is the punishment” since Elmo can drag the process out while making Media Matters pay their own lawyers. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8041 "2023-12-05T22:40:37Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Another point I’ve seen: it’s a “the litigation itself is the punishment” since Elmo can drag the process out while making Media Matters pay their own lawyers. Which is why he filed the suit both federally and in Texas, because while Texas has very strict anti-SLAAP laws that would result in the case being dismissed almost immediately, and prior to the expensive discovery process, Texas is part of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals which has ruled that Texas’ anti-SLAAP laws don’t apply to federal cases. His problem is that a request for transfer of jurisdiction is almost certain to be granted. Texas has no vested interest in the case. Twitter is based out of San Francisco, Media Matters out of Washington DC. The only reason he chose Texas was to try to avoid an immediate dismissal for being a SLAAP lawsuit. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8042 "2023-12-05T22:58:29Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > Twitter is based out of San Francisco, Media Matters out of Washington DC. The only reason he chose Texas was to try to avoid an immediate dismissal for being a SLAAP lawsuit. Indeed, Twitter’s own TOS says all legal disputes are to be handled in California. ---
**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:** [December 7, 2023, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8043 "2023-12-07T10:38:26Z")
> **[Ex-Twitter exec sues Musk, says he was fired for objecting to budget cuts](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/12/ex-twitter-exec-sues-musk-says-he-was-fired-for-objecting-to-budget-cuts/)** > > Fired exec suing Musk says he warned that budget cuts would harm FTC compliance. Behind the lawsuit for fair compensation is a lot of eye-opening information about how Musk and his goons took a big dump on the whole notion of regulatory compliance. Zero chance this goes to trial. Musk will settle because he won’t want the public revelations that come with evidence gathering and testimony. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8044 "2023-12-07T15:17:47Z")
But only after dragging the process out to (and beyond) the maximum extent. I’m sure defying orders for discovery and process wouldn’t be beyond his legal skillset. ---
**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:** [December 7, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8045 "2023-12-07T16:31:45Z")
Oh sure. He’ll hem and haw and grandstand and pout until the last possible minute, and then he’ll write a check. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=401) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=403)