# 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:** 413
**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 18, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8246 "2023-12-18T12:42:42Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Musk: Blow me, you wouldn’t dare. > > EU now: (dares) It’s Musk’s fault for invoking the dreaded “triple dog dare”. > [@](#): > > P.S. You will be unsurprised to learn that the replies to the regulator’s tweet announcing this action are an absolute avalanche of blue-check taintlickers. [![](https://i.redd.it/the-worst-magic-trick-v0-dcw7eehm1ax81.png?s=e82bc43f1ca837abcc12e6efdb68739b6cabf5a1) ](https://i.redd.it/the-worst-magic-trick-v0-dcw7eehm1ax81.png?s=e82bc43f1ca837abcc12e6efdb68739b6cabf5a1) ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8247 "2023-12-18T22:49:49Z")
A post was merged into an existing topic: [Rondav’s Troll Posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rondavs-troll-posts/994789/6) ---
**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 18, 2023, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8248 "2023-12-18T22:08:34Z")
[![](https://img.ifunny.co/images/5586a3f6d24c004eb5d6c947533ddca9f18ae93e40ac26eb7f4def5d89b8768c_1.webp) ](https://img.ifunny.co/images/5586a3f6d24c004eb5d6c947533ddca9f18ae93e40ac26eb7f4def5d89b8768c_1.webp) ---
**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 19, 2023, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8249 "2023-12-19T00:01:05Z")
That is too funny. Thanks to YouTube, I just watched John Oliver do his last show of the season and the topic was Elon. John Oliver is one of the most brilliant people on the planet and he does such an excellent job of “explaining” Elon. Seriously smart and so funny. Worth a watch for anyone with 30 minutes to spare. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8250 "2023-12-19T00:42:52Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Thanks to YouTube, I just watched John Oliver do his last show of the season and the topic was Elon. I watched that too! I learned Musk is in control of HALF of all satellites in orbit and why that is worrisome. ---
**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 19, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8251 "2023-12-19T01:02:24Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > I learned Musk is in control of HALF of all satellites in orbit and why that is worrisome. Specifically they are Starlink satellites, not just random satellites. It’s just that Starlink is composed of a lot of satellites. They’re relatively small in size, about the size of a large dinner table. They weigh 260 kg or about 575 lb each. There are about 5,500 of them in orbit now. The plan is to deploy 12,000 of them, and perhaps expand the number to 42,000 eventually. If they weren’t so small I’d be more concerned. If they all fell to Earth, given their small size they’d burn up long before hitting the ground. If the concern is that he could use them for nefarious means, in all honesty I’m more worried about all the money in the hands of an insane drugged-up manchild and the power that gives than just his space internet. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8252 "2023-12-19T01:15:12Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I’m more worried about all the money in the hands of an insane drugged-up manchild and the power that gives than just his space internet. OK, as long as people are worried. I just thought the fact was eye-catching ---
**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 19, 2023, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8253 "2023-12-19T05:45:41Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > If they weren’t so small I’d be more concerned. If they all fell to Earth, given their small size they’d burn up long before hitting the ground. The danger of so many satellites isn’t to the ground, it’s that if they lose control of a couple of them they could go banging around into other things in orbit and create debris which leads to a cascade effect and destroys a lot of other orbiting equipment, resulting in a huge gap in our modern reliance on quick and easy communication and information transfer. But I’m sure the technology is rock-solid. I mean, it’s not like the cars he makes just randomly decide to catch fire or crash themselves into tractor-trailers. ---
**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 19, 2023, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8254 "2023-12-19T06:10:48Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > The danger of so many satellites isn’t to the ground, it’s that if they lose control of a couple of them they could go banging around into other things in orbit and create debris which leads to a cascade effect and destroys a lot of other orbiting equipment, resulting in a huge gap in our modern reliance on quick and easy communication and information transfer. That’s already a lost cause. > **[Analysis: Why trash in space is a major problem with no clear fix](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/science/analysis-why-trash-in-space-is-a-major-problem-with-no-clear-fix)** > > Treaties meant to ensure sustainability in space don’t currently regulate private companies, and not every country has signed on to an agreement for sustainable space exploration. ---
**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 19, 2023, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8255 "2023-12-19T06:15:36Z")
Well, I don’t know if you’ve been closely reading this thread, but there’s no existing problem which Musk can’t make vastly worse through hubris and stupidity. 😉 ---
**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 19, 2023, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8256 "2023-12-19T06:47:56Z")
True. ---
**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:** [December 19, 2023, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8257 "2023-12-19T08:33:30Z")
My understanding is that the starlink satellites orbit at a much lower altitude than everything else. Meaning the risk to GPS satellites and whatnot is minimal, though of course not zero. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8258 "2023-12-19T13:24:02Z")
There’s been some speculation in this thread about when mass media would begin to refer to X as just “X”, not as “X (formerly known as Twitter)”. It’s starting: > [@Omnibus Stupid MFers in the news thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread/931945/9759): > > Comment #1: [pedant mode] Things don’t “turn awry”; they “go awry”. Stoopit newspaper people. [/pedant mode] Comment #2: I actually prefer it if all the robbers go do the deed. I understand the logic behind statutes that hold getaway drivers and similar assistants (“accessories” in the law) as fully liable for the crimes they facilitate. But it still sits wrong with me to convict them as fully as the dudes waving guns, shooting people, etc. It smacks of us creating a law that’s easy to… ---
**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 19, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8259 "2023-12-19T14:12:01Z")
Before that article, I had once seen a reference to “media platform X,” without any reference to Twitter. But that’s a first for just plain X. ---
**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 19, 2023, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8260 "2023-12-19T18:46:55Z")
His maturity level really does seem to hover around the region of “15-year-old entitled white boy.” Concerning. > ---
**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 19, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8261 "2023-12-19T22:06:50Z")
I for one am shocked - shocked, I tell you! - that Elmo would imply that women aren’t people. ---
**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 19, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8262 "2023-12-19T22:13:45Z")
> ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8263 "2023-12-19T22:33:40Z")
Would it kill you to just link the original article rather than forcing us to give Twitter more clicks? ---
**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 19, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8264 "2023-12-19T22:42:33Z")
The link’s right there in the preview. ---
**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 19, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/8265 "2023-12-19T22:45:08Z")
Just for the record, the onebox doesn’t always load, and depending on the screen, may not include the link. So, please and thank you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=412) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=414)