# 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:** 48
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/941 "2022-11-13T10:10:05Z")
I don’t use Twitter myself, but I recognise what’s going on from having seen similar ‘new management’ situations in a much smaller context. To see it playing out at this scale (and so vigorously and fast) is quite something. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/942 "2022-11-13T13:19:12Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > So I gather that you don’t like hyperbole as a literary device and would prefer that Wortman had used different words to describe Musk’s catastrophic mismanagement. OK. Because it comes across as whiny and clueless? If he’d only said “Muck is taking away a benefit of free lunches, so now we have to spend unplanned funds” that’s accurate and not hyperbolic. I’d be mad, too. Saying “we’re going to staaaarrrrvvvee!” is just entitled whinging. I, and uncounted millions of others, have had to budget out own lunch for our entire adult lives, so the thought of some cry baby entitled employees having to pack their own sandwich just doesn’t garner any sympathy. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/943 "2022-11-13T13:26:23Z")
For lack of any other place to post this - I’m currently in Twitmo for I don’t know how long just because I asked country singer John Rich if he shouldn’t be fucking a sheep right about now. So touchy with their free speech. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/944 "2022-11-13T13:37:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I, and uncounted millions of others, have had to budget out own lunch for our entire adult lives, so the thought of some cry baby entitled employees having to pack their own sandwich just doesn’t garner any sympathy. It’s not about “sympathy”, it’s about being competitive. Google HQ is 35 minutes down US 101 from Twitter HQ. Not that anyone is going to change jobs for Google’s free gourmet lunches, but it’s a strong indication of how much a company values their employees. If they treat you like shit and start pulling benefits and also threaten to fire you if you don’t toe the line, while another company down the road values their employees, where would you rather work? It’s entirely possible that reducing employee benefits is the right short-term solution for a company in financial straits. But if so, Musk handled it in the worst possible way. Again, this is not about free lunches, it’s about gross mismanagement that is going to piss off the most valuable and marketable employees, the kind that headhunters are always after and can get a job anywhere. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2022, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/945 "2022-11-13T13:49:35Z")
🤪 > **[Elon Musk Accidentally Includes Himself in Latest Round of Mass Layoffs](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/elon-musk-accidentally-includes-himself-in-latest-round-of-mass-layoffs)** > > Musk attempted to tweet a call for assistance, but found that his Twitter password had been changed and his blue check removed. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/946 "2022-11-13T14:28:23Z")
I’d sooner bet that was prank sabotage by a now-former employee. Don’t screw with the smart people: they have ways subtle and mysterious. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/947 "2022-11-13T14:31:49Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’d sooner bet that was prank sabotage by a now-former employee. Don’t screw with the smart people: they have ways subtle and mysterious. - If you’re replying to @wolfpup, it’s a Borowitz piece. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/948 "2022-11-13T14:36:50Z")
Whatever “Borowitz” might be. I looked to be sure it was _The New Yorker_ and not _The Onion_ before I posted. I suppose I should have checked more thoroughly. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/949 "2022-11-13T14:38:18Z")
FTR, some years ago _The New Yorker_ hired on the great satirist Andy Borowitz as a staff writer. His column on what was then [BorowitzReport.com](http://BorowitzReport.com) was then integrated into the _New Yorker_ humour section. I’ve posted a number of links to the various Borowitz articles, and because they’re in the _New Yorker_, the satire has sometimes been mistaken for factual news. But as Borowitz says in the banner headline on his _New Yorker_ page, “Not the News”! Next time I’ll try to be clearer that it’s satire, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/950 "2022-11-13T14:45:05Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Whatever “Borowitz” might be. I looked to be sure it was _The New Yorker_ and not _The Onion_ before I posted. I suppose I should have checked more thoroughly. - Sorry. I thought all the oldtimers here knew who Borowitz is. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/951 "2022-11-13T15:12:49Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > If that’s the kind of whiny entitled brats that work there, maybe he should fire them all, and start over. Or maybe he should’ve not bought a company staffed by whiny entitled brats and let someone else take the loss on free lunch? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/952 "2022-11-13T16:20:12Z")
Getting meals for free five or six days a week isn’t just a ‘perk.’ It’s a substantial component of a benefits package. Axing it is the equivalent of a pay cut, even if nothing is changing on paper. Is the dude who made that Tweet even a Twitter employee? Is there any indication that actual employees are saying that Musk is seriously trying to ‘starve’ them? Or is this just an excuse to call tech workers “whiny entitled brats?” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/953 "2022-11-13T16:34:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Or is this just an excuse to call tech workers “whiny entitled brats?” - If you’re not Board of Directors level or above, you’re a “whiny entitled brat” who have no respect for your betters. /s ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/954 "2022-11-13T16:44:31Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Getting meals for free five or six days a week isn’t just a ‘perk.’ It’s a substantial component of a benefits package. Axing it is the equivalent of a pay cut, even if nothing is changing on paper. And for the business, the choice is between hiring a $200k engineer or a $150k + $5k worth of food engineer. If Elon is ever hiring engineers again, it will be at the higher number. > [@](#): > > Is the dude who made that Tweet even a Twitter employee? Is there any indication that actual employees are saying that Musk is seriously trying to ‘starve’ them? Or is this just an excuse to call tech workers “whiny entitled brats?” I’m certain that at least one twitter employee has uttered the words “but I’ll starve” on account of this, and I’m also certain that that twitter employee was making a joke when they said it. Googlers make the same joke whenever the office is closed for a few days. I’m sure the main comedy genre among remaining twitter staff is “gallows humour”. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/955 "2022-11-13T17:15:04Z")
This is quite the exchange. > > ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/956 "2022-11-13T17:42:50Z")
Markey responds: > > > Elon Musk @elonmusk ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/957 "2022-11-13T17:46:21Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Or is this just an excuse to call tech workers “whiny entitled brats?” As if an excuse is required. Everybody knows that “tech workers” are just a bunch of slack-ass kids playing hackysack and having meetings on those giant group bicycle conference tables talking in acronyms like UX and OWA. Seymour Cray used to literally dig for ideas and now these whippersnappers think they can come in rolling around in their two thousand dollar Hermann Miller chairs and their Oculus goggles and demand free lunch? Why, I oughta…! > [@Maserschmidt](#): > > This is quite the exchange. As if Elon Musk is going to _read a letter_. \So stupid!\<\drax\> Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/958 "2022-11-13T17:50:38Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > I’m sure the main comedy genre among remaining twitter staff is “gallows humour”. Sure, which is why I made the point of including ‘seriously’ in there. It wouldn’t surprise me if he is trying to ‘starve them out,’ though. Probably has an idea in his head that some of his employees are just there to mooch off the perks and if they quit, good riddance and he can hire somebody who “plays to win.” ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/959 "2022-11-13T18:04:18Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Next time I’ll try to be clearer that it’s satire, sorry. Any satire must be clearly labeled ! See, Elon was right again ! 😃 (The above is meant as irony.) ---
**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:** [November 13, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/960 "2022-11-13T18:31:55Z")
Please, somebody, explain to me like I’m a child: What is the n-dimensional chess strategy according to which it’s a good idea to pick a fight with a sitting US senator? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=49)