Rachel Maddow ran this story last night.
I don’t see how Musk could be said to be following a “plan” laid out in the article. There is no plan in the article referenced, instead was more a warning of the consequences of bringing back the deplorables. The article basically lays out how if he tries to make Twitter a free-speech paradise, the powers that be, led by the ADL, will destroy it until it becomes a deplatformed right-wing echo chamber that no one pays attention to, basically just another Parler. The exodus of the blue checks bullet point wasn’t a recommendation to get rid of the blue-check distinction. It was using “blue-checks” as a descriptor for all of the advertisers and high profile users who had the blue check and was saying that they would (and have) leave in droves once twitter took down the guard rails and became a right wing cesspool.
So far, overall, the article has been extremely accurate in describing the consequences and timeline of Twitters downfall, with the important exception being that, unlike is claimed in the article, these consequences that weren’t due to a liberal cabal plotting twitters demise but were instead due to the fact that most people are decent enough to find far right wing views appalling.
Musk followed the playbook to the extent that he brought back the banned right wingers, and feels that all his problems are due to the ADL, but that is about it.
I agree and disagree. I agree that Musk didn’t have a plan - he was forced into buying Twitter after making an ass of himself. Having done that, he absolutely loves, much like Trump, the ability to absorb the adulation of those who love him, and snub those who disagree.
So with the adulation coming from the RWNJ, he listens and amplifies them, which gets him more attention, which completes the feedback cycle.
So, he may or may not be following the RWNJ plan, but not out of a grand conspiracy - just to keep inflating his overweening ego.
Now are others making sure he gets the right notifications and passing along choice bits to him in order to amplify their own agenda and ongoing plans? I’d bet money they are. Thus the (minor) disagree.
I wasn’t actually commenting one way or another as to whether Musk has a plan, or whether Musk was following the RWNJ (right wing nut job I assume) plan. I was specifically rejecting the notion that Musk is following the plan laid out in this article, and rejecting it because there is no plan laid out in that article. So whether or not Musk is getting his orders handed down from white supremicists, this article isn’t evidence.
And the rebranding is not going as smoothly as Musk believed:
Elon Musk’s X hit with trademark lawsuit from marketing agency
Blake Brittain
Tue, October 3, 2023 at 2:36 AM GMT+8·2 min read
By Blake Brittain
(Reuters) - X Corp, formerly known as Twitter, was sued in federal court in Florida on Monday by a legal-marketing company that claims the social media giant’s new name infringes its trademark incorporating the letter “X.”
The lawsuit by X Social Media claims that X Corp, which owner Elon Musk began rebranding to X from Twitter in July, was likely to cause consumer confusion.
The case appears to be the first of what could be numerous trademark disputes with Musk’s company over the letter “X,” which is commonly used in tech branding.
I don’t see them prevailing in a trademark dispute. Despite the “Social Media” words in the name, they’re not a social media company. They’re an advertising agency that helps companies advertise on Facebook. Despite their assertion, I don’t see that they’re in the same space or that consumers will be confused.
Someone should trademark “X, formerly known as Twitter”
Or, since Twitter might be available, snag that!
But twitter.com goes to x.
How confusing. I’m not trying it, but is there an x.com?
Oh no. I didn’t mean to make those clickable. I don’t know how to break the link though.
Yes, it goes to twitter.com.
Just add a space after the period.
Thank you both.
Elon’s ultimate plan seems to be for there to be just one website on the internet, x.com, where one does everything.
Don’t tell him about us.
I dunno. They could argue that it potentially creates an impression that they’re a subsidiary of x, formerly known as Twitter.
These look so bad. What the hell.
Musk’s incredibly stupid idea has come to pass:
[Edit: see post above this one]
For example:
(Link to above post on X/Twitter)
This is how it would have looked previously:
Also, if you were ever wondering what the Twitter term “ratioed” meant, then that tweet reply is a classic example.
I’m not convinced Musk really wanted to buy Twitter. Most of his advocates admit his decisions in this regard have been novel and surprising. However, and I am often wrong, now that Musk is a defence contractor I believe his traditional obligations mean future pictures must show him in a twisty chair stroking a giant white pussycat.