# Now that Elon Musk has bought Twitter - now the Pit edition (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** elon-musk\ **Created:** [August 13, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634 "2024-08-13T00:48:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 87
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1742 "2025-02-24T01:54:17Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Even Kash Patel says not to respond. Well, he would. Not out of any concern for the well-being of the government or the people it serves. Merely because he despises his frenemy Elmo and wants him to fail. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1743 "2025-02-24T02:12:15Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I **do** love that Trump’s installed Cabinet goons are so territorial that they’re willing to push back against Elon. You can always rely on petty tyrants to fight tooth and nail to preserve their own power. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1744 "2025-02-24T04:44:18Z")
> **[Mike Scollins (@mikescollins.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/mikescollins.bsky.social/post/3livfxmgosc2j)** > > Wish I were one of Elon's kids so I'd never see him again ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1745 "2025-02-24T12:30:07Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > [HR@opm.gov](mailto:HR@opm.gov) Note the gothic font on his hat. Nazi salutes, Nazi fonts, one step at a time, buddy. I have a relative-of-a-relative who actually designs uniforms for the US military (it’s a pretty interesting job, actually. Among the mundane, she also gets to play with things like how to work experimental fabrics into uniforms). She was worrying that she’ll lose her job. I told her “Don’t worry. You’ll be plenty busy re-interpreting 1930s German uniforms for the modern US military” ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1746 "2025-02-24T13:20:58Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > one step at a time, buddy. One _goose_ step at a time, no doubt. > [@OldOlds](#): > > You’ll be plenty busy re-interpreting 1930s German uniforms for the modern US military [![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/a91cdf685220b088c23921166027b36e/tumblr_inline_p9d1u4GDZM1swhept_500.jpg) ](https://64.media.tumblr.com/a91cdf685220b088c23921166027b36e/tumblr_inline_p9d1u4GDZM1swhept_500.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1747 "2025-02-24T13:22:17Z")
Hugo Boss? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1748 "2025-02-24T13:58:21Z")
😁   ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1749 "2025-02-24T14:01:38Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > Note the gothic font on his hat. I did. He hasn’t gone full Fraktur yet but it’s probably coming. > [@OldOlds](#): > > I told her “Don’t worry. You’ll be plenty busy re-interpreting 1930s German uniforms for the modern US military” Which inevitably requires this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ToKcmnrE5oY/hqdefault.jpg "Mitchell and Webb: "Are we the baddies?"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToKcmnrE5oY) ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1750 "2025-02-24T15:00:13Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I did. He hasn’t gone full Fraktur yet but it’s probably coming. I just learned something: That Fraktur is the name of that “classic” mid century German font. Elon probably didn’t know that either, and just said “this looks Nazi-y” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1751 "2025-02-24T15:30:34Z")
Also, the typeface on his hat isn’t what is known as “gothic” typographically. That refers to something else (see: Franklin Gothic, Century Gothic, etc.) it’s a “blackletter” typeface. ETA: Looks like I’m wrong. Gothic can be used for black letters. But it looks like typographically it does refer to sans serif typically. That’s how I’ve always known it from design. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1752 "2025-02-24T17:35:44Z")
I would like to announce that AI has been used for the greater good. Assuming this is actually AI. > **[Mark Cuban (@mcuban.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/mcuban.bsky.social/post/3liwu7faj7k2s)** > > The Revolution will be AI-icized ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1753 "2025-02-24T22:31:33Z")
> [@On the political spectrum, what good things do you feel the far left accompish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-political-spectrum-what-good-things-do-you-feel-the-far-left-accompish/1014679/51): > > Sidebar, but Noah Smith is one of absolute dumbest pundits ever to draw breath. He’s singing the praises of Elon Musk as a misunderstood genius even within the past week. Anytime he makes a good point, it’s a purely coincidental side effect of the fact that he’s always punching left because he thinks women are too mouthy. He’s not someone you want to cite for any purpose other than mocking him. I disagree with this characterization of Smith’s argument. HMS may be referring to this essay: > **[Only fools think Elon is incompetent](https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/only-fools-think-elon-is-incompetent)** > > Underestimate a man like this at your peril. I’ll quote, add bolding and keep italics: > But that’s not why Abramson’s statement is so absurd. The reason it’s absurd is not its content but its _purpose_ — it represents an attempt to diminish the country’s fear of Elon Musk and his role in American politics by calling him stupid. **This is a _very_ foolish thing to try to do.** > Maybe saying that Elon has a 110 IQ makes you feel like you beat him in your little online fantasy world, but out there in the actual world, he is still [ripping up your national institutions](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/20/gop-lawmaker-doge-cut-panic-00205282) at breakneck speed. > People who think that denigrating Elon’s capabilities will somehow defeat him or make him go away are simply fools — not low IQ, but simply unwise people reacting suboptimally to an **external challenge**. Elon Musk is, in many important ways, the single most capable man in America, **and we deny that fact at our peril**. Smith is saying Musk is _dangerous_ and that Musk won’t just go away on his own. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1754 "2025-02-24T23:03:03Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Smith is saying Musk is _dangerous_ and that Musk won’t just go away on his own. Maybe, but “single most capable man in America” sounds more worshipful than cautionary. > [@OldOlds](#): > > Note the gothic font on his hat. Nazi salutes, Nazi fonts, one step at a time, buddy. I hadn’t thought of that. Yeah, Germanic-associations for the win! > [@Smapti](#): > > You can always rely on petty tyrants to fight tooth and nail to preserve their own power. True. And it’s sad that we have to hope that this could provide some variety of unintended help to democracy. > [@Tierce](#): > > Do we need a new thread entitled **Now that Elon Musk has bought the US Government** , or just rename this one? That seems like a reasonable question. Mods? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1755 "2025-02-24T23:11:47Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Maybe, but “single most capable man in America” sounds more worshipful than cautionary. Capability is not a moral quality. For instance, I don’t think anyone would disagree with the fact that Nazi Germany had some very capable generals. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1756 "2025-02-24T23:17:23Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@Sherrerd](#): > > > > Maybe, but “single most capable man in America” sounds more worshipful than cautionary. > > Capability is not a moral quality. For instance, I don’t think anyone would disagree with the fact that Nazi Germany had some very capable generals. . In general I would agree, but in particular the person in question does come across as very, very admiring of Elon. From the material @Measure_for_Measure quoted: > [@](#): > > Maybe saying that Elon has a 110 IQ makes you feel like you beat him in your little online fantasy world, but out there in the actual world, he is still [ripping up your national institutions](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/20/gop-lawmaker-doge-cut-panic-00205282) at breakneck speed. I mean, I guess it’s subjective. But Noah Smith (the quoted pundit) does appear to me to be expressing Musk-awe rather than warnings about Musk. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1757 "2025-02-24T23:31:33Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > People who think that denigrating Elon’s capabilities will somehow defeat him or make him go away are simply fools — not low IQ, but simply unwise people reacting suboptimally to an **external challenge**. Elon Musk is, in many important ways, the single most capable man in America, **and we deny that fact at our peril**. Functionally, the only recourse that anyone has - outside of Donald Trump - to dealing with Musk is to try and reduce the size and strength he holds within his base of power. If you can make a convincing argument of the man’s stupidity and get it into the right place to have that effect, then it’s a useful tool. If that’s liable to fail then it’s a waste of time. I’d say that it’s always important to not cry wolf until there’s an actual wolf. Like the man or don’t like the man, make sure that you don’t swing unless you’re going to get a hit. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1758 "2025-02-24T23:38:23Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > From the material @Measure_for_Measure quoted: > > > [@](#): > > > > Maybe saying that Elon has a 110 IQ makes you feel like you beat him in your little online fantasy world, but out there in the actual world, he is still [ripping up your national institutions](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/20/gop-lawmaker-doge-cut-panic-00205282) at breakneck speed. > > I mean, I guess it’s subjective. But Noah Smith (the quoted pundit) does appear to me to be expressing Musk-awe rather than warnings about Musk. Indeed. Describing Musk as “the single most capable man in America” is worshipful nonsense. Trump is an idiot who has given another idiot the power to indiscriminately fire massive swaths of the civil service with little or no analysis of what any of these workers are doing, so much so that they fired workers responsible for safeguarding nuclear weapons and then hurriedly re-hired them again. The result has been massive chaos and fear in the whole federal service, with the most competent and hire-able employees naturally the first to bail. It’s the same strategy that Elmo used at Twitter, which is now barely a shell of its former self, worth a fraction of what he paid for it, and infested with fascist ideology. These are not the actions of a smart man, they’re the actions of a delusional psychopath. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1759 "2025-02-25T00:39:53Z")
I love this. [AI Video of Trump and Musk Appears on TVs at HUD Building - The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/us/politics/musk-trump-toes-video.html) > Monitors at the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Monday briefly displayed a fake video depicting President Trump sucking the toes of Elon Musk, according to department employees and others familiar with what transpired. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1760 "2025-02-25T01:06:16Z")
> Monitors at the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Monday briefly displayed a fake video depicting President Trump sucking the toes of Elon Musk I like the way that Elmo has elevated the dignity of the federal civil service and their pride in the institutions that they serve! Only the aforementioned "single most capable man in America” could have done so much so quickly! 🙄 ---
**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:** [February 25, 2025, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634/1761 "2025-02-25T01:25:01Z")
Even the OPM admits that Musk’s email was full of shit. > **[OPM says Elon Musk's ultimatum is voluntary after a weekend of confusion](https://abc7.com/post/federal-workers-sue-elon-musks-threat-fire-dont-explain-accomplishments/15951584/)** > > Confusion continued Monday as Elon Musk's deadline for federal workers to detail their accomplishments from the previous week continues to be met with mixed messages. This fits with the statement from days ago that Musk has no actual authority to fire anyone. > **[Musk is not an employee of DOGE and "has no actual or formal authority,"...](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-doge-not-employee-no-authority-white-house-says/)** > > The White House said in a legal filing that Tesla CEO Elon Musk isn't an employee of its Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634.md?page=86) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-2/1005634.md?page=88)