Elon Musk, the man

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#3334318 21-Jan-2025 21:21

"not the left-biased Silicon Valley elites who run most of the social media platforms."

The same elites that donated to Trump inauguration committee and were seated front row, even before the cabinet nominees.

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#3334319 21-Jan-2025 21:24

It was not what was found on the laptop, it was that the whole story was suppressed by the social media platforms after they were told the story was Russian election interference.

The powers that be decided it was misinformation, whether that was an honest mistake or not, and had the story censored.

It later turned out it was not the Russian's but a valid story about the son of the man running for president.

The point is, this sort of censorship is the reason Musk bought Twitter and re-platformed everyone, including Nazis. NOT because he is a Nazi supporter.

freitasm

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#3334320 21-Jan-2025 21:27

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#3334322 21-Jan-2025 21:32

freitasm:

Probably on the same cocktail of drugs, too!

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Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

SumnerBoy

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#3334323 21-Jan-2025 21:35

The same elites that donated to Trump inauguration committee and were seated front row, even before the cabinet nominees.

I am not sure what point you are making. It is pretty widely agreed that Silicon Valley, on the whole, leans left.

That doesn't mean there are not exceptions of course.

And doesn't change my point that they shouldn't be the ones deciding or in control of what is/is not being censored.

gehenna

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#3334324 21-Jan-2025 21:49

They lean whichever way the wind is blowing, and for the next 4 years it's blowing in the other direction of the stuff that costs them money over profit - fact checking and DEI, for example.

gehenna

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#3334325 21-Jan-2025 21:51

SumnerBoy:

I would argue none of that is "evidence" he is a Nazi supporter. It certainly shows he supports right-wing politics and some of those groups are indeed tip-toeing the line with fascism.

You're not making sense. Nazism is facism. There is no "reasoned debate" for Nazism. It was quite nice between 1945 and 2010ish when they were in their "underground echo chambers" (the irony of this statement considering what social media is!). The sooner they can burrow themselves into another 80 year hole the better.

MaxineN

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#3334327 21-Jan-2025 21:57

SumnerBoy:
It was not what was found on the laptop, it was that the whole story was suppressed by the social media platforms after they were told the story was Russian election interference.

The powers that be decided it was misinformation, whether that was an honest mistake or not, and had the story censored.

It later turned out it was not the Russian's but a valid story about the son of the man running for president.

The point is, this sort of censorship is the reason Musk bought Twitter and re-platformed everyone, including Nazis. NOT because he is a Nazi supporter.

Right.

The censorship occurred in lines with not only regulation but to also combat misinformation. Misinformation you're very engrossed in and I'm happy to call it out. Why was this carried out you might ask? Because the EU has platform rules (see https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/30/tech/twitter-eu-compliance-warning/index.html). Because NZ has rules too (especially since we can't show a certain event). Guess what all came back when Twitter was bought out by Elon Musk?

Elon has grown to be a very annoying and abhorrent individual that has sucked up to anyone giving him power (I have other words but one must obey the FUG and it's filters).

He now has security classes he shouldn't. Why? https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-citizenship-revoked-denaturalized/ there is the potential he may have worked illegally once. Unfortunately that will now never be proven or even tested at the very least. If this was tested and proven... He could have lost those or possibly be deported had the country not vote Trump.

I used Twitter from 2012 right until my flight before Japan in December. I think he's an abhorrent person and unfortunately he is now sucking up to a convicted felon who is now the president of the United States of America. He has used his influence and his power to create misinformation, outrage, remove censored lists that should have stayed censored because it was illegal in several bodies of the world, created a platform that caters for Nazis and the very far right wing.

Whilst were taking a stab at silicon valley. Yeah. Zuckerberg can advertiser friendly word off as this isn't the first time. He wants to be noticed by Trump, he wants the same treatment as Elon. He wants power.

Go google what meta just did in the last week, regarding their social media and internal policies. And these policy changes will affect people who just wanted to bloody well live (such as myself).

SumnerBoy:
Don't worry folks, after this experience I will no longer be participating in any political discussions in here.

I will stick to tech only, where everyone plays much nicer.

All the best.

You're allowed to be criticized on the internet. If you can't handle that then this isn't for you. You should be prepared to defend yourself, especially if you have that opinion and take, as heated, controversial and as abhorrent as this "brilliant engineer" you make him out to be.

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freitasm

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#3334329 21-Jan-2025 21:58

SumnerBoy:

The same elites that donated to Trump inauguration committee and were seated front row, even before the cabinet nominees.

I am not sure what point you are making. It is pretty widely agreed that Silicon Valley, on the whole, leans left.

That doesn't mean there are not exceptions of course.

And doesn't change my point that they shouldn't be the ones deciding or in control of what is/is not being censored.

My point is that the "elites" that supported Biden are the same "elites" that support Trump.

They will move to support whoever is in power and willing to give something in exchange for the money.

As for "Silicon Valley leaning left," they will choose whichever side will benefit them most. That's why you saw Tim Cook, Sundar, Elon, Zuckerberg, and Bezos on the front line at the inauguration. All have donated. All will toe the line until the wind changes again.

Conservatives complain about being constantly fact-checked. If they stop spouting "alternative facts", they won't be fact-checked. Easy, right? Don't lie, and don't get caught.

Pointing out crazy stuff is not censorship. Free speech is not free of consequences. If one says bullshit, one will be called upon on it.

If Facebook wanted, they could block all left (or right) speech. But doing so would prevent them from getting benefits from the government of the day.

Elon didn't make Twitter free. It was free before. It was free from hate. Twitter banned nazis and hate speech. Elon brought this back to Twitter.

There's no reason for a private platform to allow hate speech. Speech that targets human beings for being different based on something they can't change: race, gender, age. Under Elon, Twitter allows it. Twitter enables fascists, nazis and hate to spread on its platform.

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gehenna

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#3334331 21-Jan-2025 22:07

freitasm:

There's no reason for a private platform to allow hate speech.

Unless it's profitable...

Wombat1

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#3334335 21-Jan-2025 22:28

Guardian Australia falsely suggests billionaire Elon Musk made nazi salutes at Trump event despite experts testifying otherwise | Sky News Australia

Several media outlets have been blasted for wrongly accusing billionaire Elon Musk of making Nazi salutes during the inauguration celebration of US President Donald Trump.

SumnerBoy

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#3334336 21-Jan-2025 22:33

Yep I agree with a lot of what you guys are saying, honestly I do. Hate speech and anything which incites or promotes harm to anyone else should not be tolerated. My understanding is that this is still the case on X, but censorship of things that don't fall into this category has been relaxed. The general idea being leave it up to the community and you, the consumer, to read and understand all sides before making an informed decision. This is my understanding of the rationale behind Musk buying Twitter, and what he has publicly stated, but I concede there is a chance that is all PR bulls**t and he has nefarious intentions.

As an example, I started following Alex Jones on X when we was allowed back on. I just wanted to see what he had to say, rather than rely on others to form an opinion. After a week or so of seeing the deranged nonsense he was spouting I quickly unfollowed him and now no longer see any mention of him in my feed. But it was a good exercise in having the option to expose yourself to the "other side" without having to sign up to 4Chan or the like.

MaxineN - I don't mind being criticized - I have thick skin so it is all good this end :). If I am peddling misinformation I am very happy to be called out - can you elaborate exactly what I am saying that is "misinformation"?

Freitasm - when talking about Silicon Valley "leaning left" I was talking about the general population, not the elites. The every day engineers and people on the ground, historically speaking, have all been left of center. The whole of California is in the same boat. I totally agree that the people pulling the strings will align themselves with whoever has the biggest stick, which in this case is a big orange blowhard, for the next 4 years.

You guys are making compeling arguments and I am digging into the articles and topics you are raising.

But I still stand by belief (or is that hope?) that Musk wasn't making a Nazi salute this morning. It was a huge mistake and misjudgement, but I do not think he is a Nazi supporter, for all his other obvious flaws.

SumnerBoy

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#3334337 21-Jan-2025 22:36

gehenna:

Nazism is facism.

Agreed, but facism is not Nazism - https://anthropoidtour.com/2023/02/28/nazism-vs-fascism/

So Musk supporting right-wing-almost-facist political parties does not make him a Nazi supporter.

Wombat1

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#3334338 21-Jan-2025 22:36

freitasm:

Wombat1:

There’s plenty of real stuff to criticize Elon Musk and Donald Trump for, no need to invent drama. It just makes us look like we’re running low on material.

You really think him throwing a Sieg Heil during the inauguration lunch is not something worthy of criticism?

Sure would be, my argument is that he did no such thing.

MaxineN

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#3334339 21-Jan-2025 22:37

Shall not be repeating myself a second time, considering I laid it out in articles pointing out Twitter had a misinformation and abusive issue, gave hints to what absolutely cannot bring up in New Zealand and as well as other users in this thread pointing out he did a salute that only a Nazi would do.

I think you know if you agree. I've made my opening and closing argument.

How about you tell me with articles and sources how it's not?

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