Elon Musk amplifies call by antisemites to ban the ADL from X

[SoldierOfTheKing]

it's one of those chicken and the egg scenarios...

Sort of like the paradoxical question "do you have to tolerate intolerance to be a tolerant person"?

I think the same notion applies here. Can you be pro free speech if you try to ban an organization who attempts to ban the speech of others?


Sort of like "can you be accused of not being really anti-killing if you kill guy who was trying to kill 15 other people?"

All analogies aside, this is why ideological purity standards/tests fail the prudence test.

Musk may have set himself up for this trap by presenting himself as a "free speech absolutist".

Absolutist positions are noble-sounding in echo-chambers, but often times aren't practical blanket positions.

Here issue isn’t what the ADL is saying, it’s what they’re doing. It’s not the speech, it’s the organization. When someone is making a concerted effort to take away your revenue, is it unreasonable to retaliate?

 

[ViaCrucis]

Journalists that follow Musk have been commenting how he seems to be becoming increasingly erratic, perhaps due to (ab)using controlled substances like ketamine.

If he courts neo-nazis, no advertiser with serious money is going to want to be on his platform.

He's been pouring kerosene and dancing with lit matches ever since he acquired Twitter. Half the time I go to Twitter--I'm not calling it X, because I have self-respect--it's just to watch the ongoing dumpster fire.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Pommer]

Here issue isn’t what the ADL is saying, it’s what they’re doing. It’s not the speech, it’s the organization. When someone is making a concerted effort to take away your revenue, is it unreasonable to retaliate?

How is the ADL taking away Elmo’s revenue?

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Here issue isn’t what the ADL is saying, it’s what they’re doing. It’s not the speech, it’s the organization. When someone is making a concerted effort to take away your revenue, is it unreasonable to retaliate?

Any "speech" in the context of the way one may "exercise it" is almost always for the purposes of either trying to promote something or denounce something. (which has economic impacts)

When people advocate for free speech, the casual "hi, how ya doin...nice day out" speech isn't the focal point.


Potential revenue loss is always on the table when talking about exercising free speech. You can't really be a staunch free speech advocate if you're drawing "the line" at something as basic as "unless it costs me money".

By that logic, McDonald's would be justified in trying to shutdown people criticizing their McNuggets.

 

[aNewMan]

I remember back when Elon was considered one of the left’s hero’s. Total 180 now.

 

[comana]

I remember back when Elon was considered one of the left’s hero’s. Total 180 now.

That happens when someone reveals who they really are.

 

[aNewMan]

That happens when someone reveals who they really are.

It’s pretty hilarious, they absolutely seethe because of Elon.

 

[comana]

It’s pretty hilarious, they absolutely seethe because of Elon.

Where is this happening?

 

[FireDragon76]

I remember back when Elon was considered one of the left’s hero’s. Total 180 now.

He's never been my hero, and I'm a lifelong Democrat. The man has always been a mess.

 

[Pommer]

Where is this happening?

In a poster’s mind and nowhere else?

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

How is the ADL taking away Elmo’s revenue?

Organizing an advertising boycott, or course. They're not even trying to hide it. That's where the whole #BanTheADL business came from...

 

[Pommer]

Organizing an advertising boycott, or course. They're not even trying to hide it. That's where the whole #BanTheADL business came from...

Is there a link to a news article or should I just rely on your good word?

 

[Belk]

Here issue isn’t what the ADL is saying, it’s what they’re doing. It’s not the speech, it’s the organization. When someone is making a concerted effort to take away your revenue, is it unreasonable to retaliate?

Depends on if you believe your free speech rhetoric or if it is all for show.

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

Is there a link to a news article or should I just rely on your good word?

I don't see why I'm obligated to provide a link simply because you failed to inform yourself about the basic facts about the issue before posting. Nonetheless, I'll give you something better than a news report - a primary source, in fact...

 

[Paulos23]

I don't see why I'm obligated to provide a link simply because you failed to inform yourself about the basic facts about the issue before posting. Nonetheless, I'll give you something better than a news report - a primary source, in fact...

Elon is losing grip on reality and showing his lack of knowledge on how companies decide where to advertise. Even if he successfully defeats ADL, Twitter is still a mess. And it is a mess that will only be fixed if they put some moderation on it. Then the companies might come back.

But it will be a slow process and how much they are willing to spend may not even be at the same level as before. By throwing open the gates of moderation for the trolls, racists, etc. he has made it a less welcoming place to be.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Elon is losing grip on reality and showing his lack of knowledge on how companies decide where to advertise. Even if he successfully defeats ADL, Twitter is still a mess. And it is a mess that will only be fixed if they put some moderation on it. Then the companies might come back.

But it will be a slow process and how much they are willing to spend may not even be at the same level as before. By throwing open the gates of moderation for the trolls, racists, etc. he has made it a less welcoming place to be.

This is who Elon always was. The self-identified business genius. He never had any clue how to run a social media company or how its business works. He just wanted to control the platform he posted on.

 

[Paulos23]

This is who Elon always was. The self-identified business genius. He never had any clue how to run a social media company or how its business works. He just wanted to control the platform he posted on.

That I can believe. I don't think he knew how he would break it with the changes he brought.

And Twitter is not the only private public square, there are others that people have moved to. Not as good or popular, but as long as everyone in your group moves there, does it matter?

 

[Arcangl86]

That I can believe. I don't think he knew how he would break it with the changes he brought.

And Twitter is not the only private public square, there are others that people have moved to. Not as good or popular, but as long as everyone in your group moves there, does it matter?

Who knew social media would be so hard.

 

[Hans Blaster]

That I can believe. I don't think he knew how he would break it with the changes he brought.

Agreed. I've seen people making conspiratorial claims Musk buying it to wreck it, but that doesn't really make sense. (He trashed the valuation of his only profitable company to complete the purchase, and with it much of his paper wealth.) Musk lacks the foresight to plan out such a destruction.

And Twitter is not the only private public square, there are others that people have moved to. Not as good or popular, but as long as everyone in your group moves there, does it matter?

Indeed, though I've found a new back door to the remnants of Twitter.

 

[Pommer]

This is who Elon always was. The self-identified business genius. He never had any clue how to run a social media company or how its business works. He just wanted to control the platform he posted on.

Wait…you’re saying that by paying $44B for a company worth, maybe $4B, that Elmo isn’t the wunderkind he thinks himself to be!?
No!