Elon Musk's Twitter roils with hate speech as trolls test new limits

[onthedarkside]

 

SAN FRANCISCO – In the wake of Mr Elon Musk buying Twitter, a tide of slurs and racist memes swelled on the platform, sparking concern that the site is entering an era of hateful speech.

...

The flood of speech underlines the difficulty Mr Musk faces in fulfilling his promise to restore people’s ability to speak freely while managing the palatability of the platform for advertisers, to whom he pledged in a letter on Thursday that Twitter would not spiral into a “free-for-all hellscape” under his leadership.

...

Overnight and into Friday, racist slurs, anti-Semitic speech and offensive memes surged on the platform, with users egging each other on in far-right message boards such as The Donald, on messaging apps like Telegram and Internet forums such as 4chan.

 

(more)

 

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/elon-musks-twitter-roils-with-hate-speech-as-trolls-test-new-limits

 

 

[Bluespunk]

21 minutes ago, onthedarkside said:

Overnight and into Friday, racist slurs, anti-Semitic speech and offensive memes surged on the platform, with users egging each other on in far-right message boards such as The Donald, on messaging apps like Telegram and Internet forums such as 4chan.

The world is full of filth just looking for any opportunity to spew their vile hatred, bigotry and foul prejudices. 
 

Scum. 

[Hanaguma]

Checked Mr. Starbuck's account. Perhaps this is what the article meant by transphobic and misinformation: 

 

People who want porn in school libraries are groomers.

Pedophiles should face the death penalty in court.

Men are born with a penis and Women are born with vaginas.

Only narcissists demand their own pronouns

Men can't menstruate or get pregnant

Women's spaces should be left for women only, not people with penises

 

In any case, if you don't like Twitter, you are more than welcome to start your own social media platform.

[Bkk Brian]

6 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Checked Mr. Starbuck's account. Perhaps this is what the article meant by transphobic and misinformation: 

 

People who want porn in school libraries are groomers.

Pedophiles should face the death penalty in court.

Men are born with a penis and Women are born with vaginas.

Only narcissists demand their own pronouns

Men can't menstruate or get pregnant

Women's spaces should be left for women only, not people with penises

 

In any case, if you don't like Twitter, you are more than welcome to start your own social media platform.

I read much worse than that, posts too disgusting to put here that had Biden as the target in your "Pedophiles should face the death penalty in court."

 

As for your "People who want porn in school libraries are groomers." That's where sexual education should happen, there would then be no need for adults tweeting out biology lessons on twitter. "Men are born with a penis and Women are born with vaginas."

 

I 100% agree with your last sentence:

"In any case, if you don't like Twitter, you are more than welcome to start your own social media platform."

 

Billionaire Trump did exactly that.

[Chomper Higgot]

Musk has brought this mess on himself.

 

He’s raised expectations amongst hate mongers that they’ll be allowed to spew as much hate as they wish.

 

Does he know the income stream comes from advertisers?

 

Go ahead, turn Twitter into a rightwing hate megaphone, see how long that lasts.

 

[Hanaguma]

26 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Musk has brought this mess on himself.

 

He’s raised expectations amongst hate mongers that they’ll be allowed to spew as much hate as they wish.

 

Does he know the income stream comes from advertisers?

 

Go ahead, turn Twitter into a rightwing hate megaphone, see how long that lasts.

 

Twitter has ALWAYS been a "hate megaphone". Only difference is that now the hate will come from two directions, not one. 

[Jingthing]

Musk's Folly

[Hanaguma]

Better to let people vent their collective spleen in public than to keep it bottled up.  

 

Musk knows what he is doing. 

[Iamfalang]

I don't understand Twitter.  Garbage.   I don't understand Instgram, I can't zoom in on the pictures on my phone...lol......I DO understand Facebook but I think it's for morons.   Tinder, of course, it's all fake but I understand it.

 

 People will say Twitter is all the n-word now, as they push their own politics.   I wouldn't be surprised if the same clowns pay for these "hateful" accounts just to push their own agenda. Twitter's collective IQ is under 30 so it's easy to fool those clowns.  The people who created these platforms are the geniuses.   Not the idiot users.

 

Sort of like here............  oh wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stevenl]

44 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Better to let people vent their collective spleen in public than to keep it bottled up.  

 

Musk knows what he is doing. 

Yes, let's keep on spewing online hatred, what could possibly go wrong.

 

Pelosi has been demonized online and in public by both far right and far left-leaning political websites and figures. Graphics depicting her being beheaded, and a call to send immigrants to her home, with her address, circulated online this summer, according to Site Intelligence Group, which researches online extremism.

From https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hate-speech-online-extremism-fed-pelosi-attack-terror-experts-believe-2022-10-29/

[onthedarkside]

Elon Musk Is Said to Have Ordered Job Cuts Across Twitter

The billionaire planned to begin layoffs as soon as Saturday, people with knowledge of the matter said

 

"SAN FRANCISCO — Elon Musk planned to begin laying off workers at Twitter as soon as Saturday, four people with knowledge of the matter said, with some managers being asked to draw up lists of employees to cut.

...

Ross Gerber, the chief executive of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, said he was told by Jared Birchall, the head of Mr. Musk’s family office, that layoffs were coming at Twitter. “I was told to expect somewhere around 50 percent of people will be laid off,” he said.

 

(more)

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/29/technology/twitter-layoffs-musk-jobs.html

[onthedarkside]

Twitter Users Flock to Other Platforms as the Elon Era Begins

Discord, Mastodon, and other services are bustling as Twitter fans make backup plans for their online social lives

...

"Rather than rushing to the exits and deleting their accounts, many with reservations about Musk’s takeover are making plans similar to LaBelle’s. They’re giving out information for followers to find them on Discord or Mastodon, a decentralized microblogging platform that most closely resembles Twitter.

 

Mastodon is already benefiting from speculation about Twitter’s new owner. Some 18,000 people signed up for Mastodon accounts between October 20 and 27, says Eugen Rochko, the platform’s CEO. As of October 28, it had 381,113 active users."

 

(more)

 

https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-users-flock-to-other-platforms-as-the-elon-musk-era-begins/

 

[onthedarkside]

Celebrities Say They’re Quitting Twitter as Elon Musk Takes Over: “I’m Out of Here”

Some celebrities claim they've left the social media platform due to Musk, while others urge progressives to stay and fight

 

Celebrities are beginning to quit Twitter — or claim they are, at least — now that Elon Musk has taken over the popular social media platform.

 

“Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned. Bye,” tweeted Grey’s Anatomy creator and producer mogul Shonda Rhimes to her 1.9 million followers on Saturday.

 

“I’m out of here,” declared This Is Us executive producer Ken Olin to his 300,000 followers on Friday after previously pledging, “The day @elonmusk takes ownership of Twitter, I’m out.” “No judgement,” he added.

 

(more)

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/elon-musk-twitter-celebrities-quit-1235250888/

 

[onthedarkside]

Twitter is losing its most active users, internal documents show

October 27, 2022 [prior to Musk completing his acquisition]

...

Twitter is struggling to keep its most active users - who are vital to the business - engaged, underscoring a challenge faced by the Tesla (TSLA.O) chief executive as he approaches a deadline to close his $44 billion deal to buy the company.

 

These "heavy tweeters" account for less than 10% of monthly overall users but generate 90% of all tweets and half of global revenue. Heavy tweeters have been in "absolute decline" since the pandemic began, a Twitter researcher wrote in an internal document titled “Where did the Tweeters Go?”

 

(more)

 

https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-where-did-tweeters-go-twitter-is-losing-its-most-active-users-internal-2022-10-25/

 

 

 

[stevenl]

12 minutes ago, onthedarkside said:

Celebrities Say They’re Quitting Twitter as Elon Musk Takes Over: “I’m Out of Here”

Some celebrities claim they've left the social media platform due to Musk, while others urge progressives to stay and fight

 

Celebrities are beginning to quit Twitter — or claim they are, at least — now that Elon Musk has taken over the popular social media platform.

 

“Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned. Bye,” tweeted Grey’s Anatomy creator and producer mogul Shonda Rhimes to her 1.9 million followers on Saturday.

 

“I’m out of here,” declared This Is Us executive producer Ken Olin to his 300,000 followers on Friday after previously pledging, “The day @elonmusk takes ownership of Twitter, I’m out.” “No judgement,” he added.

 

(more)

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/elon-musk-twitter-celebrities-quit-1235250888/

 

With only a (small) part of their followers going with them they're losing popularity. I reckon they'll be back.

[Hanaguma]

58 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Yes, let's keep on spewing online hatred, what could possibly go wrong.

 

Pelosi has been demonized online and in public by both far right and far left-leaning political websites and figures. Graphics depicting her being beheaded, and a call to send immigrants to her home, with her address, circulated online this summer, according to Site Intelligence Group, which researches online extremism.

From https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hate-speech-online-extremism-fed-pelosi-attack-terror-experts-believe-2022-10-29/

In other words, she has been treated much like any other politician of either party. And your point is...

 

I am not condoning the cowardly attack on her husband by any means. But it is a stretch to try and connect it to Twitter. 

[stevenl]

6 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

In other words, she has been treated much like any other politician of either party. And your point is...

 

I am not condoning the cowardly attack on her husband by any means. But it is a stretch to try and connect it to Twitter. 

So you didn't read the link, the experts disagree with you.

How many other politicians have had someone pay them a visit with an hammer intended to kill them? So sorry, she hasn't been treated much like any other politician.

[ThailandRyan]

Well if this occurs and Trump returns to Twitter standby for unhinged more hate speech and false diatribes.  The Former White House aide is on point with her view.

 

Ex-White House aide Alyssa Farah Griffin says Donald Trump's possible return to Twitter after Musk purchase will hurt him: 'It's going to remind voters of how unhinged he was' (msn.com)

 

Ex-White House aide Alyssa Farah Griffin says Donald Trump's possible return to Twitter after Musk purchase will hurt him: 'It's going to remind voters of how unhinged he was'

 

[Mac Mickmanus]

4 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Well if this occurs and Trump returns to Twitter standby for unhinged more hate speech and false diatribes.  The Former White House aide is on point with her view.

 

Ex-White House aide Alyssa Farah Griffin says Donald Trump's possible return to Twitter after Musk purchase will hurt him: 'It's going to remind voters of how unhinged he was' (msn.com)

 

Ex-White House aide Alyssa Farah Griffin says Donald Trump's possible return to Twitter after Musk purchase will hurt him: 'It's going to remind voters of how unhinged he was'

 

Try and forget about Trump for a while, Elon Musk has just bought Twitter 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Better to let people vent their collective spleen in public than to keep it bottled up.  

 

Musk knows what he is doing. 

You are right ‘collective spleen’, all singing off the same hymn sheet with the quire master conducting proceedings.

 

It’s an age old story, with predictable outcomes.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

35 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

In other words, she has been treated much like any other politician of either party. And your point is...

 

I am not condoning the cowardly attack on her husband by any means. But it is a stretch to try and connect it to Twitter. 

It’s not a stretch to connected it to Stochastic Terrorism.

 

Use social media to instill hatred and eventually some lunatic in the audience will act on what they believe they are being told to do.

[Bkk Brian]

First Elon #Musk revolutionized the automobile industry, then he took on space travel. By taking control of Twitter, the eccentric billionaire now wields a nearly untold level of influence.

 

With Twitter, Musk's influence enters uncharted territory

 

According to the professor, Musk represents a typical oligarch -- a person whose fortune lends them social and political power not available to an average citizen -- though Musk does not have any governments or militaries under his control.

 

In buying Twitter -- largely with his own money, but also with significant backing from investors who expect a return on their own risk -- Musk has taken on a huge potential liability.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/now/twitter-musks-influence-enters-uncharted-022620907.html

[Gweiloman]

I wonder if he and his companies will be sanctioned. He might have US chip technology in his Chinese made cars for FSD. Without FSD, the popularity of Chinese made Teslas will nosedive.

[freedomnow]

The 'Lizard King' David Icke should be back by week's end.

[BangkokReady]

20 hours ago, onthedarkside said:

sparking concern that the site is entering an era of hateful speech.

Surely that should be "an era of hateful speech now from both ends of the political spectrum"?

[Jingthing]

I think trump should stay banned because he incited a violent attempted coup.

I think Trumpists expect Musk to reinstate him.

I don't see how he can't.

I can't predict the result of that either way.

The hate speech people already have other venues such as Parler and others.

It seems they want it all.

God help us.

[CharlieH]

Reported post of misquote removed.

[Phoenix Rising]

4 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Better to let people vent their collective spleen in public than to keep it bottled up.  

 

Musk knows what he is doing. 

-No, it's not.

 

-Musk has already tried to renege on the deal and only when he found out there was no way back did the deal happen. He knows very well by now that he's made a HUGE poo-poo for himself.

[OneMoreFarang]

Why do so many people care about twitter?

Just ignore it.

Or at least ignore the part you don't like.

I.e. I used it for the last decade to follow Richard Barrow and up to date news about Thailand. That was great information.

I didn't look at tweets from some stupid miss something or rapper xyz or whatever.

Why are people so stupid to follow all that useless twittertwit - or whatever that garbage is called?

[Bkk Brian]

Looks like Musk himself is testing the new limits.

 

This is what happens when someone with little self control and a huge ego takes over twitter. Elon setting a low bar on future standards.

 

Elon Musk spreads unfounded conspiracy theory about Paul Pelosi attack on Twitter

 

Days after taking control of Twitter, Elon Musk posted and later deleted an unfounded conspiracy theory on Sunday about the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

 

Musk tweeted Sunday morning to his 112 million followers that "there is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye" and posted a link to an unfounded story offering a conspiracy theory about the attack. The story was posted in the Santa Monica Observer, a publication known for spreading misinformation."

 

https://news.yahoo.com/elon-musk-spreads-unfounded-conspiracy-173145773.html

 

Musk Posts Then Deletes Tweet Spreading Conspiracy Theory on Pelosi Attack

 

Episode shows pressures ahead as free-speech goals run up against Musk’s pledges to advertisers

 

"The episode underscored the pressures that Musk, a self-styled “free speech absolutist,” now faces in running the popular social media website — particularly in how to place limits on misinformation and hate speech on its service. Musk has pledged to advertisers that Twitter won’t become a “free-for-all hellscape” under his leadership, but at the same time pronounced that unfettered speech should be the norm on the site. 

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-30/musk-posts-then-deletes-tweet-spreading-conspiracy-theory-on-pelosi-attack