It's pretty remarkable how much Elon's Twitter takeover is a textbook fascist takeover: leftists immediately purged, censorship regime imposed behind the scenes, secret police rooting out enemies, right wing terrorism supported by the state, etc and how uncannily similar the mainstream liberal response of pretending nothing is wrong is, even with *very low* costs of walking out the door and refusing to collaborate.
Not really my problem I guess but def feels like one of those "if you don't know how'd you'd react when the fascist take over, now you know" situation
@mtsw this is so true and so troubling.
Curious how this maps to a strategic response also rooted in historical examples. Walking out the door is part of it for sure. How do we wake up those centrists more quickly with the least possible carnage?
Trying to think of the best historic lessons. Democratic removal of Trump is one example perhaps? Anti-colonial liberation movements in Haiti or India or elsewhere may provide useful insights? Workers co-ops in Spanish Revolution or Argentina?
@Mauigirl52 @BenWest @mtsw your posts drive up usage numbers, which raise advertising revenue. It may be insignificant, but all individual snowflakes contribute to a blizzard. All are equally responsible.
@JonKramer @Mauigirl52 @mtsw thats assuming the whole game isnt rigged by bots and apps and other manipulations to begin with but its a point well taken.
Lets remember that for many of us #Twitter is also an addiction. Luckily the #fedi is not only a good substitute for our addiction but it's healthier and more fulfilling.
@BenWest @JonKramer @Mauigirl52 @mtsw possibly naive question (but here goes) I had read to lock down, not to delete account for fear of one's handle being impersonated/taken over?
While I have wanted to depart 'tout suite' for some months, I still have overlapping professional & personal networks there. Yet I am driven mad by Musk's Trump-like domination of the news cycle & his taunting 'more users than ever' claims... its a difficult space to navigate, even for early tech adopters
Thoughts?
@TheMooreLab @JonKramer @Mauigirl52 @mtsw
Hard to say for sure what will work best given his propensity for making up policies in the moment. 🤦🏼
Makes sense to not let go of the username over there. I think he said they would take away usernames from inactive accounts at one point but nothing that has been any more clear than that in terms of specifics or timelines.
Best of luck navigating this maddening situation. Glad to be finding all kinds of good people here. Cheers.
@TheMooreLab @BenWest @Mauigirl52 @mtsw I agree with that thought, and it is what I did myself. But, it's probably paranoid. Who cares if some douche nozzel pretends to be us, or anyone? I won't open a profile on Parlor, Truth Social, Nextdoor, or the Stormfront pages just to avoid an imposter doing it. So I check every few days... But I probably shouldn't even do that.
@JonKramer @BenWest @Mauigirl52 @mtsw Fair point! Definitely not on those!!!
@TheMooreLab @BenWest @Mauigirl52 @mtsw I'm talking with my wife about this now. And part of the conversation is about ICQ. Do you remember that social media site?? She had a really low number... she thinks it was 4 digits. Which was REALLY low, and sought after.
These days, no one remembers or cares.
One day no matter what our feelings about Twitter are now, it will be vague memories.
@JonKramer @BenWest @Mauigirl52 @mtsw agreed. Compared to the 5 & 6 digit follower folks, I was, by intent (for a decade avoided hashtags), v small fry on the birdshite. But did like my wee community.
Perhaps my (and others) issue is completely severing ties? Struggled similarly w FB. Family on 3 continents. So even though can't bear/don't engage w the 'meta' feed of adverts no friends, still can't quite delete.... but middle age making me more bolshy... maybe 2023 my year for deleting!?
@TheMooreLab @BenWest @Mauigirl52 @mtsw , I get it, I still have a myspace account. I don't check it often though.
@JonKramer @TheMooreLab @BenWest @mtsw I have noticed a huge increase in anti-vax and other mis/dis-information over there, plus way more people who attack you for saying the slightest contradictory thing. The last 3 days I've done nothing but argue and block people. I'm done for awhile, going to stay off there. It's bad for my own mental health!
@Mauigirl52 @TheMooreLab @BenWest @mtsw , I just opened and closed the app, no notifications, so about 3 seconds total time. For awhile, there were daily notifications, but the last one I had was some guy claiming he won an argument that had happened 3 months ago. I'll continue to check now and then, but my use will tapper off until it's like myspace. I won't see increases of idiot groups, or anything. I won't argue. And I NEVER troll.
@JonKramer @TheMooreLab @BenWest @mtsw Yes, I'm seeing weird stuff showing up from September of last year in my notifications. Probably people scanning my page for stuff to report is my guess.
@JonKramer @TheMooreLab @BenWest @mtsw Either that or the algorithm is broken!
@JonKramer @BenWest @mtsw I suppose so. I'm sure over time I'll probably be spending most of my time here or on Post.