5 ms·

Maybe they shouldn't have banned that user, after all.

by Andrew_nenakhov 5y ago

zeruch 5y ago
Nah, they should have...and sooner.
- BitwiseFool 5y ago
  As an American, it feels strange to me that the CEO of Twitter has control over how The President is able to communicate.
  - zeruch 5y ago
    ...as an American, I find it strange to see a POTUS feel like the laws have no bearing on him (I am not a fan of ever expanding and oblique "executive privilege"), especially to be given exemptions for behaviors not otherwise allowed by a private entity.
  - lotsofpulp 5y ago
    The CEO of Twitter has control over how the President is able to communicate on Twitter. As an American, this makes sense because Twitter is private property.
    - BitwiseFool 5y ago
      It's one of those things where in theory and in the rule of law the CEO can do so. It does make me feel uncomfortable, though. As time goes on I am less and less supportive of the notion that private companies can do as they please on the basis that they are private companies. I don't know what 'the solution' is, but I do sense a precedent being established that I am weary of. Twitter is simultaneously a public sphere where politicians are prohibited from blocking users, but also a private platform where they can be ejected at-will.
      - lotsofpulp 5y ago
        > Twitter is simultaneously a public sphere where politicians are prohibited from blocking users I do not know what public sphere means, but I doubt Twitter stops specific accounts from blocking other accounts. I do not see why that is relevant either. The president of the United States, of all people, has the capability to put an RSS feed on Whitehouse.gov or the president’s personal website anytime they want.
        BitwiseFool 5y ago
        Sure, but you'll have a hard time convincing people that is an effective alternative. How many people do you know who visit the official website of the White House to read press releases and memos? Does the average person know that the president used to give a weekly radio address? The medium of the message is just as important as the message itself. I also believe AOC would be a nobody if she didn't have a Twitter account. She'd be the same as the other 435 Representatives who release statements on their house.gov website that no one realizes exists. Edit: >"I doubt Twitter stops specific accounts from blocking other accounts." This was actually a court ruling. I have no clue if Twitter actually coded this requirement on @realDonaldTrump after the fact. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/trump-can-t-block-users-his-twitter-feed-federal-judge-n876831 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/trump-can-t-block-users-his...
        lotsofpulp 5y ago
        That is a court order due to the President’s status as a particular type of government employee, not a Twitter policy.
        BitwiseFool 5y ago
        Okay. The whole situation still makes me uncomfortable. I don't particularly think that being a "private company" on the size and scale of Twitter justifies their ability to censor the president.
      - carapace 5y ago
rvz 5y ago
You mean @realDonaldTrump? Gee, I wonder why everyone cannot stop talking, reporting about that person given that they have been 'deplatformed' for over year.

Maybe they shouldn't have banned that user, after all.

zeruch 5y ago

Nah, they should have...and sooner.

BitwiseFool 5y ago
As an American, it feels strange to me that the CEO of Twitter has control over how The President is able to communicate.
- zeruch 5y ago
  ...as an American, I find it strange to see a POTUS feel like the laws have no bearing on him (I am not a fan of ever expanding and oblique "executive privilege"), especially to be given exemptions for behaviors not otherwise allowed by a private entity.
- lotsofpulp 5y ago
  The CEO of Twitter has control over how the President is able to communicate on Twitter. As an American, this makes sense because Twitter is private property.
  - BitwiseFool 5y ago
    It's one of those things where in theory and in the rule of law the CEO can do so. It does make me feel uncomfortable, though. As time goes on I am less and less supportive of the notion that private companies can do as they please on the basis that they are private companies. I don't know what 'the solution' is, but I do sense a precedent being established that I am weary of. Twitter is simultaneously a public sphere where politicians are prohibited from blocking users, but also a private platform where they can be ejected at-will.
    - lotsofpulp 5y ago
      > Twitter is simultaneously a public sphere where politicians are prohibited from blocking users I do not know what public sphere means, but I doubt Twitter stops specific accounts from blocking other accounts. I do not see why that is relevant either. The president of the United States, of all people, has the capability to put an RSS feed on Whitehouse.gov or the president’s personal website anytime they want.
      - BitwiseFool 5y ago
        Sure, but you'll have a hard time convincing people that is an effective alternative. How many people do you know who visit the official website of the White House to read press releases and memos? Does the average person know that the president used to give a weekly radio address? The medium of the message is just as important as the message itself. I also believe AOC would be a nobody if she didn't have a Twitter account. She'd be the same as the other 435 Representatives who release statements on their house.gov website that no one realizes exists. Edit: >"I doubt Twitter stops specific accounts from blocking other accounts." This was actually a court ruling. I have no clue if Twitter actually coded this requirement on @realDonaldTrump after the fact. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/trump-can-t-block-users-his-twitter-feed-federal-judge-n876831 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/trump-can-t-block-users-his...
        lotsofpulp 5y ago
        That is a court order due to the President’s status as a particular type of government employee, not a Twitter policy.
        BitwiseFool 5y ago
        Okay. The whole situation still makes me uncomfortable. I don't particularly think that being a "private company" on the size and scale of Twitter justifies their ability to censor the president.
    - carapace 5y ago

rvz 5y ago

You mean @realDonaldTrump? Gee, I wonder why everyone cannot stop talking, reporting about that person given that they have been 'deplatformed' for over year.