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I think that’s the point. Elon takes the “freedom from consequences” interpretation of free speech when it comes to his complaints about twitter and “cancel cu

I think that’s the point. Elon takes the “freedom from consequences” interpretation of free speech when it comes to his complaints about twitter and “cancel culture”, then turns around and effectively cancels these employees for speaking their mind.

nxmnxm99 4y ago
- wizofaus 4y ago
  Twitter is hardly the only platform you can use to broadcast your opinions. Being fired from your job is just as likely to massively reduce your ability to get your message out to others as is being blocked from posting on a single privately owned messaging service, if not more so. Legally I doubt either could be seen as being in contravention of any free speech laws, but it's fair enough to see Elon's actions as somewhat hypocritical.
  - lenkite 4y ago
    "Being fired from your job is just as likely to massively reduce your ability to get your message out to others." Sorry what ? This is objectively incorrect. If you get banned from social media - twitter, facebook/whatsapp, youtube, your messaging reach is utterly destroyed compared to simply getting fired from a job.
    - wizofaus 4y ago
      If you're Elon Musk perhaps. But for most people being banned from a single social media site is hardly a great imposition (there's little they can do to stop you signing up for a new account). Whereas losing your job (or even the knowledge you're likely to) could very well leave an average person in a situation that they no longer have the resources or wherewithal to continue broadcasting their message to as wide audience (especially if previously that had been their co-workers in a large firm, as was the case in this situation).
  - nxmnxm99 4y ago
    > Twitter is hardly the only platform you can use to broadcast your opinions Oh yeah? What other platforms are there?
    - wizofaus 4y ago
      Other than all the other social media tools out there, blogging, mailing lists, various online forums (including this one), letters to the editor, building your own networks with their own distribution channels etc., you're obviously right, before Twitter there was no such thing as free speech.
      - nxmnxm99 4y ago
        I didn’t realize HN would have people make the ludicrously stupid “well just build your own Twitter” argument Figured we had a more high brow audience here clearly I was mistaken
        wizofaus 4y ago
        That's not what I meant by "building your own networks" - was referring to the traditional ways of building networks before the internet was even a thing. Arguing that Twitter has some sort of magical status as the ultimate channel for broadcasting your opinions to the world strikes me as absurd. I barely use it, and when I do it's not to read opinions (I only subscribe to institutions/organisations that use it to broadcast important information). Pretty sure most people I know would say the same.
        nxmnxm99 4y ago
        Twitter has a significantly bigger audience than every other channel combined. It’s like saying who cares if you’re banned from tv, radio and telephones, just send carrier pigeons like the old days This is classic HN “introverted programmers don’t use it so clearly it’s worthless”. The “normies” aren’t on HN or IRC or browsing your obscure forum - they’re on Twitter and that’s it.
- middleclick 4y ago
- eevilspock 4y ago
  It does when employees can be treated as commodities and be at the mercy of employers because of the way our economy is structured.

nxmnxm99 4y ago

wizofaus 4y ago
Twitter is hardly the only platform you can use to broadcast your opinions. Being fired from your job is just as likely to massively reduce your ability to get your message out to others as is being blocked from posting on a single privately owned messaging service, if not more so. Legally I doubt either could be seen as being in contravention of any free speech laws, but it's fair enough to see Elon's actions as somewhat hypocritical.
- lenkite 4y ago
  "Being fired from your job is just as likely to massively reduce your ability to get your message out to others." Sorry what ? This is objectively incorrect. If you get banned from social media - twitter, facebook/whatsapp, youtube, your messaging reach is utterly destroyed compared to simply getting fired from a job.
  - wizofaus 4y ago
    If you're Elon Musk perhaps. But for most people being banned from a single social media site is hardly a great imposition (there's little they can do to stop you signing up for a new account). Whereas losing your job (or even the knowledge you're likely to) could very well leave an average person in a situation that they no longer have the resources or wherewithal to continue broadcasting their message to as wide audience (especially if previously that had been their co-workers in a large firm, as was the case in this situation).
- nxmnxm99 4y ago
  > Twitter is hardly the only platform you can use to broadcast your opinions Oh yeah? What other platforms are there?
  - wizofaus 4y ago
    Other than all the other social media tools out there, blogging, mailing lists, various online forums (including this one), letters to the editor, building your own networks with their own distribution channels etc., you're obviously right, before Twitter there was no such thing as free speech.
    - nxmnxm99 4y ago
      I didn’t realize HN would have people make the ludicrously stupid “well just build your own Twitter” argument Figured we had a more high brow audience here clearly I was mistaken
      - wizofaus 4y ago
        That's not what I meant by "building your own networks" - was referring to the traditional ways of building networks before the internet was even a thing. Arguing that Twitter has some sort of magical status as the ultimate channel for broadcasting your opinions to the world strikes me as absurd. I barely use it, and when I do it's not to read opinions (I only subscribe to institutions/organisations that use it to broadcast important information). Pretty sure most people I know would say the same.
        nxmnxm99 4y ago
        Twitter has a significantly bigger audience than every other channel combined. It’s like saying who cares if you’re banned from tv, radio and telephones, just send carrier pigeons like the old days This is classic HN “introverted programmers don’t use it so clearly it’s worthless”. The “normies” aren’t on HN or IRC or browsing your obscure forum - they’re on Twitter and that’s it.
middleclick 4y ago
eevilspock 4y ago
It does when employees can be treated as commodities and be at the mercy of employers because of the way our economy is structured.