4 ms·

Elon Musk Explains Why He's Never Letting Alex Jones Back on Twitter

12 points by nickthegreek 4y ago

josefresco 4y ago
If traffic falls, he'll allow him back. It's the same reason he wanted Trump, or Ye back - outrage drives engagement.
kstenerud 4y ago
What we're seeing now is that Musk's idea of "free speech" is: "My word is law".
- mikkergp 4y ago
  Yeah, it makes me wonder, if his trans child had committed suicide, would he be against bullying trans folk? I'm firmly in support of his decision to ban Alex Jones, but this is why things should be rules based instead of the emotional whims of the owner, because there are so many other examples of trauma that should probably be mitigated that Musk hasn't personally experienced. But instead we get a set of rules based on Musk's own personal life experience.
  - encryptluks2 4y ago
    Considering that they are estranged.. I doubt he ever cared that much about them.
- papito 4y ago
  Musk has been saying "I am the law" to multiple people. Like, saying that specifically. This dude is on a really out-of-control power trip. https://davetroy.medium.com/no-elon-and-jack-are-not-competitors-theyre-collaborating-3e88cde5267d https://davetroy.medium.com/no-elon-and-jack-are-not-competi... --- Q: So Putin, Musk, and Dorsey share the same vision? A: It’s complicated. All seem to think a “multipolar world” is a good thing, because after all, shouldn’t Russia get to do its thing and not be bothered by anyone else? That’s “free speech” and opposes “cancel culture,” right? So yeah, that’s aligned with Putin. But Putin himself doesn’t support free speech; his government censors wildly, but it does support speech that breaks the hegemony of the Western elites. As do Musk and friends. This is internally inconsistent. --- All this talk of being oppressed by the powers that be, the "unipolar world", etc. These are the people who want to be horrible and loved at the same time, and when that doesn't happen, they lash out. It's a type of ultra entitlement on cocaine. They talk of freedom of speech or freedom of anything, really, it's just shockingly cynical and dishonest. They only believe in the opinion of the masses if the masses ADORE them. Also, Elon Musk would make a terrible king (which is what he wants to be).
  - mikkergp 4y ago
    https://techcrunch.com/2013/11/22/geeks-for-monarchy/ https://techcrunch.com/2013/11/22/geeks-for-monarchy/
    - papito 4y ago
      10 years ago. This is blowing my mind. Truly amazing insight that early on.
cratermoon 4y ago
Why? "My firstborn child died in my arms. I felt his last heartbeat. I have no mercy for anyone who would use the deaths of children for gain, politics or fame"
perrygeo 4y ago
The author cites "right-wing author Sam Harris". Is he talking about a different person? Sam Harris the author and podcast host is about as far from a right-wing author as you can get. He's a neuroscientist who advocates rational thinking, is highly critical of organized religion, promotes meditation, supports same-sex marriage, and is a registered Democrat. Sam has many unique viewpoints that don't map exactly to the woke left (he's critical of Democrats occasionally, supports gun ownership, is not afraid to voice unpopular opinions) - but calling him right-wing is just plain wrong. Is that what politics has come to? You don't get in line with every idea on the left, you get labelled a right-winger?
- mseidl 4y ago
  He thinks black people are dumber due to genetics. (a 15 point lower iq)
  - perrygeo 4y ago
    Harris does not think that and never said any such thing. You're literally making false statements and putting them in his mouth. Yes, he has discussed the social stratification of IQ scores. And for this, he's a racist? You just proved my point.
    - mseidl 4y ago
      https://theoutline.com/post/4024/andrew-sullivan-sam-harris-jordan-peterson-the-bell-curve https://theoutline.com/post/4024/andrew-sullivan-sam-harris-...
    - maxbond 4y ago
      It's important to note that this idea about IQ is in fact a repackaging of race realism. In another decade Harris would've been talking about phrenology. It is an intellectual fig leaf for racism.
    - tptacek 4y ago
      I'm not sure there's much daylight between "social stratification of IQ scores" as posited by Harris and "scientific racism". There seems to be a widespread belief that "scientific reasoning" is an inoculation against white supremacy (or any other kind of bigotry), but a bigoted statement rooted in a scientific claim is usually still just as bigoted.

12 points by nickthegreek 4y ago

josefresco 4y ago

If traffic falls, he'll allow him back. It's the same reason he wanted Trump, or Ye back - outrage drives engagement.

kstenerud 4y ago

What we're seeing now is that Musk's idea of "free speech" is: "My word is law".

mikkergp 4y ago
Yeah, it makes me wonder, if his trans child had committed suicide, would he be against bullying trans folk? I'm firmly in support of his decision to ban Alex Jones, but this is why things should be rules based instead of the emotional whims of the owner, because there are so many other examples of trauma that should probably be mitigated that Musk hasn't personally experienced. But instead we get a set of rules based on Musk's own personal life experience.
- encryptluks2 4y ago
  Considering that they are estranged.. I doubt he ever cared that much about them.
papito 4y ago
Musk has been saying "I am the law" to multiple people. Like, saying that specifically. This dude is on a really out-of-control power trip. https://davetroy.medium.com/no-elon-and-jack-are-not-competitors-theyre-collaborating-3e88cde5267d https://davetroy.medium.com/no-elon-and-jack-are-not-competi... --- Q: So Putin, Musk, and Dorsey share the same vision? A: It’s complicated. All seem to think a “multipolar world” is a good thing, because after all, shouldn’t Russia get to do its thing and not be bothered by anyone else? That’s “free speech” and opposes “cancel culture,” right? So yeah, that’s aligned with Putin. But Putin himself doesn’t support free speech; his government censors wildly, but it does support speech that breaks the hegemony of the Western elites. As do Musk and friends. This is internally inconsistent. --- All this talk of being oppressed by the powers that be, the "unipolar world", etc. These are the people who want to be horrible and loved at the same time, and when that doesn't happen, they lash out. It's a type of ultra entitlement on cocaine. They talk of freedom of speech or freedom of anything, really, it's just shockingly cynical and dishonest. They only believe in the opinion of the masses if the masses ADORE them. Also, Elon Musk would make a terrible king (which is what he wants to be).
- mikkergp 4y ago
  https://techcrunch.com/2013/11/22/geeks-for-monarchy/ https://techcrunch.com/2013/11/22/geeks-for-monarchy/
  - papito 4y ago
    10 years ago. This is blowing my mind. Truly amazing insight that early on.

cratermoon 4y ago

Why? "My firstborn child died in my arms. I felt his last heartbeat. I have no mercy for anyone who would use the deaths of children for gain, politics or fame"

perrygeo 4y ago

The author cites "right-wing author Sam Harris". Is he talking about a different person? Sam Harris the author and podcast host is about as far from a right-wing author as you can get. He's a neuroscientist who advocates rational thinking, is highly critical of organized religion, promotes meditation, supports same-sex marriage, and is a registered Democrat. Sam has many unique viewpoints that don't map exactly to the woke left (he's critical of Democrats occasionally, supports gun ownership, is not afraid to voice unpopular opinions) - but calling him right-wing is just plain wrong. Is that what politics has come to? You don't get in line with every idea on the left, you get labelled a right-winger?

mseidl 4y ago
He thinks black people are dumber due to genetics. (a 15 point lower iq)
- perrygeo 4y ago
  Harris does not think that and never said any such thing. You're literally making false statements and putting them in his mouth. Yes, he has discussed the social stratification of IQ scores. And for this, he's a racist? You just proved my point.
  - mseidl 4y ago
    https://theoutline.com/post/4024/andrew-sullivan-sam-harris-jordan-peterson-the-bell-curve https://theoutline.com/post/4024/andrew-sullivan-sam-harris-...
  - maxbond 4y ago
    It's important to note that this idea about IQ is in fact a repackaging of race realism. In another decade Harris would've been talking about phrenology. It is an intellectual fig leaf for racism.
  - tptacek 4y ago
    I'm not sure there's much daylight between "social stratification of IQ scores" as posited by Harris and "scientific racism". There seems to be a widespread belief that "scientific reasoning" is an inoculation against white supremacy (or any other kind of bigotry), but a bigoted statement rooted in a scientific claim is usually still just as bigoted.