3 ms·

I cannot get used to Twitter being called X. When I see “on X” I think of X in algebraic terms, that it is standing in for some other value rather than being a

I cannot get used to Twitter being called X. When I see “on X” I think of X in algebraic terms, that it is standing in for some other value rather than being a name unto itself.

rchaud 3y ago
Think of the X Games, WWF Attitude era, Tony Hawk skateboarding videogames, and other kewl activities for kids from the late 90s. That would the period in Musk locked in his vision for the most badass letter in the alphabet.
EarlKing 3y ago
"Is it cool if I just call you "X"? I can't really pronounce all that..." "Only if I get to call you "Nutlicker"" "If bullshit were music, you'd be a big brass band..." -- The Doom Generation (maybe Elon's a fan?)
version_five 3y ago
When facebook became Meta it sounded really stupid to me and I had a hard time referring to them as such. Now I actually think it's a better name. I don't know if that will happen with twitter but I expect well get used to it. After a brief peak in attention it's relevance is quickly waning anyway, so more likely we just won't care.
- hotnfresh 3y ago
  The difference is that Facebook is still Facebook, like how google’s Alphabet thing didn’t re-brand google, really. Incidentally, my social circle (mostly non-tech) still just calls Meta and Facebook both by Facebook, most of the time.
- andrewflnr 3y ago
  At least they didn't try to change the name of the actual product. X is trying to erase Twitter from existence.
- JohnFen 3y ago
  I still can't bring myself to call Facebook "Meta", and I can't bring myself to call Google "Alphabet". It feels too much like helping them to bury their bad reputations. I can't refer to Twitter as X, either -- in part for the same reason, but in part because "X" is nondescript and already has meaning, so every time I use it, I'd have to follow it up with an explanation of what "X" I mean. Which means I'd have to say "Twitter" anyway. Which means I may as well just say "Twitter" to begin with.

I cannot get used to Twitter being called X. When I see “on X” I think of X in algebraic terms, that it is standing in for some other value rather than being a name unto itself.

rchaud 3y ago

Think of the X Games, WWF Attitude era, Tony Hawk skateboarding videogames, and other kewl activities for kids from the late 90s. That would the period in Musk locked in his vision for the most badass letter in the alphabet.

EarlKing 3y ago

"Is it cool if I just call you "X"? I can't really pronounce all that..." "Only if I get to call you "Nutlicker"" "If bullshit were music, you'd be a big brass band..." -- The Doom Generation (maybe Elon's a fan?)

version_five 3y ago

When facebook became Meta it sounded really stupid to me and I had a hard time referring to them as such. Now I actually think it's a better name. I don't know if that will happen with twitter but I expect well get used to it. After a brief peak in attention it's relevance is quickly waning anyway, so more likely we just won't care.

hotnfresh 3y ago
The difference is that Facebook is still Facebook, like how google’s Alphabet thing didn’t re-brand google, really. Incidentally, my social circle (mostly non-tech) still just calls Meta and Facebook both by Facebook, most of the time.
andrewflnr 3y ago
At least they didn't try to change the name of the actual product. X is trying to erase Twitter from existence.
JohnFen 3y ago
I still can't bring myself to call Facebook "Meta", and I can't bring myself to call Google "Alphabet". It feels too much like helping them to bury their bad reputations. I can't refer to Twitter as X, either -- in part for the same reason, but in part because "X" is nondescript and already has meaning, so every time I use it, I'd have to follow it up with an explanation of what "X" I mean. Which means I'd have to say "Twitter" anyway. Which means I may as well just say "Twitter" to begin with.