1760 replies to this topic

[Redd42]

Sorry, it’s a Facebook page but topical..

https://www.facebook...73531489644605/

 

Oh, if he could only make Dark Matter low carb!

[Victoria Watcher]

A majority of Americans approve of Elon Musk’s $44 billion buyout of Twitter, according to the results of an upcoming poll obtained by The Post.

 

Even as employees of the social media giant are melting down at the prospect of new ownership, a Rasmussen poll set to be released Friday found that 62 percent of adults think Musk’s purchase will make Twitter better.

 

Just 13 percent, meanwhile, feel Musk will make the platform worse, the poll shows.

 

 

 

https://nypost.com/2...er-buyout-poll/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 29 April 2022 - 07:31 AM.

[G-Man]

^ I am not for or against it. So long as it stays relatively the same. I am against stupid polls though and really the average American adult is not on twitter so their opinion on it is pretty irrelevant.

[Victoria Watcher]

OK, how about this, a poll of 2 million + twitter users:

 

https://twitter.com/...sk/with_replies

 

[Mike K.]

This is generally how the press conducts its polling. This is the same style of polling that drives every other headline about what “people” think, that gets created into ‘fact’ by the spin doctors.

We can now see that it’s pretty much garbage, right?

[G-Man]

^ of course it is. As for the Twitter poll above, it is pretty meaningless too. I mean why are people talking about free speech anyways? Most Twitter users I expect don't care about that aspect of it and use it as a service for other ends. It is just the extreme right and left that are in a tizzy about it (who also likely are either not users or not regular users). The average Twitter user is posting about their small area of interest and plodding along enjoying the service with no yearning for any real changes. 

[Mike K.]

That's not quite right.

 

Much of the progressive left takes offence to a lot of what people say, or don't say, during normal, everyday conversations.

 

Look at this exchange between the HarbourCats GM and some member of the public. Jim Swanson is a very level headed, straight talking guy who has a lot at stake over the shenanigans of Victoria council in recent weeks. Look at what begins to happen when a supporter of what council is doing begins to lose traction:
 

JS: Actually, it hasn’t. Look at the actuals on usage numbers. Current. Do t believe what the NPNA fed two councillors and they bought without questioning. False.

Member of the public: I base my opinion on my own experiences and observations. Please stop calling people liars. It is unprofessional and dismissive.

JS: Lori, read this. From a resident, and it’s not standing alone. Thoughts? Sincerely asking. Does this not indicate a disconnect, an issue?

Member of the public: I know that baseball at rap is a popular and longstanding tradition in Victoria. Many neighborhood residents love it, and harbour cats have been v successful. I don't think anyone is out to get you. But a little cooperation on yr part would go far.

JS: Understand very clearly —one side picked this path. We have remained apolitical— dragged into without warning. NPNA board has NOT refuted a single thing said. Note that. Distinguish between NPNA board members, small group w some council friends, and NP residents and businesses.

 

Member of the public: Mr Swanson, I don't have a dog in this fight. I am not a resident or property owner in Victoria.

But I find your tone kind of aggressive, and I would prefer that we end this conversation.

 

JS: Fair. Not intended aggressive at all. I am willing to discuss. I have a thick file to back all of this and the NPNA small group board and staff know this. I do have a cat in this fight. Not our path. - https://twitter.com/...899437455138816

 

 

You see what's happening there? Stop identifying misinformation. You're unprofessional. You're dismissive. Cooperate. Align your opinions.

 

The person eventually alleges "aggression" once their argument begins to unravel, then the person wants the conversation to immediately end. This sort of thing is rampant on twitter. People will also call for your post to be censored or your account banned if they merely don't like what you're saying, even if it's factual. You'll be tarred and feathered, and reported, if you don't align with the group. This is why Musk is stepping in.

 

You may not see this if you're in a silo and everyone's playing along to the same issue, but once any sort of left vs right debate begins, the knives come out. I mean I don't even know what political stripes are Jim Swanson's, but I suspect he's not aligned with the politics of most of Victoria council on the issues he's tackling.

[Victoria Watcher]

^ of course it is. As for the Twitter poll above, it is pretty meaningless too. I mean why are people talking about free speech anyways? Most Twitter users I expect don't care about that aspect of it and use it as a service for other ends. It is just the extreme right and left that are in a tizzy about it (who also likely are either not users or not regular users). The average Twitter user is posting about their small area of interest and plodding along enjoying the service with no yearning for any real changes.

For most users, they post much less than they read. Especially individuals with small followings or no business interests.

But it IS important that what we read is moderated lighting and fairly.

Because for one thing, we see how many news stories are based on social media posts and reactions.

And media companies increasingly rely on social media to get news stories out. So when the New York Post is banned, there is reason for all users to be concerned.

[Mike K.]

And when an event is banned, we most certainly have an even broader issue.

[spanky123]

Try refuting a politician on Twitter. I did it once by pointing that what a local MLA was saying was demonstrably false. Took about 30 minutes before my post was deleted and I was blocked from any further comment.

 

That is why the left loves Twitter, they have an army of like minded socialists who work hard to make sure only one message is shared.

Edited by spanky123, 29 April 2022 - 11:45 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The original poster blocked you. That’s a tool available to most on most platforms. And necessary.

That’s not really the issue.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 29 April 2022 - 11:49 AM.

[G-Man]

What I am saying is that the vast majority of twitter users are not playing in a left vs right world. Those that are, are drawn to them. Ignore them and it will go away.

[Victoria Watcher]

What I am saying is that the vast majority of twitter users are not playing in a left vs right world. 

 

That's true.  But elections are won by swings of just a few percent each way.  And twitter overwhelmingly censors the right-wing media.

[Victoria Watcher]

Elon Musk says he tried to buy the Biden Family but China refused to sell.

[spanky123]

The original poster blocked you. That’s a tool available to most on most platforms. And necessary.

That’s not really the issue.

 

Can the original poster delete my tweet?!

[spanky123]

That's true.  But elections are won by swings of just a few percent each way.  And twitter overwhelmingly censors the right-wing media.

 

What is truly ironic is how a month ago the left was fully in favour of using their buds in big tech to censor speech that they did not agree with. This week the tables have turned.

[Victoria Watcher]

Can the original poster delete my tweet?!

Yes. Once blocked, your tweet reply on their page/thread disappears.

Same with Facebook, Instagram.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 29 April 2022 - 02:03 PM.

[Mike K.]

I think the historic moment in all of this will be open-sourcing the algorithms.

[G-Man]

What would be the benefit of that?

[Mike K.]

To understand how content finds its ways to people’s eyes. Right now it’s all guess work and conspiracy. We’ll get a look into how content gets suppressed, and elevated, and why.