Comment by bmelton
2 years ago
I'm still highly critical of what Musk is doing (again, without knowing the 'why') but something that seems important and is going unnoticed is that while the previous administration's actions were just as arbitrary and capricious, they almost always related to events that were popular topics of discussion like recent elections, a global pandemic, and other things that are naturally topics of discussion.
I think the current rules are likely just as dumb, but the number of people likely to be suspended for doxxing Elon or posting about Mastodon is undoubtedly a MUCH smaller segment of the population.
It's amusing watching the reactions to it. I've run enough communities in the past to appreciate how many times you have to make decisions that go against your personal ethics for the sake of the community. Everyone draws different lines on the sand on what they consider "free" speech, and anything closely resembling what is protected in America will likely get you into trouble internationally. Elon is finding out that it's hard, and while it may seem like he's setting his lines in untenable spots, it seems just as possible to me that we're all wrong and he isn't.
You're right, about the previous Twitter administration and how it worked. Take away this (big) pinch and Twitter can be a real improvement on the last version.
I have trouble swallowing this abuse of market power because the courts and govts have allowed so much such abuse for so long. It's a big issue for me (and the EU.) Without that context, I might find it easier to shrug off.
No question, speech and community make for interesting decisions; if he can stay within the law, he'll have a fair bit of leeway from me.