21 Comments
Apr 26, 2022Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I follow a lot of legal folks, writers, journalists, and “analysts/critics” on Twitter. I know it’s a cesspool, but because I’m not some big name, bots/trolls don’t bother me—I get one or two occasionally, so I know I’ve touched a nerve, and I just block them. I have engaged in productive dialogue with people who are very different than me, especially about race, and I have learned and grown because of it. So I’m staying on T for now, and we’ll see how it all shakes out. That said, I seriously loathe Elon Musk and sense that his control (esp if he takes the company private) will turn what’s been for me an illuminating and often very funny space into something much darker and more painful. If that happens, I guess I’ll go. Thanks, Aimee, for all you do.

Expand full comment
Apr 26, 2022Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Thank you Amee for talking me off the ledge. You're measured intelligent and thoughtful account was very good to read. Yes I'm going to see what happens. Although I despise the thought of tfg being allowed back on I don't want to miss any other important information I get from the site. However I will never pay for Twitter.

Expand full comment

I'm still on Twitter, though I mainly use it to follow and post hockey news/takes (and you!). Not ready to delete my account....................YET. But, if right wing misinformation starts running rampant, I'm done. I don't need it THAT much. However, like you, Amee, I want to see what Musk actually does.

P.S. As a side issue, am I the only person who is appalled that a single person is rich enough to just cough up $44 billion to buy a social media site, essentially on a whim?

Expand full comment
Apr 26, 2022Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Thank you, Amee, for your calm determination, 10,000' perspective, and comprehensive context on this Musk/Twitter business. Will be staying with the platform (as admin for a Democratic organization in Northern Nevada)

Expand full comment
Apr 26, 2022Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I live for a good fight; bring it.

Expand full comment
Apr 26, 2022Liked by Amee Vanderpool

The piece of my Grandma’s advice that I have used the most in my life is “Don’t borrow trouble”. This one piece of wisdom has saved me countless hours of unnecessary worry. So once again I will wait and see what actually unfolds before I lose my mind over all the possibilities of what MIGHT happen. I don’t trust Musk any further than any other over privileged born to wealth billionaire, but occasionally even the rich can do good things, so we shall see how this pans out.

As Democrats at least we are aware of the treachery to come, and I certainly can’t see how running away from the fight will make our side any stronger.

Expand full comment
Apr 27, 2022Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I agree, Amee. It's a good idea simply wait to see what happens. Your mother seems pretty cool.

Expand full comment

Unlike some others, I have chosen to stay on Twitter until I see the problems arise. If (or when) any of the many speculated things comes to pass, then I will reassess my position relative to whether or not I still garner any benefit from remaining. I strongly suspect that many will stay and lurk rather than bolt wholesale, but I've been wrong before.

I share my opinions, positive or negative, where and when I feel compelled to do so. I respond to others with (hopefully) the empathy & understanding that I'd like others to show me. I respond to bot/troll folk appropriately. If that makes me persona non grata on Twitter, then I will take my few marbles elsewhere. If not, so much the better. ROCK ON, dear lady, and keep gracing us with that legal wisdom!! <3

Expand full comment

Can’t wait to witness the lashing out like a gigantic beast sans frontal cortex, with Musk at the wheel of the newest all-right social media site…where irony is lost on the willfully ignorant!

Expand full comment
Apr 27, 2022Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I am not leaving until I see how Musk chooses to recoup his 44billion. Twitter has some very smart, funny, sad, happy, misinformed , and a bunch of Cliff Clavin’s on board. I keep my group small and diverse . Hyde Park in London is much freer and more fun , but in the end Musk is a businessman and he has to recoup his investment and I firmly believe the changes will incur charges and tge changes will be slight and incremental at first but they will come and at a price. He will censor , tried to buy a kid off from tracking his plane. I understand his desire for privacy but now he doesn’t have to have people he doesn’t like on tte platform . The world is pretty much a FUBAR now so we shall see. Stay safe everyone Wear s mask

Expand full comment

Here is the reason I'm leaving Twitter: because Twitter currently reflects (always has reflected?) our class-based society, meaning that it's one rule for the connected, the notorious, the rich, the elite, the blue-checked...and another rule for the rest of us.

OK, so your argument for me would be, "Well, you can make a name for yourself! You can work your ass off to promote your 'brand.' Why don't you do THAT?"

Because I don't. I just wanted to get on Twitter to connect with people to share ideas and other s*** going on in the world. We don't need eight effing billion "brands" on Earth. I'm not selling or promoting anything. Sure, I use it to connect when I can but, if I don't, it's no biggie. However, I do reserve the right to constructively (civilly, respectively) criticize people and their "takes" I choose to. And unfortunately, you get kicked off Twitter a lot for.

I'm not going to spend one more minute of my time wondering if some bot or some troll that/who have no ethics or morals or skin in the game turns me in for criticizing Turtle McConnell or some MAGA s***head.

Expand full comment

Never been a fan of Twitter and refuse to engage with it. To me Twitter is the pure embodiment of the sickness in our society. Who owns it is irrelevant.

Expand full comment

There are plenty of unknowns about the future of Musk Twitter, for sure, but one thing I believe is for sure about Musk Twitter: the floodgates of misinformation, disinformation, and abject lies are going to be swept away as fast as Musk can do it. He has zero respect for government or society or social comity and will chuckle at the chaos because he thinks it's meaningless. Twitter alone did not get Trump elected but post election Trump ladled in the poison of lies and BS and contributed mightily to the destruction of civility and to the increase in both hate and violence as he empowered his cult members to emulate his behavior. I don't know yet whether I will leave Twitter - I am, TBH, a nobody on the platform - but I will decide based on whether I value the facts presented by people I follow more than I am nauseated by the hate and lies that will flow.

Expand full comment
Apr 26, 2022·edited Apr 26, 2022

I appreciate your measured response but I’m one of those followers you lost yesterday when I deactivated my account. I already had an unhealthy dependence on the platform and being a part of an oligarch’s vanity project is not appealing to me. Good luck with Shero and maybe reconnect with you in a better place some time in the future.

Expand full comment

I was reprimanded by twitter for what I can not remember and never bothered to get my get out of jail card. I enjoyed the echo chamber realizing that no one is changing anyone’s ideology. A good source of info from those you choose to follow. But who needs it when you can come here for well thought out updates, seriously. With that said I may give them my phone number and first born to witness the chaos and then deactivate. What do you all think? Should I witness this cultural shift or just leave well enough alone.

Expand full comment