Overton Window. Free-er speech isn't free speech. Twitter's extreme censorship being eased back to only censoring a few Third Rail topics like Ukraine-Russia, Vaccines and Election 2020 that stray from the narrative will seem like free speech in comparison, but nowhere near the free speech we had three years ago, three years before that, and three years before that. Overton Window keeps shifting towards censorship, but the return of some speech rights will seem like free speech. That's what Musk's ownership of Twitter is designed to do.
Which our overlords believe will slow down and even reverse the little people's migration away from electronic town halls that they control to town halls that have actual free speech as the Constitution protects. They imagine it will kill Truth Social in the crib, as well as keep minds from discovering all of the amazing writers on platforms like Substack.
"Musk tweeted: A social media platform's policies are good if the most extreme 10% on left and right are equally unhappy.
This statement could mean many different things. One thing is for sure: As the Overton window moves inexorably to the left, today’s left-most 10% will be the moderates in a couple of years time. Today’s moderates will be tomorrow’s extreme right."
Don’t mean to spam but check out this timeline. This girl went all in on 4/26. Can you imagine this 3 weeks ago? I have no idea who this is but she’s launching hypersonic missiles and clearly is out of fucks to give.
Musk clarified his position on free speech, it is that which matches the law. Steve Kirsch, who was banned from the platform twice received an email saying that his case is being opened and re-reviewed. Good early signs.
Since we don’t know what Twitter will look like 18 months from now (and assuming that this deal actually goes through) the extent to which free speech is returned to the platform is speculation. Your point about the ever shifting Overton Window is smart and spot on.
My best guess is that Twitter will decentralize to give individual users much more control over their experience. Those that want a safe space will be able to have that. Those that want Gab will be able to have that. Got a case of TDS? No problemo, click here and there and it’s like Trump and his low IQ troglodytes never existed!
You mention Congressional intervention (assuming via Section 230) and that seems possible but it would be a difficult needle to thread in the current environment. If November plays out like it looks like it will the task may well be impossible. It seems to me like it would be easier for the SEC to just kill the deal. I’m not a M&A guy so I cannot comment on that...way out of my depth there.
I do think that Truth Social will die and I’m surprised that ledtoids are not doing cartwheels over that. I guess the threat of big, bad Donald going back on Twitter outweighs any joy they might experience over Trump losing a bit of money - at least potentially.
There are several Substack writers who are banned on Twitter, Bad Cat, Malone, Kirsch, Joel Smalley, Jessica Rose (I think); getting them back on Twitter would boost their Substack audience so that’s a positive.
Overton Window. Free-er speech isn't free speech. Twitter's extreme censorship being eased back to only censoring a few Third Rail topics like Ukraine-Russia, Vaccines and Election 2020 that stray from the narrative will seem like free speech in comparison, but nowhere near the free speech we had three years ago, three years before that, and three years before that. Overton Window keeps shifting towards censorship, but the return of some speech rights will seem like free speech. That's what Musk's ownership of Twitter is designed to do.
Which our overlords believe will slow down and even reverse the little people's migration away from electronic town halls that they control to town halls that have actual free speech as the Constitution protects. They imagine it will kill Truth Social in the crib, as well as keep minds from discovering all of the amazing writers on platforms like Substack.
Not to mention the shitty ones ;-)
"Musk tweeted: A social media platform's policies are good if the most extreme 10% on left and right are equally unhappy.
This statement could mean many different things. One thing is for sure: As the Overton window moves inexorably to the left, today’s left-most 10% will be the moderates in a couple of years time. Today’s moderates will be tomorrow’s extreme right."
https://aljahom.substack.com/p/doing-the-half-time-victory-dance
Don’t mean to spam but check out this timeline. This girl went all in on 4/26. Can you imagine this 3 weeks ago? I have no idea who this is but she’s launching hypersonic missiles and clearly is out of fucks to give.
https://mobile.twitter.com/SaraGonzalesTX
Musk clarified his position on free speech, it is that which matches the law. Steve Kirsch, who was banned from the platform twice received an email saying that his case is being opened and re-reviewed. Good early signs.
https://mobile.twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1519036983137509376?cxt=HHwWgIC9ydCF2pQqAAAA
Since we don’t know what Twitter will look like 18 months from now (and assuming that this deal actually goes through) the extent to which free speech is returned to the platform is speculation. Your point about the ever shifting Overton Window is smart and spot on.
My best guess is that Twitter will decentralize to give individual users much more control over their experience. Those that want a safe space will be able to have that. Those that want Gab will be able to have that. Got a case of TDS? No problemo, click here and there and it’s like Trump and his low IQ troglodytes never existed!
You mention Congressional intervention (assuming via Section 230) and that seems possible but it would be a difficult needle to thread in the current environment. If November plays out like it looks like it will the task may well be impossible. It seems to me like it would be easier for the SEC to just kill the deal. I’m not a M&A guy so I cannot comment on that...way out of my depth there.
I do think that Truth Social will die and I’m surprised that ledtoids are not doing cartwheels over that. I guess the threat of big, bad Donald going back on Twitter outweighs any joy they might experience over Trump losing a bit of money - at least potentially.
There are several Substack writers who are banned on Twitter, Bad Cat, Malone, Kirsch, Joel Smalley, Jessica Rose (I think); getting them back on Twitter would boost their Substack audience so that’s a positive.