Random News not worthy of own thread

[Observe]

Neither Twitter, not Meta are the only one and Elon is not the only one.

I wonder if we are seeing a general decline in interest with the toxicity that social media has become so saturated with? Perhaps more people are recognizing that they have more interest in their offline lives, than spending so much time with online ones? One can only hope.

[Chips]

Neither Twitter, not Meta are the only one and Elon is not the only one.

I wonder if we are seeing a general decline in interest with the toxicity that social media has become so saturated with? Perhaps more people are recognizing that they have more interest in their offline lives, than spending so much time with online ones? One can only hope.

People use it for the wrong reasons get disillusioned.

I mean the BBC had a thing many years ago where news articles online would nearly always end with several quotes of people from twitter about said news. News is news. People's opinions about it isn't news. Why is it in the news then. People get a platform to voice their opinions, doesn't mean their opinion is worth listening to, let alone has any value or merit.

Then again, I don't get why you'd engage on twitter. He says, posting on a forum... about things. Wait... what!?

People overconsuming may realise and give them up. Others will continue on, somehow they've worked it into their day as a valuable/meaningful/necessary thing. Why escapes me.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63482162

When Gayle Macdonald reached a summit in Spain's Sierra Nevada mountain range earlier this year, she didn't just stop and take in the moment.

Instead, the 45-year-old did what a great many people would do - she looked for the best spot to take a selfie for her social media accounts. Gayle even admits that she moved dangerously close to the edge while doing so.

It was after that moment, for which she was berated by her husband, that she decided to quit social media.

"I was like, 'this has got to stop,'" recalls Gayle, a British expat who lives near the Spanish city of Granada. "Taking a photo was previously the first thing I thought about when I got out of the car.

"Thinking all the time about creating content, and worrying about what to say, was taking up too much headspace and getting me down."

A week later she posted on Facebook and Instagram that she would be leaving the platforms. "It was amazing how it was my most-liked post on Instagram. Everyone was commenting 'I wish I could do that' and 'you're so brave'."

I find the entire article both hilarious, shocking and sad. How this is news I don't know... because the article doesn't seem to indicate that they had any realisations really. As in about themselves. It's not the platforms fault they were like this... and the cynic in me thinks if they were remotely *successful* in what they were trying to achieve, they'd not have had this change in attitude.

Now the hypocrisy about posting here when this is a form of social media. Years ago I think it was I posted that i put too much effort into responses on threads here; as in researching answers, and trying to give well weighted opinion backed by actual evidenced information available. It felt like a huge effort waste because... it changed nothing. I guess that was my "realisation", but there's a significant difference. I've never gone out of my way to do something to "create" content like the person living for Instagram postings. So, not quite parallel. This just fulfils some form of social interaction / discussion for me. I get to read some opinions on things, and get to voice my own. Is it so different really? I just realised ages ago there's limited reason to interact beyond a certain point. This may be my longest post in ages I guess to support the question posed, if this was a toxic cesspool I'd probably stop... so maybe you're right. But I could also just avoid the toxic bits and still get my fix of "my opinion..."

Forgot what point i was trying ot make. Actually, don't think there is one. Other than I doubt people will quit due to toxicity. You have to engage in toxicity... just don't read that crap and stay away from those topics. It's not that hard.

Now whether a platform should therefore allow borderline illegal or illegal opinions/expressions to thrive is entirely different. And there's going to be a huge hazy patch between legality and all that grey area leading up to it (as in not actually being prosecutable hate speech, but definitely inciting/influencing/creating the self propagating thing - words fail me today, there's a term for it). With his focus on money, surely Musk'll follow the path of cash reward. If sponsors/adverts are pulled because Twitter takes a route they're uncomfortable advertising on due to public perceptions, then Twitter will enact rules/regs etc to compensate.
Appeal to the advertisers corporate social responsibility and Twitter will toe the line, for financial reasons if nothing else.

[mr.WHO]

Meta is laying off 11'000 people, 13% of all staff.

[felter]

Yeah, but at least it was done with respect, honour and dignity towards the ones being laid off, especially compared to Musk and Twitter sackings. A single paragraph in the BBC coverage of it says it all:

While Mr Musk took to Twitter to say the firm had no choice because it was losing millions of dollars every day, Mark Zuckerberg's statement was very contrite. He took responsibility, he said, and he was sorry.

Like Zuckerberg or not, at least he has the balls to stand up and say sorry to those who are losing their livelihoods, which is more than can be said about Musk. Man of the year, more like pratt of the year.

[Observe]

Like Zuckerberg or not, at least he has the balls to stand up and say sorry to those who are losing their livelihoods, which is more than can be said about Musk.

Zuckerberg has cause to apologize, because he is responsible for mistakes made with Meta. Jack Dorsey apologized for Twitters predicament, because he is responsible for mistakes made there. Musk, on the other hand, having inherited Twitters troubles only recently, has nothing to apologize for.

[mr.WHO]

Yeah, but at least it was done with respect, honour and dignity towards the ones being laid off, especially compared to Musk and Twitter sackings. A single paragraph in the BBC coverage of it says it all:

Respect or not, it doesn't mater - if this is start of general trend (at best only in big tech, at worst everywhere), these people are screwed no matter if Zuck gently whisper "I'm sorry" in their ears, or Elon throw insults at them.


Microsoft and Alphabet already had some rounds of layoff, more are most probably come soon.

I start to worry this might cascade so much, that 2008 will looks like good times.

[felter]

I'm sorry, but musk has a responsibility towards all the staff at Twitter, he took on that responsibility when he bought it, no one forced it upon him, it's called humanity to actually care for those other than one's self, to put the lives and dignity of others above money, I mean what would it have cost him just to have said, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to lay off some staff members rather than, I'm Effing losing money, so you can all eff off and die for all I care. There is no defence on how Musk has handled his acquisition of Twitter and how he has looked down on and treated the staff of Twitter, he has treated them as though they were a rotten piece of meat that has to be thrown out with no respect for them, in the least. It's not just Twitter though that is effected, the share price in Tesla has lost about 20% since he took over Twitter, which the main investors are blaming it on his take-over and handling of Twitter.

Honestly, you need to take a step back and take in just what you are saying, I mean what you are saying you can treat people like shit just because you can, it has nothing to do with trends or good times or bad times, it's about how you treat your fellow human beings, on how you would like to be treated if it was you in their shoes, it's about just pure and simple manners.

[Observe]

Honestly, you need to take a step back and take in just what you are saying, I mean what you are saying you can treat people like shit just because you can, it has nothing to do with trends or good times or bad times, it's about how you treat your fellow human beings, on how you would like to be treated if it was you in their shoes, it's about just pure and simple manners.

It is our modern economic system that strives for the impossibility of perpetual economic growth that shits on people. There has to be losers to fuel the next period of illusory prosperity. Yes, it is possible and perhaps even preferable to sugar-coat bad news. Yes it is just pure and simple manners. I wonder though, how much consolation can be derived from the words "I am sorry we had to fire you", while suffering from unemployment, homelessness and starving to death from starvation or suicide.

[matthewfarmery]

I'm sorry, but musk has a responsibility towards all the staff at Twitter, he took on that responsibility when he bought it, no one forced it upon him, it's called humanity to actually care for those other than one's self, to put the lives and dignity of others above money, I mean what would it have cost him just to have said, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to lay off some staff members rather than, I'm Effing losing money, so you can all eff off and die for all I care. There is no defence on how Musk has handled his acquisition of Twitter and how he has looked down on and treated the staff of Twitter, he has treated them as though they were a rotten piece of meat that has to be thrown out with no respect for them, in the least. It's not just Twitter though that is effected, the share price in Tesla has lost about 20% since he took over Twitter, which the main investors are blaming it on his take-over and handling of Twitter.

Honestly, you need to take a step back and take in just what you are saying, I mean what you are saying you can treat people like shit just because you can, it has nothing to do with trends or good times or bad times, it's about how you treat your fellow human beings, on how you would like to be treated if it was you in their shoes, it's about just pure and simple manners.

I do agree with this. One, Musk should have been given the full financial facts of Twitter, then again, at one point Musk did try and back out of the deal. But then the Twitter company tried to get Musk to continue with the purchase. Still, Now that Musk owns Twitter, he has full responsibility of the company and staff.

Then again, Twitter may end up losing even more money if Trump is reinstated. But anyway, to me, Musk is way over his head. I think Musk might have thought Twitter was a good purchase at the time, and could do a lot with it. Only to realise, it needs a lot of work.

I personally think Musk should sell it off at a loss and let someone else take charge. Otherwise, I feel Twitter will continue to sink.

[Vertigo 7]

Does it really matter if twitter flutters away or not? The interwebs was just fine before it was even a thing, it'll be just fine when it's gone. Do we really care what some pseudo-celebrity's opinion is on anything? Or actual celebrities? It's not exactly as if twitter is being used for deep, meaningful, thought provoking ideas. It's an ad platform at its base and I dunno about you, but I could sure do with less of that. And, with ol Elon's ideas of "free speech" being what they are, we're arguably better off with out it anyway. It's not like white nationalists need yet another echo chamber.

Let it burn. All the IT staff worth their salt will find gainful employment elsewhere soon enough.

[chew-ie]

I say it would be a good thing - we have to leave "social" media behind. Twitter would be a good start to put an end to all those "free" platforms which pester the world with ads and ~a lot~ of nonsense.

Chances are good as Musk is openly talking about bankruptcy and his only ideas seem to be a paid legitimation button as well as to cut peoples homeoffice and force them into a 40h week. (those last two points are excellent to motivate people )
@source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... bankruptcy

[matthewfarmery]

Does it really matter if twitter flutters away or not? The interwebs was just fine before it was even a thing, it'll be just fine when it's gone. Do we really care what some pseudo-celebrity's opinion is on anything? Or actual celebrities? It's not exactly as if twitter is being used for deep, meaningful, thought provoking ideas. It's an ad platform at its base and I dunno about you, but I could sure do with less of that. And, with ol Elon's ideas of "free speech" being what they are, we're arguably better off with out it anyway. It's not like white nationalists need yet another echo chamber.

Let it burn. All the IT staff worth their salt will find gainful employment elsewhere soon enough.

I am personally against the idea of Twitter, especailly it's handling of a certain former president, sure his posts were in some way sort of censored, but to me, Twitter should have taken action against him and others who voice the same BS, after all, some people still were able to communicate via Twitter, even though hose people are / were known associates of that former president. Sure he got banned, but I feel the company should have put their foot down sooner.

But generally, I feel this and other social media platforms are a waste of space. Especailly if that might be the only place they get their information from. And there are a few alternatives if you want more open ways of speaking. But they should all go down in flames and should be given up as a failed social experiment that has gone badly wrong.

So if Musk does go bankrupt and takes Twitter with him, I won't shed a tear.

[mr.WHO]

While I'd be happy to see Twitter crash and burn, it performs the role of social media mental asylum.
All those narcissist, nuts and trash celebrities, conviniently in one place to avoid, with special blue checkmark for really hard cases to avoid

In grand sheme of things, Elon messing it might not be beneficial.


Still, if both Twitter and Meta having major troubles, we only need to add Tik Tok to the stake and wait for society to heal.

[Chips]

Is meta *really* having troubles? it's a very profitable business, yes it's profits have dropped - but there are reasons known behind it. It's not making a loss, but to ensure the price per share ratio remains they need to cut costs and scale back.

In trouble? Or just acting in the best interest of shareholders... who's interest is money. Now. Not in 5-15 years time, nor innovation (hence why the bigguns were calling for it to drastically scale back the entire metaverse investment)

[jlehtone]

Two WWII planes, B-17 and P-63 did collide and crash in Texas during air show yesterday:
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/12/us/d ... index.html

[felter]

I wasn't really wanting to comment on this again, but it is just like the never anding story as it just keeps on going. So Mr Musk, an advocate for free speech believing one can say whatever they want, went on another sacking spree yesterday not because they weren't needed for the continued running of Twitter no he sacked them because they disagreed with something he said and pointed out his mistake, so he sacked them, so much for freedom of speech.

It also turns out he has been trying to re-employ some of those that he sacked in his clamp down, which looks like he sacked some he shouldn't have sacked and are required for the running of Twitter, most if not all have told him to take a run and jump.

Then because he no longer has the staff to run Twitter any longer, he emailed his staff telling them they have to agree to working more hours and do more work or quit, so how did that go well it turns out an awful lot of them decided to quit, not because they were being expected to do some extra work, no it is looking like they quit because of the way their new boss has been treating them as he has been very rude, for example one employee said:

"I didn't want to work for someone who threatened us over email multiple times about only 'exceptional tweeps should work here' when I was already working 60-70 hours weekly,"

This has resulted in Twitter having to close all of its offices until Monday, the 21st, due to what looks like a lack of staff. Before Musk took over there were over 8000 employees, first round he sacked over 3000, so down to around 5000, he has slowly been nibbling away at that sacking those that stood up for themselves and the like now with the walkout it is rumoured there are probably less than 2000 left.

Someone should write a book (and probably will) titled how to kill a company and loose 44 billion in under a month. One other thing it turns out he may be looking for someone to take over the running of Twitter, good luck to them.

On a totally different matter but related to Musk. Do you own a tesla does it have ADAS that's the automated driver assistance system, if so you may want to consider not using it as there has been another 2 deaths being associated with it in America. Since June 2021 the NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recorded 18 deaths related to ADAS 17 of those were caused by the Tesla system (oops.) It also looks like for every 1000 vehicles, Tesla are reporting 474 have crashed, while the nearest competitor Honda who have reported 107. Yeah, not so good Mr Tesla, maybe Musk should be spending more time sorting that issue out rather than spouting conspiracy theories and trying to kill Twitter.

Twitter
Tesla

[chew-ie]

[..] maybe Musk should be spending more time sorting that issue out rather than spouting conspiracy theories and trying to kill Twitter.

Oh please don't make him stop. He totally should kill Twitter and then go back to Tesla afterwards. We need disruptive forces in the "social" media world, and lots of them

[Chips]

I wasn't really wanting to comment on this again, but it is just like the never anding story as it just keeps on going. So Mr Musk, an advocate for free speech believing one can say whatever they want, went on another sacking spree yesterday not because they weren't needed for the continued running of Twitter no he sacked them because they disagreed with something he said and pointed out his mistake, so he sacked them, so much for freedom of speech.

It also turns out he has been trying to re-employ some of those that he sacked in his clamp down, which looks like he sacked some he shouldn't have sacked and are required for the running of Twitter, most if not all have told him to take a run and jump.

Then because he no longer has the staff to run Twitter any longer, he emailed his staff telling them they have to agree to working more hours and do more work or quit, so how did that go well it turns out an awful lot of them decided to quit, not because they were being expected to do some extra work, no it is looking like they quit because of the way their new boss has been treating them as he has been very rude, for example one employee said:

"I didn't want to work for someone who threatened us over email multiple times about only 'exceptional tweeps should work here' when I was already working 60-70 hours weekly,"

This has resulted in Twitter having to close all of its offices until Monday, the 21st, due to what looks like a lack of staff. Before Musk took over there were over 8000 employees, first round he sacked over 3000, so down to around 5000, he has slowly been nibbling away at that sacking those that stood up for themselves and the like now with the walkout it is rumoured there are probably less than 2000 left.

Someone should write a book (and probably will) titled how to kill a company and loose 44 billion in under a month. One other thing it turns out he may be looking for someone to take over the running of Twitter, good luck to them.

On a totally different matter but related to Musk. Do you own a tesla does it have ADAS that's the automated driver assistance system, if so you may want to consider not using it as there has been another 2 deaths being associated with it in America. Since June 2021 the NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recorded 18 deaths related to ADAS 17 of those were caused by the Tesla system (oops.) It also looks like for every 1000 vehicles, Tesla are reporting 474 have crashed, while the nearest competitor Honda who have reported 107. Yeah, not so good Mr Tesla, maybe Musk should be spending more time sorting that issue out rather than spouting conspiracy theories and trying to kill Twitter.

Twitter
Tesla

Erm, what point are you making at the top as I'm unaware of the sacking spree.

On one hand I find it hilarious that Zuckerberg saying "oh, sorry... you're fired" is somehow the caring compassionate boss, whereas the "this company will die without job losses to trim the financial losses its incurring on a daily basis" is the bad guy.

Here's some perspective on this.

Employees at both companies are fired.

Boss Number 1: This company is losing money on a daily basis and something needs to change as it can't continue. Therefore, we're laying off staff. In a harsh way. We only want the best/hardworking though, so... who is willing to contribute? The rest are fired by lack of response.
Boss Number 2: This company is profitable and still generating some sick profits. However, I made a mistake and hired too many, and the profits aren't as high as shareholders want it to be. So, some of you are fired.

Employees are fired. They've "lost their livelihoods" (I don't think they're impoverished).

Wait, what?

Now, for clarity, I'm exaggerating slightly - its certainly not all there, is it. After all, twitter revenue was increasing and has increased (but still making a huge loss) and who knows what the figures were for this year and/or after drop in advertising (meaning the increases were no longer happening so drastic action was probably required), may have grown to a level that'd put Twitter at risk anyway, because someone is having to cover the losses with investment.

I have no idea, I'm not putting effort into something I genuinely do not care about.

But remember, he made an offer to buy it that was rejected at first. They claimed his offer "was too low". So why did they then go to court to Force him to buy it at the original offer? I mean, it was too low right? Was it in the shareholders interest suddenly? The companies interest? The employees interest? Those people forcing that action are seen as the good guys? Who's interest were THEY acting in if Twitter was in such a healthy, happy, wonderful place?

One is making a loss and fires people, and that's the bad one. The other is making profits and fires people. That's the good one.

I'd call that some fricken tasty spin. Especially as some folks managed to force Twitter into the scenario it has found itself in via taking Musk to court in order to get him to buy it. Why was that ever necessary...? What the actual hell did they THINK would happen in that scenario?

Do I think Musk is a great guy? Heck no. But put some perspective onto the entire thing rather than just drone on "Musk so bad". We knew that before...

[matthewfarmery]

Both sides are clearly at fault here, Twitter company who wanted Musk to continue the deal, and Musk for taking a heavy hand over a company he wasn't qualified to run or manage. So quite why he wanted the company in the first place seem more and more suspect. I did mention this before, Musk needs to sell Twitter off, even at a massive loss. Then again, if Twitter goes offline, then so much the better.

But all in all, both sides should take some responsible over this fiasco. Unless something changes soon, I suspect Twitter will be no more. And Musk will be a disgrace who didn't know what he was doing.

[Chips]

Not going to agree or disagree, just point out that the board etc either didn't find out what Musk's plans were, or only took shareholder opinion (i.e. CASH!!!!) as for whose interests they were acting upon.