ElonJet Is Now Suspended • Hacker News Board

Re: ElonJet Is Now Suspended

#741

Post by dkjaudyeqooe » Wed, Dec 14, 2022, 5:54 PM UTC

jszymborski wrote: post #666

When the Elon/Twitter transaction went through, there were a lot of HN comments stating that they thought that this might actually mean a more open, "freer" Twitter. When I mentioned that Elon had already been using his power unilaterally to re-platform personal allies like Babylon Bee and Ye, I got all sorts of pedantry about the difference between suspension and banning, more pedantry about the Ye reactivation happ…

It seems to be human nature that people who like something or someone will defend them way past the point of rationality, becoming more insistent the worse things get, and wallow in motivated thinking.

Meanwhile, those that dislike both Musk and Twitter are having a magical moment as each actively destroys the other, like two black holes circling each other, unable to escape.

Re: ElonJet Is Now Suspended

#742

Post by hn_go_brrrrr » Wed, Dec 14, 2022, 5:55 PM UTC

xupybd wrote: post #724

jszymborski wrote: post #666

When the Elon/Twitter transaction went through, there were a lot of HN comments stating that they thought that this might actually mean a more open, "freer" Twitter. When I mentioned that Elon had already been using his power unilaterally to re-platform personal allies like Babylon Bee and Ye, I got all sorts of pedantry about the difference between suspension and banning, more pedantry about the Ye reactivation happ…

My hope was for a more transparent Twitter. I guess that's out the window too.

I dunno, with all of the recent leaks, Twitters internal workings have all been made public. Sounds pretty transparent to me!

Re: ElonJet Is Now Suspended

#743

Post by overgard » Wed, Dec 14, 2022, 5:55 PM UTC

khuey wrote: post #692

overgard wrote: post #595

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So we have a company headquartered in SF, and I think something like 98% of twitter's political donations went to democrats, and the employees acted as constant activists whenever the executives didn't take action against high level conservatives (I'll leave aside whether that action was justified or not). Also, if you read the twitter files, the enforcement was fairly lopsided. Look what happened to @libsoftiktok --…

> (I'll leave aside whether that action was justified or not) Seems like an important detail to consider!

The reason it's unimportant is that these same activist employees never bothered to protest other heads of state/terrible people in other countries doing worse things. It was very specifically about US politics and guys they personally disliked, not the application of a fair policy.

Re: ElonJet Is Now Suspended

#744

Post by zachur » Wed, Dec 14, 2022, 5:56 PM UTC

hengistbury wrote: post #727

zachur wrote: post #714

I actually think this is reasonable. The account was broadcasting his live location at any given point in time and there's a strong argument it presented a legitimate safety risk given so many people's hatred towards him. It's also hard to say he's banning free speech against himself when it feels like half of twitter is anti-Elon sentiment these days.

The account was re-broadcasting publicly available information. Anyone who wanted to harm Musk would easily be able to find this information themselves without the twitter account.

True, but the account significantly lowers the bar to finding that information, making it much more likely someone who wishes to do harm could act on it.

Re: ElonJet Is Now Suspended

#745

Post by overgard » Wed, Dec 14, 2022, 5:57 PM UTC

jimbob45 wrote: post #651

overgard wrote: post #595

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So we have a company headquartered in SF, and I think something like 98% of twitter's political donations went to democrats, and the employees acted as constant activists whenever the executives didn't take action against high level conservatives (I'll leave aside whether that action was justified or not). Also, if you read the twitter files, the enforcement was fairly lopsided. Look what happened to @libsoftiktok --…

You're going to mislead a lot of non-Americans here with the bit about political donations. In America, you can donate to one party to benefit the other party by virtue of candidate selection during primary elections. Who one donates to does not necessarily match their preferred party.

Uh, so your thesis is that twitter was donating to the democrats to help the republicans by choosing bad democratic candidates?

Yeah, I'm not convinced.

Re: ElonJet Is Now Suspended

#746

Post by dragontamer » Wed, Dec 14, 2022, 5:57 PM UTC

mattbrewsbytes wrote: post #586

grumple wrote: post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's pretty amazing that one guy tweeting public info made Elon spend 44 billion.

I believe the purchase was $44B. Elon only has some personal stake, there are loans and other investors I think. I don't know if the specific accounting of the sale is public info.

The company was bought for $44 billion. $46 Billion was the deal, $33 Billion from Elon + $13 Billion from some bank.

The extra $2 Billion wiped out Twitter's old debts IIRC.

Re: ElonJet Is Now Suspended

#747

Post by whatinthenote » Wed, Dec 14, 2022, 5:58 PM UTC

As the Americans learned so painfully in Earth's final century, free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny. The once-chained people whose leaders at last lose their grip on information flow will soon burst with freedom and vitality, but the free nation gradually constricting its grip on public discourse has begun its rapid slide into despotism. Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master. - Commissioner Pravin Lal, "U.N. Declaration of Rights"

From Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

Re: ElonJet Is Now Suspended

#748

Post by cmeacham98 » Wed, Dec 14, 2022, 5:59 PM UTC

40four wrote: post #612

encoderer wrote: post #584

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re “flabbergasted”? This is publicly available information. What exactly is the safety threat with this twitter acct?

Public information or not, that doesn't make it ethical. It would be different if it tracked other celebrities also. It's a personal attack. I don't know why I have to explain why it would be a safety threat, but sure. Someone who wanted to do harm to Elon having easy access to his whereabouts at all time? Put yourself in his shoes. Would that make you feel more or less safe? And these days, someone wanting to harm h…

Why do people arguing this point keep repeating the lie that the account tracked Elon "at all time" or similar?

The account only posted the location of Elon's private jet, which I'm pretty confident is not a threat unless an attacker has a surface to air missile ready.

Re: ElonJet Is Now Suspended

#749

Post by jwagenet » Wed, Dec 14, 2022, 5:59 PM UTC

bko wrote: post #639

madeofpalk wrote: post #607

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is flightradar24.com a security concern? Note that the account wasn't about the location of a specific person, but rather the (public) location of a specific aircraft (own/used by a specific person). It's not like someone was tailing Elon and reporting their every location - planes must broadcast their location through use of ADS-B. It is public information. > If you agree its fine, would you apply the same reasoning…

Do you own a home? Would you like a social network that allows someone that doesn't like you to post your home address to millions of followers? Are sites like acris a security concern?

I think by virtue of of being a public figure, Elon can't have the same expectations of privacy as regular people enjoy by way of relative anonymity. No one really balks at the Pelosi's home being easily obtainable information.

Re: ElonJet Is Now Suspended

#750

Post by radicaldreamer » Wed, Dec 14, 2022, 5:59 PM UTC

dkjaudyeqooe wrote: post #741

jszymborski wrote: post #666

When the Elon/Twitter transaction went through, there were a lot of HN comments stating that they thought that this might actually mean a more open, "freer" Twitter. When I mentioned that Elon had already been using his power unilaterally to re-platform personal allies like Babylon Bee and Ye, I got all sorts of pedantry about the difference between suspension and banning, more pedantry about the Ye reactivation happ…

It seems to be human nature that people who like something or someone will defend them way past the point of rationality, becoming more insistent the worse things get, and wallow in motivated thinking. Meanwhile, those that dislike both Musk and Twitter are having a magical moment as each actively destroys the other, like two black holes circling each other, unable to escape.

A lot of this just boils down to people wanting to justify, defend, and tolerate anything he does because they want to believe that the nerdy entrepreneur will usher in their cyberpunk fantasies about going to Mars and interfacing directly with machines.