SukieDec 18, 2022
Dan Gillmor

I don't think journalists (in general) -- and certainly not the organizations they work for -- fully understand the threat Musk represents to the future of free expression and journalism itself.

Begging him to reinstate the banned accounts is pure folly. It is bended-knee supplication to a sociopath who now controls a powerful media company. But the power of his company depends in no small degree on keeping journalists there.

Leave. Now.

Dec 17, 2022 at 6:05amWeb
Show threadtom4okstateDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor yes. They're sadly used to playing ball to varying degrees with moneyed interests though so this is just more of the same to them.
Show threadcharvakaDec 17, 2022

@dangillmor

He has sent a clear message to all journalists that they stay there at his sole discretion. They will be expected to censor themselves, or else they will be booted.

Journalists who continue to post there do so under those terms, and he knows that they do. The next round of bans will be even more erratic and punitive.

They don't bother giving proper cover stories when they execute people in North Korea now.

Show threadDarko VršičDec 17, 2022
@charvaka
Excelent point! 👏👏👏
@dangillmor @charvaka
Show threadDarko VršičDec 17, 2022
@charvaka
BTW link to birdsite from your profile doesn't work! 😉
@dangillmor @charvaka
Show threadcharvakaDec 17, 2022
@DarkoV Thank you, just fixed it.
Show threadJohn PanzerDec 17, 2022

@dangillmor I have been begging people to get to the lifeboats for five days now.

https://mastodon.social/@jpanzer/109497342323604137

Show threadToni ScottDec 17, 2022
@jpanzer @dangillmor
Here's your Order of Mastodon medal. 🎖️
Show threadShingo Mouse 🌳Dec 17, 2022
@jpanzer @dangillmor While the 🐦site is looking like this for the time being with it being a matter of time before the lights go out for good?
Show threadZigzagDec 17, 2022
@jpanzer @dangillmor Not a journalist or anyone of significance, but I deactivated about 5 days ago and it was such a good decision. I don’t miss it at all.
Show threadDoctor BiobrainDec 17, 2022

@dangillmor Exactly. The fact that Musk issued “permanent suspensions” and then polled users like it’s a Reality TV show to ask how long until he reinstates them shows that this was just a power play so he can put them in their place and show who’s boss.

The sooner everyone leaves Musk’s Hunger Games, the better for everyone. I think the only possible way to have a true Public Square is by something like Mastodon that has no central control. That’s why I’ve been telling everyone to join.

Show threadGregDec 17, 2022
@Biobrain @dangillmor and then he issued a second poll because he didn't get the answer he wanted...
Show threadxs4me2Dec 17, 2022
@Biobrain @dangillmor
Exactly this indeed.
Show threadSabrina HaakeDec 17, 2022
@Biobrain Opinion polls are insulting, every answer is controlled by the way the question is asked.
Show threadsarah’s scattered thoughtsDec 18, 2022
@Biobrain this is why I get irritated at the argument that Mastodon is “too complicated” also. Like, yes there’s an extra step for creating your account and you’ll need to get used to a few things working differently, but then global communication isn’t at the whim of an individual person or company. That seems like an absolutely reasonable trade off (and also… is it *really* that difficult?)
Show threadDr. Emma L Briant🐕🇬🇧in🇦🇺Dec 17, 2022
@dangillmor I hope you posted this there?
Show threadThomas DavidDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor
I think people are beginning to understand that if he can take out journalists somewhere he can do it every where....which explains his sudden cold shoulder to bari Weiss.
Show threadAlice MarshallDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor imagine if CNN, Washington Post, et al not only left Twitter in mass, but pulled their twitter share buttons off their sites. that is the only thing that Musk and his fellow fascists understand. Twitter has no value except that people use it.
Show threadDoug BostromDec 17, 2022

@AliceMarshall @dangillmor

Along the lines of the inevitable Facebook button accompanying articles about Facebook being sued for enabling genocide in Ethiopia.

Only the latest of years of such mind-bending instances.

"But we need the likes and shares!"

Deadly.

Show threadBarbara MidgetteDec 17, 2022
@AliceMarshall @dangillmor beautiful true
Show threadSabrina HaakeDec 17, 2022
@AliceMarshall Great suggestion. He won't be able to monetize right wing twitter any better than Parler.
Show threadRubiconDec 17, 2022

@dangillmor As Eric Blair @protecttruth posted: "The whole point was for an autocratic oligarch to demonstrate control over journalists at big orgs, so they — and their execs — will think twice about criticizing Musk in future. And it seems to be working."
https://universeodon.com/@protecttruth@mastodon.online/109527469180632274

#twittermigration #journalists

Eric Blair (@[email protected])

@[email protected] The whole point was for an autocratic oligarch to demonstrate control over journalists at big orgs, so they — and their execs — will think twice about criticizing Musk in future. And it seems to be working.

Mastodon
Show threadNotActuallyTedDeckerDec 17, 2022
@rubicon @dangillmor @protecttruth we can’t let them #win
Show threadxs4me2Dec 17, 2022

@rubicon @dangillmor @protecttruth

It is why power toys like these should not be allowed in the hands of private enterprise. It is highly naive as we see. And yes indeed, there seems an agenda behind this and that seems to be to break free speech and opposition. It cannot be allowed to succeed.

Show threadZigzagDec 17, 2022
@xs4me2 @rubicon @dangillmor @protecttruth This is the exact wrong conclusion to draw. How much worse would it be if Twitter was a government property? As a private enterprise, we’re free to leave, which is what many of us are doing.
Show threadxs4me2Dec 17, 2022
@zigzag @rubicon @dangillmor @protecttruth
No, I don’t agree, and have a look at the app you are using now (…). Public domain does not mean government owned and rules should be in place (exactly as the EU have in place and develops). The present situation is the wild west.
Show threadGabrielle GueronDec 18, 2022

@dangillmor @zigzag @xs4me2 @protecttruth @rubicon

I get the idea of public domain. Frankly, having lived most of my life in Venezuela, I’ve been witness to how hard is to have lasting institutions that respect the independence of a public domain without trying to control it.

Show threadxs4me2Dec 18, 2022
@gabigueron @dangillmor @zigzag @protecttruth @rubicon
Sure, democracy does not work very well with dictators at the wheel (…).
Show threadPeter PrincipleDec 17, 2022

@dangillmor

"Begging him to reinstate the banned accounts is pure folly. It is bended-knee supplication to a sociopath..."

"Yes sir, please sir, may I have another?"

Show threadDavid Scott MoyerDec 17, 2022

@jobsboils @dangillmor

That depends. Do they now go back to reporting on him and ElonJet? If not, I agree with you.

Show threadKimmi AnnDec 17, 2022

@dangillmor he did say he's bringing them back because of the poll responses, but honestly it feels as this is a good escape for him from this mess.

Everyone he deleted yesterday gets reinstated, and the pressure lowers off him after a tough 48hr press cycle. I really hope the media and ppl dont let him brush this under the carpet so easily.

Show threadJLSADec 17, 2022
@theblondlife @dangillmor
I had exactly the same thought.
Show threadKimmi AnnDec 17, 2022
@JLSA @dangillmor we be some smart cookies! ❤
Show threadᴚ uɐᗡDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor remaining journalists should boycott en masse, immediately.
Show threadmatdevdugDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor it also doesn’t make any sense from a business perspective. News organizations rely on a twitter-like platform to engage with readers. Why not take this opportunity to own that platform? A WaPo or NYTimes server with their rules and only their employees is a no-brainer future-proofing their business decision.
Show threadMiro CollasDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor Totally agreed. I wrote something similar not long ago.
Show threadTheRealAdde 🇸🇪🇪🇺🇺🇦Dec 17, 2022
@dangillmor done!
Show threadScenarioDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor What gets me is that Musk had the resources to take Twitter to a new level. But no, evil it was.
Show threadxs4me2Dec 17, 2022
@dangillmor
Exactly. This should be stopped in its tracks now. Let Twitter die. What Musk is doing should not be rewarded.
Show threadBahstanCubanoDec 17, 2022
@xs4me2 @dangillmor
No, don't "let" it die. #KillTwitter
Show threadxs4me2Dec 17, 2022
@BahstanCubano @dangillmor
Ok, then kill it and prosecute Musk, just to annoy him. There must be something in the closet on him.
Show threadhikewithrichardDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor I think it's important to realise and understand that Twitter is in a monopoly position. Yes, we have alternatives but the crowds are on Twitter. We need the crowd to move, and then everyone can leave twitter. I think optimism is the greatest problem. People are optimistic that Twitter will recover. I want to jump from Twitter but I don't want to talk with myself for months, waiting for people to arrive here.
Show threadSeraDec 17, 2022
@harmonicarichard this is why I hesitated to follow all those journalists that were banned. Like abused victims, the minute the abuser unbans them, I have a feeling they will go scurrying back and forget about mastodon. And yes, that optimism that things/ people will change, against all evidence, keeps people in abusive relationships all the time
Show threadKing HarkinianDec 17, 2022

@harmonicarichard @dangillmor
I struggle with that too. I finally made the full move over here yesterday after he threw a tantrum and pulled the plug on Spaces.

I try to remember Geocities, MySpace, and now Facebook. All of these platforms seemed like behemoths in their heyday, but eventually die when users realize there is something better. Plus, I'm hopeful that I can live a life without as much social media. I feel like here I can focus on my interests and not get so distracted.

Show threadhikewithrichardDec 17, 2022
@KingHarkinian @dangillmor That's why I am ready to migrate so easily but we still have to wait for others to arrive.
Show threadKing HarkinianJan 7, 2023
@harmonicarichard @dangillmor honestly, the quieter room has been very nice.
Show threadhikewithrichardJan 9, 2023
@KingHarkinian @dangillmor The quiet time is a good opportunity to develop strong friendships, before the tsunami of new users.
Show threadBahstanCubanoDec 17, 2022

@harmonicarichard @dangillmor I have been recruiting people to Mastodon and encouraging people to delete their bird accounts.

You might let folks know that Twitter wants to now sell its advertisers users' geographical location, which is ironic given that Musk threw a hissy fit for having his plane's location published.

Show threadkittycatsruleDec 17, 2022
@harmonicarichard @dangillmor there are plenty of us here on mastodon now. I don't feel the need to look at twitter at all now. Many of the favorite people I follow are now here.
Show threadPirateDan7Dec 17, 2022

@dangillmor agreed, if he can send you into the cornfield for performing journalism, then spend two days basking in the negative attention before being "shamed" into doing what's right (because he has to be lobbied personally because he's fired everyone else) and then while that is going on, opens the door and restores the accounts of some of the biggest liars and harassers and spreaders of misinformation on the other.

no reason to trust someone who's repeatedly shown us WHO HE IS.

Show threadAboobacker MKDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor I don't think general public is well aware of the threat of both main stream media and social media are under the control of few billionaires.
Show threadBenj Soule🫂💙HumanityFirst🌅Dec 17, 2022

To clarify, the (2) options are: Stay and become Yes men or leave and uphold integrity. Keep in mind one has a complicity factor.

#Twitter #ElonMusk #TwitterMigration #Journalism #EthicalReporting #MSM

Show threadNicnodDec 17, 2022
@retrohondajunki I just don’t like being associated with the crackpot musk
Show thread@ijsbrandDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor @JamesHMcLaren I totally agree
Show threadJames H McLarenDec 17, 2022
@ijs @dangillmor Media orgs could start up their own instances here on Mastadon, have a one stop shop for all their reporters plus contribute back to the community.
Show thread@ijsbrandDec 17, 2022
@JamesHMcLaren @dangillmor Exactly. Whereas now they keep on supporting a fascistoid megalomaniac….
Show threadFreedom FighterDec 17, 2022
@dangillmor most of the journalists you refer to, currently bow to the organisations they work for, and the higher God if the establishment. Point me to a main stream journalist reporting honestly on the war in Ukraine?