Elon Musk Already Showed Us How He'll Run Twitter

[usonian]

From The Atlantic
Was not paywalled for me, but I have these Firefox extensions ...
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/04/elon-musk-spacex-tesla-twitter-leadership-style/629689/

For a hint at how Twitter will fare under its new owner, consider how he operates his other enterprises.

But one way to think about how Twitter might fare under Musk is to look at how the billionaire operates those other enterprises that occupy his mind. More than any Muskian pronouncement, that history can hint at what his ownership might mean—for Twitter as a company with thousands of employees, a platform with millions of users, and an unruly public forum on an unruly internet. I’ve described Elon’s world before as the Musk Cinematic Universe, and in his businesses, as in Marvel movies, certain themes appear again and again, impatience first among them. Here are four axioms for what to expect next.

Summary:
1. If Twitter has a factory floor, Musk might try to sleep on it.

Musk is a well-known workaholic. ... Musk has spent years becoming an expert in electric-car manufacturing and rocket engineering; his next learning binge could be about content moderation.

2. He’s interested in his ideas, not your complaints.

the most likely outcome, as Charlie Warzel writes in his newsletter at The Atlantic, is ... an environment with minimal moderation and more rampant harassment and hate.

3. Prepare for rogue proclamations.

Musk has a reputation for setting unrealistic deadlines.
... like "move fast, break things? .... ed

4. Musk could go full “maker of civilization” on Twitter.

"elevating what happens on the platform to a concern of civilizational importance and even a civilizational good."

Savior?

My thoughts: Taking over a social media site just when politicians on ALL sides, worldwide are raising pitchforks over moderation issues may prove that:

[kimbutgar]

1. A lot of Twitter employees could decide to leave the company especially if he moves it to Texas

A lot of other tech companies could easily hire them in the Bay Area even create a different kind of Twitter. The brain drain would also hurt Twitter. But if Musk allows hate speech to permeate a lot of liberals will leave Twitter and it will become a cesspool and eventually irrelevant. Musk would lose quite a bit of money! So be it!

[usonian]

4. I suspect that only the HQ will move.

That way, Elon gets the tax advantage and workers get to pay CA taxes.

Consult an expert in such matters. I have no inside knowledge.

I consider it worth the cost -- political climate, dry summers, $68B surplus.

In the tradeoff "your money or your life", I'll spend the money.

[cilla4progress]

2. I'm out as of last week

and really happy!

Much more free time!

I'm able to stay informed well enough through other sources. The minute by minute body blows are not missed!

[Hoyt]

3. Like people who get things done. One story I found yesterday--

"Circa 2010, as Tesla was developing its first mass-market car, the Model S sedan, engineers on the project would occasionally hitch rides from Los Angeles to Silicon Valley on Musk’s private jet. On one such trip, an engineer recalled asking Musk his opinion on the sedan’s suspension – should it be sporty like a BMW, or more cushy like a Lexus?"

“I’m going to sell a f*** load of cars, so whatever suspension you need so I can sell a f*** load of cars – that’s the suspension I want,” Musk replied according to the engineer."