"I hope Twitter implodes!" I don't. I hope someone else takes over & the site returns to how it was before. I have spent years of my life posting over there. It's like losing a close friend that introduced me to all of my other friends. It sucks & I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm sad about that.
@roxiqt this whole situation is making me re-evaluate how I view online communities on social media platforms. How can we build communities when the platform is run into the ground, an account can be banned for anything Musk doesn't like, and there's all the bigotry/hatred to contend with on top? One insanely rich man essentially destroyed a multitude of communities/networks on Twitter, for no legitimate reason. Goes to show how fragile our online lives are when they're held by billionaires.
@BigAngBlack@roxiqt I don't quite agree. Self-organized, real life communities aren't controlled by the people who own SM platforms, or anyone else generally speaking. But when a community is formed and based solely on/in a SM platform, it is completely vulnerable to the will of the owner of that platform.
Offline, the phenomenon is comparable to a single-factory town that has been there for multiple generations that gets taken over by a hedge fund who loots the company and closes the factory. Or runs it into the ground through attempts to cut costs for short term profit. The community everyone built is tossed off like trash.
Online or offline, billionaires are not compatible with any sort of democratic or free society.
@roxiqt I hate that it can hold so many of my friends and memories hostage. I hate that these things can be sold to a clump of mayonnaise that decided to make itself every bodies problem. It sucks, and it feels awful. right there with you.
It's easy to celebrate the failings of Twitter and its bad practices, and that's fine. Twitter sucks.
But at the same time, one must remember the people. People who just want to socialize with their close ones, shackled to a sinking ship simply because everyone else is there. Switching elsewhere isn't easy when you can't bring the rest with you.
This isn't just about a platform. It's about tearing apart social circles. And it sucks.
@roxiqt Sure it sucks, I feel similarly to my relationship with instagram. Part of me though feels thought that the users have the power- its ultimately up to us to put our efforts into better, more sustainable efforts that aren't vulnerable to being sabotaged by one greedy or naive billionaire.
@roxiqt Last year when I made the final cut to Twitter and moved here fully, I likened it in some ways to going from middle school to high school. Most of my core friends were here in the new HS building, there was some getting used to the new building, but the people were pretty much my peeps still. And I made some cool new friends. I hope you settle in happily. I really love it here. :) Also. Welcome. :)
@roxiqt It's sad to lose something that was used and appreciated by a lot of people, but the old Twitter died already; what remains now is a bloodthirsty zombie and dying is unfortunately the best thing that can happen to it.
@roxiqt Same it’s where I got my daily astrology forecasts from,though it never was the greatest at all,oh well I’m going to do my best to give anyone insight with astrology like the countless others on Twitter but hey it might be much better here? It sure is quiet & no fighting,which is nice than Twitter had.
@roxiqt I agree! I have lost several social media "worlds" over the years. (One of them was even my fault: I had to close up my very active blog for personal reasons.) I would love to reconnect with those communities, but I can't and never will be able to. Twitter is not and never has been perfect, but it is special to me.
@roxiqt It would be great if there could be at least one altruistic and philanthropic billionaire to buy it out and actually run it as the essential public utility that it is
@roxiqt Same. It's really upsetting to think about how many friends I've made over there & how I've cultivated my followers & follows.. and doing that all over feels absolutely daunting 😟
@roxiqt Same. My account of over 16 years was suspended the other week (crazy timing!), I assume because I was testing beta software for a developer who accidentally misused the API and triggered automated account shutdowns. While I’ve appealed the suspension, I still haven’t even been told what I did wrong.
Still feeling emotionally sick over it. For all its ills, I’d curated a wholesome group of individuals and my private account was safe from trolls. “My” Twitter was surprisingly good.
@roxiqt There are a million things wrong with Twitter but it really is/was a platform with no true alternative, and has been very important in so many ways. I hope it somehow reverses course but I don't exactly have hope for that anymore
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