this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2023
362 points (96.6% liked)

Technology

59213 readers
2517 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] DevCat 87 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The extreme, even illogical nature of these interventions led to some speculation: Is Twitter’s so-called rate limit a technical mistake that’s being passed off as an executive decision? Or is it the opposite: a daring gambit of 13-dimensional chess, whereby Musk is trying to plunge the company into bankruptcy and restructuring? The situation has made conspiracy theorists out of onlookers who can’t help but wonder whether Musk’s plan has been to slowly and steadily destroy the platform all along.

Such theories are compelling, but they all share a flaw, in that they presuppose both a rational actor and a plan. You may not find either here.

That last line sums up what many have thought is actually going on at twitter, tesla, et al. for a while.

[–] rtxn 49 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I saw a post a few months ago (which I'm too lazy to find) where a former SpaceX employee explained how the managers had to manipulate Musk into not destroying the company. Essentially as the company grew, they formed a metaphorical cyst around his influence to limit his damage. That didn't exist when he infested Twitter, and so the internet's dumpster was ignited.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

It really makes you wonder if all the "billionaires" aren't exactly like this. Born into infinite privilege, surrounded by yes men and sycophants every minute of their lives. They become walking disasters who have to be managed and distracted constantly, kept far away from the actual business.

In the last few years, we've gotten an up close and personal look at two such figures - Musk and Trump. Musk is increasingly being revealed to be an idiot on at least a weekly basis. Trump is about to face his 3rd round of indictments out of who knows how many are coming? Putting a spotlight on these people gone well for them, to say the least.

I wonder what would happen if a camera crew had near-constant access to Jamie Dimon, Jeff Bezos, etc. I wonder if they have teams positioned around them to screen them out of important decisions as much as possible, because the privilege created by their disgusting levels of wealth and power has rotted their brains. I also wonder if you were to look closely enough at their dealings, they wouldn't all be under indictment.

[–] bluemellophone 4 points 1 year ago

Humans naturally conflate wealth with either high intelligence or impeccable morality. In religious circles, this is often the source of prosperity gospel. In economic circles, this is often the source of fraud.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Yes many of the billionaires are this. Same with politicians.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It really makes you wonder if all the "billionaires" aren't exactly like this. Born into infinite privilege, surrounded by yes men and sycophants every minute of their lives. They become walking disasters who have to be managed and distracted constantly, kept far away from the actual business.

This instantly reminded me of Succession on HBO. It felt so over the top when it first came out but the more I learn about the ultra wealthy the more believable the show becomes.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Plus it seems to be based on the owners of Fox News.