Oh my! Farage isn’t up to it - according to Musk😄😄

Talking about fact checking, why is Musk so focussed on just about everywhere except South Africa?

Dickens, sadly Facebook, Meta and all are doing away with fact checking.

Lydie45

Whatever the ins and outs of it how dare Musk try and interfere with a political party with elected MPs. He wants a man in prison for contempt of court to become leader of a political party. What next, Tommy Robinson to lead the Labour Party or Conservative Party or Lib/Dem because Musk says so?

Elon Musk's father, Errol, believes there's a good chance Tommy Robinson may one day be our Prime Minister.

Make of that what you will.

Whatever the ins and outs of it how dare Musk try and interfere with a political party with elected MPs. He wants a man in prison for contempt of court to become leader of a political party. What next, Tommy Robinson to lead the Labour Party or Conservative Party or Lib/Dem because Musk says so?

Dickens I couldn't agree more ..Which is why I agree with the approach of Keir Starmer at the moment..

... PS I understand what your sentiments.

!!

I meant that I concur with your sentiments!

Kalm

Dickens

Kalm

Oreo

Kalm

mae13

A contributor to an LBC Phone-in suggested that maybe Elon Musk is somewhere on the autism spectrum which may go some way to explaining his erratic impulsiveness and sudden 'toddler tantrum' U-turns such as his attempt to slap down Nigel Farage.
I think he is peevish spoilt brat trying (and badly failing) to be like the grown-ups.

May be those with Caucasian south African heritage have got bad genes.

Seriously Kalms?! They have genes from the Netherlands, nothing wrong there.
I think you’re right mae13 as I’ve read that from various sources and it fits with his behavior.Add extreme wealth and power to that and you have a volatile mix.

A history lesson: the dutch were one of the most racist people who colonized south africa. The believed they were superior over the african natives who they deemed were backward.
The only difference between then and now is the false aura of "liberalism" with a smile and a coffee cake. Geert wilders - another Nazi apologist.
If musk hadn't owned X would we have had the Faraj riots ?
Starmer should ban X and facebook as they do nothing but enrage hatred. Scary times.

Starmer should ban X and facebook as they do nothing but enrage hatred. Scary times.

For better or worse (in this case, for worse), social media platforms are now a way of life.

They might, as in this instance, fan hatred, but they are also a medium for those with a grievance, for protest, for those seeking self-help for physical or medical health conditions; legal matters; and for 'interest' groups, for learning, in fact for all kinds of things.

Any government that attempts to ban these platforms wholesale would be regarded as a dictatorship, as indeed it would be - what else might they want to ban do you think?

The problem is not social media, the main problem is ignorance which leads to the spreading of lies and misinformation.

Before the internet, people used to voice their concerns by firing of letters to newspapers, national and local, and the editorial staff would presumably filter what they allowed and printed.

Those days are gone, the genie is out of the bottle and there is no way to put it back.

All we can do is counter lies with facts on an individual level and insist that these platforms do the same. They did it when I posted a lie, so it can be done.

I once posted something on Facebook about a high-profile individual (at the time) which was false. Facebook, either via their algorithms or moderation staff actually highlighted the fact that I'd posted something as fact that was not true.

... and that is what is needed.

Agree specifically that SM should be used for education, genuine grievances, legitimate protest, education. Where opinion is based on facts that is acceptable.
In science there are genuine problems so differing opinion is justified. FB are rebasing in Texas and getting rid of fact checking. Because the fascistic tendency of the new govt does not allow it.
Brexit being a good example, where "incorrect" opinions were peddled as the truth.
In the old days writing to a newspaper was civil and polite, but still things could get misinterpreted, the Birmingham and Handsworth riots were an example of what can happen. My problem is that anyone however unqualified can post anything is a recipe for disaster. For example there is no evidence of a 2 tier policing system but the way SM (and Daily Mail and Express) platforms amplify the discussion that makes the uneducated think a copper has 2 sets of guidelines and 2 notebooks which is clearly not the case.

I understand what your sentiments.

The thinking 'middle-ground' has to hold.

We all I think have bias - and that includes me. I posted something on Facebook because it suited my argument. And it turned out not to be true. That was a salutary lesson for me. I now try to fact-check, and if I can't I look for an opposing opinion. I am trying to be a critical-thinker, but it's not easy because I'm just as susceptible to emotion and outrage as anyone else.

I think we can only counter extremism from either the Right or the Left, if moderate, temperate voices insist on being heard.

Also Kalms I dislike your use of ‘uneducated’ and the fact you say that ‘anyone however unqualified can post anything is a recipe for disaster.’To my mind there’s too much of the feeling superior and looking down from their dizzy heights by posters on forums and SM platforms as it is.There have also been posters who suggest that voters should have IQ tests.You either believe as I do that every man and woman has a vote who’s entitled to one and that they should also have an equal right to an opinion on SM unless they post something which is actually criminal, truly racist and so on.

Thank you Kalms for the history lesson I didn’t need.The Dutch were no more racist than the rest of Europe actually and colonialism and all the rest of it.The UK, France, Belgium and Germany were no slouches when it came to taking over countries and deeming themselves superior.A lot of people in all those European countries probably still feel much the same.

Starmer shouldn’t ban anything, it’s not within his remit.

Dickens

Kalm

Oreo

Kalm

mae13

A contributor to an LBC Phone-in suggested that maybe Elon Musk is somewhere on the autism spectrum which may go some way to explaining his erratic impulsiveness and sudden 'toddler tantrum' U-turns such as his attempt to slap down Nigel Farage.
I think he is peevish spoilt brat trying (and badly failing) to be like the grown-ups.

May be those with Caucasian south African heritage have got bad genes.

Seriously Kalms?! They have genes from the Netherlands, nothing wrong there.
I think you’re right mae13 as I’ve read that from various sources and it fits with his behavior.Add extreme wealth and power to that and you have a volatile mix.

A history lesson: the dutch were one of the most racist people who colonized south africa. The believed they were superior over the african natives who they deemed were backward.
The only difference between then and now is the false aura of "liberalism" with a smile and a coffee cake. Geert wilders - another Nazi apologist.
If musk hadn't owned X would we have had the Faraj riots ?
Starmer should ban X and facebook as they do nothing but enrage hatred. Scary times.

Starmer should ban X and facebook as they do nothing but enrage hatred. Scary times.

For better or worse (in this case, for worse), social media platforms are now a way of life.

They might, as in this instance, fan hatred, but they are also a medium for those with a grievance, for protest, for those seeking self-help for physical or medical health conditions; legal matters; and for 'interest' groups, for learning, in fact for all kinds of things.

Any government that attempts to ban these platforms wholesale would be regarded as a dictatorship, as indeed it would be - what else might they want to ban do you think?

The problem is not social media, the main problem is ignorance which leads to the spreading of lies and misinformation.

Before the internet, people used to voice their concerns by firing of letters to newspapers, national and local, and the editorial staff would presumably filter what they allowed and printed.

Those days are gone, the genie is out of the bottle and there is no way to put it back.

All we can do is counter lies with facts on an individual level and insist that these platforms do the same. They did it when I posted a lie, so it can be done.

I once posted something on Facebook about a high-profile individual (at the time) which was false. Facebook, either via their algorithms or moderation staff actually highlighted the fact that I'd posted something as fact that was not true.

... and that is what is needed.

Agree specifically that SM should be used for education, genuine grievances, legitimate protest, education. Where opinion is based on facts that is acceptable.
In science there are genuine problems so differing opinion is justified. FB are rebasing in Texas and getting rid of fact checking. Because the fascistic tendency of the new govt does not allow it.
Brexit being a good example, where "incorrect" opinions were peddled as the truth.
In the old days writing to a newspaper was civil and polite, but still things could get misinterpreted, the Birmingham and Handsworth riots were an example of what can happen. My problem is that anyone however unqualified can post anything is a recipe for disaster. For example there is no evidence of a 2 tier policing system but the way SM (and Daily Mail and Express) platforms amplify the discussion that makes the uneducated think a copper has 2 sets of guidelines and 2 notebooks which is clearly not the case.

mae13

A contributor to an LBC Phone-in suggested that maybe Elon Musk is somewhere on the autism spectrum which may go some way to explaining his erratic impulsiveness and sudden 'toddler tantrum' U-turns such as his attempt to slap down Nigel Farage.
I think he is peevish spoilt brat trying (and badly failing) to be like the grown-ups.

I think he is peevish spoilt brat trying (and badly failing) to be like the grown-ups.

I think that just about sums him up.

Kalm

Oreo

Kalm

mae13

A contributor to an LBC Phone-in suggested that maybe Elon Musk is somewhere on the autism spectrum which may go some way to explaining his erratic impulsiveness and sudden 'toddler tantrum' U-turns such as his attempt to slap down Nigel Farage.
I think he is peevish spoilt brat trying (and badly failing) to be like the grown-ups.

May be those with Caucasian south African heritage have got bad genes.

Seriously Kalms?! They have genes from the Netherlands, nothing wrong there.
I think you’re right mae13 as I’ve read that from various sources and it fits with his behavior.Add extreme wealth and power to that and you have a volatile mix.

A history lesson: the dutch were one of the most racist people who colonized south africa. The believed they were superior over the african natives who they deemed were backward.
The only difference between then and now is the false aura of "liberalism" with a smile and a coffee cake. Geert wilders - another Nazi apologist.
If musk hadn't owned X would we have had the Faraj riots ?
Starmer should ban X and facebook as they do nothing but enrage hatred. Scary times.

Starmer should ban X and facebook as they do nothing but enrage hatred. Scary times.

For better or worse (in this case, for worse), social media platforms are now a way of life.

They might, as in this instance, fan hatred, but they are also a medium for those with a grievance, for protest, for those seeking self-help for physical or medical health conditions; legal matters; and for 'interest' groups, for learning, in fact for all kinds of things.

Any government that attempts to ban these platforms wholesale would be regarded as a dictatorship, as indeed it would be - what else might they want to ban do you think?

The problem is not social media, the main problem is ignorance which leads to the spreading of lies and misinformation.

Before the internet, people used to voice their concerns by firing of letters to newspapers, national and local, and the editorial staff would presumably filter what they allowed and printed.

Those days are gone, the genie is out of the bottle and there is no way to put it back.

All we can do is counter lies with facts on an individual level and insist that these platforms do the same. They did it when I posted a lie, so it can be done.

I once posted something on Facebook about a high-profile individual (at the time) which was false. Facebook, either via their algorithms or moderation staff actually highlighted the fact that I'd posted something as fact that was not true.

... and that is what is needed.

Oreo

Kalm

mae13

A contributor to an LBC Phone-in suggested that maybe Elon Musk is somewhere on the autism spectrum which may go some way to explaining his erratic impulsiveness and sudden 'toddler tantrum' U-turns such as his attempt to slap down Nigel Farage.
I think he is peevish spoilt brat trying (and badly failing) to be like the grown-ups.

May be those with Caucasian south African heritage have got bad genes.

Seriously Kalms?! They have genes from the Netherlands, nothing wrong there.
I think you’re right mae13 as I’ve read that from various sources and it fits with his behavior.Add extreme wealth and power to that and you have a volatile mix.

A history lesson: the dutch were one of the most racist people who colonized south africa. The believed they were superior over the african natives who they deemed were backward.
The only difference between then and now is the false aura of "liberalism" with a smile and a coffee cake. Geert wilders - another Nazi apologist.
If musk hadn't owned X would we have had the Faraj riots ?
Starmer should ban X and facebook as they do nothing but enrage hatred. Scary times.

Musk says he is interested in buying Liverpool FC (although it is not for sale) because his Grandmother came from Liverpool.

GrannyGravy13

Elon Musk has made no secret of the fact that he has Asperger’s in multiple interviews over many years.

There's no reason why it should be a 'secret', is there?

I do wonder if that is an official diagnosis or a self diagnosis...

Elon Musk has made no secret of the fact that he has Asperger’s in multiple interviews over many years.

Kalm

mae13

A contributor to an LBC Phone-in suggested that maybe Elon Musk is somewhere on the autism spectrum which may go some way to explaining his erratic impulsiveness and sudden 'toddler tantrum' U-turns such as his attempt to slap down Nigel Farage.
I think he is peevish spoilt brat trying (and badly failing) to be like the grown-ups.

May be those with Caucasian south African heritage have got bad genes.

Seriously Kalms?! They have genes from the Netherlands, nothing wrong there.
I think you’re right mae13 as I’ve read that from various sources and it fits with his behavior.Add extreme wealth and power to that and you have a volatile mix.

mae13

A contributor to an LBC Phone-in suggested that maybe Elon Musk is somewhere on the autism spectrum which may go some way to explaining his erratic impulsiveness and sudden 'toddler tantrum' U-turns such as his attempt to slap down Nigel Farage.
I think he is peevish spoilt brat trying (and badly failing) to be like the grown-ups.

May be those with Caucasian south African heritage have got bad genes.

A contributor to an LBC Phone-in suggested that maybe Elon Musk is somewhere on the autism spectrum which may go some way to explaining his erratic impulsiveness and sudden 'toddler tantrum' U-turns such as his attempt to slap down Nigel Farage.
I think he is peevish spoilt brat trying (and badly failing) to be like the grown-ups.

westendgirl

^I see Musk has now launched a poll , asking if "U.S. should liberate Britain from tyrranical government " !
He gets more and more like a theme for a Monty Python sketch.Is the man suffering from some delusion ?^

I wonder how he thinks the US can 'liberate' us?

Can you imagine the uproar from many on the Right if a wealthy European had suggested 'liberating' us from Brexit?

.Is the man suffering from some delusion

... the delusion of adequacy I think.

Musk is not happy to be challenged on this. Last October, in Pennsylvania, he was asked about it

A question came from an audience member named Mark, who told the billionaire that it had taken “years and money” for his wife to be naturalized “the right way.” He then asked if Musk would talk about his experience with the immigration system. Musk seemed unprepared to address his own story and stammered a bit, saying: “Yeah, well, since your wife has gone through the, um, process of becoming a citizen and getting [a] Green Card, it’s — you’ve seen how absurdly slow and arduous it is.” He then quickly shifted into metaphors for how he wants immigration to work, saying we should think about it as picking people to join a company or sports team. “You know, it’s like, I mean, it’s like, if, like, if you have the opportunity to say, have like, you know, LeBron James or Steph Curry on your team, you’d be like, ‘Yeah, that would make total sense.'”

Willow3, I have a lot of family in Canada- they can't just decide to acquire US nationality. One of my cousins went to work in NY and worked illegally for many years until there was an official armistice. A work Visa is not at all the same as acquiring nationality- which is a long and complex process.

Thank goodness that Musk cannot ever be President as he wasn't born in the USA. But perhaps his dear friend Trump will change that rule, just for him.

westendgirl

I see Musk has now launched a poll , asking if "U.S. should liberate Britain from tyrranical government " !
He gets more and more like a theme for a Monty Python sketch.Is the man suffering from some delusion ?

Really??? Hard to believe this could happen but if so, then imo it proves that Musk is totally deluded, power mad and even dangerous. It's actually scary to think what influence he might have on Trump, who, lets face it, is bad enough on his own.

Above board it seems - google

"Canadian passport: Musk applied for a Canadian passport through his Canadian-born mother to avoid South Africa's mandatory military service.
Immigration to the US: The Canadian passport made it easier for Musk to immigrate to the US.
Musk made his way out to Silicon Valley, gained legal authorization to work in the United States (he has spoken of obtaining an H-1B visa) and, with his brother, soon started Zip2, which helped businesses gain a presence on the Internet. (Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002.)

It's the H-1B visa causing current controversy in the US.

Trumps policy of new zero immigration has been challenged by Musk as he wants to be able to specifically import techie talent - India and china have been named as possible fertile recruitment grounds.

Traditional Trump MAGA supporters are against this breaking of net zero immigration, and it wouldnt surprise me if some large food producers do challenge it too as food prices are very high in the USA and non documented labour make up a large part of cheap farm labour.