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Twitter To Get Even Harsher On Trolls (cnbc.com)

Twitter is cracking down even harder against trolls, including temporarily barring accounts that are harassing other users. From a report: In a blog posted Wednesday, Twitter's vice president of engineering, Ed Ho, announced more safety measures to stop abuse on its platform. One of the methods includes using the company's internal algorithms to identify problematic accounts and limiting certain account functions -- such as only allowing the aggressor to see their followers -- for a set period of time if they engaged in troublesome behavior. Twitter said it was also open to further action if the harassment continued. Other anti-trolling tools include new filters to let users see what kinds of content they want to view from certain accounts and well as allowing people to "mute" tweets based on keywords, phrases or entire conversations.

183 comments

  1. oh no my hugbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I'd like to see the business that identifies "problematic accounts". In fact, if I were them I'd be very open about it. Otherwise it's censorship.

    1. Re:oh no my hugbox by _KiTA_ · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I'd like to see the business that identifies "problematic accounts". In fact, if I were them I'd be very open about it. Otherwise it's censorship.

      They can't be transparent, because they're targeting the political opponents of the twitter admins. The second they admit that -- openly or accidentally -- shit is going to hit the fan.

    2. Re:oh no my hugbox by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 1

      It will be accidental, but it will happen. The problem is that the political extremists on Twitter's side of the Political Divide don't really understand that views which oppose their own aren't all the product of "Hate Speech" or horse-blinder'ed religious zeal. That "Brooklyn Bubble" effect extends way beyond Brooklyn, I'm afraid...

    3. Re:oh no my hugbox by Chas · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Apparently you have no clue what censorship is.

      Nobody's saying you have freedom of speech on Twitter.

      That doesn't mean you still can't have issues with censorship.

      And Twitter most definitely DOES.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    4. Re:oh no my hugbox by penandpaper · · Score: 1

      ... right because impartiality of public accommodations is for chumps amirite?

      How much influence on our political system does twitter have if that is the preferred means of communication of the POTUS? At what point does that platform need to be as impartial as a baker to ensure our public accommodations uphold the law and our values?

      Twitter likes to hide behind the "we private company can do what we want" but then play the "we're a free speech platform we don't have to be impartial". It's a bad joke that a baker is forced by law to be impartial yet the preferred platform of POTUS doesn't impact society enough to be held to the same standard.

    5. Re:oh no my hugbox by sycodon · · Score: 2

      It IS censoring...it's just not against the law for a private company to do it on their private platform.

      People should call them out on it because it is at odds with the intent of the platform.

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    6. Re:oh no my hugbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why does everyone keep saying Twitter is a private company. It is not a private company, it had its IPO in 2013, which makes it a publicly owned company!!

    7. Re:oh no my hugbox by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 1

      Hey. The right got rid of the equal time rule in broadcast media a long time ago. Here you go and try to bring it back online. Doof.

      --
      That is all.
    8. Re:oh no my hugbox by poity · · Score: 1

      it's a private company doing it, so it's not censorship

      Another one who doesn't understand the difference between free speech and the 1st Amendment.

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    9. Re: oh no my hugbox by dougdonovan · · Score: 1

      they better, its how trump lives.

    10. Re:oh no my hugbox by penandpaper · · Score: 1

      Because twitter is anything like a radio or broadcast television? Hint; it isn't.

      There is a difference when you say something compared to when you enable someone else to say something. Just like there are different rules when you drive a bus for the city compared to driving yourself around the city. The bus driver is a steward for the safety of the passengers and as such is operating under similar yet different rules (CDL v DL).

    11. Re:oh no my hugbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      First of all, it's a private company doing it, so it's not censorship - you don't like Twitland, go back over to Faceplace - it's not like there aren't other alternatives. Same with the second comment - people who like the service will keep using it. Those who don't will find another platform for their trolling - I'm sure 2chan or something like that is still available. Free market in action, baby...

      Assuming you are black and you go to a private "whites only" establishment only to get kicked out, is that fair? After all, you could just go down the street to the black run establishment. "There is nothing wrong with this" /sarcasm

    12. Re:oh no my hugbox by ravenshrike · · Score: 2

      One of them being Scott Adams. Welp, all the people claiming he was paranoid sure are looking like morons.

    13. Re:oh no my hugbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Another one who doesn't understand the difference between free speech and the 1st Amendment.

      Another one who doesn't understand the difference between free speech and the obligation to provide anyone with a platform for that speech.

    14. Re:oh no my hugbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is an interesting hypocrisy among the majority of people claiming this isn't censorship - most are saying this because they agree with the censorship - however situation was reversed they'd be calling out the censorship as well.

      Here is an example: A cartoon show (steven universe) had scenes that might of described a same gendered relationship. These scenes were cut when released in Britain. BBC was immediately accused of censoring. Same situation though. The people accusing BBC of censoring Steven Universe are mostly the people that would agree that Twitter's censorship isn't that.

      Now, I'm not saying that Chas is doing that. I just have experienced that someone who voices this opinion matches what I just described.

    15. Re: oh no my hugbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For those that don't know, he's talking about ruby and sapphire. Check the link: https://www.google.com/search?q=steven+universe+ruby+x+sapphire&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS688US688&oq=steven+universe+ruby&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l3.6315j0j8&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

    16. Re:oh no my hugbox by sexconker · · Score: 1

      First of all, it's a private company doing it, so it's not censorship

      False. Nothing else you write is worth reading.

    17. Re:oh no my hugbox by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      These scenes were cut when released in Britain. BBC was immediately accused of censoring.

      The BBC is the government.

      "The BBC is established under a Royal Charter[9] and operates under its Agreement with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.[10] Its work is funded principally by an annual television licence fee[11] which is charged to all British households, companies, and organisations using any type of equipment to receive or record live television broadcasts.[12] The fee is set by the British Government, agreed by Parliament,"

      I'll bet if you think about it, you'll see why the distinction is important.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    18. Re:oh no my hugbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed, used to be that Trolls were defined by their SERIOUS INFRACTIONS of site or ethical misbehavior. Now a troll is anyone that does not agree with you. And yes, that is CENSORSHIP!

    19. Re:oh no my hugbox by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      It IS censoring...it's just not against the law for a private company to do it on their private platform.

      People should call them out on it because it is at odds with the intent of the platform.

      OK, you just called them out. Now what?

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    20. Re:oh no my hugbox by DogDude · · Score: 1

      People should call them out on it because it is at odds with the intent of the platform.

      I doubt that. They're probably making MORE money when they dump the trolls.

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    21. Re:oh no my hugbox by lgw · · Score: 1

      Government censorship is a kind of censorship.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    22. Re:oh no my hugbox by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Government censorship is a kind of censorship.

      Government censorship is illegal. That's the big distinction.

      Twitter users are not customers of Twitter. They are freely giving content. Nobody is forced to pay for Twitter or to use Twitter. You are forced to pay for the government. Nobody will stop you from creating an alternative to Twitter. If you want to form an alternative government, well, it was tried in the 1860s and didn't work out so well.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    23. Re:oh no my hugbox by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      I don't know how it could ever be enforced.

      "Ok, we have now spent half an hour on that informed and well-researched lecture on the issue. Now, to speak for the other side, here is Professor McFartypants, who we picked up from the street and gave ten minutes to prepare. Half an hour each, fair and balanced!"

    24. Re:oh no my hugbox by Chas · · Score: 1

      Yes. But it's possible for Twitter to still censor, even when the stuff being censored meets its criteria for acceptable content.

      Simply because they're a private company doesn't mean they can't also be censorious outside of their AUP.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    25. Re:oh no my hugbox by lgw · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Government censorship is illegal. That's the big distinction.

      That's a distinction. Other interesting distinctions are: desirable, moral, etc.

      Twitter is a big platform. Their censorship is generally harmful and undesirable. We'd be better off without their blatant political bias, for all that they're legally entitled to it.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    26. Re:oh no my hugbox by mrclevesque · · Score: 1

      "Their censorship is generally harmful and undesirable. We'd be better off without their blatant political bias"

      But how can I tell if what you are saying is true if you can't point to the comments that you say were unjustly pulled.

    27. Re:oh no my hugbox by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Other interesting distinctions are: desirable, moral, etc.

      Yes, and those distinctions are best made by people's decisions.

      So, we're back to, "If you don't like how Twitter works, don't use them."

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    28. Re:oh no my hugbox by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Simply because they're a private company doesn't mean they can't also be censorious outside of their AUP.

      Yes, it means exactly that. The accepted use policy can be changed or interpreted by them at will.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    29. Re:oh no my hugbox by lgw · · Score: 1

      Or, another approach, "if you think Twitter serves a valuable role, but is screwing that up, be very vocal about that in hopes they'll listen to their user base". Yeah, yeah, trying to get a tech company to listen to its user base may be a lost cause, but still, maybe it's worth the attempt?

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    30. Re:oh no my hugbox by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      So, a baker can refuse to write the words "Stan and Dan" on a wedding cake than? It is against their policy to bake cakes for homosexual weddings, so it is all good.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  2. There go by cyberchondriac · · Score: 1

    Trump's and JK Rowling's accounts.

    --

    Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
    1. Re:There go by aicrules · · Score: 2

      The over under on how many posts till trump was 7. You made a lot of people a lot of money.

    2. Re:There go by TWX · · Score: 1

      Seven?

      I expected it as a new variant of the "fist prost"...

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    3. Re:There go by aicrules · · Score: 1

      Vegas figured it differently. Expecting the bots and frist posters to get in on a morning post faster than the trump posters. However, I only came to the comments to make this joke and was not disappointed. Even if the joke was pretty lame.

    4. Re:There go by TWX · · Score: 1

      Well, at least you amused yourself. Sometimes you can't expect more than that.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    5. Re:There go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its too bad, but I don't believe that they will ever ban the Troller-in-chief! The Orange tweet-monster will be able to keep up its insane bleating!

  3. Whoa - too far! by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can see banning harassers, etc., but trolling is one of the cornerstones of the internet.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    1. Re:Whoa - too far! by TWX · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It's hard to monetize trolling, there's a maximum cap on how much profit can be derived from it.

      Unfortunately once you grow to maximum-troll, the only way to remove that to attempt to keep growing is to prune hard, which will harm the business in the short to medium term. Just look at what happened to Reddit, their attempts to remove unsavory elements that were preventing growth caused the business to shrink. Perhaps they'll be able to grow, but I haven't been back to Reddit since the 2016 presidential election cycle got going, and I expect that it's still a wretched hive of scum and villany.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    2. Re:Whoa - too far! by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

      Trolling is a artform. At least the good trolling of the olden days. Iregardless of how I feel about the old definitions however, it, seems the definition is changing to simply mean "being a dick". That begs the question though of weather we should keep using the old definition. It's just like "cracker"---it used to be used for a good stuff, but the media has made it synonymous with hacker now, implying its uniformly bad. I guess I could care less though. Language changes.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    3. Re:Whoa - too far! by sycodon · · Score: 1

      Soon, only Blue Butt Ferries and unicorns will be allowed in Twitter posts.

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    4. Re:Whoa - too far! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > the good trolling of the olden days

      Have you started shooing kids off your lawn yet, grampa?

    5. Re:Whoa - too far! by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

      Trolling is a artform. At least the good trolling of the olden days. Iregardless of how I feel about the old definitions however, it, seems the definition is changing to simply mean "being a dick".

      Yeah, that's about it. Trolling has more or less become the province of griefers, who have no tact, cleverness, or subtlety. There's no craftsmanship to it anymore. It used to be a good troll could keep people going for days and days, but now it's akin to just taking a dump on the dinner table and running away.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    6. Re:Whoa - too far! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is this artful trolling? Iregardless I want to beg a question of your cracker ass.

    7. Re:Whoa - too far! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Whoever owns the goatse domain could sell "@goatse.cx" email accounts.

      So there's one way.

    8. Re:Whoa - too far! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unfortunately it's also one of the cornerstones of internet to call trolling all things that are not actually trolling.

    9. Re:Whoa - too far! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trolling is a artform.

      Apparently, so are spelling and grammar.

      And BTW, "irregardless" is not a word.

      Language changes.

      Hopefully when the changes are useful, and not when people like you are sloppy.

    10. Re:Whoa - too far! by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      YHBT HTH HAND

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    11. Re:Whoa - too far! by sexconker · · Score: 1

      You are a moran. "Trolling is a art" is a classic troll, as are all the other things in that post.

    12. Re:Whoa - too far! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My first thought was: I don't think that word means what they think it means. Trolling is the art of provoking a response. Done right, the trolled doesn't even realise what happened.

    13. Re:Whoa - too far! by lgw · · Score: 1

      Well played sir. Hook, line, and sinker.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    14. Re:Whoa - too far! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Trolling is a artform" "an" not "a" you dumb cunt.... Now how do we stop Trump from using twitspace..

  4. Good Idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since that strategy has been successful in pumping up their stock price, it makes sense to double down.

  5. The more you tighten your grip... by Phydeaux · · Score: 1

    the more Pepe memes will slip through your fingers.

    1. Re:The more you tighten your grip... by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      the more Pepe memes will slip through your fingers.

      Well, if the slip through and on to other sites like voat, then they probably feel that's mission accomplished.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
  6. I believe he understands by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 2

    >> Ed Ho

    Yes, if this guy went through high school, I could imagine he knows what it means to be a target of abusers.

  7. Twitter has become one big #safespace by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you are not with us, you will not be against us.

  8. Who wants to hold onto them anyway? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you drive them away, and get more non-racist users a a result, then that is just what you want as a company.

    1. Re:Who wants to hold onto them anyway? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Except they're not going after all racist users. Just users with different political views, some of which are indeed racist. But their racists, they don't touch. @GaziKodzo comes to mind.

    2. Re:Who wants to hold onto them anyway? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you drive them away, and get more non-racist users a a result, then that is just what you want as a company.

      But they are instead getting more and more racist (i.e., leftists and Democratic-leaning) users.

    3. Re:Who wants to hold onto them anyway? by meta-monkey · · Score: 1

      But they don't punish racism. If you post "kill whitey" they won't do a thing to you.

      --
      We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
    4. Re:Who wants to hold onto them anyway? by lgw · · Score: 1

      If you drive them away, and get more non-racist users a a result, then that is just what you want as a company.

      Thing is, Pepe isn't a racist meme. If you drive them away, you lose the creative and interesting element of your platform,but the actual racists are still there. Don't #GasTheJokes

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  9. Fuck twitter. by penandpaper · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Twitter? You mean the internet company that doesn't understand the internet?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    No Thank You. I don't need a Trust and Safety council anymore than a Ministry of Truth.

    1. Re:Fuck twitter. by geek · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Twitter? You mean the internet company that doesn't understand the internet?

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      No Thank You. I don't need a Trust and Safety council anymore than a Ministry of Truth.

      Its really fascinating to me to watch this. Twitter like the Democrat party is doubling down on all of the things that are responsible for their decline.

      When I was a teenager I was pulled over for speeding and had a list of excuses I decided to work through from top to bottom. After about 5 minutes the officer said to me calmly, "When you find yourself in a ditch the best thing to do is quit digging."

      A lesson Liberals desperately need to learn.

    2. Re:Fuck twitter. by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      A Karl of Swindon video... I hate to ad-hom the guy, but I don't have the will to subject myself to him right now.

      What matters to Twitter is the bottom line. They obviously think that trolling does them more harm than good. The fact that 4chan is dying suggests that they may be right.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    3. Re:Fuck twitter. by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      What matters to Twitter is the bottom line.

      Twitter has never made a profit. They have lost $2 billion in 10 years.

      Twitter is a weird mix of money-losing leftist propaganda machine and pyramid scheme. It's not a business that makes rational decisions.

      The fact that 4chan is dying suggests that they may be right.

      Well, you're probably the expert on 4chan, but it isn't bleeding money at anywhere near the same rate as Twitter.

    4. Re:Fuck twitter. by penandpaper · · Score: 1

      I don't normally post videos of any flavor of talking heads but that video is relevant to any discussion on Twitters censorship behavior. If there is an issue with that video I will hear you out but if all you do is dismiss it through ad hom then you add nothing to the conversation. If you have an issue with the arguments and evidence portrayed, name it or leave it. I don't need to know your opinion on the presenter and personally I don't care because I am not posting that video for the presenter.

      The reason why that video is relevant is because the #gasthejokes started because the pewdiepie WSJ hit piece that took things out of context to slander a mans reputation. It shows that Twitter will take ideological sides and use any means to silence any contradictory narrative. I have no sympathy for journalists oblivious/malevolent to context as I have no sympathy or patience for a censorship platform that parades itself as a bastion of free-speech yet censors satire pointing out an injustice carried out by ideological bed-fellows.

    5. Re:Fuck twitter. by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Well, if you like videos, this is a great one about the PewDiePie situation: https://youtu.be/GjNILjFters

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    6. Re:Fuck twitter. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When I was a teenager I was pulled over for speeding and had a list of excuses I decided to work through from top to bottom. After about 5 minutes the officer said to me calmly, "When you find yourself in a ditch the best thing to do is quit digging."

      A lesson Liberals desperately need to learn.

      Or they can just elect a fake billionaire to tell them that their problems are everyone's fault but their own.

      Speaking of digging, shouldn't you be in a coal mine somewhere?

    7. Re:Fuck twitter. by lgw · · Score: 1

      A lesson Liberals desperately need to learn.

      Liberals? No. Democrats? Yes.

      Dear Democrats: have you forgotten what is is to be liberal?
      * Identity politics: not liberal.
      * Being a moral scold of any variety: not liberal.
      * Dividing people into two groups, the "elite, with proper credentials from the right schools" and "dumb hicks who can't be trusted to know what's good for them": not liberal.

      Yet those three points are all I've seen from the American left for over a decade now.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    8. Re:Fuck twitter. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A lesson Liberals desperately need to learn.

      Liberals? No. Democrats? Yes.

      Dear Democrats: have you forgotten what is is to be liberal?
      * Identity politics: not liberal.
      * Being a moral scold of any variety: not liberal.
      * Dividing people into two groups, the "elite, with proper credentials from the right schools" and "dumb hicks who can't be trusted to know what's good for them": not liberal.

      Yet those three points are all I've seen from the American left for over a decade now.

      Maybe you should get our of your bubble.

    9. Re:Fuck twitter. by penandpaper · · Score: 1

      He is so right. Nazi jokes are bad as are jokes about the holocaust. My grandfather died in a concentration camp in WW2 when he fell out of the guard tower. Anne Frankly, I am offended when anyone makes fun my families tragedy. We should say enough is enough with these nazi jokes because they make me fuhrerious.

      But seriously...
      WTF am I watching? A guy upset that he doesn't like certain types of satire, doesn't understand context like the WSJ, upset that pewdiepie is successful, doesn't understand humor and thinks the only reason why people make fun of Nazi's is because they are Nazi's?

      Did I get that right? He has a few good points but that doesn't justify out of context snippets to justify slander as an *ism that can ruin careers.

      FTFV: "From what I can gather, that's the real problem here. Comedy on youtube as well as most forms of discussion can't really develop beyond a fairly juvenile stage because it's impossible to provide a nuanced critique without being regarded as a threat. "

      WTF... the only acceptable humor is nuanced critique? Oh, I see and if there isn't enough "critique" it is juvenile. You do understand that people making fun of nazi's is a good thing? You do understand the whole reason why the "Kill all the jews" was funny was because it was absurd in so many ways including his reaction? If someone is talking about "juvenile" comedy it is safe to bet that they don't understand why people find things funny. Hell, most people don't understand what makes them laugh when the literal definition has "spontaneous". PDP markets to a younger crowd who is savvy about memes. Do you think that someone that doesn't understand memes (WSJ) might find those kind of jokes offensive because they don't understand the context? Do you really think that people who understand memes and use them think that pepe is a white supremacist?

      How much time must pass before jokes about a taboo is acceptable? I guess Charley Chaplin is a Nazi sympathizer because of the Dictator. Oh, it's ok when he does it and not someone else? amirite? Who gave you or hbomberguy the right to decide what is acceptable or not? It was obviously a joke given the context and also that the guy is a fucking comedian. Are you one of those peopel that protest a feminist comedian because she isn't the "right kind of feminist"? Pathetic.

      He talks about speech and discussion yet does not seem to have a problem with the WSJ making unsubstantiated claims taken completely out of context and acted in a slanderous way. I watched the video's and WSJ portrayal and there was nothing honest in their reporting of the situation. I don't blame Disney. I blame WSJ as does PDP which is the whole fucking point. The WSJ resorted to slander despite being supposedly reputable.

      Am I a nazi for laughing at his nazi jokes? Do I want to kill all the jews for laughing at his kill all the jews sign joke?

      Fuck me that was a waste of time.

    10. Re:Fuck twitter. by penandpaper · · Score: 1

      You convinced me. We need a final solution for the jokes.

    11. Re:Fuck twitter. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To add more embellishment, 4chan was started by a then 15 year old kid, in his bedroom, who wanted a place for him and his Otaku friends discuss Otaku stuff. It started off operating from donations and resorted to ads when it grew too big.

      In other words, 4chan was never a business venture. It's a hobbyist site for hobbyists (hobbyists with all the fetishes you can imagine, plus some that you cannot... but still hobbyists). Hobbies generally are cost centers.

      Point outing how 4chan isn't as commercially successful is like trying to make fun of how the local kid's softball league is not as successful of a business as professional sports leagues. Sorry, but little Johnny isn't going to make millions. In fact, paying for little Johnny's uniform/equipment/etc just to play is probably going to put you in the red. Again, hobbies tend to be monkey sinks.

    12. Re:Fuck twitter. by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      Hogan's Heroes wouldn't have happened in today's environment.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  10. Wrong by s.petry · · Score: 2

    First of all, it's a private company doing it, so it's not censorship - you don't like Twitland, go back over to Faceplace - it's not like there aren't other alternatives. Same with the second comment - people who like the service will keep using it. Those who don't will find another platform for their trolling - I'm sure 2chan or something like that is still available. Free market in action, baby...

    Twitter being a private company does not mean that they can't censor, in fact we know that Twitter and places like "Faceplace" as you so kindly put it, they do censor. The question is whether or not a private company can legally censor and should protections be put in place to ensure people know that information is censored.

    I believe that they have the legal right to censor, but also believe that they should be required to provide legal notification on what they censor and why. There is a difference between free speech and propaganda, and it should be obvious to people which the platform supports. Paid advertisements have to do this today, and I believe its within bounds to demand the same for any social media platform.

    --

    -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    1. Re:Wrong by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's their platform. They can do as they please. Don't like it, find somewhere else to post.

      It's fair game to criticize Twitter, if you feel they've done wrong, but I find the idea that you want some sort of mandatory regulation more than a little absurd.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    2. Re:Wrong by D00MSlayer · · Score: 1

      Well it's a good thing that the US isn't based on Petry's Beliefs.

      Private enterprises such as Twitter control their own content. They are not obligated to tell you why they decided to block something. If you don't care for it, then find a different platform to use.

    3. Re:Wrong by khallow · · Score: 1

      They can do as they please.

      Subject to the rules they must follow. Let us keep in mind that if they portray themselves in public, for example, as being the place where you can write what you think, and they censor you for writing what you think, then that's violating truth in advertising laws which a number of countries, including the US, have.

    4. Re:Wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The CRA begs to differ... it may be your sandbox but if you open it to the public, you are subject to the rules of public accommodation. Meaning you can't discriminate... I find that nauseating and against individual liberty, but it's been that way since 1964.

    5. Re:Wrong by Curunir_wolf · · Score: 4, Interesting

      So, Twitter can do "anything they please", huh? Let's examine your premise a bit.

      First, censorship can happen on a lot of levels and in a lot of places. Just because the Constitution forbids only the Federal government (and, by extension in later amendments as well as by state government Constitutions, state governments) from creating laws to censor speech, doesn't mean that what Twitter is doing here (and Facebook, Google, et.al.) isn't censorship. It is. Let's be clear about that. These companies are engaging in censorship, and they can do a great deal of it. If you're unclear just how pervasive it can be, here is a primer for you on how Google censors voices.

      Next question, can they really do anything they want? Twitter and Google and other ISPs have certain protections from torts (lawsuits) through Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) of 1996, a federal law. It basically says that sites like Twitter cannot be held responsible for user-generated content hosted or available from their site or services. That's a HUGE benefit provided to these companies, that individuals do not get. But, the more an operator edits or manages the user content on their site, the more they expose themselves to being liable for that content.

      It leads one to wonder: If government has provided this awesome protection from liability to Twitter, wouldn't it be the responsibility of government to ensure they are providing an open platform (that is, NOT engaging in damaging censorship). The censorship Twitter and especially Google engages in is certainly damaging. There are many cases, and many lawsuits about Google silencing people. In Europe and other places with less protections for free speech, Twitter must comply with guidelines that require them to censor content, and they do just that. Governments have recognized that Google is so large and so pervasive that it is one of the few companies they can go to that can effectively censor content in their country. So clearly Twitter is much more than just some private entity among a large set of competitors. And for Google, using their "malicious website" lists, they can basically censor content at user's client computers.

      Think about something else. The US government imposes a large number of regulations on businesses. Using the "public accommodation" definition, business are banned from discrimination, are required to accommodate the needs of the disabled, provide specific services for patrons on an equal basis, and much more. The FCC requires broadcasters to submit ways that they are of benefit to the community. We have common carrier rules that prohibit censorship over some communication channels. In many ways, Twitter is identical to a common carrier, but with even greater influence over communications.

      With only 6 corporations controlling most of the media, and only 3 companies controlling most of the Internet, I think it's time we were a little more realistic about what is happening and what can be done about it. These companies can control the narrative and basically mind-control vast portions of the public.

      Do we really want to just throw up our hands and declare "Well they're private companies they can do anything they want?" Even when the result could be controlling the opinions and minds of most of the country?

      --
      "Somebody has to do something. It's just incredibly pathetic it has to be us."
      --- Jerry Garcia
    6. Re:Wrong by penandpaper · · Score: 1

      Because the preferred platform for POTUS to speak to people is not as important to the public as a baker... You're telling me that a baker has more impact on society and is forced by law to be impartial yet Twitter, the preferred platform of POTUS to speak to people, doesn't have an impact that demands the same impartiality?

      You don't see anything wrong with that?

    7. Re:Wrong by s.petry · · Score: 1

      Private media companies are surely able to do as they please, but they also have a public obligation as a public facing company to present themselves _honestly_ to the public. Their TOS and EULA do not state that they banish people expressing opinions that don't fit their political leanings, which would surely have impact on how many people join, or continue to use, that service.

      I have no problem with businesses who interface with the public being biased, controversial, or even portraying things I disagree with morally. I won't read the NY Times but respect that they came out and openly said they will do everything possible to destroy President Trump. An objective person will see that message and understand that what they read is coming from a biased position. I have no problem with Redtube providing free adult videos to people, and paying people to upload material. Morally objectionable to me, but they are honest about what they do and my morality is not universally supported.

      Dishonesty is the problem with Twitter, who pushes itself as a free speech platform.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    8. Re:Wrong by PopeRatzo · · Score: 0

      Subject to the rules they must follow. Let us keep in mind that if they portray themselves in public, for example, as being the place where you can write what you think, and they censor you for writing what you think, then that's violating truth in advertising laws which a number of countries, including the US, have.

      All of a sudden you want to enforce "truth in advertising" laws? Do you love Big Government that much?

      Second, the people who are being "censored" on Twitter are not the customers of Twitter. Nobody pays to post on Twitter. So, I don't see how the "advertising" even matters in regard to Twitter users.

      While what Twitter is doing may be broadly defined as "censorship", there is absolutely no law against what they are doing. Not in the Constitution, not in the legal statutes, and not in case law. It still comes down to, "if you don't like the way Twitter works, don't use Twitter".

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    9. Re:Wrong by DogDude · · Score: 1

      In no, way, shape, or form is Twitter an "ISP" or a "common carrier".

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    10. Re:Wrong by Curunir_wolf · · Score: 2

      They fall under the definition of an "ISP" as defined in the CDA and section 230.

      --
      "Somebody has to do something. It's just incredibly pathetic it has to be us."
      --- Jerry Garcia
    11. Re:Wrong by D00MSlayer · · Score: 1

      Their TOS and EULA do not state that they banish people expressing opinions that don't fit their political leanings, which would surely have impact on how many people join, or continue to use, that service.

      They have Twitter Rules in their TOS(https://support.twitter.com/articles/18311#), and those outline what is and isn't acceptable. They are not banishing people for expressing a different political opinion than of those carried by the operators of the service. They suspend/ban accounts that break their rules of appropriate behavior. They will not allow the harassment of other users, and if there's a particular group on the political spectrum that are more prone to harassing others, that is not singling out their politics, that's singling out their unacceptable behavior as a group.

    12. Re:Wrong by s.petry · · Score: 1

      They suspend/ban accounts that break their rules of appropriate behavior.

      Right, so the mass of Conservative and Traditional Liberal (Sargon of Akkad) accounts were banned simply due to breaking rules. Anyone looking at bans can see is completely arbitrary and based on political opinions Twitter execs feel is a threat to their leftist leanings. Evidence does not support your claim, and the TOS does not admit that they ban people on the Conservative side simply for being Conservative and arguing against Leftism. You, like them, are being dishonst. Shame on you.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    13. Re: Wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      where as i agree that discrimination an such is wrong i do not see twitter as public persay. just because something is open to the public does not make it public property for a broad analogy.

    14. Re:Wrong by Triklyn · · Score: 1

      while i don't like it, i'd have to say that at some point, we're going to have to re-examine the role of social networks in the public life and public discourse.

      it might not be today, it might not be tomorrow, but i think it'll be soon. we limit freedoms in a variety of ways ostensibly to promote a healthy society. and when social networks become large enough and vital enough, i think they'll need to get looked at in that regard too.

      as a thought experiment, if twitter brand gum were a thing, and twitter removed all mention of non-twitter brand gums from everybody's tweets. would the government step in? i think it just might. and gum is a lot less important than democracy.

    15. Re:Wrong by D00MSlayer · · Score: 0

      I know that they have done mass bans on alt-right accounts, which considering their white nationalist views, doesn't surprise me. I haven't heard of mass bans towards basic conservatives(brietbart is not basic conservative, btw. They fall into the alt-right category), so I'd need some evidence of that before I can make any judgements.

      As for Sargon, he DID break a twitter rule:
      http://www.patheos.com/blogs/b...

    16. Re:Wrong by s.petry · · Score: 1

      If Brietbart is alt-right then so is every other media outlet. Alt-right is an arbitary term which is tacked on to anyone that does not support Leftism, just like homophobe, xenophobe, islamaphobe, racist, bigot, rapist, and countless other terms. You have lost all credibility and can no longer use the term to any effect.

      Funny how you people advocating leftism can cherry pick a few articles out of hundreds of thousands published to label one media outlet with right leanings, but ignore all of the leftist media outlets doing the same damn thing.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    17. Re:Wrong by khallow · · Score: 1

      All of a sudden you want to enforce "truth in advertising" laws? Do you love Big Government that much?

      It's contract enforcement which is not "Big Government".

      Second, the people who are being "censored" on Twitter are not the customers of Twitter. Nobody pays to post on Twitter. So, I don't see how the "advertising" even matters in regard to Twitter users.

      It's quite irrelevant to the discussion what role a user plays in the business model.

      While what Twitter is doing may be broadly defined as "censorship", there is absolutely no law against what they are doing. Not in the Constitution, not in the legal statutes, and not in case law. It still comes down to, "if you don't like the way Twitter works, don't use Twitter".

      I already cited a counterexample which if you recall, you dismissed on the grounds that it was "Big Government", not that it was incorrect.

    18. Re:Wrong by D00MSlayer · · Score: 1

      Brietbart IS alt-right. The people who run it have specifically said so. They labeled themselves, not anyone else.

      Also, Alt-right is not in fact a label applied to anyone who's not left-leaning, but if it makes you feel better believing such is not true, then so be it.

      There are conservatives/republicans who disavow the alt-right movement for the same reasons that liberals/democrats do. Their behavior isn't accepted on either side.

      As for the source I used, it provided the necessary evidence to show that the person you specifically named was suspended for a legitimate reason. If you fail to accept that, it's not my problem. I refuse to cite infowars or brietbart, for the sole reason that they don't produce factual news, and there aren't any other legitimate news sources that covered it if you do a simple google search about his ban.

    19. Re:Wrong by PopeRatzo · · Score: 0

      It's contract enforcement which is not "Big Government".

      You don't pay to use Twitter, so where's the contract? Remember, users are not Twitter's customers.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    20. Re: Wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you don't like the answers you get, ask the same question in a different manner.

    21. Re:Wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I want to see mandatory regulation on large social media sites that extend Constitutional protection restrictions to them. Privatizing the public square without extending the protections and rights conferred to people within the public square is a serious concern that needs to be addressed. Moxie Marlinspike's talk that mentions how opting out of technology is opting out of society is a real eye-opener in this regard.

      Twitter, Facebook, etc. should not be able to suspend, throttle, or delete the speech of their users. Before you try to say that it's not okay for the government to force private companies to manage their platform a certain way, give that up right now. They chose to be the new public square. They proudly brag about how many billions of accounts they have registered. They can choose to stop doing that if they don't want to be regulated. Facebook is effectively a monopoly; they've managed to replace other options like Craigslist with their Facebook Marketplace, so if you're not on Facebook for whatever reason, you're also unable to access a huge marketplace.

      tl;dr: The First Amendment needs to be extended to apply to large private corporations. If you disagree, I dare you to elaborate.

    22. Re:Wrong by GLMDesigns · · Score: 1

      It's their platform. They can do as they please. Don't like it, find somewhere else to post.

      Both are the same. Both should get the same treatment.

      I happen to feel that Twitter and the bakery can choose. And I can choose where I take my business based on their action.

      It's my bakery. I can sell to whom I please. Don't like it find somewhere else to find a cake.

      --
      If you're scared of your govt then you need to further restrict its powers
      Vote 3rd Party in 2016 and beyond
    23. Re:Wrong by khallow · · Score: 1

      You don't pay to use Twitter, so where's the contract?

      Advertising is a contract. And users do pay to use Twitter, it's just in ad views instead of money.

    24. Re:Wrong by s.petry · · Score: 2

      Wrong, you are cherry picking a sentence fragment to back an invalid opinion based on a lie. Why not read the _FULL_ quote from Steven Bannon instead of repeating lies? Oh, it harms your narrative. Thanks for playing, have a nice day.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    25. Re:Wrong by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      And users do pay to use Twitter, it's just in ad views instead of money.

      I'd like to see you sue to get your ad view back.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    26. Re:Wrong by 91degrees · · Score: 1

      Regulation wouldn't work. I want twitter and facebook to allow me to post what I want. The nerdy forum on skyscrapers I lurk on though, I want them to banish any post that isn't about skyscrapers.

      I do agree that we need some means to know if and when private companies are censoring us though - especially the ones that do appear to allow free posting.

    27. Re:Wrong by khallow · · Score: 1

      Users often expend considerable effort to build social networks and such based on such created expectations. That can create greater liability than merely the ad views.

      Let us not forget that paying customers often spent money based on these same expectations. If I'm advertising to some ideological block, and Twitter cuts them off, that affects my revenue as well.

    28. Re:Wrong by D00MSlayer · · Score: 1

      ""We're the platform for the alt-right," Bannon told me proudly when I interviewed him at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in July. Though disavowed by every other major conservative news outlet, the alt-right has been Bannon's target audience ever since he took over Breitbart News from its late founder, Andrew Breitbart, four years ago."
      http://www.theinvestigativefun...

      It's strange.. I provide these sources that directly contradicts your silly arguments.. yet you don't really seem to be providing much proof yourself for these silly arguments that you're making.

      So, Unless you can provide a citation that contradicts what Bannon himself had specifically told a reporter who was doing a profile piece on him, you've lost the game.

      Enjoy your day.

    29. Re:Wrong by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      Twitter provides a service to the public. If they want to do this, they have to abide by certain laws. It does not matter who is paying for the service, the service that Twitter provides is communication, not ad placement.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    30. Re:Wrong by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      If they want to do this, they have to abide by certain laws.

      To which laws are you referring?

      It does not matter who is paying for the service, the service that Twitter provides is communication, not ad placement.

      I'm pretty sure it does matter who's paying for the service when you're talking about Twitter breaching some sort of "contract" with their users.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  11. That will kill it faster by dschiptsov · · Score: 1

    Who need Twitter if they are not allowed to troll Trump? It is a political tool already.

    1. Re:That will kill it faster by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly. I use it only to harass Trump and his idiotic worshippers.

  12. Echo, echo, echo... by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Leave your dissenting opinion at the door please.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  13. uphill struggle for hymenologists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    seems folks just don't want to know when/where they came from? truth+mercy=justice.. cease fire stand down,, in the moms we trust.. sing along.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nXGPZaTKik

  14. And nothing of value was lost by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

    Twitter: The Confetti of The Internet

    I just wish I had the inclination to piss away my time spurting out pearls of wisdom 140-characters at a time. Oh, wait, no I don't.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    1. Re:And nothing of value was lost by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

      Old man waves his cane.

      I can't wait for him to hear about/encounter snapchat. That should be hilarious.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    2. Re:And nothing of value was lost by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

      I can't wait for him to hear about/encounter snapchat. That should be hilarious.

      Follow me on Twitter and you'll be the first to get the benefit of my insightful opinions.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    3. Re:And nothing of value was lost by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, spurting out pearls of wisdom 169 characters at a time on Slashdot is far more valuable.

    4. Re:And nothing of value was lost by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      Well played, sir!

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
  15. Sounds like they're driving. . . by Salgak1 · · Score: 2

    . . . . more users to Gab, where the only filters on what you see, are the ones **you** set on your own account

  16. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since before Trump was elected Facebook and Reddit were actively preventing right-wing articles/posts from appearing on the front page, since the election Google has come out with a tool to ban whatever they deem to be hate speech, and now Twitter, a company that already has a history of allowing hate speech (as long as it's directed towards whites), wants to restrict users in the name of trolling. Forgive me if I don't think that their powers will be used for good.

  17. The shareholder lawsuit is going to be epic by DeplorableCodeMonkey · · Score: 2

    I can't believe that no law firm has tried to organize a shareholder lawsuit yet. I bet it would be fascinating to see the discovery period when Twitter has to show how much it spent in money and manpower to implement these features at the behest of SJWs and then explain to a jury how they planned to meet their responsibilities to shareholders by openly attacking half of their potential users. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is now in the same sport, if not league, as what was done to Nokia.

    FFS, they have been suspending accounts with literally no activity, but Islamic extremists are nowhere near as policed as "trolls."

    It'll be even more lulz-inducing when the plaintiffs bring up the countless examples of Twitter tolerating trending hash tags calling for the extermination of white people, the assassination of the President and such and then say "Mr. Dorsey, please explain how you protected Twitter's good will, reputation in the market through this obvious double standard where you tolerated literally felonious speech in violation of the terms of service.

    1. Re:The shareholder lawsuit is going to be epic by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      The reality here is that if there was to be a lawsuit, it would be because Twitter didn't take stronger action sooner. It's pretty strongly suggested that Disney abandoned buying Twitter, which would have made a lot of shareholders a lot of money, precisely because Twitter didn't go after trolls more strongly. In fact, so far as I can tell, a lot of the reason that Twitter is now instituting much stronger measures is to make sure the next buyout isn't scuttled.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    2. Re:The shareholder lawsuit is going to be epic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL. "pretty strongly suggested"

      in SJW circles

      The fact is Twitter used to call itself the free speech wing of the free speech party. It was taken over by SJWs and they've strangled the life out of it. Disney don't want it because its user base is stagnant - it's got fuck all to do with trolls.

    3. Re:The shareholder lawsuit is going to be epic by lgw · · Score: 1

      You can either be a platform for free discussion, or the sort of property Disney would want to own. You obviously can't be both. Twitter's mistake is that they keep trying to straddle the line. They would benefit from moving in either direction firmly, without looking back. Either moderation appropriate for a Disney site, or free speech. Being stuck on blatant political bias makes them toxic.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  18. The real question by slapout · · Score: 2

    Are they blocking trolls or just people they disagree with? Also, why aren't the twitter users just ignoring accounts they don't like?

    --
    Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
    1. Re:The real question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Here's a good example of what they're doing: http://blog.dilbert.com/post/1...

    2. Re:The real question by H0p313ss · · Score: 1

      Here's a good example of what they're doing: http://blog.dilbert.com/post/1...

      Supressing fake news, so that's good. (Was Adams always a douchenozzle or was that a recent development?)

      --
      XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction
    3. Re:The real question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      An idea good in principle but impossible to practice - kind of like Communism and Libertarianism.

    4. Re:The real question by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      It is fake news when he provides facts and figures to support his assertion? Wow....you are really reaching there.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  19. I guess that means... by OS2toMAC · · Score: 1

    no more twitter messages from The Donald.

    1. Re:I guess that means... by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      are you telling me there are people who hate to read his tweets but they follow him anyway? As I suspected, the average twitter user is a low watt bulb

  20. Re:Sounds like they're driving. . . by H0p313ss · · Score: 1

    . . . . more users to Gab, where the only filters on what you see, are the ones **you** set on your own account

    The average celebrity has an order of magnitude more twitter followers than Gab has users.(Heck, even a spoof account does ) As much as I'd like there to be an alternative, a service with 0.04% the users doesn't feel like a challenger.

    --
    XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction
  21. Censoring criticism and creating a echo chamber by SmaryJerry · · Score: 1

    They already filter for swear words, yet now the abstract idea of "trolling" is on the table and you will be able to filter any tweet containing a word you don't like. This is literally exactly the way China will not let you speak badly about politicians, except now people will not see any opposing views to their party of choosing. If the country wasn't split evenly it could soon turn into a one party system because you can't even debate or criticize those who would disagree with you on one of those widely used methods of expressing opinion. Instead of announcing you opinion to the world you will soon be announcing it to only people who already agree with you. Not good for any kind of debate, political or otherwise. That is how you create opposite extremists.

  22. Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by Kunedog · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They use terms to mean whatever they want anyway.

    Disagreement is now harrassment.
    Mockery is now hate speech.
    Offense is now trauma.
    Criticism is now abuse.
    Compelling criticism is now violence.
    Anyone who talks about subjects the MSM wants to suppress is now a troll.
    Anyone at random is a racist/sexist/white supremacist/nazi/etc if they say so.

    The use of this alarmist (and usually, simply wrong) language is ubiquitous and deliberate. It's all a pretense to justify a disproportionate censorial "response," especially when they know no response is warranted at all. It's also a brazenly transparent tactic, especially since Twitter/Reddit/etc rarely seem to use it against users that properly align with their politics.

    1. Re:Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OMG you're such a poor misunderstood victim. All you do is say wildly offensive things, and then these big unfair meanies yell at you!! Maybe you need a safe space to stop the melting.

    2. Re:Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by meta-monkey · · Score: 0

      if you simply allow the cranks to control your medium, it will fester into nothingness.

      Indeed. Look at the cesspool that is CNN, MSNBC, the NY Times, etc.

      --
      We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
    3. Re:Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      There is a difference between cranks and disagreement. Obviously you've never seen who and for what people get banned/suspended/silenced on twitter for. If you think it's simply people posting dickpics and sending threatening tweets to women, you're part of the problem.

    4. Re:Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know, this is exactly what they say with no sarcasm included to people who say shit like #killwhitemen

    5. Re:Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by Cmdln+Daco · · Score: 1

      DemocraticUnderground festered nicely into nothingness on the eve of the last election.

      Did I mention how nicely?

    6. Re:Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by lgw · · Score: 2

      Nice non-sequitur. But you didn't nothing to refute his points. Sure there are some actual neo-Nazis in the world, tiny groups here and there, but almost everyone labeled as a neo-Nazi on social media isn't.

      So, not only is the censorship getting out of hand, but no one cares any more when you call someone a neo-Nazi. This has made the actual neo-Nazis, few though they may be, quite happy.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    7. Re:Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by lgw · · Score: 1

      Well, go start your own web forum. If you don't like what Twitter does, there's a whole world out there

      I remember when Diig and Fark said similar things. Funny old world. Facebook is still around, but the kids aren't really using it. Twitter is just an odd duck - people really seem to want it to survive, so they're trying to be helpful and explain

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    8. Re: Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      White supremacy is now Nationalism
      Blatant lies are now Alternative Facts
      News sources that don't pander to the right are now Fake News
      A collection of news sources that don't pander to the right are now Liberal MSM
      Muslim is now Terrorist
      Muslim Ban is now Extreme Vetting
      Left-wing is now Cuck
      Centre is now Liberal Anti-American
      Centre-right is now Left Wing Extremist
      Extreme Right-wing Facial is now Real American
      Russia is now America
      Hitler is now Trump

    9. Re: Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by TWX · · Score: 1

      War is Peace
      Freedom is Slavery
      Ignorance is Strength

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    10. Re:Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're hilarious. What a strange and wonderful place you come from where the 7 actual neo Nazis on the planet spend their time posting online instead of burning crosses and lynching real people.

    11. Re:Escalation of Terms to Justify Censorship by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      if you simply allow the cranks to control your medium, it will fester into nothingness.

      That explains what is happening at Twitter pretty well. Thank you for the enlightenment. So, when can we expect Twitter to fester into nothingness? Will Reddit beat it there or last longer?

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  23. Mostly conservative 'trolls' by PontifexMaximus · · Score: 1

    Jack Dorsey, that liberal motherfucker loves banning people he disagrees with. It's not trolls, it's stifling free speech from conservative elements in America. Milo was banned, but Leslie Jones was not, even though her feed was just as, if not more, racist than Milo's.

    So, yeah, I'm looking forward to Twitter vanishing like a fart in the wind this year when no one will buy this pathetic excuse for social media.

    --
    Pax Vobiscum
  24. Sets a bad precedent in many ways by Neuronwelder · · Score: 1

    First of all you don't want a troll going underground. Bad for them to not vent - could lead to more damaging behaviour if they are bottled in. It crushes our freedom of speech. Don't we already have enough of that? News reporters, newspapers, and magazine folk are being kept out of White House meetings and are also threatened on what to say during NEWS casts.

    1. Re:Sets a bad precedent in many ways by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      I think it's better to push "trolls" or whatever we're calling worthless hateful fucks who harass others online these days underground. A few will resort to more damaging behavior but most will just have to keep their toxic mind-sharts to themselves or confined to places that are already irredeemable cesspools of trolling/hate speech/whatever. The good outweighs the bad there.

      Next, censorship by a private company is not comparable to censorship by a government. There are sites out there with all kinds of strict rules on speech that amount to a form of censorship - far-right forums that actively ban any leftist rhetoric, non-political sites that ban any political discussion, you name it. And nobody bats an eye.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    2. Re:Sets a bad precedent in many ways by lgw · · Score: 3

      whatever we're calling worthless hateful fucks

      Funny, you're the only one I see spewing hate in this conversation.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    3. Re:Sets a bad precedent in many ways by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      I guess you forgot what this conversation is about them: It's about people spewing many forms of bigotry (most specifically misogyny, anti-semitism, islamophobia and plain ol' white supremacy) on Twitter. Or did you just turn a blind eye to it?

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    4. Re:Sets a bad precedent in many ways by lgw · · Score: 1

      It's not about that. It's about moral scolds like you falsely claiming that, because you enjoy a good moral scolding.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    5. Re:Sets a bad precedent in many ways by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      Or maybe it's about closet bigots like you falsely claiming that it's not, because you enjoy practicing bigotry.

      See? Anyone can make a partisan knee-jerk dismissal. But mine doesn't require me to downplay well-documented bigotry.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  25. Seeking bodily safety from incorporeal text by poity · · Score: 2

    Who else would want this but the crybully?

    --
    your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
  26. Their efforts are doomed to failure by taustin · · Score: 2

    It isn't even theoretically possible to formulate an objective definition of "abuse," and when all definitions are subjective, all decisions on who is abusive are subjective. There is literally nothing that anyone can say that won't offend someone.

    There is only one thing they could possibly do to "stop the abuse," and that is to shut Twitter down.

    I'd be fine with that.

    If you have something to say that can be said in 140 characters, you have nothing to say.

    1. Re:Their efforts are doomed to failure by DogDude · · Score: 1

      It isn't even theoretically possible to formulate an objective definition of "abuse," and when all definitions are subjective, all decisions on who is abusive are subjective.

      Jesus, kid, take a basic Philosophy 101 class, huh? This is basic stuff. Are you also going to say that there are no facts, as well?

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    2. Re:Their efforts are doomed to failure by taustin · · Score: 1

      The what's your objective definition of what is abusive? If it's that simple, the only reason for you to not provide it is that it's not that simple, and you're lying about it being that simple.

      Take your time. We'll wait.

    3. Re:Their efforts are doomed to failure by Vitriol+Angst · · Score: 1

      You used 466 Characters. You probably could have used just two sentences and slipped under the quota.

      --
      >>"ad space available -- low rates!!!"
  27. barring trolls..... um... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So...... what happens when Trump/POTUS gets barred for being a troll?

  28. More to Free Speech Than the First Amendment by Kunedog · · Score: 4, Informative

    First of all, it's a private company doing it, so it's not censorship

    Let's put this myth to rest. Free speech is a bigger concept than the 1st Amendment (the world is bigger than America and American laws, for starters).

    The ACLU has a blindspot a whole amendment wide, but when it comes to free speech even they acknowledge the extent of the threat:

    https://www.aclu.org/other/wha...

    Censorship, the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are "offensive," happens whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values on others. Censorship can be carried out by the government as well as private pressure groups. Censorship by the government is unconstitutional.

    In contrast, when private individuals or groups organize boycotts against stores that sell magazines of which they disapprove, their actions are protected by the First Amendment, although they can become dangerous in the extreme. Private pressure groups, not the government, promulgated and enforced the infamous Hollywood blacklists during the McCarthy period. But these private censorship campaigns are best countered by groups and individuals speaking out and organizing in defense of the threatened expression.

    Was there a "Second of all"?

  29. Trying to get bought out by liberals by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's only natural they would turn Twitter into a liberal safe space.

    1. Re:Trying to get bought out by liberals by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Liberals get very bored in their "safe spaces"; I mean, they can't scream at anybody, virtue signal, or wallow in self-righteous indignation.

    2. Re:Trying to get bought out by liberals by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You've never been to DailyKos.

  30. Re:Sounds like they're driving. . . by Salgak1 · · Score: 2

    As a 5-digit Slashdot user. . . .I'm amused. Slashdot wasn't originally a Thing, either (and honestly, no longer as much of a thing as it was in the days of Peak Slashdot).Gab is still in beta and has a waitlist. . .

  31. Outlook is poor by jbmartin6 · · Score: 1

    Soon enough they will wake up and say, wow we just took 10 years to re-invent all the features of email clients.

    --
    This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
  32. Re:Good by meta-monkey · · Score: 1

    If they were actually booting Nazis, that wouldn't be so bad. The problem is the left's Nazi detector has completely lost calibration and now identifies anyone to the right of the love child of Jane Fonda and Joseph Stalin as "literally double mega hitler." This makes them look insane to normal people.

    --
    We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
  33. Re:publicly owned vs. publicly traded. by hackwrench · · Score: 1

    No, that makes it a publicly traded company among private individuals and companies. A publicly owned company is a company owned by the government.

  34. Re:Sounds like they're driving. . . by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

    Yes, more centipedes in the den of centipedes, and less on Twitter. Everyone wins!

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  35. Re:Sounds like they're driving. . . by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

    Not to mention its overt political bent, both in intent and in user base. A site with a pepe-lookalike for a mascot infested with far-right wingnuts will never gain mainstream support.

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  36. 45 by kimvette · · Score: 1

    I'll only believe their intentions are good if they ban Trump. He's the biggest troll on there right now.

    --
    The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
  37. Re:Sounds like they're driving. . . by lgw · · Score: 1

    Everyone loses. The value of resolving disagreement through frank discussion instead of violence is quite high. It's also a core liberal value.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  38. Re:Sounds like they're driving. . . by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

    Hurling abuse at black celebrities etc. isn't a form of frank discussion. That's what these people are being banned for, for the most part. And you can't resolve anything through discussion when one party has "alternative facts" that they're sticking to despite the best evidence that they're wrong. At that point, it's like fighting with a pig: you'll both get dirty while achieving nothing, but the pig will enjoy it.

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  39. Re:Sounds like they're driving. . . by lgw · · Score: 1

    Sure, there's a tiny percentage of the banning that makes sense. Most of it is blatant political bias, though.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  40. Unless they're Muslims. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They're undoubtedly still free to badger anyone they want for drawing a picture they don't like.

  41. Someone already did by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 2

    Well, go start your own web forum. If you don't like what Twitter does, there's a whole world out there. Go to it. But I guarantee you, if you simply allow the cranks to control your medium, it will fester into nothingness.

    Someone did, it's called Gab.ai, and it's specifically a haven for free speech.

    Their version of censoring is to let everyone censor what *they* see on the site. An individual can "mute" other users or specific words, so if someone keeps posting things that bother you you can "mute" them so that you don't see them. If individual words trigger an unpleasant memory for you, you can mute individual words and you'll never see them.

    The thing about calling people racist/sexist/nazi is definitely real.

    Kellyanne Conway typing on her cell phone during a meeting of black dignitaries is definitely racist!

    From that facebook post:

    I sincerely doubt that Kellyanne Conway would be on the couch, shoes off, on her knees, looking at her phone, if the room was full of white dignitaries or CEOs that she actually actually respected.

    Here's the full context which shows that she was setting her phone to take a group photo.

    People are seeing racism everywhere right now, even where it doesn't exist!

  42. Narrative Control Tools. by sethstorm · · Score: 1

    It's not "harassment", it's all about controlling the narrative against political opponents of Twitter's owners.

    --
    Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.
  43. @realDonaldTrump by iamacat · · Score: 1

    Yeah right, like they are going to do anything about real trolls.

  44. They already throttle Tweets. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAAUD7jtFas

    On top of that, they are hiding comments (a Tweet will say there are 12 responses, but only show 5).

    This is apparently a scheme to reduce network effects.

    Which is rather stupid since that what social media is all about.

    Word verification: noodle

  45. When you let the lil whine dictators take over... by Z80a · · Score: 1

    I saw this happen over and over again, from several different political positions, from several instances, it's always the same.
    The moderation starts to listen too much to the users, the "fragile" users take control, they inject themselves inside the moderation board and they start to get harsher and harsher and harsher until the thing gets dead.

    The funniest part is generally when the grammar nazi start to take over and you get banned over some stupid typo.

  46. Twitter is Dead! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I do not know any one in my friends group, or work group, contracting group, that is on Twitter if they ever or any more. Even 14 to 21 year olds are not on it, they tell me it is useless. The only people that seem to be on it are celebrities, politicians, and businesses. That in my option counts as Twitter is Dead.

  47. Time for v3.0? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Twenty plus years ago, with v1.0 of the interwebs, we got companies like Pets.com or WebVan.com. They brought with them what were, at the time, fairly revolutionary ideas – creative ideas that generated value for their customers. Those companies are dead now because they were started and run by naïve dreamers who didn’t know how to manage their businesses (like managing cash flow and debt against advertising and growth).

    Fifteen plus years ago, Silicon Valley vomited forth v2.0 of the interwebs, which promised us disruption, rather than revolution. With it, customers and employees alike became part of the product, sometimes even paying for the privilege to create value for these companies. Twitter, Uber, etc. Do any of those companies actually create any significant value on their own? Yeah, no. They don’t. Their business models rely on customers and/or employees (a.k.a. vendors, a.k.a. slaves) creating the value that drives their businesses.

    Version 1.0 lasted for only about seven years (Netscape IPO in 1995 to the death of the last of the .com darlings in 2002). Version 2.0 has now lasted over a decade. Why is that?

    Twitter is an eleven-year-old company. It achieved market saturation a long time ago. Yet, it has never made a profit.

    Uber still has room left to grow, but it is certainly large enough now that it should be making money, right? Uber burnt through three billion dollars last year and profitability is not on the horizon. Plus, it’s just a nasty company run by sleazy people.

    Isn’t it time to throw “disruption” on the garbage pile and move on to v3.0?