Elon Musk's Ego Threatens To Drive Twitter off a Cliff

I understood, but until foreign outsourcing gets to reasonable levels, I can't support it

 

Interesting analysis. The rub is in defining harmful speech. That has had a common understanding for sometime, but over the last decade or so social media platforms like Twitter threw political thought that they didn't support onto the heap.

 

Avoiding common sense again? Everybody makes mistakes, regardless of their level in society. Those who know themselves make more legitimate ones, those who do not make more stupid and obvious ones. Bloomberg, for example, on farming... A very successful billionaire, making a fool of himself on national TV, and unaware he was doing so. Stepped beyond his limitations, his expertise.

When you criticize those who can do what you cannot, you frequently make a fool of yourself. That IS the case for most who are criticizing Musk about his own business. Not one of them can produce the income or accomplishments in a year that Musk does in a day, but they think they are qualified to tell him what he's doing wrong. The yardstick they are using to produce that conclusion is their own- and the validity of it is measured by their own success.

If twitter fails, such people will all shout "I told you so! You should have listened to ME!
But Musk will learn from his own failure, accept it, correct it and come back to succeed. The critics won't recognize that. And they can't DO that.

In my first business, I found myself in a position to occasionally meet successful people. Really successful, household names. I wanted to know how to achieve success on their level, so I always took the opportunity to respectfully ask them what the secret to their business success was. IF you ask respectfully and don't make as ass of yourself, most of them are happy to tell you- give you valuable insights that you couldn't buy anywhere. Most like to see others succeed, but none will waste their time on people who have no potential or have bad attitudes.

One such man, who was very secretive about his business deals, was reputed to have made a deal by himself, that took place in one day- and made a million bucks. After we had established a rapport through a business transaction, I said- "Jim- I want to ask you about something. There's a rumor I keep hearing about you making a million in one day. Is that true, or just rumor?" He smiled and said, "No, that's not true. It was only $975,000.... Then he spent the next 30 minutes telling me all the details. That was 40 years ago; a million was lot bigger deal then. I've been collecting little secrets like this for a long time. Much of my own success is due to things I learned in this way. I've never made a million in a day- but I have made more than 100K. In the top 2% income tax category last year.

You should learn from people who's success you envy; they know things you don't understand. When you criticize them to feed your own ego, they tell you nothing, You learn- nothing. Not even that you have missed a great opportunity, again, or made a fool of yourself.

Nothing shameful about being poor or being ignorant, both can be changed with effort. What's shameful is the refusal to learn, the refusal to try, and the assumption that you can fake it.

 

Yep... but it will never stop the misinformation from being posted... This thread is just another prime example...

 

This a deeply ironic post! Worthy of multiple awards!

 

the only facts we know is what has happened, we have no idea what Musk will do going forward, not even sure Musk knows

 

No, they did not. It's widely rumored, but not true. They were affluent; fairly wealthy- upper middle class in South Africa.

Actually being born into wealth can produce a person who has no appreciation for wealth- and often fails to develop a capacity to build it. Kind of like the "easy come, easy go" attitude.
Lottery winners for example, should be fixed for life and could set up a trust which could keep future generations supported indefinitely- but five years down the line, many are bankrupt.
You learn the value of money, and how to manage it by building from scratch, not having it gifted.

Look up Oprah Winfrey's background. The property taxes on her home a few years ago were $975K a year..... She has her own TV network, a net worth over $3B.
See where she came from, what advantages made that so easy.

Elon Musk had a high IQ. Mine was also high- 99th percentile. Having "smarts" doesn't equate directly with success; it depends on what you want and value. It makes some things easier- but it also make some things harder in real world living. Some blessing, some curse. Most people have great potential, but many will never find it in themselves- and won't look very hard because they don't believe it's there. Too busy blaming others for their success, telling themselves they are victims of some kind. Self-imposed limitations.

That's no something you can fix for anybody. You can show the way, you can't make them take the path. As "Pogo" (cartoon character) said long ago- "We have met the enemy- and he is us"

 

All you have provided is what ifs, opinions, and wives tales without any actual knowledge of how Twitter works.

1. Twitter lost over 1 billion last year due to incompetence and overpaying employees. Musk is realigning the company for profitability and getting rid of its woke core. The average estimated annual salary, including base and bonus, at Twitter was $96,790, or $46 per hour.
Microsoft Corp pays its employees an average of $33.31 an hour. Microsoft Corp employees with the job title Software Engineer make the most with an average hourly rate of $37.85, while employees with the title Data Center Technician make the least with an average hourly rate of $23.61.

2. Apple is not considering removing Twitter as an app. Thats the most idiotic thing anyone has ever heard. How could anyone get in their heads that Apple would turn away 240 million active daily users. Or the revenue they generate.

3. Apple requires a method for filtering objectionable material and a mechanism to report offensive content. Did you think that a number of Twitter employees were reading 500 million tweets per day? Twitter has its own filters which are still in place. Nothing about how Twitter monitors online content has changed so this wives tale about what if Apple cancels Twitter because they don't monitor content is just ridiculous.

4. Over 50% of Twitter employees left as part of a mass resignation of Twitter workers who refused to sign up for Musk's proposed Twitter revamp. He told the entire company to decide if they wanted to continue working at this new business alignment of Twitter. Those who did were to click a link included in the email. Those who did not click the link, which only had a "yes" option, would be considered to have decided to be part of a voluntary layoff and would receive three months of pay as severance. So more than 3500 employees quit, not fired.

5. Twitter is currently hiring new staff to fill positions needed. A few days after everyone left, Twitter is recruiting. The announcement was made in company slides shared on November 26 on the platform by Elon Musk himself.
In the rest of the slides, the platform displays the progress made in recent weeks. Twitter shows that New User signups are at an all-time high. In detail, the group said it has registered an average of 2 million new users per day during the week of November 16. This is up 66% compared to the same week in 2021.

6. Twitter stock has risen constantly since Musk announced his take over from 37.50 to its current value of today at 53.91. Which means nobody in the finance and stock markets align with your OP in any way shape or form.

As per usual, the left always gives their bleak outlooks and forecast on things they don't like filled with what ifs and propaganda which never come true. But they prop up companies like Disney whos wokeness crashed their stock prices. Musk rid himself of the entitled employees by allowing them to make their own decisions. And they walked away from positions only Twitter would pay them. Now they get to find out what the real world has to offer them while Muck realigns Twitters compensation programs to market expectations. Coupled with their stock increase and average Twitter sign ups on the rise, Twitter is bouncing back from its 1 billion loss of 2021.

 

False, Just another fake leftist wives tale. Apple has made no such comment and never will. You think Apple would turn away 240 million active daily users and the revenue they generate. For what? Because of another leftist wives tale about Twitter not able to monitor content?
Apple requires a method for filtering objectionable material and a mechanism to report offensive content. Did you think that a number of Twitter employees were reading 500 million tweets per day? Twitter has its own filters which are still in place. Nothing about how Twitter monitors online content has changed so this wives tale about what if Apple cancels Twitter because they don't monitor content is just ridiculous.

 

Actually, it doesn't do any good (or bad), since the jobs were not transferred to US.

LOL. You really think the whole Twitter ordeal is done to immunize conservatives from moderation I don't think Musk is as interested in partisan politics as you may be. I admit I do not know what is grand plan is, because he was not revealed it, but I'd bet some money on it that its not done for the reasons you think.

 

we have yet to see who Musk rehires, that was my point

 

"""we have no idea what Musk will do going forward, not even sure Musk knows"""
Well don't let that stop ya'll with spreading misinformation.... it has never stopped the left before...

 

Is it ego or principle that drives Elon?

 

A leftist tale? Everything you don't like somehow translates to a "leftist tale". Its absurd.

Elon Musk has made a big stink about Apple threatening to remove Twitter from the app store, and another poster asked if Apple has admitted to it, and it seems that Apple has not, so the "leftist tale" is coming only from two sources: Elon Musk, and from the Republican party. Is this a part of the "war on evil big tech"? Probably.

Musk says Apple stopped Twitter ads, threatens to 'withhold' it from app store
The CEO said Apple is threatening to withhold Twitter from the app store for an unknown reason
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/musk-apple-stopped-twitter-ads-threatens-withhold-app-store

Elon Musk accuses Apple of threatening to remove Twitter from App Store
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/nov/28/elon-musk-apple-twitter-app-store-ban

And DeSantis and other Republicans are also shrieking about the "leftist tale"
DeSantis Attacks Apple For Allegedly Threatening To Remove Musk-Run Twitter From App Store—Joining Other Republicans
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarado...re-joining-other-republicans/?sh=1f623650d1dd

 

Funny, that you don't realize that what I am saying about Elon, is exactly what you say about Bloomberg: a media company, like Twitter, is in no way comparable to Tesla, or SpaceX. Not that I'm saying Elon is not smart enough to learn how to succeed in that field, perhaps even to rise, theoretically, to the level of running not just a social media company, but one of the world's premiere ones (though, personally, I don't think he has the temperament, or Ego control, for it). But, he has no experience, in this field. You don't feel, given those facts, that no matter how exceptional a person, Musk may be, he had gotten too big for his britches, in thinking that he could just step in, at that tip of the top level? By way of analogy, just because someone is a great athlete-- a football player, let's say-- doesn't mean that he'll be a great golfer. And, it certainly would strain credibility, to think that this person, without ever having even hit a bucket of balls, at a driving range, could be successful in his debut, at a top level, PGA competition.

I agree with that general, pretty basic, advice. I do not see, however, that it has anything to do with either my post, or this thread. I am not criticizing Musk, to "feed (my) Ego." It is the overwhelming consensus, of every source I cited-- including very credible, business sources-- that Musk's early days at Twitter have been, in the words of the New Yorker, IIRC, "chaotic." I think my interpretation, is an accurate reflection, of the news coverage, of such professionals as those at Bloomberg business news. Could you even find a single business source, not calling Musk's actions, catastrophic misjudgements? So many people have been fired, by mistake, that HR needed to create a category, for re-onboarding employees, called "accidental termination!" What part of that, does not scream out to you, "mismanagement?"

All I am doing is interpreting those stories-- and even that, it seems to me, requires little of the translator. IOW, there is no reason for one to make the assumption that this thread has anything to do with my Ego. I can only speculate that you might be reaching that conclusion, based on your own personal motivations, for creating threads; but one's personal feelings-- if this is not one of the lessons that you have, yourself, yet learned-- are not always applicable to all others.

Once again, good boiler plate advice, that has no application, in your offering a counter argument to my post. There is absolutely no reason, for anyone to assume that I refuse to learn, or to try, or that I assume that I can just "fake it." On the contrary, your pulling those suggestions out of nowhere, could very easily be seen as your own attempt to fake your debate argument, in lieu of citing any sources on, or employing logical thought to, the issue at hand.

 

What do I mean by leftist tales?
Musk tweeted

Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech?

And from that post, come the leftist tales
Musk says Apple stopped Twitter ads, threatens to 'withhold' it from app store

So please provide the Tweet from Musk that claims Apple threatens to withhold Twitter from their app store

 

That's hilarious-- do you know my source, the only person who has claimed that Apple is contemplating this? Here are some hints:





Forbes
www.forbes.com
Apple Threatens To Remove Twitter From App Store - According To Elon Musk
24 hours ago — Elon Musk has claimed that Apple is threatening to remove Twitter from the Apple App Store, without providing a reason why.

Pocket-lint
https://www.pocket-lint.com › news
Apple threatened to kick Twitter off its App Store, says Elon Musk
1 day ago — Musk's claim came as part of a wider attack on Apple via tweet, with the first claiming that Apple "has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter".


The Hill
https://thehill.com › technology › 3...
Elon Musk says he would make his own smartphone if app stores ban Twitter
4 days ago — Elon Musk said he would make his own smartphone if Google and Apple were to ban Twitter from their app stores. Musk said in a tweet ...

tech.hindustantimes.com
https://tech.hindustantimes.com › tech
Elon Musk to make his own smartphone! To compete with 'biased' iPhone, Google Pixel
5 days ago — To compete with 'biased' iPhone, Google Pixel. Elon Musk has said if required he will make an alternative phone to Apple and Google. Know why.






So what do you know about that-- the most idiotic thing that anyone has ever heard, according to you, came from Elon Musk!
Why don't you go on Twitter, to ask him, how he ever got such a ridiculous idea in his head?

 

I've done pretty well as a self-taught investor. Actually, I'm self taught in most things I do well. I try to recognize what I can't do well so I don't waste time chasing the impossible. On the other hand, I've always like doing things people have called impossible. Love being able to tell people they are too late, we've already done it. Some things are impossible for one person but doable for another. That's just the way it is, individual capacities and limitations.

Now in investing, one of the ways that works is knowing when to invest in the company- and when to invest in the person. Most people have heard about the Midas Touch, where everything touched turns to gold. There are people who seem to have that ability. If such a person started a new business with no experience, I would invest in them, knowing it would fly because they were running it. It's not necessary to know the general operating process of anything in order to manage it successfully. Managing ability is a skill in itself; the capacity to gather the right people and establish the right discipline and environment to make them a successful team. Musk has that ability, hands down. If he opened a restaurant chain or whatever- his odds of success are very, very high. You may have noticed he wasn't working in the space ship business before Space-X, but winds up making NASA and the experienced people realize they had a lot to learn. He will turn Twitter upside down or inside out as necessary to bring it up to the product he wants it to be. And- if it actually doesn't work and twitter disappears, the loss will be like an old saying where you pull you hand out of the bucket of water, and the hole it leaves is the measure of how much it will be missed. It would not be the undoing of Elon Musk. I think his objective has more to do with improving the level of society more than making money- and he can afford to do that. I'm spending tine and money to do that too, just on a far smaller scale.

We have a couple generations today that think they would die if they didn't have a cell phone.... That is a limitation, but a perception rather than a fact.
The internet, (per my footnote) has done some pretty ugly things to society as well as the good.

 

Why-- are you completely helpless? If you are pointed to Elon Musk's Twitter account, and told the subject of the tweet, and know the approximate date of the tweet, you are still lost? You need someone else to fetch it, for you? And in fact, you feel you can demand this, why? Because it is so important to convince such a great intellect as yours (who can't look up a tweet) of what we say?

Well here you go-- and I hope you soon regain use of whatever disabled parts of your body and/or mind, which had prevented your doing this, yourself.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1597300125243944961?s=20&t=olXQR_GYbHJ3bHFXcgufDw

 

I actually did incredibly well, myself, as a self taught investor. So you need not explain that, to me. And yet this example still does not apply, here. You are suggesting that it makes sense, for the HEAD of Twitter, to learn on the job? When you began investing, did you sell everything you owned, and put it all, into your first investment foray?

As I have already said, I never claimed that Musk could not learn how to succeed, in that business. It just does not make sense, at least to me, to go into that learning experience, as the CEO, of such a hugely complex operation, as Twitter. Do you think it would have been a reasonable move, if such an ultimately successful investor as yourself, had started off, as the Director of Fidelity's Vanguard fund?

 

It just amounts to more censoring by Apple if they do.

 

Pardon the interruption, but the bolded statement caught my eye.

Is there really much difference between leading one huge company as CEO (Twitter) and leading another (Tesla)? If you know how to hire the right people it shouldn't be that much of a challenge.

I'm just trying to understand the issue.

 

What was my statement you quoted?
Apple is not considering removing Twitter as an app. That's the most idiotic thing anyone has ever heard. How could anyone get in their heads that Apple would turn away 240 million active daily users. Or the revenue they generate.
So were you going to provide Apple stating they are contemplating removing Twitters app or just continue with he said she said tweets?

 

Its their call, but its beginning to look like Musk might have made up the claim.

 

First, you need to know what you need to know- and realize what you don't know. If you need brain surgery, you don't need to know how to do it- but you'd better know how to pick someone who does.
Doing that is a skill related to the ability to assess, to recognize and team with competence. Each field will have different aspects that matter, and in that, knowing your limitations is important. If you don't know how to assess doctor's skill yourself, then you find someone who knows how and consult them. Some things are precise in terms of available expertise, some very sloppy. I think I can safely say most investment guidance is the latter. If that had not been so, I probably wouldn't have been motivated to teach myself.

Musk does not have to "learn" twitter. He has long proven he is an incredibly effective manager- and had been so with many things he had no experience in. My reply carefully explained that.
Management is a skill separate from the product and process of a company. The most skilled person in company process is often unsuited to manage, and the best manager is often unskilled in the details of company process. But a great manager knows how to find and hire and organize those who know what he does not know- and thus, make the company fly.

I also explained- that when you see someone nailing success at things you have no idea how to do..... Don't criticize, ask how!
A great manager can succeed in most any business. Providing- he doesn't pull a Bloomberg and start thinking he knows what he doesn't know.

Warren Buffet, whom I've listened to in person at many shareholder conventions is an example. His company, Berkshire- owns over 100 industries outright. Unrelated things. Sees Candies, Duracell batteries, Fruit of the Loom underwear. Largest carpet maker. Net Jet, The largest jet rental system. Motor homes and campers. Kraft & Heinz foods. A premium maker of industrial machine tools in Israel. An import company that is generally- small Chinese nick-knacks. Insurance companies. Utility companies. BNSF railroad. Real estate sales companies. Home office of all this is in Omaha Nebraska. Employees overall- around 400,000.

Total staff of the home office that oversees all that- (last time I checked about two years ago) 25 people.
Do you think Buffet knows how to do all those jobs? He's 92. His right hand man Charlie Munger- 98. Still solidly in charge.
Managers, on a level few can equal.

I understand what you believe applies here, I understand why you think it- but I'm telling you it's nearly irrelevant, and business history backs me up.