Tweets

@mike_hasarms Look at us: two members of the Commonwealth debating the 🇺🇸 First Amendment. 😉

The relevant section (230) was passed in 1996, and has been modified a few times since then:

https://www.theverge.com/21273768/section-230-explained-internet-speech-law-definition-guide-free-moderation

@JamieHolly Got it. Didn't catch the /s

@SarahADowney So which cultural definition are you using?

(For which people, and which companies? Located where? Afghanistan? Russia? The EU?)

The legal definition of free speech in the US allows companies to moderate content, and ban users.

@JamieHolly Elon has already admitted that he can't let people "say anything they want."

(And "repercussions" have always been a part of free speech. You're free to say what you want, but to expect consequences for what you say)

https://www.techdirt.com/2022/04/15/elon-musk-demonstrates-how-little-he-understands-about-content-moderation/?utm_source=pocket_mylist

@SarahADowney So it sounds like you're saying "you agree with Elon Musk's opinions on free speech, and you're happy to see them enacted."

"Free speech" is largely a legally defined concept. Elon's ideology is outside of that.

@SarahADowney Which definition of "free speech as a cultural value" are you referring to?

@SarahADowney Why?

@kylefox My sense is that you are not a nihilist.

I think many folks are in favor of "maximizing psychological and social health" (S. Harris).

We have the potential, as humans, to maximize the amount of good there is in the world.

That's why it's worth taking stuff seriously.

To call this "a win for free speech" is a misnomer.

*Whose* definition of free speech are we using here?

If it's a win for your personal ideology, please say so.

Otherwise, nothing is changing about how free speech is defined under the First Amendment.

https://twitter.com/JohnnaCrider1/status/1518588460843642880

Lots of folks saying "there's no way Elon could run Twitter worse it's been run"

But, there are many ways Elon could be worse. Statistically, there are innumerable outcomes that are possible.

Also, everyone's definition of "what's worse" is different. Which rubric are we using?

@adamwathan @ianlandsman @jack Yeah. But we've got to be careful here.

"Better for people like us" doesn't necessarily mean "better for Twitter's entire userbase."

@tnorthcutt I think we've seen how a "we'll see" approach can lead to adverse effects.

Putin is one example.

We've had more than enough info about his past behavior to make a judgment about what kind of danger he posed.

The "we'll see" approach led to a lack of concern and action (apathy)

@adamwathan 🤔 But, @jack used twitter a ton? (for longer than almost anybody?)

@tnorthcutt "Wait and see" is a good life philosophy, but it's not a panacea for all of life's situations.

Yes, we can't be swayed emotionally by every event.

But: but there are times when we *do* need to react.

The danger with "we'll see" is descending into apathy.

My take:

Elon's stated aim is to "improve free speech on the platform."

This acquisition won't change how Twitter falls under free speech legislation (private platforms can ban users).

Folks who align with Elon ideologically will be happy, though.

https://justinjackson.ca/elon-musk-and-free-speech

@peldi It's official. https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1518667159429259264

Well, it's official.

What are you thinking/feeling right now?

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/25/twitter-accepts-elon-musks-buyout-deal.html

Old school internet protocols:

"Don't call it a comeback! I've been here for years." https://twitter.com/damedotblog/status/1514825958292955137

@mattcassinelli @DreamHost @hover @WordPress @elemntor @memberful @airtable @revue What does 😅 signify in this case?

@iChris Thanks for editing @buildyoursaas!

@smashingmag @raae So awesome! 👏

@mikeherreraTD I signed up back then but didn't keep going with that account. 😞 I didn't get it originally!

@mjwhansen Tried to join and it was full! Watching on FB now.

https://fb.watch/cCx4qdkTLj/

@brianball @SlowSteadyPod @TransistorFM Backgrounding this mobile player worked for me on my iPhone.

https://share.transistor.fm/s/9e12db08

@chrisachard Thanks for listening! This @taylorotwell episode was really fun.

@aarondfrancis @tuple @stripe Whaaaaaat 😮

This is going to be amazing! Definitely following along.

@ianlandsman “Our assessment has shown that over their entire life-cycle in the EU, new electric vehicles are expected to have significantly lower impacts on the climate compared to conventional combustion engined vehicles.” – @NikolasAHill

https://ricardo.com/news-and-media/news-and-press/ricardo-delivers-major-european-report-on-the-lifecycle-impacts-of-road-vehicles

@ianlandsman @DCoulbourne Have you heard this yet? Overall, the assessment seems to be that they are better.

(Starts at 5:50)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bj5bIKzD2CtceGT91vR0g?si=I3AhDnkvTi-cATYLo8owjA

@dylanized Controlling one of the world’s largest social networks as a single individual (with no board or shareholders to report to) would certainly give Elon a lot of power.

@rskopecek Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying here.

What’s happened in recent times?

@jordankdalton “Sec. 230(c)(1) [provides] immunity to internet service providers from lawsuits that attempt to make them liable for the user content posted on their sites. Social media companies, are currently considered to be service providers under Sec. 230” https://accessiblelaw.untdallas.edu/limits-free-speech-social-media

@VladSolokha In Elon’s words:

“Twitter or any forum is bound by the laws of the country it operates in.”

Thanks to Nixon, “private corporations have no constitutional obligation to grant access to their property to speakers they dislike, no matter how powerful those corporations might be.”

@earthlingworks @michaelkoper Yes, exactly.

@mmasnick’s analogy is closer to reality:

“Twitter is not the town square, and it’s a ridiculous analogy. The internet itself is the town square. Twitter is just one private shop in that town square with its own rules.”

(At least, under current USA laws)

@earthlingworks @michaelkoper 🎯 that’s the central point of the article

@michaelkoper That’s definitely something I’d like to explore in the future (especially since so many billionaires now own media companies: the NYT, WP, Atlantic, etc)

In this case, I wanted to evaluate the purchase from the POV of Elon’s stated objective: to improve free speech.

@dylanized Tell me more. What do you mean by "power?"

To understand Elon's desire to buy Twitter, you need to understand his primary motivation: unlocking more free speech on the platform.

If Elon Musk bought Twitter, would it be a better place for free speech?

I did a deep dive here:
https://justinjackson.ca/elon-musk-and-free-speech

RT @NathanClark_: Yet again another good instalment from one of the handful of newsletters I actually read.

My favourite thing about @miju…

@pavel_ivanovsky Interesting. I’ll have to think about that!

@mikeherreraTD @mxpx It’s very likely I wanted to bleach my hair because of you! 😆

@yarobagriy Thanks!

I think folks will dig tomorrow's newsletter.

Topics:
- A list of founder salaries I've found
- How people are really getting more Twitter followers
- A response to what Elon said in Vancouver

Would love to have more Twitter followers get it:
https://justinjackson.ca/newsletter

@carson_bassett_ classic drummer move

@mikeherreraTD Hahaha. 90s Pop Punk Uniform™

@webby2001 Here's what I want from a car rental place:

1. Book online in ~5 minutes
2. Show up, get the keys, leave (5 minutes)

@mikeherreraTD 👀

Love seeing all the old photos of punk kids from the 90s.

Here’s mine (’97 maybe?)

@aarondfrancis 🤯 For messaging, or watching content?

I have multiple teenagers at home.

Teens #1 and #3 use Snapchat exclusively for DMing their friends.

(Teen #2 uses Discord, Teen #4 uses iMessage) https://twitter.com/Kantrowitz/status/1517317440392282113

@Kantrowitz @kyurieff I have multiple teenagers.

Teens #1 and #3 use Snapchat exclusively for DMing their friends.

(Teen #2 uses Discord mostly, Teen #4 uses iMessage mostly)

@mattragland "Asking for help" and "not waiting too long to ask for help" are underrated superpowers.

@PaulvdDool Thanks. Doing my best. 👍

@JosephHHoward @CasJam Thanks Joe! Glad it was helpful. 👍

I originally sent this thread to my newsletter in 2016.

Every Saturday, I share my stories and tips for building bootstrapped businesses.

Subscribe here: https://justinjackson.ca/newsletter

Here's how ethical indie makers can respond to consumer psychology:

Commit yourself to care for people: listen to them, observe their struggles, and offer them something of value.

Helping people in a genuine way cuts through all cognitive biases.

People make their purchasing decisions emotionally, and then try to justify them rationally.

This means we, as makers, can appeal to their desires.

But I'm conflicted about this information. I want to make things that matter, and have people buy them based on their merits.

Our propensity is to conform to the movement of the larger group.

You'll often notice this behavior when a group of people suddenly switch to a different product, at the same time.

When Slack launched, many startups switched away from HipChat because "everyone was doing it."

👉 The bandwagon effect

Sometimes, when a product launches, there's an instant buzz: everyone's talking about it, trying it, or wanting to try it.

(Grew up in 80s? Remember Hypercolor t-shirts?)

It's the bandwagon effect that causes the sudden popularity:

Subconsciously we believe that our connection with winners also makes us a winner.

This also explains why we brag when we meet someone famous.

As we tell the story, we're "basking" in their fame (even if it's just a reflection).

👉 Basking in reflected glory

@RobertCialdini's 1976 study of university football found that after a win, fans were more likely to:

• use the pronoun "we" to describe the victory (when their team lost, fans used "they")
• wear team apparel

Fans "bask" in the glory of the win

👉 Selective perception

Human beings have pre-conceived beliefs that drive their decision-making.

One popular belief in North America: "if you're rich, you must be smart!"

People who desire to be rich respond favorably to messages from wealthy people.

As @sacca explains:

Why do we buy Air Jordans?

Why do people buy books by billionaires?

👉 We want to buy from "winners."

"People are seemingly hard-wired to associate with and embrace success." – @JeffreyPfeffer

There are three cognitive biases at play here 🧵

What is your daily recipe for happiness?

Here’s mine:

Open schedule
Walking downtown
Coffee at the coffee shop
Talking with friends at cowork
Working on interesting projects
Virtual call with internet friend
Going out for lunch w friends
Walk home, listen to pods
Dinner w fam

@jamesvandyne This looks good!

@marckohlbrugge 🙌 We gotta meet up again. I’ll grow the beard back for the occasion.

Found some old photos of touring around Barcelona with @marckohlbrugge (from 2015)

@DCoulbourne Perfection 🤙

@dgkeyes @TransistorFM I’m a fan of ScreenFlow too! If that’s what you have (and what you know) you can definitely stick with that. 👍

https://youtu.be/j2HCMrfh4_o

@Swizec Nice! 🙌 Such a great feeling.

This prediction did not come true. 😆 https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/773623809282670592

Largely, the level I'm at feels good.

The only places folks really recognize me are at conferences (which is great!).

One downside: having an existing audience can add a ton of pressure "to succeed" when you're building something new.

https://twitter.com/SloanCam/status/1517183654887407616

@dgkeyes @TransistorFM I still use both, but editing in Descript has a ton of advantages:

1. Easily share video clips (with captions) on social media
2. Edit the video, and easily export the audio

It makes the whole process of editing and sharing way more efficient.

@ryanbot9000 Agreed! 💯

@Shpigford Hey! Agree; this is super frustrating.

I can definitely help.

First, try this: https://support.transistor.fm/en/article/cant-log-in-or-submit-to-apple-podcasts-h0r4ao/

If those steps don’t work, DM me. I have contacts at Apple I can talk to about this.

@tnorthcutt Let me rephrase that:

Expertise, experience, and research can lead to more conviction about a topic.

For example: if you have your PhD in climate change, you'd certainly have conviction about the topic, and want to speak authoritatively about it.

The challenge is...

Is there an optimal level of fame?

(At what point do the negatives of “being a known person” outweigh the positives?)

@tnorthcutt A few thoughts:

Twitter rewards self-assured proclamations: strong views articulated bluntly often get a lots of RTs. Accounts that tweet this way can grow quickly.

On the flip side:

Even a properly researched, substantive, take requires some conviction about said topic.

@tdinh_me This is really cool: https://blackmagic.so/glance/mijustin

@pascallaliberte Thanks 🙏

@Swizec @elonmusk Haha. Probably not going to happen at our scale.

But, in so many ways:

Simplicity = better life

@simonthompsonco https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1516938754853900289

@CasJam https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1516938754853900289

I know only 16.6% of you care, but I've summarized my thoughts on @elonmusk taking over Twitter here:

https://justinjackson.ca/elon-musk-and-free-speech

@jevon @Audi Fuuuuucckk

This is my biggest anxiety.

@adii @cogsyapp What a beauty! 🎉 Congrats!

@ForaLiving_Pod @TransistorFM Dang! I have had pretty good success with http://Riverside.fm

@CheekyMonkeyMed @ashabed thx ❤️

@kylefox I thought the same thing. Until I talked to an accountant (for an unrelated matter).

But apparently… things have changed.

https://gagnontax.com/2021/08/26/some-u-s-saas-companies-now-subject-to-new-canadian-economic-nexus-sales-tax-compliance/

@adii I know lots of SaaS companies have these same questions, but won't talk about it.

Trying to figure this out in public so we can all benefit.

I’m trying to get handle on what sales taxes a US-based SaaS needs to collect.

We’ve enabled Stripe tax, and see all the regions where we’re supposed to remit.

But when I look at my own bills (I live in 🇨🇦), it looks like many companies aren’t collecting and remitting GST/PST?

Actions recommended by @IPCC_CH:

🪨 Phase out coal
💨 Phase out methane by 1/3
💰 Increase investment in low carbon solutions by 6x
🏭 All sectors of economy must rapidly transition to clean energy, carbon capture, clean tech

We desperately need real action on climate change.

The negative effects from a climate crisis will be substantially worse than what we saw during COVID.

More fires 🔥
More drought 🌾
More deadly storms ⛈
More disease 🦠
More deaths ☠️ https://twitter.com/ClimateHuman/status/1516617465878302720

@arithisandthat @nextlander Love this!! 💯

@ShawnMcCreesh Great feature! 👍

@cryptocomix1 @jarednotjerry1 @AlejandroVBeta1 @RiversidedotFM @zencastr @DescriptApp @TransistorFM @anchor Yup! You can do that on @TransistorFM:

@mjwhansen Yes! I support 14 folks currently through recurring donations: https://www.patreon.com/mijustin

@PocketBryan @leenyburger @aarondfrancis Agreed. One of my faves. 👍

@joshuaanderton I’ve got lots of ideas for @meepsapp ☺️

@alexwestco Nice! Congrats. 🎉

@skulegirl @lkr @SimpsonDaniK Also @Maria_Golikova (co-founder of @mealime, which was acquired)

@skulegirl @lkr @SimpsonDaniK Yup! @CodeNewbies was founded by @saronyitbarek and acquired:

https://dev.to/devteam/special-announcement-from-dev-4oi