What a good idea! I shall forward it to mine (Labour) too although heās about as much use as a piece of limp lettuce. I think that if more of us do likewise, the message might just get through. This sewer is an unacceptable platform for ANY political party to be a part of, let alone the one thatās in government!
Thanks you dear Bear for standing up for what you rightfully believe in and for supporting the ending of violence against girls and women.
If anyone wants to hear some sobering facts, look up Jess Philips annual roll call of DV fatalities, that she has been doing for years before she became a minister. Chilling.
She must be spitting feathers at this lily livered reaction by her boss.
To be on X now is clear proof you don't care about violence against women and are actively condoning it.
Well done Bear & thanks from one of many pissed off (older) women !
I left Twitter the year Musk got his hands on it, and havenāt looked back. Just sad to see so many of the petition sites still have it on their āshare onā options.
Thank you Bear for telling Ur like it is. I've been dithering about quitting X & largely because there are still some long standing *twitter* chums that I'd be sad to lose contact with. I stick with those and ignore the rest - not good enough. I know! Then there's the hope that the muskrat will give it up/sell it off. You're right I must withdraw my link with the odious man + those with whom he surrounds himself -
Like right now! Thank you again for telling it like it is and reminding me. I really hope you're able to fill the income gap.
Maybe your chums there feel the same and you could start a leavers group somewhere else?. I hung on for some time for the very same reason, but feel so much leas angry and stressed from it all !!
I completely agree with all of this and came off Twitter about the same time, and in exactly the same way.
Now, what can you and I do to FORCE the government to actually change its behaviour, when it seems completely unable (or unwilling) to do so by itself?
My MP is a Tory but potentially soon-to-be-Reform, so writing to him is pointless. And I assume writing to the PM will be a similar waste of time. So, what can I do?
Finally cancelled my X account mid article yesterday, amazingly I could remember my password..Been kidding myself it was stilll ok whilst blocking accounts and commentators almost every visit for a while. Keep up the morally clear work Bear.
I did the same yesterday. Had only used occasionally for a while to check on people I missed. Muskās announcement yesterday and a vile post by Yaxley Lennon endorsed by musk - which I will not repeat - tipped me over the edge. They care nothing for women or children just themselves/ power and money. I hope more people move to Blue Sky.
It's odd, but I find myself in a rather unusual position, Iratus. There are aspects of your piece here that I disagree with. Not the overall thrust, to be sure. Musk's tenure as the owner of Twitter has seen it leave the early concerns about misuse seem mild in comparison. It's become a cesspit of misogny, racism, homophobia, right-wing extremism, and pretty much any form of bigotry you could conceive of. The algorithm is now actively gamed to ensure populists such as Trump or Farage are pushed into more and more users' feeds, whilst opposition messaging is hidden from view. Even so, there is still a case to be made for remaining on Twitter.
Firstly, there is a need to maintain familiarity with the key messaging of influencers aligned with Trump, Farage, and other right-wing figures. This doesn't require engaging with them or with paid features. It does require dipping toes in the cesspool. Secondly, although Musk is unwilling to address the corrosive influence of the platform, the most extreme aspects of activity need to be brought to the attention of the authorities. Granted, right now our Government lacks the courage to take on American tech-fluincers who continue to undermine our democratic institutions, as well as ensuring socially divisive rhetoric becomes normalised. However, a public backlash may trigger action. That will require awareness of the behaviours Musk's Twitter now considers acceptable.
Musk's decision also presents Reform and fellow travellers with a problem. For a long time now they have exploited the Grooming scandal for their own political interests. They claim concern for the protection of women and girls, consistently pivoting to their core message about migration, whilst consistently ignoring identical offences committed by individuals and groups that don't fit their xenophobic narrative. Farage has already had to deal with a related issue, with a close relative having been prosecuted for upskirting. This is a far more insidious aspect of the exploitation of women and girls, together with an outwardly predatory misogyny that only fuels more extreme behaviour. Farage remained pointedly silent about his upskirting relative. This issue provides a further opportunity to put him on the back foot.
Reformistas make considerable use of Twitter to push their narratives and distortions. How will they respond if they face an inundation of questions about his views on this use of Twitter's AI features? All political organisations should be pressed on their views about this, but Reform in particular should face it. Members, influencers and senior figures, especially Farage, should face the same question at every turn:
"You claim to be the only party that is serious about protecting women and girls. Do you consider it appropriate, then, to be tacitly endorsing a platform that gives free rein to predators to develop and share artificial images that degrade women and girls, whilst normalising attitudes that are likely to increase the risk to women and girls from sexual assault or harassment from predators?"
This needs to be a relentless challenge. Reform has benefited considerably from Twitter. Are they willing to remain silent on this issue and to continue using a platform that is feeding this misogynistic culture, whilst continuing to claim to be concerned about the dangers women and girls face as a result of the environment that this sort of activity creates? That requires maintaining a presence on Twitter that floods feeds with these questions and our outrage at Musk's decision.
Granted, it is different for those who have previously paid for access to enhanced features and used the platform to build a following. The platform's use in ways that financially benefit Musk needs to be reconsidered. For the 'insignificant majority', though, this is an opportunity to make our voices heard.
Come to Bluesky! It's Twitter of old. Also, it's not run by billionaires and is a very fair and friendly site except to racists, nazi types and others of that ilk. There are plenty of reasonable minded, well known government people on there as well. Try it! I would definitely follow you on Bluesky and I'm sure many, many more will also. I surpassed my number of Twitter/X followers in the first year I was on there. PLUS, the algorithms are not all skewed against you on Bluesky like they are on Twitter!
Well done for getting fully out of there. First for your sanity and then for staying true to your principles and values. I can see why the government is making the case of how they can't just walk out, and they are probably trying to come up with an alternative platform, but I agree with you and in this instance, given the circumnstances, staying in Twitter is almost the same as saying they condone violence against women. Investigate all you must, by all means, but leaving the platform at once is the best thing the UK government, and really anyone who truly respects women, can do.
I ditched my Twitter account very soon after the malignant melon bought the platform because he castrated the moderation team and my timeline was all of a sudden flooded with porn that no amount of reporting would remove. I now blather away on Bluesky, not yet a patch on the old Twitter but not toxic.
I don't see Starmer gifting OfCom a set of dentures anytime soon but even if he did I don't see them fining Musk 100 billion or so which is the amount it would take to get his attention. Or better still banning X altogether.
I don't see our current PM growing a pair any time soon either. It seems it is only the vulnerable - immigrants and refugees at the moment since he was forced to back down on attacking pensioners and the mentally ill by his back benchers - that he's prepared to tackle.
I hope everyone with access to Grok is generating nude pics of Elon with a tiny dick and posting them as widely as possible. Or is it only able to undress women and children?
I have an idea that would have it immediately removed - use it to undress ICE agents all over the US.
š¤¢ but š that made me hoot!!
Well done. Exactly the right decision. Coming off Twitter is the least the government should do. Preferably shut it down in UK.
Starmer and co just afraid of doing anything that might offend America.
If Badenoch/Farage then defend Twitter they lay themselves wide open to being torn apart.
AMEN!
Shared to my (Labour) MP's inbox, with a request to whichever of his staff picks it up to use your arguments wherever they can.
We need action on this, not pious hopes & prayers.
What a good idea! I shall forward it to mine (Labour) too although heās about as much use as a piece of limp lettuce. I think that if more of us do likewise, the message might just get through. This sewer is an unacceptable platform for ANY political party to be a part of, let alone the one thatās in government!
*thunderous round of applause*
THIS.THIS.THIS
Thanks you dear Bear for standing up for what you rightfully believe in and for supporting the ending of violence against girls and women.
If anyone wants to hear some sobering facts, look up Jess Philips annual roll call of DV fatalities, that she has been doing for years before she became a minister. Chilling.
She must be spitting feathers at this lily livered reaction by her boss.
To be on X now is clear proof you don't care about violence against women and are actively condoning it.
Well done Bear & thanks from one of many pissed off (older) women !
I left Twitter the year Musk got his hands on it, and havenāt looked back. Just sad to see so many of the petition sites still have it on their āshare onā options.
Happy on BlueSky.
I totally agree! I left Twitter in December of 2023 and have never looked back. Joined Bluesky and love it there!
Totally agree I left in 2025.
Best time to leave was last year, next best time is today!!!
Thank you Bear for telling Ur like it is. I've been dithering about quitting X & largely because there are still some long standing *twitter* chums that I'd be sad to lose contact with. I stick with those and ignore the rest - not good enough. I know! Then there's the hope that the muskrat will give it up/sell it off. You're right I must withdraw my link with the odious man + those with whom he surrounds himself -
Like right now! Thank you again for telling it like it is and reminding me. I really hope you're able to fill the income gap.
Thank you š»
Maybe your chums there feel the same and you could start a leavers group somewhere else?. I hung on for some time for the very same reason, but feel so much leas angry and stressed from it all !!
Quite a few of us have a toe in both campsā¦but enough is enough:
it's naked children and women = the very last unforgivable straw.
I have managed to avoid most of the rest of the racism, misogyny and right wing extremismā¦
I completely agree with all of this and came off Twitter about the same time, and in exactly the same way.
Now, what can you and I do to FORCE the government to actually change its behaviour, when it seems completely unable (or unwilling) to do so by itself?
My MP is a Tory but potentially soon-to-be-Reform, so writing to him is pointless. And I assume writing to the PM will be a similar waste of time. So, what can I do?
I think Labour aren't so much "scared of Musk" as scared of _Trump_ and his government.
https://www.cityam.com/uk-threatened-with-sanctions-if-starmer-blocks-musks-x/
Perhaps it's time that those people still on X start posting pictures of a nude Trump and his various enablers. Then we'll see how he likes it.
Good idea, but not for Labour politicians!
š¤¢ š¤¢
Sadly many find him attractive, but I'm sure that would pit them off !!
Finally cancelled my X account mid article yesterday, amazingly I could remember my password..Been kidding myself it was stilll ok whilst blocking accounts and commentators almost every visit for a while. Keep up the morally clear work Bear.
I did the same yesterday. Had only used occasionally for a while to check on people I missed. Muskās announcement yesterday and a vile post by Yaxley Lennon endorsed by musk - which I will not repeat - tipped me over the edge. They care nothing for women or children just themselves/ power and money. I hope more people move to Blue Sky.
It's odd, but I find myself in a rather unusual position, Iratus. There are aspects of your piece here that I disagree with. Not the overall thrust, to be sure. Musk's tenure as the owner of Twitter has seen it leave the early concerns about misuse seem mild in comparison. It's become a cesspit of misogny, racism, homophobia, right-wing extremism, and pretty much any form of bigotry you could conceive of. The algorithm is now actively gamed to ensure populists such as Trump or Farage are pushed into more and more users' feeds, whilst opposition messaging is hidden from view. Even so, there is still a case to be made for remaining on Twitter.
Firstly, there is a need to maintain familiarity with the key messaging of influencers aligned with Trump, Farage, and other right-wing figures. This doesn't require engaging with them or with paid features. It does require dipping toes in the cesspool. Secondly, although Musk is unwilling to address the corrosive influence of the platform, the most extreme aspects of activity need to be brought to the attention of the authorities. Granted, right now our Government lacks the courage to take on American tech-fluincers who continue to undermine our democratic institutions, as well as ensuring socially divisive rhetoric becomes normalised. However, a public backlash may trigger action. That will require awareness of the behaviours Musk's Twitter now considers acceptable.
Musk's decision also presents Reform and fellow travellers with a problem. For a long time now they have exploited the Grooming scandal for their own political interests. They claim concern for the protection of women and girls, consistently pivoting to their core message about migration, whilst consistently ignoring identical offences committed by individuals and groups that don't fit their xenophobic narrative. Farage has already had to deal with a related issue, with a close relative having been prosecuted for upskirting. This is a far more insidious aspect of the exploitation of women and girls, together with an outwardly predatory misogyny that only fuels more extreme behaviour. Farage remained pointedly silent about his upskirting relative. This issue provides a further opportunity to put him on the back foot.
Reformistas make considerable use of Twitter to push their narratives and distortions. How will they respond if they face an inundation of questions about his views on this use of Twitter's AI features? All political organisations should be pressed on their views about this, but Reform in particular should face it. Members, influencers and senior figures, especially Farage, should face the same question at every turn:
"You claim to be the only party that is serious about protecting women and girls. Do you consider it appropriate, then, to be tacitly endorsing a platform that gives free rein to predators to develop and share artificial images that degrade women and girls, whilst normalising attitudes that are likely to increase the risk to women and girls from sexual assault or harassment from predators?"
This needs to be a relentless challenge. Reform has benefited considerably from Twitter. Are they willing to remain silent on this issue and to continue using a platform that is feeding this misogynistic culture, whilst continuing to claim to be concerned about the dangers women and girls face as a result of the environment that this sort of activity creates? That requires maintaining a presence on Twitter that floods feeds with these questions and our outrage at Musk's decision.
Granted, it is different for those who have previously paid for access to enhanced features and used the platform to build a following. The platform's use in ways that financially benefit Musk needs to be reconsidered. For the 'insignificant majority', though, this is an opportunity to make our voices heard.
Come to Bluesky! It's Twitter of old. Also, it's not run by billionaires and is a very fair and friendly site except to racists, nazi types and others of that ilk. There are plenty of reasonable minded, well known government people on there as well. Try it! I would definitely follow you on Bluesky and I'm sure many, many more will also. I surpassed my number of Twitter/X followers in the first year I was on there. PLUS, the algorithms are not all skewed against you on Bluesky like they are on Twitter!
Well done for getting fully out of there. First for your sanity and then for staying true to your principles and values. I can see why the government is making the case of how they can't just walk out, and they are probably trying to come up with an alternative platform, but I agree with you and in this instance, given the circumnstances, staying in Twitter is almost the same as saying they condone violence against women. Investigate all you must, by all means, but leaving the platform at once is the best thing the UK government, and really anyone who truly respects women, can do.
I ditched my Twitter account very soon after the malignant melon bought the platform because he castrated the moderation team and my timeline was all of a sudden flooded with porn that no amount of reporting would remove. I now blather away on Bluesky, not yet a patch on the old Twitter but not toxic.
I don't see Starmer gifting OfCom a set of dentures anytime soon but even if he did I don't see them fining Musk 100 billion or so which is the amount it would take to get his attention. Or better still banning X altogether.
I don't see our current PM growing a pair any time soon either. It seems it is only the vulnerable - immigrants and refugees at the moment since he was forced to back down on attacking pensioners and the mentally ill by his back benchers - that he's prepared to tackle.
I hope everyone with access to Grok is generating nude pics of Elon with a tiny dick and posting them as widely as possible. Or is it only able to undress women and children?