The Public Square Concept

The term "town square" has frequently been used to describe Twitter, as it offers a platform where anyone can participate and express their opinions. While the environment isn't always civil, what public forum is?

When Elon Musk attempted to acquire Twitter, then hesitated before finally following through under pressure, many were skeptical, myself included. To my surprise, he has managed to mishandle the platform far worse than I anticipated, and I haven't been fond of him for a while.

Musk portrays himself as a visionary billionaire capable of saving the world—sounds familiar, right? His self-promotion is undeniable, yet his leadership of Twitter lacks any semblance of decency. Is he successfully steering it downhill? Only time will tell.

While I could critique Musk for an extensive amount of space, that's not the main focus here (though more criticism is definitely on the way). The crux of the matter is that Musk bought Twitter not merely as a vanity project but under the guise of creating a "freer" platform. This involved reinstating several controversial figures to advocate for violence and discord. But who can truly grasp Musk's grand strategy?

In attempting to turn Twitter into a public square by welcoming back individuals like Trump and Kanye West (who now prefers "Ye"), Musk's approach is questionable. My intention isn't to undermine all right-leaning perspectives; rather, I'm addressing the toxicity that has become prevalent in American right-wing discourse, characterized by hate speech and a blatant disregard for civility.

While I support free speech, I draw the line at bigotry. Everyone has the right to their opinion, but that doesn't shield them from the consequences, which often involve account suspensions. This changed recently, as Musk's decision to restore various banned right-wing accounts has significantly impacted Twitter's environment.

Currently, Twitter—historically a chaotic place—is unraveling. This deterioration isn't solely due to the reinstated accounts; Musk's decision to terminate staff responsible for maintaining operations and legal compliance has exacerbated the situation. The platform is now at risk, both legally and functionally, as critical code maintenance has been neglected.

Despite its flaws, Twitter plays an essential role in many lives. Numerous entrepreneurs rely on it for their businesses, and local news often spreads faster through tweets than through traditional outlets, allowing people to stay informed about events in real time.

The cultural significance of Twitter, particularly within movements like Black Lives Matter, cannot be overstated. It has been pivotal in organizing protests and fostering social justice initiatives. Musk's current actions threaten to dismantle this vital platform, which he claims to be transforming into a public town square.

Ownership and Public Access

The fundamental issue is that Elon Musk, a single billionaire, controls Twitter, which disqualifies it from being a true public forum. A genuine public square should be collectively owned, free from the influence of advertisers and corporate interests.

As Jack Dorsey advised Musk during the acquisition discussions, such a platform cannot be profit-driven. It should ideally be managed by a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining an ad-free environment.

The notion of allowing Musk to dominate this space for his personal gains is absurd and undermines the very essence of a public square. It's unreasonable to expect a billionaire, who impulsively purchased a social media platform, to prioritize the collective good over his interests.

The continued defense of Musk as a genius, despite his evident mismanagement of Twitter, is laughable. His tenure has been marked by a series of poor decisions, leading many to conclude that he is, at best, incompetent.

Some critics suggest that Musk is purposefully undermining Twitter for political reasons or for amusement, depicting him as a villain with grand designs to wreak havoc on the internet's closest approximation of a public square.

In my view, labeling Musk a "supergenius" or any related term is misguided. His intelligence appears to be average, overshadowed by a high level of narcissism and luck, along with the financial backing of his family.

If his intention was to dismantle Twitter, I doubt he would have executed it in such an incompetent manner. Increasingly, people are recognizing him as a misguided narcissist who leveraged wealth to become the world's richest individual without a coherent plan.

For those interested, the previously linked article provides insightful suggestions on creating a genuine internet-based public town square. It addresses the necessary components, ways to enhance quality without creating echo chambers, and practical approaches to achieving this vision.

The Challenges Ahead

While there are significant obstacles, including self-serving billionaires, the potential for a collaborative effort exists. My optimism for collective action is low, but history has shown that unexpected changes can occur.

Ultimately, a functional internet-based public town square must be nonprofit, free from corporate interests, and not owned by any individual, especially not a billionaire who believes they can do better than their predecessors.

Elon Musk is ill-equipped to run Twitter, much like other tech billionaires who have exhibited sociopathic tendencies. Our society has mistakenly elevated a few narcissistic individuals into positions of power, leading us to question why we entrusted them with such authority.

In light of these realizations, I hope for the emergence of a truly public town square—owned by everyone and no one—a space for open discourse. Perhaps we can forge this reality from the ashes of the ego-driven empires built by these billionaires.

Before I conclude, I still have more critiques of Elon Musk to share, so check out this article dedicated solely to that.

Take care out there.

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Rep. Ro Khanna argues that Twitter should not censor journalists, emphasizing its role as the modern public square.

Watch a heated debate featuring Elon Musk, Alex Jones, and Andrew Tate, discussing the implications of free speech on social media platforms.