Andy Smith

H/C analyst after Principal in pricing & market access, H/C fund manager, Scrip columnist & pharma. The other half of the podcast

[Andy Smith @PredatorDiaries]

Last night we had the best meal we’ve had in ages - think I’ve discovered St.Albans’ foodies’ best kept secret

https://t.co/tNrxOmzDQO

Last night’s Burns night menu:
Haggis
Cullen Skink
Scotch Cured Salmonp
Venison Braised shoulder
Scottish Dessert Plate

[Tristan Snell @TristanSnell]

Just in case we had any doubt about Donald Trump - today he said LINCOLN caused the Civil War and should have appeased the South, allowing slavery to continue.

Trump is one of the vilest figures ever in our history - a racist, fascist, anti-republican, anti-democratic dictator.

[Annie van Leur @AnnevanLeur]

New documents unsealed in Donald Trump's criminal Jan. 6 case disclosed $3 million spent to get people to the rally that preceded the attack on the Capitol building.

breakdown inside link:
https://t.co/Z6PC9RfbWe

[The Washington Post @washingtonpost]

Column by Philip Bump: The man who would (once again) be the oldest president in history has reportedly scaled back his campaign due to fatigue. https://t.co/U22zH8d7B3

[Tobi @TobiFrenzen]

I asked "Grok" (Twitter/X's AI model) what it thinks about Elon Musk's removal of the #Block feature.

It did not disappoint, demonstrating once again that it is indeed more aware and sentient than this platform's "tech-bro" owner.

Here's what it responded...

Removing the block function from a social media platform like X (formerly Twitter) could introduce several significant issues and dangers, particularly affecting user safety, privacy, and the overall user experience:

Increased Harassment and Abuse:
Without the block function, victims of online harassment could be continuously targeted. This feature removal might embolden harassers, knowing that their targets cannot completely cut off communication or visibility.

Privacy Invasion:
Blocking is often used to prevent unwanted individuals from accessing personal content. Its removal would mean that even those a user wishes to keep out can still view their posts, potentially leading to further privacy breaches or stalking.

Safety Concerns for Vulnerable Groups:
Individuals in vulnerable situations, such as victims of domestic violence, activists, or whistle-blowers, use blocking to protect themselves from threats. Without this function, these groups become more exposed to danger.

User Retention and Engagement:
Many users might feel less safe on the platform, potentially leading to a decrease in user numbers or engagement. The feeling of being unable to control who interacts with or views their content could drive users away.

Legal and Compliance Issues:
Social media platforms often must comply with regulations that require mechanisms for users to block abusive content or users. Removing this feature could put the platform at odds with legal standards in various jurisdictions, potentially leading to legal challenges or fines.

Increased Toxicity:
The lack of a block feature might exacerbate the toxicity of online interactions. Users might feel less restrained in their behavior if they know they can't be blocked, leading to an overall more hostile environment.

Platform's Reputation: Such a move could damage the platform's reputation as a safe space for dialogue, potentially affecting its attractiveness to advertisers, partnerships, and new users.

Alternative Solutions and Their Limitations:
While Elon Musk has suggested enhancing the mute function as an alternative, this does not provide the same level of protection. Muted users can still engage with the content and might not be deterred from harmful behavior since they're unaware of being muted.

User Control and Autonomy:
Removing the block feature undermines user autonomy over their digital space. Users expect control over who they interact with online, and this removal could be seen as a significant overreach by the platform.

Potential for Misinformation Spread:
If controversial figures or sources of misinformation cannot be blocked, this might lead to an unchecked spread of harmful content, affecting public discourse negatively.

There's a sentiment that removing such features could be seen as an overreach or misunderstanding of user needs for safety and privacy. While Elon Musk and others might argue for a more open platform as promoting free speech, the balance between free speech and user safety remains contentious.

Critics argue that without blocking, the platform might not only become less safe but also less appealing for everyday users who value their privacy and peace of mind. This perspective reflects a broader debate on how social media should balance openness with user protection.

[Andy Smith @PredatorDiaries]

https://t.co/6vD7NPXMk8

[Thomas Standfield @TStandfield1789]

Well, well, well.
Party before country.
Former Tory MP, Steve Baker, admits to voting for cuts to NI in the full knowledge that they were totally unaffordable and unsustainable.
@SteveBakerFRSA @Conservatives @RishiSunak @Jeremy_Hunt
No wonder his constituents threw him out.

[I Smoked Lindsey Graham @BlackKnight10k]

Part of Trump's bail conditions is that he not commit any more crimes and he tried the same illegal campaign fraud scheme to pay off Stormy Daniels immediately after being convicted of the campaign fraud scheme to pay off Stormy Daniels. Bro, lock his ass up

[Michael J. Stern @MichaelJStern1]

Trump has canceled:
- 60 Minutes
- CNBC
- 2nd Harris Debate
- NBC interview
- and just now, the NRA rally.

He's not going to make it 4 years. If you vote for him, you're voting for a President Vance.

Yeah, that's the guy who says people without kids are worthless.

[Trump Lie Tracker (Commentary Account) @MAGALieTracker]

BREAKING: Donald Trump has now canceled SIX events in recent weeks. If Joe Biden or Kamala Harris did this, the media would be up in arms. Everyone should be concerned about Trump’s mental state and fitness to serve.

[Andy Smith @PredatorDiaries]

Not hard enough

[Adam Bienkov @AdamBienkov]

"I have worked hard to take action [against Russia]" says Robert Jenrick, who has just accepted a £25,000 donation from an oligarch sanctioned by Ukraine.
https://t.co/TB7eKXHcsL

[David Folkenflik @davidfolkenflik]

Court releases Ariz Dem Senate candidate Ruben Gallego divorce docs that GOP opponent Kari Lake had hyped as damaging.

Judge in case: “One of the most garden variety divorce files I have ever seen.”

Details from NPR below:

[Victoria @victoriaslog]

Russians are poisoning our soldiers with gas in Heorhiivka, near Pokrovsk in Donetsk region.

Poison gas is banned by the Geneva Convention, but Russia can’t resist borrowing from the Nazi playbook.

Despite gassing millions in chambers, Hitler refused to use gas in battle. Makes you wonder who’s worse.

[John Jackson @hissgoescobra]

Marc was head of the CIA's clandestine operations in Europe before retiring due to Havana Syndrome, inflicted by the Russian government. If he says Russia is at war with the west, including the U.S., then you can take that to the bank. We are supposed to fight back in wars.

[Jesse Philippe @JesseP4Florida]

Elon has stopped engagement with this tweet because it is exposing his strategy, I’ve heard from 3 accounts that they aren’t able to retweet. I’ve been told he can’t stop screen shots however.

[Grant Stern  @grantstern]

NEWS REPORT IMMINENT: A Capitol Hill whistleblower is providing information to Congress about an illegal surveillance program involving Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, and the former President.

[Adam Parkhomenko @AdamParkhomenko]

Let’s get 500 retweets on this as soon as possible to humiliate Donald Trump. The greatest political ad ever made.

[FT Commodities @ftcommodities]

UK cracks down on Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ https://t.co/3UCMhCiakL

[Andy Smith @PredatorDiaries]

The next night

[Greg Bluestein @bluestein]

Donald Trump has canceled his address at an NRA convention on Tuesday in Savannah. Organizers are citing a "scheduling conflict." He's still set to headline a rally in Gwinnett County the next night. #gapol

[Victoria Derbyshire @vicderbyshire]

United Utilities illegally dumped 140 million litres of raw sewage into one of England's most famous lakes - Windermere - over 3 yrs, the BBC can reveal

The firm failed to report most of it https://t.co/g1cIJSw0f0