Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net

Award-winning technologist. Volunteer. Carer. No longer using X except to criticize Elon Musk and his right-wing extremist friends

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

@BenWallace70 @tomhfh I don't love the way otherwise intelligent people fail to understand that a back door for a democratically elected gov with judicial oversight DOES NOT PREVENT criminals getting access to your data. There is no such thing as an abuse-proof encryption backdoor.

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

@gunsnrosesgirl3 I've had muesli and granola with milk for breakfast for at least 350 of the last 365 days.

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

@Matt_Pinner It’s 85 because 29 is one less than 30, and 56 plus 30 is 86.

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

@ClausHoumann Good point Claus. I should have put "people" in sarcastic quotes. But I'm still leaving. The last straw for me was @elonmusk giving Alex Jones a platform, mainly because of what that says about the man who controls it.

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

1.4 million people on X voted to re-enable this disgusting man, which Elon did. The guy then used X to promote another disgusting man. Enough is enough. To all who say this is okay because it's all free speech, I say: you are wrong, dangerously wrong. https://t.co/oBUFQRh7aU

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

A measure of how twisted & toxic @ElonMusk's X has become is the number of people here who've rushed to defend Alex Jones' right to accuse family members of Sandy Hook shooting victims of being actors in a hoax, because they actually think that's what Free Speech is all about🤮

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

At 14:00 GMT 10-Dec-23, I requested an archive of my Twitter/X data. When that has been downloaded I will be closing my X account. @ElonMusk has ruined this platform. You can find me at https://t.co/cvXq09h4pL and through various links here: https://t.co/yuBv2AvfXn

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

To be clear, my decision to depart X at this point in time is prompted by @ElonMusk platforming Alex Jones, the wretched man who spent years accusing the family members of Sandy Hook shooting victims of being actors in a hoax, saying he had a right to do so because: Free Speech.

[Prof Colin Talbot (rerum cognoscere causas) @colinrtalbot]

“some people” ???

So because some of those on these marches, including some who are very much white British, don’t share his political views this “proves” integration doesn’t work?

I’d take a dim view if I saw that sort of misuse of evidence and inference in a student essay.

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

Let's break down a classic X-style "Ad for Crap"

The top left image is what the ad's website appears to be selling, the other three images are from the ad video on X, in other words three different devices, none of which appear to be the item the ad is selling.

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

Techbros ruining life on Earth #197:

Showing ads on a social media platforms like Twitter/X along with "responsible" explanations of why those ads should never be shown:

> this store is part of an AI generated network of stores selling [crap] that may not be shipped at all <

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

To be clear, Elon's X takes ad money from creeps who may well be defrauding customers. Then waits for subscribers/victims to report the dodgy ads. Then claims this is an admirable feature of his platform. All while attempting to profit from tech (like AI) that enables such ads.

[@iainthomson @iainthomson]

Getting books for the trip home and realised I'd lost my library card, so shamefacedly asked for a replacement.

"Is there a charge?"

"Don't be silly, we're your library. Now, you look like someone that would like our spaceship card."

I love librarians, natural empaths.

[Dr Julia Grace Patterson💙 @JujuliaGrace]

It is incredibly concerning to see this rhetoric from Wes Streeting. Our public healthcare system has been intentionally crippled by underfunding+ funnelling of public money into the private sector.

It is ludicrous to suggest the NHS itself is to blame for systemic problems🚨💙

[Michelle Cowbourne @Glastomichelle]

The stars at night, Glastonbury Tor.

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

@BBCPolitics Would have been nice if Labour had given us a hint that they can see the difference between foreigners being hired by British firms and foreigners on spousal visas (like my wife).

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

Disappointing!

At least give us a hint that you can see the difference between foreigners being hired by British firms and fools like me that fell in love with a foreigner 38 years ago and wants them to live with me here in Britain. (The foreigner is the one with antlers.)

[BBC Politics @BBCPolitics]

"Is asking people to have a minimum income of £38,000 to bring families here... the right kind of level?" #BBCLauraK asks about UK family visas

"We have called for the salary threshold to be increased" says Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall

https://t.co/3Z7CARpOBD

[Stephen "Now on Bluesky" @scobb.net @zcobb]

Interviewer: As someone who grew up in a city famous for creating some amazing vehicles, a person who has driven hundreds of different vehicles in the last 50 years, including many pickup trucks, can you think of one word to describe Elon Musk's Cybertruck?

Me: Abomination.