Twitter prior to its most recent owner was becoming severely biased, loaded with bullying and censorship. People were getting banned simply for stating facts on wx/climate, and I saw this happen firsthand as people I followed were removed, and I saw nothing they were saying was untrue, but b/c it didn't fit a particular narrative, it was considered fake news/misinformation/hate speech or whatever.
I noticed many that were banned for their objective wx/climate content posts were allowed back under the new ownership. Sharing different viewpoints is what it should be about, NOT an one-sided echo chamber!
I get a lot of good wx information on X. The posts in real-time about storm chasing and quick summaries of what people saw is excellent. Plus, just general wx info on what is going on with significant events worldwide. I don't really post on X, just view. And I will change who/what I follow at times if I see content starting to decline or go off the deep end. One has good control of content and how much one wants to see or not see.
Removing yourself from a social media site strictly b/c you do not like who owns it or b/c of the results of a presidential election IMHO is a vapid and short-sighted disposition. It sounds more like seif-righteous protest/activism, as if we need any more of that these days?
I've seen it said, "Twitter/X is no longer safe, so that why I am going to BlueSky." What does that even mean? "Safe" as in "safe space?" What kind of coddled wussies are some people turning into to where they can't handle debate/discussion or simple hard facts (I find myself wanting to say at times "sorry the fact hurt your feelings!"). This all feeds into the harsh divide that exists into this country now.
Howdy, Boris,
Re: "coddled wussies" et, al.
I am a blunt Gen X'er, meteorologist, writer, absolutely love open discussion, realism, humor, truth and honest, occasionally needling debate. The former CFDG nomination based weather listserv from the original OUN weather heads circa 1997 on thru the early 2000's had elements of a meteorological "safe space" well over 20 years ago, was nominated based and indeed
shunned many younger meteorologists and storm chaser types who did not fit into the CFDG brand of discussion unless they were "liked" in by the elders. We both, I think, were participants on that listserv for a time. I was booted off for lack of inactivity as I focused on life, career, etc. Many folks were not welcomed in due to a pseudo like based preference of who knew who, etc at the time. Of course that former example was not profit based and was operated on an OUN or independent server. Regardless, I see a similar vein and trend in X/Twitter, FB, IG, etc... all of which the follower + ratings based favoritism skews royal, can easily be bought for a dollar or crypto coin contribution and is easily controlled by human coders. It's not necessarily nomination based, but certainly the comparisons between "wxtwitter" of internet yore verses "social" media of today warps the weather world of new and Ai driven web 3.0.
Beyond the "wxtwitter" or whatever that batch of digital sky drama seeks to showcase beyond "triggers" for individuals who cannot handle someone else disagreeing with them, "social" media entirely skews people, business, industry, human emotions and sane debate. Sure good aspects as you note still exist, but they are buried by follower rates. Like the many digital lemmings that so many are, a digital voice or presence by an individual or group is not heard if it is not making the corporation that controls such tech it's bottom line via substantial income and in some aspects vice versa. Money talks! BlueSky is no different.
Social media has long since departed from where it stood in 2008, when platforms were actually mere reflections of an individual or micro blogs of amusement, verses a now meme driven bully or pity party pulpit. Yes, humor still has a place on social media, nor should that aspect be regulated. We are entitled as humans to laugh at things, yet there is a balance to everything.
FB, IG, TT, X/TW, BS, etc are all far worse and much more controlled by monopolistic tech bros and babes than ever before. That is a hail core of a reason I jumped back onto ST for random discussion in 2024 after a long absence, well after first publishing an article in the USPS paperbound newsletter edition of the Tim Marshall 1998/99 era, pre website or forum. That's not to toot my tornado siren, rather, just showcase how the meteorological and storm chaser "social network" got shattered by digital influence, atmospheric eye candy and sheer computer nerd types.
One by one I deleted and left other platforms post 2022, not out of seeking a "safe space" to shelter any emotional baggage, avoid mainstream debate or items that have no reason to be put out there in the first place. I departed those digital soapboxes for mere peace of mind, simplification and lack of interest in adding to the low hanging digital fodder that constitutes "social media" signal to noise ratios nowadays, nothing more. On top of that, I paid my dues and rejoined AMS this year after a 20 year absence, of which I really enjoy the newsletter updates, discussions, etc that are issued on a daily to weekly basis via email. It's just my style. If that's not your own, I fully respect that. Tweet, post or pander away.
I personally seek not to live in a comfortable digital bubble, but unfortunately the Alpabet, Google, YouTube algorithm and other platforms, pick your flavor, showcases I still most certainly do, regardless if I want to believe it or not. See attached graphics of my personal YouTube platform. I rarely if ever search weather. Mostly it's comedy driven, short of a hint that perhaps I should join the yacht rock sector, and yet look what YT now instantly recommends. No tornadoes, storm chasing, weather, etc. No surprise there! My YT channel which bears my actual name, of which I've never profited from, flatlined when I started posting non weather related material. Shocker. I write that in pure sarcasm. I am not what classifies as a "major"channel, or whatever that means to people + industry now, have been a subscriber since 2005, publisher since 2008-10 and do not fall under your category of "coddled wussies" as you so put it. I was also directly told by an official from the Neilson media research company last week that "you are not in the business if you do not have 50K+ followers on a social platform" in regards to ratings, income bias, etc, regardless of quality over quantity. The Neilson agent was also taken aback that I thought that "ratings no longer matter" and he was quick to correct me how wrong I was. I stand corrected. Ratings, money and followers do most certainly still represent the highly expanded, albeit fractured multimedia industry, including weather and "social" media.
Fyi, I'm not offended by your prior statements, Boris, rather, did laugh at the remarks. Good debate! Rather, I'm just tired of the mindless lusty thirst for followers, likes, feeds, influencers and individuals who intentionally sway public opinion via algorithmic favoring. I'm an honest purist. Website, phone, email, and one "social" platform is good enough for me. If I want a larger reach, watch for me on Saturday Night Live or perhaps an area comedy club in Bricktown OKC.
Regarding YouTube, that's the only platform I still consistently utilize, yet I am borderline ready to depart, build a private video server of my own for a website portfolio and nothing more. Likes, followers and influencers be damned. Have fun chasing the all mighty crypto coin slots.
Blake
BLAKE WILLIAM NAFTEL
Artist, Geoscientist, Writer
616.643.7762
blakenaftel.com
threereelfilms.com
Yes, it still exists! Now if I can only get Netscape Navigator 3.0 installed on iOS 15.
