The medium of Twitter lends itself to short and sweet masterpieces like the thread you are about to read below. This made my day because it’s such a good piece of writing.
Elon Musk has said that “negative feedback is a good thing,” and I hope he feels that way because he’s getting a ration of it with this.
The writer is a former employee who suffers from muscular dystrophy. I went to college with a gal who had malady and it is formidable. I remember her downward spiral and her courage and this thread brings all of that back.
My legs were the first to go. When I was 25 years old I started using a wheelchair.
It’s been 20 years since that happened.
In that time the rest of my body has been failing me too. I need help to get in and out of bed and use the toilet
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
My family is the best. I have two kids. I see them every day. I recommend that.
My wife is fantastic. Strong, kind, smart, amazing artist. Couldn't be happier with her.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
We worked for more or less every big tech company.
We grew fast and made money. I think that's what you are referring to when you say independently wealthy?
That I independently made my money, as opposed to say, inherited an emerald mine.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
I love this guy’s voice. I could read this all day. I wish he’d start blogging about politics using this voice.
Financially it wasn't the best decision. My company was making a lot of money and Twitter's offer was lower than any smart valuation would say.
But like you I made a bet on Twitter having a lot more potential than it has had.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
Anyway, I digress, are you still reading? Or is the bathroom break over?
What was I saying? Ah yes, and then you bought the company and told employees you weren't firing 75% of them. Which you then did.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
During my time at the new Twitter, or 2.0 as you called it, I talked to my manager every week and asked what I should focus on.
And then I proceeded to do those things. Every one of them.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
And now finally to my fingers, which I know you have great concern for. Thank you for that btw.
I'll tell you what I told them. I'm not able to do manual work (which in this case means typing or using a mouse) for extended periods of time without my hands starting to cramp.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
But as I told HR (I'm assuming that's the confidential health information you are sharing) I can't work as a hands on designer for the reasons outlined above.
I'm typing this on my phone btw. It's easier for because I only need to use one finger.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
I hope that helps! Let me know if you are going to pay what you owe me?
I think you can afford it?
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
I didn’t know some employees hadn’t been paid yet. Musk took over in October, it’s now March.
On many levels, this was eye opening.
I, for one, am elated that Twitter is still up and functioning. We’re all interdependent on one another. Politics and Twitter is a match made in heaven because tweets travel at the speed of light. Twitter is journalist-heavy and a terrific source for breaking news.
There is also killer commentary, as you see a splendid example of here.
I’m glad Musk allowed this to stay up. This is an employment issue, yes, but what I really got from this thread was an amazing short story of the indominatability of the human spirit. Halli may be in a wheelchair, his physical powers may be fading, but his mind is sharp and his spirit is that of a lion. And he’s going to tell it like it is, with one finger if need be. Bravo.
Twitter, f.b., and all the rest of that social media bullshit need to go away. All of it is without any worth except to those who would tear down functioning democracies-somehow it manages to do that well even if it cannot do anything having real value. How did our species get in this predicament? I cannot imagine dolphins, the higher apes, swine, hell I cannot even imagine cockroaches doing this kind of damage to themselves and the planet they need to survive.
This poor schmuck is being subject to this bullshit because our species has decided people with money can make others’ lives a living hell, can break laws with impunity, can do whatever they hell they please because they have money. They are not qualified to do real work but because they have money they ARE allowed to commit crimes for which you and I would be locked up for–for a very long time in fact.
Twitter feeds are not journalism–they are the appendage of the parasite sucking the life out of our societies. A firing squad is not nearly painful or long enough to punish space karen for his never-ending bullshit. Ditto zuck, ditto vlad, ditto …..
Sue.
He’s still owed money from when Twitter bought his company (and he was paid it as regular income, and paid the taxes on it).