(Austin, Texas) Matt Walsh’s comedic satire in “Am I Racist?” kicks off as you approach the ticket booth with an awkward request for two tickets to a film about race.
The movie begins with an uncomfortable scene where Matt asks a black server for black coffee, setting a tone that is both funny and thought-provoking.
The film’s progression introduces various themes of racial discussion, often tied to commercial interests. Walsh explores a landscape where people charge (a lot) for insight into white privilege, offering books, workshops, and even DEI certifications. This theme of monetizing racial discourse recurs, highlighting capitalism’s influence on social issues.
Screenshot
**Movie Review for “Am I Racist?” by Matt Walsh**
Surprisingly, Walsh himself becomes a DEI specialist, inviting viewers to ponder the absurdity of such scenarios. His direct questioning challenges viewers to engage with concepts like “safe spaces” critically, prompting introspection rather than immediate dismissal of racial discussions.
Notably, “Am I Racist?” features a social experiment where Walsh petitions passersby in Washington DC to rename and redesign the George Washington Monument in honor of George Floyd. This scene encapsulates the film’s provocative nature, challenging public perceptions of race and history.
The movie leaves viewers with a question rather than an answer: would you sign such a petition? This reflects the film’s broader inquiry into personal biases and societal norms.
Highly rated!
“Am I Racist?” starring Matt Walsh @MattWalshBlog, directed by Justin Folk for The Daily Wire earns an IMDb rating of 8.3 and an “A” grade from CinemaScore, reflecting strong approval for its bold approach to sensitive topics. Though “Am I Racist?” hasn’t been reviewed by a single mainstream critic, it has a 99% audience score, a “Verified Hot” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a top 5 box office debut!
Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to Gail Alfar. All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support X and Tesla (the most American vehicle manufacturer) and Elon Musk in both making life better on Earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.
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Original Twitter HQ in San Francisco. Photo Courtesy Twitter.
Legacy Twitter is gone. Twitter 2.0 is here and rapidly moving forward to encourage everyone to create a free account, and you may be considering a monthly $8 Twitter Blue subscription. I’ll share 5 new updates and my take on why I think Twitter Blue could be right for you.
Freedom of speech is at the core of Twitter 2.0
Twitter will always make removing child sexual exploitation material the #1 priority
Community Notes: An excellent way to allow free speech AND correct false information
Twitter Blue details: For the avid Twitter user (decide on your profile pic and username first)
Twitter 2.0 has a strict anti-doxxing policy, designed to protect you and your family
1. FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS AT THE CORE OF TWITTER 2.0
Elon Musk’s Twitter will allow you a place for freedom of speech. You will have the right to express your opinions without being subjected to censorship because of those opinions. Elon Musk said,
“New Twitter policy is freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach. Negative/hate tweets will be max deboosted & demonetized, so no ads or other revenue to Twitter. You won’t find the tweet unless you specifically seek it out, which is no different from rest of Internet.” – Elon Musk
2. TWITTER WILL ALWAYS MAKE REMOVING CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION MATERIAL THE #1 PRIORITY
Twitter‘s number one priority, since being owned by Elon Musk, is to remove child exploitation material (CSAM).
Twitter Rules include zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation, Twitter’s website says,
“We have zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation on Twitter. Learn more.”
You may still find these things on Twitter, and the process for reporting them for removal has been made simpler.
3. COMMUNITY NOTES: AN EXCELLENT WAY TO ALLOW FREE SPEECH AND CORRECT FALSE INFORMATION
You may sign up to participate in Twitter Community Notes. This is a great way to add context to misleading information on Twitter by leaving notes and/or citing reliable sources. Twitter states,
“Community Notes aim to create a better informed world by empowering people on Twitter to collaboratively add context to potentially misleading Tweets. Contributors can leave notes on any Tweet and if enough contributors from different points of view rate that note as helpful, the note will be publicly shown on a Tweet.”
Example of Community Notes Rating. Courtesy Johnna Crider.
4. TWITTER BLUE: FOR THE AVID TWITTER USER
Twitter Blue is great if you use Twitter often and want to support the platform. Most notably with Blue you get a blue check. Blue checks can be temporarily removed if you decide to change any part of your username or update your profile picture. So be sure you are happy with those things BEFORE you click “Subscribe.”
Blue gives you a handy edit button and allows you time to edit tweets and create Folders (I use this a lot).
The edit button is one of the best things about Twitter Blue. In the example below, “Edit Tweet” gives you 30 minutes to edit the tweet. A notation appears on the tweet if it has been edited.
Twitter Edit Tweet function. Credit, the author.
As soon as I paid for Blue, I created multiple FOLDERS (see below) for favorite videos, recipes, education and more. These folders are private. Each folder can hold unlimited bookmarked tweets. If your Twitter Blue subscription lapses and you renew it later, those folders are still there for you when you come back.
UNDO TWEETS is a feature I don’t use often, and when I need to I am thankful I have it. You will set a length of time you want to undo tweets before they go public. You can choose which type of tweets you want to apply this to. In the example below, I set the timing to 20 seconds, and you may opt for up to 1 minute.
Twitter Blue legacy feature: “Undo Tweets and Folders.” image credit the author
5. TWITTER 2.0 PROTECTS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Twitter has a strict anti-doxxing policy, as stated here,
“When someone shares an individual’s live location on Twitter, there is an increased risk of physical harm. Moving forward, we’ll remove Tweets that share this information, and accounts dedicated to sharing someone else’s live location will be suspended.” – Twitter
Twiiter makes it clear that you can still share your own live location. Any tweets that share someone else’s historical (not same-day) location information are also not prohibited by the policy. It is also clear that sharing location information related to a public engagement or event, such as a concert or political event, is also permitted. You can read Twitter private information and media policy here.
BONUS: WHAT TWITTER BLUE WILL OFFER SOON:
Twitter 2.0 is committed to offering more features soon. These include:
Rocket to the top of replies, mentions and search with Tweets from verified users being prioritized – helping to fight scams and spam
See 50% fewer ads than non-subscribers
You’ll finally be able to post longer videos to Twitter
Twitter Subscribe button as of 12/15/22. Image Courtesy Twitter.
Twitter Blue $8 is a Limited time offer, as shown in the screenshot above. Be sure to sign up for Blue on the web, or you’ll pay $11.
Twitter states on its website, “Free Twitter isn’t going away. Twitter Blue simply offers an opt-in layer of customization for your Twitter experience.”
CONCLUSION
My take is Twitter Blue is fine for anyone who A. Can afford it and B. Wants to support Elon Musk’s efforts to remove CSAM and promote free speech. I think everyone should create a free account, and if you want a challenge, then also apply to participate in Community Notes and report abuses through the Twitter reporting system, especially report any CSAM.
Twitter 2.0 is a welcome place for you to express yourself. Your views matter!
Twitter 2.0 has zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation, this was not the case with Twitter 1.0
Twitter 2.0 has Community Notes, which helps simultaneously encourages free speech, and allows for misinformation to be corrected or challenged.
Twitter Blue now includes the famous blue check and an edit button and all of the legacy benefits from Twitter 1.0
Twitter 2.0 aims to keep you and your family safe. That’s why it has a strict anti-doxxing policy
I hope you will sign up for your free account and join me on Twitter at @GailAlfarATX
Photo by Megan Bucknall on Unsplash
Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to What’s Up Twitter – December 16, 2022. All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author is to support the new Twitter 2.0 and Elon Musk in both making lives better on earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.
One-Time
Monthly
Yearly
My writing about Twitter strives to be accurate & leave you feeling optimistic and excited about the future. If you’re able, consider a donation to support!
My writing about Twitter strives to be accurate & leave you feeling optimistic and excited about the future. If you’re able, consider a donation to support!
My writing about Twitter strives to be accurate & leave you feeling optimistic and excited about the future. If you’re able, consider a donation to support!
Let That Sink In, Elon Musk at Twitter HQ. Photo Courtesy Elon Musk
Welcome to What’s up Twitter, this blog is created to share positive and encouraging aspects of Elon Musk’s new Twitter.
One of the first things Elon Musk put into place right away after acquiring Twitter was a way to protect our most vulnerable people: children.
One of the biggest changes to Twitter since its inception is the reduction and possible elimination of child sexual exploitation/child sexual abuse (CSE/CSAM) videos on Twitter. We will hear from Eliza Bleu, Human Trafficking Survivor Advocate, and Johnna Crider, writer, who has been following this story in detail.
Gail: Eliza, thank you for your effective advocacy to stop human trafficking. I just heard that there was a large amount of CSE/CSAM Twitter, accessed by certain Hashtags. Elon and his new Twitter team were able to remove a good amount this rapidly, so I wanted to ask you to give me a little background on what you know about that. How is it that CSE/CSAM videos on Twitter have been allowed to continue for so long? And how was Elon Musk able to remove it so quickly?
Eliza: Twitter has a history of putting profits over survivors. They did a cost-benefit analysis and the world’s most vulnerable have been ignored. It looks like Elon Musk simply prioritized this issue of detecting and removing child sexual abuse/exploitation material.
“Twitter has a history of putting profits over survivors. They did a cost-benefit analysis and the world’s most vulnerable have been ignored. It looks like Elon Musk simply prioritized this issue of detecting and removing child sexual abuse/exploitation material.” -Eliza Bleu
Gail: Do you know why Twitter was so silent on removing the material when it seems it was something that Elon Musk and his team were able to do so quickly?
Eliza: I have no idea why they were silent. It was embarrassing and probably criminal for them amongst other things. Once again I think that the issue simply became a top priority under Elon Musk’s leadership.
Gail: Could you describe your feelings when Elon Musk shared on Twitter that removing this material was his #1 Priority?
Eliza: I was on the phone with my best friend at the time. I work long hours on the weekends so it was after a long shift. My best friend has been there with me every step along this battle with Twitter. I was looking at Twitter when it happened. I couldn’t get the words out. I cried tears of gratitude for 15 mins. We cried together. It was like seeing a miracle happen right before my eyes. It still seems surreal.
Gail: I agree, it is surreal. It’s a huge act of awareness, and kindness and shows how much Elon Musk loves humanity! Thank you for your time, Eliza, and for playing an amazing role in this, it’s giving new life to people and new hope.
Eliza: Thank you so very much for having me.
Gail: Johnna, thank you for being here! How long have you been following this story?
Johnna: Since Eliza Bleu shared it with me in 2020/2021. In December 2020, Eliza and I met in person at the Tesla Atlanta Event, where we were raising funds for Our Underground Railroad, a nonprofit that rescues people who are being trafficked. The Tesla community raised over $10,000 for that event to fight human trafficking. I saw Eliza give that very powerful speech, and was humbled yet inspired by her.
Gail: Yes, Eliza does give powerful speeches! Were you surprised when Elon Musk announced that he was going to make removing CSE/CSAM from Twitter Priority #1?
“Elon told me one time to believe in the good and I do believe he is an advocate and a force for good.” – Johnna Crider
Johnna: No, not at all. Elon is someone who cares about humanity and he is also a father. A good father would want to protect his children. So, no, I am not at all surprised that he is making this a priority. It’s refreshing to see the new direction Twitter has taken with Elon in charge.
Elon told me one time to believe in the good and I do believe he is an advocate and a force for good. When I saw his tweet saying he was going to make it priority number one I immediately thought about Eliza in the work that she has been doing.
Elon Musk with new Twitter Team in a Twiiter Code Review at the HQ in San Francisco. photo courtesy Elon Musk
Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to What’s Up Twitter – November 21, 2022. All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author is to support the new Twitter and Elon Musk in both making lives better on earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization. Updated March 7, 2023.
One-Time
Monthly
Yearly
My writing about Twitter strives to be accurate & leave you feeling optimistic and excited about the future. If you’re able, consider a donation to support!
My writing about Twitter strives to be accurate & leave you feeling optimistic and excited about the future. If you’re able, consider a donation to support!
My writing about Twitter strives to be accurate & leave you feeling optimistic and excited about the future. If you’re able, consider a donation to support!
Austin in June is hot, and dusty, and when the sun sets, in that in between time of sunset and night that we call dusk, the Junebugs really do come out. The cicadas sing. But this night, this June night on a Saturday, the 25th of June, 2022 was a little different. In fact, it was intoxicating. I had the opportunity to meet Elon Musk earlier in the day, not just a chance encounter, but a rare private interview setting in a conference room alone with just Elon Musk and Johnna Crider. No audio/video crew, just us.
T-Shirt Gail brought as birthday gift for Elon Musk on June 25, 2022.for his birthday. Design idea was by K10 (Kristen on X)
Twitter Changing Hands
Let me back up a little. Elon Musk was actually a big topic of conversation in June of 2022 as this was right after he announced intentions to buy Twitter. On April 13, 2022, Elon wrote to Bret Taylor, Chairman of the Twitter Board,
“I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy.
However, since making my investment I now realize the company will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company.
As a result, I am offering to buy 100% of Twitter for $54.20 per share in cash, a 54% premium over the day before I began investing in Twitter and a 38% premium over the day before my investment was publicly announced. My offer is my best and final offer and if it is not accepted, I would need to reconsider my position as a shareholder.
Twitter has extraordinary potential. I will unlock it.”
Elon continued,
“As I indicated this weekend, I believe that the company should be private to go through the changes that need to be made.
After the past several days of thinking this over, I have decided I want to acquire the company and take it private.
I am going to send you an offer letter tonight, it will be public in the morning.
Are you available to chat?”
[VOICE SCRIPT]
1.
Best and Final:
a.
I am not playing the back-and-forth game.
b.
I have moved straight to the end.
c.
It’s a high price and your shareholders will love it.
d.
If the deal doesn’t work, given that I don’t have confidence in management nor do I believe I can drive the necessary change in the public market, I would need to reconsider my position as a shareholder.
i.
This is not a threat, it’s simply not a good investment without the changes that need to be made.
ii.
And those changes won’t happen without taking the company private.
2.
My advisors and my team are available after you get the letter to answer any questions.
a.
There will be more detail in our public filings. After you receive the letter and review the public filings, your team can call my family office with any questions.
Hopeful future
I realized, that June night, that I had had the opportunity to speak to the man who is doing the most to advance humanity of anyone on earth.
It was clear to me he was different from anyone I’d ever met.
I invite you to listen to the Podcast, Getting Stoned with Elon Musk by Johnna Crider.
Austin, Texas.
Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to What’s Up X – June 28, 2022. All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author is to support X and Elon Musk in both making lives better on earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.
WHAT'S UP 𝕏 by Gail Alfar 