@brentsimmons Vote. It isn’t hard to find clarity. Vote. That is where to focus.

@brentsimmons These are not at all equivalent. If Tim Cook or John Ternus started going around throwing Nazi salutes, actively dismantling our democracy, and working to destroy our environment, I’d absolutely look to not promote or pay for Apple products.

@brentsimmons *"But it’s not like my tech choices are free of fascists and collaborators — and yours almost surely aren’t either."*

What an odd way to frame this and run cover for returning to X. Returning to X is in no way necessary and is ***quite*** a choice to make given who MR are, have portrayed themselves to be and their audience)

@brentsimmons Although the CEO of Apple isn’t pumping millions into far-right extremists in my country, in an attempt to upend British politics forever. So, you know, not like X and Apple are the same.

@brentsimmons not sure the premise is completely correct in this case. social platforms aren’t just a “product” one uses (like a streaming service) but a place to build a community for an organization like macstories. going back to x suggests they want the crowd over there - many of whom cheer on violations of human rights and human dignity - as part of their community. other platforms are run by far-right billionaires too, yet their audience is not primarily made up of those cheering them on

@brentsimmons I think the idea that you if you can’t be perfect (I.e. move to cutting off everything you disagree with at once) means you should do nothing is flawed

I suspect why this rubs people the wrong way more is it was done behind the scenes and it’s 180 reversal on ethics. It’s not a tech choice.

The idea of if Z does blah then why boycott Y goes the other way. If Y is going to have strong feels about others playing right wing extremists then should they follow the actions of Z?

@brentsimmons well said... i think extremism are a problem, on both sides...

Yes we are not on twitter for different reasons, expecially due to musk, but this shitstorm is really something i cannot understand…

@brentsimmons making a tech choice is one thing. Doing it on the sly and waiting 2 weeks for people to notice is another. Not discussing it with your contributors until the point everybody walks out, angry and hurt, is also a choice. And waiting a further 2 days to admit to it in public in some tiny corner of the internet that you know your readers & subscribers probably won't find. That's worthy of criticism. As is pushing out every member of staff or contributor who isn't a straight white male

@brentsimmons @marcoarment This is not about “tech choices”. MacStories reversed a principled, political choice, betrayed trust, and abandoned support for an inclusive community. They made their stand until it became inconvenient. That’s why folk are upset. This community will not heal if its instinct is to give a pass for shitty behaviour

@brentsimmons What a stupid post this is.

There’s a world of difference between using Amazon for everything and ordering from it once or twice a year to order that one thing you can’t find anywhere else.

You should still try to limit things as much as possible, at least to try and leave a bit more “ethically”.

Going back to X is clearly an ethical choice, in this day and age, not just a tech one. And it’s not that complicated: they chose money over belief; so fuck them.

@brentsimmons @marcoarment This is not about “tech choices”. MacStories reversed a principled, political choice, betrayed trust, and abandoned support for an inclusive community. They made their stand until it became inconvenient. That’s why folk are upset. Your article ireads like you’re reassuring your pals you have their back whatever shitty decisions they make

@brentsimmons I can answer a lot of your questions with “Not anymore.” and I think that’s worth recognizing.

I can’t quit everything, but I’ve quit a lot of services due to the actions of the organizations behind them.

I’ve actively taken my paid business elsewhere, and there are many (free) services I just do not use.

I hope others can say the same.

@brentsimmons OMG yes thank you "These days we need all the righteous fury we can rally — and we also need the clarity to know where to focus it." exactly, EXACTLY. The choice between a nazi bar (txwitter) and literally anything else is so so clear. If you can't get that one right.. I don't know, man.. https://blog.codinghorror.com/i-fight-for-the-users/

@brentsimmons well said. Well said.