I tried calling it X, but it sounded stupid every time I said it. And then I realized why.
Because why should a billionaire control what we say just because he has $40 billion dollars to throw away? Did I get any of that money? No.
Therefore, I get to call it what I want, and I’m calling it Twitter.
I don’t care if Elon Musk loves the letter X. I don’t care if this is his “New Coke” mistake he has to make. All I know is that when you try to change the name of a brand as big as Twitter just because you can, that’s bad branding, terrible cultural awareness, and incompetent business leadership.
He still hasn’t figured out what to call a Tweet, for God’s sake.
I’m not the only one who’s decided not to play along. I’ve crossed paths with several other creators and social-media hounds who’ve given up monkey-dancing for the eccentric rich guy.
To be clear, I’m not going to say, “the platform formerly known as Twitter, now called X.” I’m going to say “Twitter.” Because it’s Twitter. And everybody knows it’s Twitter.
Twitter is not a person. It doesn’t have feelings, and it isn’t part of a marginalized group. So, we don’t have to respect its name or pronouns.
My dream, softly whispered, is that if enough people join this effort, Elon Musk will eventually realize he can’t change the name. The people will have risen up. Granted, we’d be rising up in the most tepid and low-investment way imaginable, but it’s something, and I’ll take it.
See you on Twitter.
I sprained my eyes doing an eye roll the other day when I read yet another news story that said something like, "It was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter." It didn't work for the artist formerly known as Prince, either. He went back to being just Prince. So let's put on our Raspberry Berets and march through the Purple Rain, chanting "Elon, we wont Die 4 U." I'm with you. Power to the people!
Scott, it’s an interesting psychological phenomenon that the first time I can recall one of your posts drifting into this peevish territory, it was triggered by Elon Musk. It’s one of our society’s toughest challenges, trying not to be irritated by Elon. I would like to see Elon meeting the Pope or the Dalai Lama; I bet even they would have internal struggles trying not to hate his smug face.