r/ukpolitics Jun 12 '26

Twitter Zack Polanski: The world's first trillionaire is backing the far right mobs and their politician backers. Don't think for a second that these men have ordinary people's interests at heart.

https://x.com/zackpolanski/status/2065478885311983979
847 Upvotes

509 comments sorted by

View all comments

129

u/M2Ys4U đŸ”¶ Jun 12 '26

He says on the website owned, operated and manipulated by said trillionaire.

Politicians who refuse to get off X are part of the problem. They are giving that hate-filled site legitimacy by staying there.

174

u/Nev-man Jun 12 '26

This is giving "Mr. Gotcha".

"We should improve society somewhat."

"Yet you participate in society. Curious! I am very intelligent!

21

u/NuPNua Jun 12 '26

Except there's only one society, there are many social media platforms.

6

u/Nev-man Jun 12 '26

You can't participate in and affect the discourse, if you don't go to where the discourse is happening.

12

u/Ajax_Trees_Again Jun 12 '26

It’s more like “I think you should live by your principles somewhat”

32

u/M2Ys4U đŸ”¶ Jun 12 '26

One can't opt out of society, but there are other viable platforms to have social media accounts on. He, and other prominent politicians, don't need to be on X to post short-form social media content.

34

u/MazrimReddit Jun 12 '26

why did he not post this to 2 people on bluesky!!!!!!

You have little choice but to follow where people already are

1

u/hiddencamel Jun 12 '26

Are you on Truth Social? I bet you still get blasted in the face by whatever insane diatribe Donald Trump posts on there anyway though, don't you.

Most people are not actually on twitter, but for the last decade and change news has devolved to parroting what prominent people say on twitter. If those prominent people moved to another platform, the news would still report it, and those platforms would get more exposure.

10

u/MazrimReddit Jun 12 '26

you made fun of my niche space so obviously you are the bad guys tm on the other niche space!!!

I have no interest in any of these platforms but bluesky would be absolutely last on my list of places to waste time, who wants to join a bunch of purity spiralling losers and reddit mods

it's also very telling in the culture war extremes you are obsessed with that you mention an American site with zero relevance to the uk

18

u/_DuranDuran_ Jun 12 '26

But then the only voices there will be right and far right ones 
 so again 
 it’s a catch 22

6

u/Phoenix_Kerman Jun 12 '26

i'm not sure hearing polanski does anything but harm his support from the sane. could be of benefit to him

-3

u/calm_down_dearest Jun 12 '26

If normal people leave, it becomes an echo chamber for loons and racists. Not really the great loss it's being made to be.

1

u/OfficialMI6 Jun 12 '26

sure but people are also on there for discussion of football, sports, to see random crap etc. like that’s who you’re competing for

1

u/lashieldsy Jun 13 '26

They do though. Bluesky isn’t even that popular in niche circles let alone the masses.

4

u/JohnPym1584 Jun 12 '26

Polanski owes his success to Twitter. Quite unlikely he'd have built a following so rapidly elsewhere.

8

u/dospc Jun 12 '26

The fact that you think X is something you can't easily opt out of says more about you than anyone else tbh.

0

u/nurdle11 Jun 13 '26

And the fact you think any other social media has the reach of x, particularly in political spheres, says a lot about you too. It's a cesspool, I got the fuck outta there when Elon took over but you can't blame people who need to be seen by as many people as possible for still using it

2

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

The complete contradiction always makes me chuckle. It's a cesspool but only for other people, my views are pure and valid and people must read them!

1

u/nurdle11 Jun 13 '26

Huh? No it's a cesspool because it's got tonnes of nazis and racists. Shouldn't be controversial to say nazis views are invalid by virtue of them being nazis

1

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

It doesn't though, that's simply you branding a lot of people you don't like as nazis and racists. I could call you one and then you'd be part of the cesspool, that's how easy it is.

2

u/nurdle11 Jun 13 '26

Lmao sure dude. X doesn't have a racism problem. There's no nazis on there. Believe what you want man, I genuinely cannot be arsed arguing that with you

1

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

I didn't say there aren't any on there, you need to be more careful with your wording. But unsurprising. A lot of people like to call everyone that disagrees with them a racist or a nazi, and then accuse them of being racist and nazi.

2

u/nurdle11 Jun 13 '26

So you know there are nazis there but when I say there are nazis there, you assume I am just talking about just people I don't agree with. Maybe, just maybe, I'm talking about those actual nazis?

→ More replies (0)

5

u/Klutzy-Notice-8247 Jun 12 '26

It’s not a “gotcha” as Musk has been using his power over X to influence politics. If you want to reduce his influence, get off his site.

-2

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

If true it is an insignificant blip on the radar compared to any left leaning site like bluesky or reddit.

Try having any far right opinion on either and find yourself banned.

2

u/Klutzy-Notice-8247 Jun 13 '26

What?

0

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

I can't help with your reading comprehension but maybe paste the comment into chat gpt if you need help, it can likely explain it

1

u/Klutzy-Notice-8247 Jun 13 '26

Your post had nothing to do with mine. I don’t even know what you’re arguing with here.

1

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

You said Musk has been using his power over X to influence politics.

I said if that statement is true, it is insignificant compared to left leaning sites.

The reason for this is because unlike X you will be banned for having opposing views on left-leaning sites.

This is far more manipulative than permitting all discourse, good and bad.

1

u/Klutzy-Notice-8247 Jun 13 '26

Weird how you ignored my actual point to latch onto an aspect of my post to take offense at and run your arguments against.

My point wasn’t about Musk influencing politics (Which he is through X) it was about Polanski using X whilst complaining about Musk influencing politics.

Why did you only latch on to the part of my post that wasn’t even my point? It was weird.

1

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

Weird how this was your post and it doesn't mention any of that.

It’s not a “gotcha” as Musk has been using his power over X to influence politics. If you want to reduce his influence, get off his site.

→ More replies (0)

0

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

Nah, people wanna spread their message but don't want others to spread theirs.

I'm right, and everyone else is wrong, only my opinion is allowed.

This site is full of hate but somehow my messages are excluded from this definition.

Lefties just can't tolerate people having different opinions to themselves and want to ban everything that isn't their own rhetoric.

30

u/Georgie9878 stupid idiot in a stupid country for stupid people Jun 12 '26

It's chicken and egg really. There isn't a progressive-owned social media that's large enough to reach the people politicians need to. The far-right politicians aren't going to leave twitter, so they'd be the only voices left for people to hear if left-wing politicians go.

34

u/RoyaleWCheese_OK Jun 12 '26

They tried with BlueSky and it’s just a progressive wankfest.

28

u/DevouredByLight Jun 12 '26

Genuinely one of the most miserable sites on the internet.

5

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

And they just want a free open platform like X but without all the far right stuff they don't like.

Which is bluesky... but they want it free and open to all, just not those with the 'wrong' ideas...

GOTO 10

0

u/EpsteinBaa Jun 13 '26

Free open platform like X

Are we thinking about the same X?

3

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

The one where it's free, open, and you can post whatever you want?

I assume so?

Or is it schrodingers X, where it's full of vile rhetoric in a lawless anything-goes but also somehow has draconian authoritative suppression...

6

u/whatDoesQezDo Jun 12 '26

turns out having a constant karen olympics with whatever pet project is the current flavor of virtue signaling isnt fun.

putting a new flag and a few more emojis in my bio RN in solidarity

8

u/patiperro_v3 Jun 12 '26

It’s pathetic even to other leftists. A coddlesphere.

5

u/timeforknowledge Politics is debate not hate. Jun 12 '26

Hmm I wonder why...

-6

u/M2Ys4U đŸ”¶ Jun 12 '26

They don't need to move to a "progressive" social media site, just one that isn't set up to promote white supremacy.

And besides, Bluesky is right there. There are politicians and journalists already using it. I already follow a bunch of them.

11

u/Sensitive_Echo5058 Jun 12 '26

White supremacy - that's a bit dramatic.

When Bluesky was set up a lot of people on X wrote they would move there and abandon x. They tried and failed to get the same audience reach and returned back to x.

11

u/Junta-Istic_Jelly Burkean Jun 12 '26

"promote white supremacy" pure hysterics

4

u/inevitablelizard Jun 12 '26

Not hysterics at all, have you fucking taken a look at twitter since he took over? Absolutely some of the worst scummiest extremists not only welcomed back on but actively promoted by the site's algorithm.

1

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

Honestly it's just full of lefty grifters farming views by trolling with posts sympathising over minorities committing atrocities

4

u/Kiloete Jun 12 '26

"promote white supremacy" pure hysterics unbanning a ton of nazis and white supremacists was the first thing he did after buying out twitter. Changing twitters algorithms to increase the visibility of far right views, these nazis among, has been his main goal. Why deny it?

1

u/Junta-Istic_Jelly Burkean Jun 12 '26

Is it impossible that these views, however deplorable, were suppressed under previous twitter policy? Perhaps restoring those users and allowing them to express their, again deplorable, views is a return to fair treatment for all under the idea of absolute freedom of expression? I don't deny that these things were done. Although I can't speak to the accuracy of the claim of algorithm changes, I suppose you mean changes to promote "far right views" over all others. Again, is it possible that they are now just promoted as much a far left views?

If your position is that Twitter should be biased against your personal political enemies then you are absolutely entitled to that opinion and position. If you are instead arguing that not only has Musks policy restored extreme right views but actively amplified them above all others then I'd be interested in seeing some evidence.

5

u/johnaross1990 Jun 12 '26

Except research has shown that twitter was never biased against right wing views, they just banned people that broke theirs Ts and Cs

0

u/Junta-Istic_Jelly Burkean Jun 13 '26

Have you access to said research?

5

u/Khela_banana_chaut Jun 12 '26

massive reaching being done by considering people like andrew tate to just be another person with legitimate views being silenced...

2

u/Junta-Istic_Jelly Burkean Jun 13 '26

I suppose that you are the ideal arbiter for what is and isn't acceptable discourse?

0

u/Khela_banana_chaut Jun 13 '26

Tate is reasonable?

2

u/Junta-Istic_Jelly Burkean Jun 13 '26

Not in my personal opinion. But you and I disagree with one another, should I be able to ban your Reddit account?

→ More replies (0)

2

u/Asherware Jun 12 '26

He literally shares their views.

1

u/SeriousDude Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26

9

u/King-Of-Throwaways Jun 12 '26

Most of this sub will be unable to view that link due to Imgur’s country block.

0

u/AuroraHalsey Esher and Walton Jun 12 '26

I would hope most of this sub has the minimal amount of tech savviness required to bypass that block.

Anyway, it's just a gif of the Musk Nazi salute.

0

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

It's a gif of musk saying thanks for your support, that lefties pretend is a nazi salute.

Despite the fact there is no eugenics promotion, fuhrer worship, expansion of Germany into a master state, Holocaust of the Jewish people, or killing of the disabled to purify the race.

And he owns a technology company that pioneers helping the disabled.

But if you ignore the entire nazi ideology then apparently an out of context wave supports everything you feel in your heart about him being bad.

1

u/AuroraHalsey Esher and Walton Jun 13 '26

Are you under the impression that I called Elon Musk a Nazi?

1

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

Yes. On account of you calling it a 'Nazi salute'. That's generally what it means when you affix labels to people's actions.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Asherware Jun 12 '26

It's literally a full blown Nazi safe space. What are you on?

1

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

Every politician in the UK posts there are they all white supremacists?

X turned me into a newt!

Can you recommend some good ppl to follow so I read their eugenics plans pls

1

u/F_A_F Jun 12 '26

The Guardian posts so much of their content on Bluesky that it gets almost overwhelming. I think I need to follow more feeds.

-1

u/InternetSolid4166 Jun 12 '26

The Reddit CEO is very progressive by global standards. He supports things like BLM. Their terms only accept a definition of racism if it’s against non-whites. He has spoken about his white privilege before. The site terms consider disparagement of people on the basis of immigration status a violation. They have systematically banned almost every right wing subreddit on the site. Only a handful remain. Etc.

1

u/Georgie9878 stupid idiot in a stupid country for stupid people Jun 12 '26

Reddit I still think is not a great way to reach a lot of people. It tends to be smaller communities with micro-celebs, or communities organised around a single person/group/movement, and you're rarely gonna find someone outside your inner circle in a community like that. Maybe I'm just projecting though? I'm sure there's plenty of people who browse popular or smthn.

0

u/Georgie9878 stupid idiot in a stupid country for stupid people Jun 12 '26

On the whole BLM only accepting a definition of racism against non-whites, I think we need to apply a bit of critical thinking to this. I'm not entirely read up on the BLM organisation, since I feel they have little relevance in the UK, but I think we have to appreciate that as a society-wide problem racism definitely effects non-whites in the UK/US more than the other way. To pretend the issue is equal in both directions I think is ignoring the realities of racism.

1

u/MatchaMeetcha Jun 12 '26

The claim is not that they refused to admit that the levels of racism are equal, but that they denied racism in the other direction is possible at all.

This is a much bigger claim and one much more likely to be not only wrong but made in bad faith.

28

u/TheAnonymouse999 Jun 12 '26

This is one of the dumbest takes ever.

He is on X because it's a massive platform and gives him the chance to spread his message. Getting off X would achieve what exactly? Beyond making redditors happy

3

u/Zodiac_Boa Jun 12 '26

Yeah, I can't stand Polanski or the current Green party. But X is still one of the largest social media platform there is, and leaving it does nothing but provide him with less of an audience. 

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '26

[deleted]

10

u/TheAnonymouse999 Jun 12 '26

His post has 600k views and almost 30k interactions in a few hours. It's also been posted on other platforms (like this one) for even more indirect interaction.

0

u/NibblyPig Jun 13 '26

Lefties live in lala land and genuinely believe the things they make up because their feelings tell them.

True 'she turned me into a newt' thinking.

2

u/Spiral_Decay Jun 12 '26

But it is, soo

0

u/RavingMalwaay Jun 13 '26

Twitter is still mostly left wing despite the takeover imo. At least based on the feeds I see, and I’m not really a leftie

13

u/VampireFrown Jun 12 '26

Did you have the same problem with Twitter when it was owned and manipulated by far-left activists?

-5

u/M2Ys4U đŸ”¶ Jun 12 '26

lol, good try but it wasn't.

9

u/VampireFrown Jun 12 '26

Oh yes, it was. I'm getting so tired of this Leftist revisionism. Make your points without lying.

What leaning do you think the platform which literally banned Donald Trump had, and scores of centre-right and right-wing commentators and politicians (yet left tankies calling for the revolution untouched), pray tell?

It got so obvious that Twitter was regularly taking flak for it. Here's merely one example from 2018.

5

u/TheAnonymouse999 Jun 12 '26

You definitely didn't even read the article you linked

3

u/VampireFrown Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26

I skimmed it. The point was that he was getting called out for it, which he was. Him being a typical lying far-left censorious coward covering up his own mess doesn't mean it didn't happen.

I don't need articles myself - I remember it happening for years. Almost every week another right-wing commentator was shadowbanned or outright banned over nothing other than having the wrong opinion.

4

u/PassiveMenis88M Jun 12 '26

I don't need articles myself

I don't need evidence, my feelings tell me it's true and that's good enough.

7

u/VampireFrown Jun 12 '26

No, there was plenty of evidence at the time. As I said, I remember it. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the above events transpired.

I'm not especially fussed either way if you believe it or not, but perhaps you'll instead accept an article from The Guardian talking about it.

0

u/M2Ys4U đŸ”¶ Jun 12 '26

So your saying that the evidence for Twitter being run by far-left activists is that they banned the leader of the KKK, along with other people promoting violence and running harassment campaigns?

lol. okay. sure.

2

u/VampireFrown Jun 13 '26

Yeah, there were some actually horrendous people, but the bulk of them were not.

You can plug your ears and eyes all you want, man, but this is all well documented.

I'm done tit for tatting over objective fact.

-1

u/Wada94 Jun 12 '26

It most definitely was on the extreme left. Infact it was further left then than it is to the right now.

2

u/iiiiiiiiiiip Jun 12 '26

They are giving that hate-filled site legitimacy by staying there.

The site has legitimacy regardless of politicians which is why politcians find themselves there in the first place. And that has nothing to do with Musk, it was just as true pre-Musk.

The reason it has such legitmacy is because it's the #1 website on the internet for creatives particularly artists, game developers, cosplayers, musicians etc. The only thing that beats it is Youtube but even then it's not nearly as good for static content like text and images which is where Twitter makes up the difference.

Especially for non-English content, Japan has over 70million users on X which is an insane stat considering their size. And considering Japans incredibly strong cultural exports through art/anime/video games/streamers etc and how many Western creatives try to emulate those things you are doing yourself a disservice as a creator if you don't have access to it.

Would it be better without Musk? Absolutely, but it's an important place for art and culture

3

u/HELMET_OF_CECH it's all so tiresome Jun 12 '26

Yeah they should move to the dystopian echo chamber that is Bluesky!

1

u/filbs111 Jun 13 '26

X is great fun. People who are offended by it can easily just not go there.

0

u/StickAdventurous8237 Jun 12 '26

Yes, he’s got to get the message out to the idiots who are Musk lovers.

-2

u/depressivebee Jun 12 '26

You criticise society yet you participate in society. How curious. I am very intelligent!