Some thoughts on X (Twitter) & Australia.
I have a few strong thoughts to share about X, particularly regarding the latest controversy and attack on free speech in Australia.
Observing from afar, I find it fascinating to compare and contrast the worlds of Australia, my homeland, with that of Argentina, where I currently reside.
I regularly type 'Australia / Tasmania' into X (Twitter) and Google to see what's currently being discussed in the news.
The stories often seem like complete insanity compared to what I observed in my adopted home of the last 18 months - Argentina.
Here’s a bit of context:
Every morning in Buenos Aires, right after waking up, I start my day with a routine. I sit down with my mate 🧉, and turn on the Argentine news from La Nación on my TV.
For about 30 minutes, I absorb as much as I can, struggling with the difficulty of Argentine Spanish (on the news) - bloody tough for a 33-year-old Australian bogan.
I highly recommend you pay attention to this channel if you’re interested in Argentina (and for practising your Spanish) - La Nación (centre-right Argentine news) has a 24-hour live channel on YouTube. This is how I think you can find an edge as a free independent thinker. Engage with content that holds broad significance and might be considered less typical to consume for someone with my background.
These issues with Argentina are well documented in this publication but here is a quick rundown of the current situation.
Inflation is 287%, and wages are comparable to those in West Africa, despite consumer goods prices being on par with Australia's.
I’m not an expert, but as I tick over two years since my departure from Australia, I’m not distracted by the stress and constraints of a workplace anymore, and I find I form many opinions nowadays with the complete freedom to think.
X has been instrumental in facilitating these discussions for me. I've gained some traction from it, I’ve discovered investment opportunities through that traction, and it's likely how I've connected with you. I've also made good friends through it.
Yes, the secret is having a beautiful Argentine girlfriend generally helps gain traction in your account.
But my overall honest take may be surprising to you.
I don’t particularly enjoy posting, I find it quite uncomfortable. I’m quite introverted and after reading Doombergs take on X and why they departed the platform last year, it’s always on my mind how I can potentially move over to Substack notes.
I find myself spending more and more time on Substack and discovering some incredibly insightful reads. However, it's worth noting that a longer attention span is often needed to consume 90% of the content, which can be a struggle for me. This is where I believe X has the edge unless Substack notes really takes off.
On X, I’m one of those people who love to see what people are saying and enjoy communicating with those who take an interest in what I have to say.
95% of X is fantastic, but the remaining 5% can be damn challenging, especially in the early days when people begin to take an interest in what you have to say.
It's also surprising how some individuals can become spiteful when others show interest in your account.
Not an unexpected behaviour given the amount of time and effort some people invest in the platform each day.
Furthermore, there are serious degenerates who hide behind anonymous accounts solely to troll. Imagine their lives, sad.
Ultimately, it boils down to the bell curve—the normal distribution effect. The more exposure your tweets and profile get, the higher the likelihood of encountering individuals who linger at the fringes of societal norms.
It's crucial to recognise this. Of course, I like to hear the opinions of others, but I certainly don’t let negative personal attacks affect my well-being (don’t worry, I’ve had some shockers).
I highly value the thoughts of my close inner circle.
Having been a lone ranger for many years, I've recently come to realise through various content I consume just how essential it is to maintain a tight-knit circle of friends and family.
Now with that off chest, let’s look at my take on the X free-speech debacle in Australia:
SYDNEY, April 23 (Reuters) - Elon Musk lashed out at Australia's prime minister on Tuesday after a court ordered his social media company X take down footage of an alleged terrorist attack in Sydney, and said the ruling meant any country could control "the entire internet".
X said it had already blocked the posts from Australian users, but Australia's e-Safety Commissioner had said the content should be taken down since it showed explicit violence.
"Does the PM think he should have jurisdiction over all of Earth?" Musk wrote in a post, referring to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
It’s a power struggle.
Australia thinks they have the right to dictate what the rest of the world thinks.
Again.
No shit, you see this increasingly in the everyday Australian who wants the third world to stop burning fossil fuels and start living under socialist regimes, which is basically the act of pulling up the ladder after they’ve used.
Elon Musk strikes back rightfully so putting Australia back in its place of global importance.
To top it off, Tasmanian bogan (white trash) popular female politician - Jacqui Lambie saying Musk should be locked up is completely ridiculous and she should be dismissed as having any credibility as a politician from this point forward.
Will that happen? Of course not, her words will be heard by the narrow-minded Australians who seem to vote for her.
What they will fundamentally fail to realise is that her words are completely against the historic values of Australia.
Free speech.
I don’t care about Jacquie Lambie to talk about her anymore, but the broader issue here is the significant threat to free speech posed by recent developments by the Australian government - court-ordered.
This should be alarming to everyone who values democracy and freedom of expression. It’s crucial that we resist this kind of censorship and maintain our right to express our views openly, without fear of repercussion.
The government has no right to sensor, in my strong Geólogo Trader view it should be completely up to the individual.
Will there be robust opposition to this in Australia? Unlikely.
As you will recall, my departure from Australia was largely driven by the oppressive measures implemented during the COVID era, particularly by what I consider the draconian leadership of Mark McGowan in Western Australia—with disturbingly broad public support.
My advice? Vote with your feet.
Moving away not only broadens your perspective but exposes you to the true scale of global issues, highlighting the parochial concerns back home in Australia. After gaining such insights, it becomes increasingly difficult to respect the viewpoints of those who contributed to these policies.
Building an audience on X has been a transformative experience for me. It has connected me with friends and enabled enriching discussions with those who articulate their thoughts clearly and share similar values.
News through X and the value offered by some accounts is unbeatable. I will continue posting and engaging as I think it’s an important outlet for free speech.
I'm also relieved that the platform has moved away from the pre-Musk era which was a complete propaganda tool dominated by the woke, Western influence of San Francisco Democrats.
That being said, it's crucial to keep your children well away from the platform, as uncensored content requires the context that only good parenting can provide.
I feel there is a lot of raw emotion on Twitter, which often overshadows constructive content and leads to too much shit on the platform.
I’m very mindful of the type of individual it can attract at the opposite side of the spectrum, fuck heads, especially if you have an audience. The article written by Doomberg last year, which I alluded to earlier, has me thinking about what potential Substack notes can hold.
I’m interested in your take, leave a comment below and I hate asking but a like for the algo.
Cheers,
Jordan - Geólogo Trader 🇦🇺
Loyal Geólogo Trader subscriber:
I still need to place an income trade for this month, I will update you as soon as I see an opportunity.
The Argentine copper explorers/miners opportunity article is a work in progress.
A Black Sheep Podcast will be recorded next week (from Peru).
I’ve got some more “refined” Buenos Aires recommendations for you.
Great piece - thx Jordan. We too left WA - late last year - having lived through the tyrannical reign of Mark McGowan through Covid. The most frightening aspect wasn't the power grab by politicians , nor the corrupt media and health bureaucrats - no, it was the willingness of the Australian public - including our friends, family and work colleagues - to so easily, so blindly succumb to their divisive tactics and, ignoring their own common sense, completely ceding to 'authority' figures. For giving away their rights and insisting, bullying, threatening others do the same.
As a reader of history and science, this mass formation hysteria has many precedences.
And the outcomes are never good. As you say, it came time to vote with your feet, while you still can - before the exits are removed completely. We are in Ecuador and hope to visit Argentina one day soon, we pray Millieu will be able to turn the country around!
Thank you once again, and keep up the good work!
As I sit here reading your article with my friend ☕during my morning routine here in Melbourne, Australia, I've never read anything so relatable. The drifters mindset of Australians I believe is created from decades of good times...now with weak men leading...well, you know the rest. Excellent article Jordan, I don't usually take the time to read articles this length, but it was totally worth it. Godspeed to you mate.