What Do We Do Now?

Twitter and History in the Age of Elon

We’ve got some thinking to do. If you’re reading this it means you probably came to follow me through twitter and that means we’re almost all contemplating what to do in light of Elon Musk’s purchase of the platform. Almost immediately we are seeing changes. I’ve always been wary of what appears before me online, knowing that there are algorithms and supercomputers and guys named Sean or Ted or Jamal working in Silicon Valley to figure out exactly how to press my buttons so I will press theirs. But almost instantly it seemed that I saw a rise in hate speech or at least a rise in people reporting it. I know it’s out there. Hell, the statue on the courthouse square in my hometown of Murray, Kentucky is a testament to the enduring desire by many to force suffering on others. But I like to think that my presence online stands to counter that. I like to think that our presence online counters that.

“I don’t like ceding territory,” is what I told students at St. Olaf College, where I’d been invited to speak tonight. One student asked me if we could really counter the messages of the Dinesh D’Souzas in the world. I told them I really didn’t know. But we could provide the information for people to educate themselves. We could provide a welcoming space for people who want one. We had an amazing time. If there is a future for this country, the students I met tonight are proof that it can be a bright one and something to look forward to.

I don’t like Elon Musk. I think he’s a shit starter. A bad apple. And his influence and decisions may damn well chase me away from twitter. Perhaps to another social media site like Mastodon, which I have never used. But for now, I’m staying. I’ve made too many friends on twitter. But there feels an obligation on my part to be part of the conversation there, no matter and perhaps in spite of whoever is calling the shots. Maybe I overvalue the importance of my own voice. But it’s worth something. And right now, that’s where the fight is.

I told this to the students tonight and it’s a message that I’m still trying to figure out how to say clearly: that if we do all this work and think all these things and live all these lives and then keep it to ourselves then folks we are failing.

As historians we have to figure out how to bring messages to the public. Writing books is simply not enough. We must engage. And look, it doesn’t all have to be life or death. Have fun. Post pictures of your brontosaurus-sized dog.¹ I’m looking at you, Gannon.

Kevin Gannon @TheTattooedProf

Henlo we are going to door to door collecting beefs would you like to do a contribute

So twitter is where I’ll stay, at least for now. But that’s my thoughts. My bigger thought is to let your conscious guide you. If it’s not a space you want to be in, then don’t. But as long as I’m around, I’ll be working to create spaces where you are welcome. I hope this substack is now one of them.

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News on the HATM front. This last week I hired a graphic artist friend of mine to redesign the logo. I did this for a couple reasons. I liked that if I wanted to tweak it or do something different, there was a person I knew who I could contact. Secondly, and more importantly, I wanted to go with Brian because it felt right. I taught with him for a year at The Pine School and knew him to be good people. And if this logo was to represent our community, then it needs to be created by good people. He’s working on it now; I hope to have it ready for you by the podcast launch on December 7th.

Speaking of the pod, last week I got to talk about The Taking of Pelham 123 with Eric Rauchway. Eric is a Professor of History at UC Davis and the kind of person I never, ever would’ve approached years ago. He’s a Big Professor at a Very Elite School. Well, he is, but he’s also just an awesome dude. He’s another friend twitter gave me. I learn a ton from him on a regular basis. Eric had actually cohosted Marathon Man on the Sunday night show a few weeks ago, meaning that due to him, I’ve now seen three films I’d never seen before. And Pelham is such an awesome film. The remake is fine. But to sit and watch Robert Shaw in the original is like pouring a glass of California Cabernet, letting it breathe, and then sipping on it for a while. The Taking of Pelham 123 has good legs, one might say. Anyway, I'm guessing that we’ll have that podcast for you sometime in January. It’s really good and I think you’ll dig it.

Oh, here’s a link to Eric’s new book below. I’m not paid and Eric didn’t ask me to share it, but maybe you’re interested in his stuff. Here ya go.

HATM this week sees the return of Tim Johnson as guest cohost and for good reason. Tim is probably the foremost expert in the world on the Sherlock Holmes universe. Coincidentally, he’s also the Curator of Special Collections and Rare Books as well as the Sherlock Holmes Collection at the University of Minnesota, the largest collection of material related to Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the world. It’s pretty freaking cool. Anyway, join in on Sunday, November 6 at 8PM eastern on Netflix for Enola Holmes 2.

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It’s late. I’ve got a couple of middle seat plane rides ahead of me tomorrow to get back to my home in Florida, and my cat, Edward. I know we’ve all got stuff on our minds, and probably far more pressing ones than who owns what social media group. We’re thinking about the holidays, relationships, bills, and siphoning off our kids’ candy.² I know I'm weighing a ton on my mind. God knows I'm searching to find enough conclusions, let alone for the one to this letter. So let me finish by paraphrasing Minnesota football coach P.J. Fleck. It's a message I've come to deeply believe. In rough seas, people take their hands of the oars. They stop paddling. Crash on the rocks or get lost. The only way forward is to keep paddling. The only solution is to keep going. You'll find your lane and punch through.

Row the boat.

1. Welcome back, you big thunder lizard.

2. Those Twix are mine, boys.