Mike Masnick
@mmasnick.bsky.social
Techdirt guy. Writes about social media, copyright, free speech, content moderation, civil liberties and stuff like that. Once wrote a paper that may have helped inspire this service & now I'm on its board: https://bit.ly/protocolnotplatform
Discord is doing a "wrapped" kinda thing now. Apparently I'm in the top 10% of Discord message senders? But it has a page talking about the person I share the most time with and suggested a message for me to send them, which would be... extremely inappropriate as it's someone who works for me.
December 5, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Discord is doing a "wrapped" kinda thing now. Apparently I'm in the top 10% of Discord message senders? But it has a page talking about the person I share the most time with and suggested a message for me to send them, which would be... extremely inappropriate as it's someone who works for me.
I found my intro to econ book from 1992. And you can say I'm "just wrong" and that I've "misremembered econ class" but... I dunno, man. Maybe don't be so rude.
December 4, 2025 at 6:36 AM
I found my intro to econ book from 1992. And you can say I'm "just wrong" and that I've "misremembered econ class" but... I dunno, man. Maybe don't be so rude.
So we came up with this idea of the commemorative coin, which (I'm biased, but!) looks really cool. rtb.techdirt.com/products/fri...
December 3, 2025 at 5:49 PM
So we came up with this idea of the commemorative coin, which (I'm biased, but!) looks really cool. rtb.techdirt.com/products/fri...
For those willing to support us at $100 or more, we're offering the very first (hopefully of many annual ones to come) Techdirt commemorative coin (yes, a real, physical coin). This first one, for 2026, is celebrating 30 years of Section 230.
December 3, 2025 at 5:49 PM
For those willing to support us at $100 or more, we're offering the very first (hopefully of many annual ones to come) Techdirt commemorative coin (yes, a real, physical coin). This first one, for 2026, is celebrating 30 years of Section 230.
Excuse me, what? Your "cloud of consciousness"?
December 2, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Excuse me, what? Your "cloud of consciousness"?
This is unrelated to the actual story, but to claim Byrne is the "founder of Bed, Bath & Beyond" is nonsense. Byrne invested in the company that became Overstock (with him as CEO), which bought the name Bed, Bath & Beyond from the bankrupt retailer 4 years *after* Byrne left Overstock
December 2, 2025 at 7:44 PM
This is unrelated to the actual story, but to claim Byrne is the "founder of Bed, Bath & Beyond" is nonsense. Byrne invested in the company that became Overstock (with him as CEO), which bought the name Bed, Bath & Beyond from the bankrupt retailer 4 years *after* Byrne left Overstock
And Hegseth said at the time that he watched the attack *live*. If he watched it live, then he either gave the orders or knew exactly what orders were given that day.
www.foxnews.com/media/hegset...
www.foxnews.com/media/hegset...
December 2, 2025 at 4:09 AM
And Hegseth said at the time that he watched the attack *live*. If he watched it live, then he either gave the orders or knew exactly what orders were given that day.
www.foxnews.com/media/hegset...
www.foxnews.com/media/hegset...
"A shipment is on the way!" announces the email that was sent a week ago. Today I'm wondering where the product is since it's been a week since the email. Tracking link takes me to FedEx saying they still don't have the product.
The shipment is, in no way, "on the way."
The shipment is, in no way, "on the way."
December 2, 2025 at 12:34 AM
"A shipment is on the way!" announces the email that was sent a week ago. Today I'm wondering where the product is since it's been a week since the email. Tracking link takes me to FedEx saying they still don't have the product.
The shipment is, in no way, "on the way."
The shipment is, in no way, "on the way."
Hiring Clare Locke, specifically, is evidence that you are against free speech. The law firm *brags* about how its specialty is protecting the rich and famous from "unfair" media coverage.
November 30, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Hiring Clare Locke, specifically, is evidence that you are against free speech. The law firm *brags* about how its specialty is protecting the rich and famous from "unfair" media coverage.
I am a strong believer that every household bookshelf should have a Tom Stoppard section. RIP.
November 29, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I am a strong believer that every household bookshelf should have a Tom Stoppard section. RIP.
There's also the Guinness World Record winning biggest Pez dispener in the world. Anyway, it was a fun time. Bruce is great. His stories about coin banks are wonderful (he explained how they're made, and talked about the community of folks who collects them, and how to tell good ones from bad ones.)
November 29, 2025 at 1:24 AM
There's also the Guinness World Record winning biggest Pez dispener in the world. Anyway, it was a fun time. Bruce is great. His stories about coin banks are wonderful (he explained how they're made, and talked about the community of folks who collects them, and how to tell good ones from bad ones.)
There are also some cool early electronics, including a Seiko "TV watch" and a watch "computer."
November 29, 2025 at 1:24 AM
There are also some cool early electronics, including a Seiko "TV watch" and a watch "computer."
He also has a ton of "banned toys" (including the Atomic Energy Lab! Gas powered pogo stick!) and he loves telling the history of them. And he's a big fan of toys that because super popular. He has an original Mr. Potato Head, an original Barbie doll and more.
November 29, 2025 at 1:24 AM
He also has a ton of "banned toys" (including the Atomic Energy Lab! Gas powered pogo stick!) and he loves telling the history of them. And he's a big fan of toys that because super popular. He has an original Mr. Potato Head, an original Barbie doll and more.
A few minutes later, he came and unlocked the museum for us and then told us to look around, but then just started telling us amazing stories about tons of stuff in the museum. It has a ton of pez dispensers (mostly from another local museum that shut down). But Bruce's passion are old coin banks.
November 29, 2025 at 1:24 AM
A few minutes later, he came and unlocked the museum for us and then told us to look around, but then just started telling us amazing stories about tons of stuff in the museum. It has a ton of pez dispensers (mostly from another local museum that shut down). But Bruce's passion are old coin banks.
When you drive up, the first thing you see are many giant fiberglass sculptures, which is another one of Bruce's business (repairing and making such things).
November 29, 2025 at 1:24 AM
When you drive up, the first thing you see are many giant fiberglass sculptures, which is another one of Bruce's business (repairing and making such things).
Went for a Thanksgiving walk in the hills, and kid spotted an owl.
November 28, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Went for a Thanksgiving walk in the hills, and kid spotted an owl.
Thanksgiving Catan got intense.
November 28, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Thanksgiving Catan got intense.
Amazing! Wrapped for Bluesky/Atmosphere.
November 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Amazing! Wrapped for Bluesky/Atmosphere.
Next week the House E&C Committee is looking to run something of a shock and awe campaign, debating at least 19 bills that they say are related to "protecting kids online." Most of which are actually about censorship and control. Don't buy the framing. It's always the same damn thing.
November 26, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Next week the House E&C Committee is looking to run something of a shock and awe campaign, debating at least 19 bills that they say are related to "protecting kids online." Most of which are actually about censorship and control. Don't buy the framing. It's always the same damn thing.
LinkedIn's ad targeting is apparently on the fritz. The idea that I'm in the market for a freaking airplane is... bonkers.
November 24, 2025 at 7:17 AM
LinkedIn's ad targeting is apparently on the fritz. The idea that I'm in the market for a freaking airplane is... bonkers.
Don't want to call out this particular rando user, but just noting what an impressive display of poor reading comprehension this is. My comments are on, not off (you just have to follow). Nothing in my post is critical of Mamdani. I'm not trying to "manufacture consent." Take a breath and slow down.
November 22, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Don't want to call out this particular rando user, but just noting what an impressive display of poor reading comprehension this is. My comments are on, not off (you just have to follow). Nothing in my post is critical of Mamdani. I'm not trying to "manufacture consent." Take a breath and slow down.
So, yes, Jmail is amazing. But it also alerted me to the fact that one of the last emails in his email inbox was @flipboard.com alerting Epstein that he'd been arrested... (cc: @mmccue.bsky.social)
November 21, 2025 at 10:59 PM
So, yes, Jmail is amazing. But it also alerted me to the fact that one of the last emails in his email inbox was @flipboard.com alerting Epstein that he'd been arrested... (cc: @mmccue.bsky.social)
Yes. This. Changing your replies to followers only makes a huge difference for larger accounts. The only "downside" is once a month or so someone who can't read/follow instructions yells "this fucker turned off comments!" at you. It's better than many more randos missing the point & yelling though.
November 21, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Yes. This. Changing your replies to followers only makes a huge difference for larger accounts. The only "downside" is once a month or so someone who can't read/follow instructions yells "this fucker turned off comments!" at you. It's better than many more randos missing the point & yelling though.
Apparently the lesson Brendan Carr learned from the Kimmel debacle is that he didn't actually have any consequences for abusing his power to violate the 1st Amendment, so he's just going to keep at it.
November 16, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Apparently the lesson Brendan Carr learned from the Kimmel debacle is that he didn't actually have any consequences for abusing his power to violate the 1st Amendment, so he's just going to keep at it.
Friend alerts me that my name appears in the Epstein docs, leading me to say "WHAT?!?" Turns out for some reason in the documents is the syllabus from a Harvard class on "Internet & Society: The Technologies and Politics of Control" which had students read something I had written...
November 14, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Friend alerts me that my name appears in the Epstein docs, leading me to say "WHAT?!?" Turns out for some reason in the documents is the syllabus from a Harvard class on "Internet & Society: The Technologies and Politics of Control" which had students read something I had written...