"Have just. Read The Rational Optimist. Great book."

January 3, 2012 9:19 AM

Rupert Murdoch, here are my top Twitter tips – feel free to RT
posted by Artw (19 comments total)

"Obama decision on terrorist detention very courageous - and dead right! @"

New morality litmus test: if Rupert Murdoch tweets a decision of yours is "courageous," it's time to reconsider.
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:26 AM on January 3

Shit My Plutocrat Says
posted by fleetmouse at 9:27 AM on January 3 [24 favorites]

if Rupert Murdoch tweets a decision of yours is "courageous," it's time to reconsider.

It may not even have been a decision of yours.
posted by Artw at 9:29 AM on January 3 [2 favorites]

Murdoch can now "follow" people legally.
posted by exogenous at 9:29 AM on January 3 [4 favorites]

In a 2009 article in Vanity Fair, Murdoch biographer Michael Wolff wrote that the mogul viewed the internet as "predatory", stating: "For him it's a place for porn, thievery, and hackers."

Ironically, that's also a nice summation of the media outlets he owns.
posted by zarq at 9:31 AM on January 3 [8 favorites]

Take away quote:

3. Proper punctuation is the politeness of princes
This is aimed at my mother, really, more than Rupert, but I've always found it easier to talk to her through the medium of open letters to media moguls.

posted by maryr at 9:35 AM on January 3 [3 favorites]

Tempted to send him a link to this but I imagine a load of wags have already done so. And I don't suddenly want a Sun reporter lurking in my bushes. Not that I'm paranoid.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:41 AM on January 3

5. No one likes a self-promoter - someone inform William Easterly who will insist on RT every one who ever RTs him.

and my favourite, since it seems to me most of the blue displays these tendencies still

6. Be familiar with internet slang

If you're going to be down with the kids, ask one of your own to give you a basic primer in internet lore. No pictures of cats (too 2007), no comparing anyone to Hitler,
posted by infini at 9:43 AM on January 3

Maybe Brits have too many holidays for a broke country!
posted by birdherder at 9:46 AM on January 3

Oh and the first time I scanned through the article I thought he was following 'Satan'... pity I'd misread 'S'ralan'
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:47 AM on January 3

The comment from Arken is timely "Rupert Murdoch is so old, he remembers when Ron Paul qualified for social security."
posted by Cranberry at 9:54 AM on January 3

RUPERT!! delete tweet!!
posted by Artw at 9:55 AM on January 3

There's nothing worse than a tweeter with a book out

Sweet Jesus is this ever true.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:13 AM on January 3

It's hard to be a Rational Optimist while Rupert Murdoch has a stranglehold on the national political dialog. I guess not saying that is what made it a great book.
posted by clarknova at 10:17 AM on January 3

I'm just glad the man finally has an outlet for his opinions.

This is exactly what Twitter was made for.
posted by PlusDistance at 10:37 AM on January 3 [1 favorite]

His last two tweets, in full:

@saadmohseni
@andrew bolt

@andrew has 2713 followers, and is only following 109, suggesting that he's picked up a fair few from that link.
posted by Infinite Jest at 11:04 AM on January 3

This comes to mind.
posted by jbickers at 11:23 AM on January 3

New morality litmus test: if Rupert Murdoch tweets a decision of yours is "courageous," it's time to reconsider.

Bringing to mind the infinitely quotable Sir Humphrey Appleby from Yes, Minister:

"Ministers will generally accept proposals which contain the words simple, quick, popular and cheap.

"Ministers will generally throw out proposals which contain the words complicated, lengthy, expensive and controversial.

"Above all, if you wish to describe a proposal in a way that guarantees that a Minister will reject it, describe it as courageous."

posted by George_Spiggott at 11:31 AM on January 3 [3 favorites]

It's no surprise to me that Murdoch has joined Twitter. After all, he once described the internet as a place for "porn, thievery and hackers." After the NOTW hacking scandal, he probably just realised he should stop living in denial.
posted by Effigy2000 at 2:23 PM on January 3