Helen Zille closes Twitter account
The DA’s Federal Chairperson Helen Zille has announced on Monday that she will be closing her Twitter account.
Zille said her decision comes after the “grotesque treatment” of her granddaughter on the social media platform.
“After the grotesque treatment of my grand-daughter on Twitter ydy, I am closing this account. I say goodbye to some of my followers, and good riddance to the haters, bots and sock-puppets that constitute such a large percentage of my 1,4-million plus followers’, said Zille in a lengthy thread.
A thread 1) After the grotesque treatment of my grand-daughter on Twitter ydy, I am closing this account. I say goodbye to some of my followers, and good riddance to the haters, bots and sock-puppets that constitute such a large percentage of my 1,4-million plus followers.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) February 17, 2020
2) Twitter has degenerated into a platform for irrationality and mob-lynching. Everything that can be distorted and twisted for a hate-filled agenda, is used for the purpose of manufacturing outrage and inflicting maximum damage.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) February 17, 2020
3) For a long time I have sought to promote Twitter as a platform for rational and civil debate, but it clearly is not possible. It has degenerated into a space of distortion, de-contextualisation, demonization, de-legitimation and double standards.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) February 17, 2020
4) Instead of democratising debate, it has severely curtailed freedom of speech and discussion. It emboldens your enemies and silences your friends. It is a space where the best lack all conviction and the worst are full of passionate intensity, as Yeats so aptly put it.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) February 17, 2020
5) The only thing I would miss if I went off the platform entirely, are the posts of the rational and interesting people I follow. So I am opening a new, private account called @ZilleTweets. That will be for people interested in rational debate only.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) February 17, 2020
6) Of course, I would only know if someone is interested in rational debate if I know them either personally, or through past Twitter interactions. This means I may reject many who are interested in rational debate, but who I do not know.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) February 17, 2020
7) I apologise for that. But this evil platform, that can find no effective way of filtering out fake accounts, and dealing with hate speech (as constitutionally defined) offers no alternative. Go well if you mean well. I’m out of here.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) February 17, 2020
She said the platform does not allow for open discussions and healthy debates.
“For a long time I have sought to promote Twitter as a platform for rational and civil debate, but it clearly is not possible. It has degenerated into a space of distortion, de-contextualisation, demonization, de-legitimation and double standards.”
Zille added that she would be opening a new private account that would allow for “rational debate”.
In 2017, Zille came under fire after posting remarks on social media defending colonialism, for which she later apologised.
In other news – Shauwn Mkhize finds a new Man – report
Well, if this is true, these two really could make a cute couple. Rumour has it that, businesswoman and reality television star, Shauwn Mkhize could be dating again!
In one of the episodes of #KwaMaMkhize, the newly divorced Shauwn, clearly articulated the qualities that she’s looking for in a man. Including – he must be just as wealthy as she is. continue reading
Source: eNCA
