Elon Musk is once again trying to abdicate his responsibility to the masses, launching a Twitter poll asking users if he should step down as CEO of the company. Apparently, leaving important business decisions to an online survey is the sign of a genius businessman.
“Should I leave the head of Twitter? » Musk asked in his tweet on Sunday evening. “I will stick to the results of this poll.”
As of this writing, more than 5 million people have voted, with 58% voting against Musk. The poll is expected to last 12 hours, so the results should be out on Monday.
While Musk’s lack of popularity may come as a surprise to him, it really shouldn’t be. Last week, the billionaire was vigorously booed by thousands of onlookers when he appeared on stage at comedian Dave Chappelle’s San Francisco show. Of course, that did nothing to deflate his titanium-grade ego.
“As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for, because you might get it” musk wrote 20 minutes into the survey, just like your most dramatic toxic ex.
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While Musk’s Twitter poll is a sight that will feed his lingering thirst for drama, it ultimately doesn’t make sense. Musk has previously said he has no plans to continue as CEO of Twitter indefinitely, intention to abdicate the role to a scapegoat responsible for cleaning up his mess. The poll also gives no timing indication.
So if Twitter users vote for Musk to leave, he can pull the trigger at any time that suits him while saying he is humbly following the will of the people. If Twitter users vote for Musk to stay, he can stay as long as he wants and then step down as the beloved king of Twitter, making the ultimate sacrifice for a higher calling.
But anyway, it will come out. So, from a strictly utilitarian standpoint, this poll might be the best thing Musk has ever done for Twitter.
This isn’t the first time Musk has left business decisions to a Twitter poll. In November, the CEO lifted Donald Trump’s suspension after conducting a poll ask Twitter users to decide.
Musk also conducted a poll last week asking whether he should reinstate journalists’ accounts he suspended and alleging they doxxed him – a claim that is not supported by the facts. Although the majority of those polled voted to lift the bans, Musk then held a second poll in apparent hope for a different result. It also allowed him to keep the bans in place for at least one more day while the polls unfolded, before lifting them and acting as if he were following the will of the people.
UPDATE: Dec 19, 2022 12:52 PM AEDT This article has been updated with more information regarding Elon Musk’s history with Twitter polls.