X introduces new gun emoji to combat ‘woke mind virus’ – Musk
Elon Musk has stood by his choice to swap the gun emoji on X for one that resembles an actual firearm. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The platform shifted from showcasing a toy pistol to a realistic firearm last month.
Elon Musk has articulated his reasoning for reinstating the gun emoji on X (formerly Twitter), asserting that the portrayal of a realistic firearm instead of a toy pistol is part of the broader struggle against the “woke mind virus.”
In a post on his social media platform on Tuesday, the billionaire shared a chart illustrating how the emoji has evolved across various platforms over the past decade. Alongside X, the chart featured representations used by Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta’s Facebook.
The observable trend across platforms has been a move from real firearms to toy representations, whereas Musk's platform has opted for the opposite direction since his acquisition in 2022.
”Nerfing of the gun emoji matches rise of the woke mind virus, as a core tenet is equating fake harm with real harm,” he remarked regarding the chart.
The transition from the earlier toy gun to one resembling a modern semi-automatic pistol occurred last month, specifically on the web interface of X. The previous version was implemented by prior management in 2018.
The United States is notable among developed nations for its unique gun culture and high levels of gun violence. Some advocate for diminishing the display of realistic guns across media, contending that it glorifies firearms and exacerbates their usage.
The Unicode Consortium, the body responsible for determining emoji designs, currently designates the gun emoji as a “water pistol.”
Musk is known for his strong support of certain conservative political causes. He has maintained that “the right to bear arms is an important safeguard against potential tyranny of government,” while also backing some gun control measures, including background checks for individuals seeking to own more lethal firearms.
Earlier, Musk posted a sequence of gun emojis around the same time that US President Joe Biden was addressing the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday. Among other topics, Biden highlighted his administration's achievements in passing gun control legislation and called for additional restrictions.
The “woke mind virus” that Musk referenced is a term commonly used in conservative circles to critique the promotion of progressive policies, such as allowing minors to undergo gender transition at schools without parental consent or knowledge.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
Elon Musk has articulated his reasoning for reinstating the gun emoji on X (formerly Twitter), asserting that the portrayal of a realistic firearm instead of a toy pistol is part of the broader struggle against the “woke mind virus.”
In a post on his social media platform on Tuesday, the billionaire shared a chart illustrating how the emoji has evolved across various platforms over the past decade. Alongside X, the chart featured representations used by Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta’s Facebook.
The observable trend across platforms has been a move from real firearms to toy representations, whereas Musk's platform has opted for the opposite direction since his acquisition in 2022.
”Nerfing of the gun emoji matches rise of the woke mind virus, as a core tenet is equating fake harm with real harm,” he remarked regarding the chart.
The transition from the earlier toy gun to one resembling a modern semi-automatic pistol occurred last month, specifically on the web interface of X. The previous version was implemented by prior management in 2018.
The United States is notable among developed nations for its unique gun culture and high levels of gun violence. Some advocate for diminishing the display of realistic guns across media, contending that it glorifies firearms and exacerbates their usage.
The Unicode Consortium, the body responsible for determining emoji designs, currently designates the gun emoji as a “water pistol.”
Musk is known for his strong support of certain conservative political causes. He has maintained that “the right to bear arms is an important safeguard against potential tyranny of government,” while also backing some gun control measures, including background checks for individuals seeking to own more lethal firearms.
Earlier, Musk posted a sequence of gun emojis around the same time that US President Joe Biden was addressing the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday. Among other topics, Biden highlighted his administration's achievements in passing gun control legislation and called for additional restrictions.
The “woke mind virus” that Musk referenced is a term commonly used in conservative circles to critique the promotion of progressive policies, such as allowing minors to undergo gender transition at schools without parental consent or knowledge.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
