Dear @elonmusk I've paid for the checkmark just to tell you this: 1. It doesn't work. 2. You cannot support "free speech" by forcing people to pay for the privilege of speaking as themselves. 3. And at the same time, if we do not pay for the checkmark, then you allow others to pretend to be someone they are not at the cost of authenticity. 4. So, it is both hypocritical and dangerous to take away the legacy checkmarks. 5. Make everyone register in their real name - not a "handle" - to encourage transparency and honesty. In addition; 6. Anonymity is not transparency. 7. You are not an experienced journalist - nor, it seems, do you understand the difference between "fair" and "factual." 8. It is debatable whether you understand the difference between an opinion and a vetted fact. 9. By your actions, you confuse the difference between public media and state supported media. And being in this business for 40 years, I can say with no doubt that you really do not understand the many problems in today's press. (I can recommend a book to read that will help you get an idea) 10. You cannot support free speech either by suppressing it or giving cover to those who make obstreperous accusations without identification or attribution. And: 11. You are sacrificing the integrity and profitability of this platform at the expense of anonymous trolls and bots. 12. Either this move is by design or from ignorance. It is still debatable whether it is one or the other - or both. If it's by design you've paid enough money for the platform that it compels one to believe you are ignorant - unless you are getting a boat load of side money from ads and bots, or your goal is to destroy the platform at the cost of what you paid to purchase it. That's an entirely different level of silliness. 13. While I know many who have fled this platform, I have not. I have vowed to stay until the bitter end. Call me stubborn or call me stupid. Don't call me late for dinner. But, that being said, the end seems near - and more and more you look like Slim Pickens at the end of Dr. Strangelove. - and unfortunately so do I. 14. That being said, it is not yet too late. 15. Restore the legacy check mark. Force real transparency among participants. And support the publication of vetted facts. (see "Fox News" if you want to understand why). Otherwise you've destroyed the village town square and replaced it with the village idiots convention. (See Woody Allen's "Love and Death" for a reference.) Peace. Love. Rock n' Roll. And you are not D.D. Harriman. (though count me in on a trip to the stars) Brian J. Karem