In case you’ve been under a rock this week, you might not have noticed that the Donald Trump/Elon Musk brotherhood/friendship appears to be over. Obviously they’re not Australians, but because what happens in the US affects the rest of the world, it’s been widely reported on here.

And also, if you’re on any kind of social media, it’s front and centre in some way shape or form. I think the most bizarre thing, has been to see it play out on social media in a tit for tat fashion. Now, let me also say, that no-one is particularly surprised by that the relationship has ended, but rather more surprised that it has taken so long.

But as per my title, it’s been like watching two kids have a playground fight. You know the one – it goes something like this:

“I don’t like you any more.”

“So what? I haven’t liked you for ages, I just put up with you.”

“Well, that’s really nasty.”

“I don’t care what you think, because I’ve helped you a lot, but guess what, I’m not helping you any more.”

“I’m going to take my toys and go home!”

“Well, you do that then! I don’t like your toys!”

“In that case, you’re a really bad person, and I’m telling everyone on you!”

And so it goes on.

What’s most astounding, is that this is (apparently) two grown men behaving like this. In some ways I’m not surprised. Both use their own social media platforms to promote their own ideologies and ideas, and do so with vigour. One even uses all caps. And it seems neither thinks very hard before they post.

I mean, we’ve all done that thing where we’ve written the words (and sometimes felt better for writing them), and then deleted them, but these two seem to just post it all as soon as they think of it. And on occasion deleted things later, but not until half the observers have taken screenshots. A good reminder that nothing on the web is ever really gone. Yet the behaviour continues.

Like children. Not like grown men. Like children.

One is the elected leader of his country, and the other one is a wealthy businessman. You’d think they’d know better. It makes you think, really.

Restraint, self control, public courtesies, measured replies. Apparently neither of them care. I’m pretty horrified, myself. Because if that’s what they’re like when the whole world is watching, then what are they actually like in person. The mind boggles.