3 ms·

I like Elon Musk, but the hero-worship disturbs me. Yeah, he founded one pretty successful company, got in early at a very successful company, and has been usin

by bbctol 10y ago

I like Elon Musk, but the hero-worship disturbs me. Yeah, he founded one pretty successful company, got in early at a very successful company, and has been using the money to fund cool projects ever since. I think Tesla and SpaceX are both interesting, but still experimental: he hasn't been singlehandedly Tony Starking up the future in a lab, he's just used a lot of money from making some smart/lucky decisions to hire good people.

clydethefrog 10y ago
>has been using the money to fund cool projects Musk and his companies' investors enjoy most of the financial upside of the government support, while taxpayers shoulder the cost. [1] http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hy-musk-subsidies-20150531-story.html http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hy-musk-subsidies-2015...
- chc 10y ago
  Is this meant to imply that this is somehow unusual or particular to Tesla? The government provides incentives and subsidies all over the place. Even Coca-Cola benefits from subsidies.
- synaesthesisx 10y ago
  Let's not forget the $80 billion or so spent on the auto bailout...
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  First of all, those subsidies exist exactly to be used like this, so at best you can complain the government uses money to incentivize businesses. Elon is one of the few people who uses subsidies as they should be. Secondly, his companies have a good track record of paying governments loan back, in full, before the due time. Funny how a success story can be twisted into a negative.
- MPSimmons 10y ago
  They probably use government subsidized roads to deliver their goods, too. The freeloaders.
sixQuarks 10y ago
If anyone deserves hero-worship, it's Elon. In our age where the Kardashians and other vapid people are being worshiped, we need people like Elon to get a bit of the limelight and encourage and motivate ordinary people.
kstenerud 10y ago
"he hasn't been singlehandedly Tony Starking up the future in a lab" So this is the measure of progress now? How can this sentence sound like anything other than sour grapes? You use the tools available to you for the betterment of your species in some way.
- bbctol 10y ago
  Like I said, I like him! I just don't understand why we should think he has special knowledge of what the future holds.
  - TeMPOraL 10y ago
    He doesn't! He's a smart guy, for sure, he has some pretty interesting ideas - but as for the interview, it was done just because he's famous. He's stating his opinions. If you treat them as anything more, then it's not exactly his fault. I think people overestimate the value of interviews. It's just individuals talking, not a compressed textbook!
    - babyrainbow 10y ago
      >he has some pretty interesting ideas... Can you list a few? I think only Hyperloop was a truly new idea. And I don't think it is going anywhere. It now feels like something that he did to capture the attention of the geek world.

by bbctol 10y ago

clydethefrog 10y ago

>has been using the money to fund cool projects Musk and his companies' investors enjoy most of the financial upside of the government support, while taxpayers shoulder the cost. [1] http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hy-musk-subsidies-20150531-story.html http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hy-musk-subsidies-2015...

chc 10y ago
Is this meant to imply that this is somehow unusual or particular to Tesla? The government provides incentives and subsidies all over the place. Even Coca-Cola benefits from subsidies.
synaesthesisx 10y ago
Let's not forget the $80 billion or so spent on the auto bailout...
TeMPOraL 10y ago
First of all, those subsidies exist exactly to be used like this, so at best you can complain the government uses money to incentivize businesses. Elon is one of the few people who uses subsidies as they should be. Secondly, his companies have a good track record of paying governments loan back, in full, before the due time. Funny how a success story can be twisted into a negative.
MPSimmons 10y ago
They probably use government subsidized roads to deliver their goods, too. The freeloaders.

sixQuarks 10y ago

If anyone deserves hero-worship, it's Elon. In our age where the Kardashians and other vapid people are being worshiped, we need people like Elon to get a bit of the limelight and encourage and motivate ordinary people.

kstenerud 10y ago

"he hasn't been singlehandedly Tony Starking up the future in a lab" So this is the measure of progress now? How can this sentence sound like anything other than sour grapes? You use the tools available to you for the betterment of your species in some way.

bbctol 10y ago
Like I said, I like him! I just don't understand why we should think he has special knowledge of what the future holds.
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  He doesn't! He's a smart guy, for sure, he has some pretty interesting ideas - but as for the interview, it was done just because he's famous. He's stating his opinions. If you treat them as anything more, then it's not exactly his fault. I think people overestimate the value of interviews. It's just individuals talking, not a compressed textbook!
  - babyrainbow 10y ago
    >he has some pretty interesting ideas... Can you list a few? I think only Hyperloop was a truly new idea. And I don't think it is going anywhere. It now feels like something that he did to capture the attention of the geek world.