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You're retreating from your original claim that Musk specifically pays people to "monitor and influence public forums" and in particular this forum. Now someone

You're retreating from your original claim that Musk specifically pays people to "monitor and influence public forums" and in particular this forum. Now someone else pointed out that this is nonsense, you're retreating to the bailey of "wealth people manage their public image" which is a much weaker claim.

moistly 4y ago
It’s the same claim! Since the time of pharaohs those with power and money have paid informers and influencers to keep their ear to the ground and to promote their benefactor. It’s a well-established industry. Hollywood makes extensive use of it, Scientology infamously so, politicians the same, and sure as god made little green apples, Musk’s cult-like evangelists are helped along their path by the ministrations of professional influencers. You can’t say Musk farted without some toady sycophant popping up to say that it smells like roses. It’s bizarre and unnatural, and Occam’s razor says that it’s hired help.
- JoshCole 4y ago
  Claim 1: > Of course many of those in this very thread that argue against those who say “bad things” about Musk are being engaged by his paid mouthpieces. Claim 2 > More the fool you, though, if you naïvely believe that the ultra-wealthy don’t manage their public image! In one you claim that people in this thread are doing it. In the other you claim that it is a thing which is done. These are two different claims. You think people who disagree with you are fools, because you think misleading others is wisdom. I think you can escape, because I think you know that Putin is a moron. Do you agree that it was stupid of him to spread misinformation, ultimately resulting in deception prospering so much so that he lost sight of the truth, leading to ruin? If it was stupid for Putin, then why can't it be stupid for others? Look, you point to Pharaoh. He is dead, his empire is dead, and his fancy pyramid didn't help him. You point to politicians - Hitler killed himself. You point to Scientology - do you think them clever and wise, that they have the truth; I don't. Why are you pointing at idiots? Why are you pointing at dead men? Why do you think they are so clever? If you had evidence that people were being paid, you wouldn't need to point to unwise dead men! Get out of the pit. Where is the oppression you claim? Where are the people being paid? Where is your evidence? Show me a check. Show me a paystub! Show me an account name which can be hired through an online service. Show me that I'm wrong that your beliefs are not rooted in your preconception that it is wise to mislead. I confess that I believe that it isn't absurd to be corrected. Criticize me! Point out my flaws! I will be better for it. I am not talking about claim 2. I am talking about claim 1. Also, from the Hacker News site guidelines: > Please don't post insinuations about astroturfing, shilling, bots, brigading, foreign agents and the like. It degrades discussion and is usually mistaken. If you're worried about abuse, email hn@ycombinator.com and we'll look at the data. > Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive.
  - moistly 4y ago
    Good god what tiresome and unnecessary drivel.
    - JoshCole 4y ago
      You mock attempts to share critical feedback with you. It is clear you don't value criticism. It is plain to see why someone who doesn't value criticism wouldn't understand why someone else would value it. Nevertheless, plenty of intelligent people consider soliciting critical feedback of their ideas to be among the most important things they can do. I eagerly await the day you present concrete evidence of your claims that many here are being paid by Elon Musk to promote him, but I grow more and more certain with your every reply that you have no such evidence. If you did have the evidence, you would collect a hundred dollars quickly. Since you don't, you call me a fool and pretend I speak drivel. I could call you a liar for that, but I won't. I think you are confused enough that you believe your own false claims. I completely forgive your insults. However, I must insist you not see yourself as wise in your own eyes. You who proclaim that others should not "think for even a moment" have no place whatsoever mocking at cultists.
      - moistly 4y ago
        Bless your heart for caring so much. I do not.

moistly 4y ago

It’s the same claim! Since the time of pharaohs those with power and money have paid informers and influencers to keep their ear to the ground and to promote their benefactor. It’s a well-established industry. Hollywood makes extensive use of it, Scientology infamously so, politicians the same, and sure as god made little green apples, Musk’s cult-like evangelists are helped along their path by the ministrations of professional influencers. You can’t say Musk farted without some toady sycophant popping up to say that it smells like roses. It’s bizarre and unnatural, and Occam’s razor says that it’s hired help.

JoshCole 4y ago
Claim 1: > Of course many of those in this very thread that argue against those who say “bad things” about Musk are being engaged by his paid mouthpieces. Claim 2 > More the fool you, though, if you naïvely believe that the ultra-wealthy don’t manage their public image! In one you claim that people in this thread are doing it. In the other you claim that it is a thing which is done. These are two different claims. You think people who disagree with you are fools, because you think misleading others is wisdom. I think you can escape, because I think you know that Putin is a moron. Do you agree that it was stupid of him to spread misinformation, ultimately resulting in deception prospering so much so that he lost sight of the truth, leading to ruin? If it was stupid for Putin, then why can't it be stupid for others? Look, you point to Pharaoh. He is dead, his empire is dead, and his fancy pyramid didn't help him. You point to politicians - Hitler killed himself. You point to Scientology - do you think them clever and wise, that they have the truth; I don't. Why are you pointing at idiots? Why are you pointing at dead men? Why do you think they are so clever? If you had evidence that people were being paid, you wouldn't need to point to unwise dead men! Get out of the pit. Where is the oppression you claim? Where are the people being paid? Where is your evidence? Show me a check. Show me a paystub! Show me an account name which can be hired through an online service. Show me that I'm wrong that your beliefs are not rooted in your preconception that it is wise to mislead. I confess that I believe that it isn't absurd to be corrected. Criticize me! Point out my flaws! I will be better for it. I am not talking about claim 2. I am talking about claim 1. Also, from the Hacker News site guidelines: > Please don't post insinuations about astroturfing, shilling, bots, brigading, foreign agents and the like. It degrades discussion and is usually mistaken. If you're worried about abuse, email hn@ycombinator.com and we'll look at the data. > Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive.
- moistly 4y ago
  Good god what tiresome and unnecessary drivel.
  - JoshCole 4y ago
    You mock attempts to share critical feedback with you. It is clear you don't value criticism. It is plain to see why someone who doesn't value criticism wouldn't understand why someone else would value it. Nevertheless, plenty of intelligent people consider soliciting critical feedback of their ideas to be among the most important things they can do. I eagerly await the day you present concrete evidence of your claims that many here are being paid by Elon Musk to promote him, but I grow more and more certain with your every reply that you have no such evidence. If you did have the evidence, you would collect a hundred dollars quickly. Since you don't, you call me a fool and pretend I speak drivel. I could call you a liar for that, but I won't. I think you are confused enough that you believe your own false claims. I completely forgive your insults. However, I must insist you not see yourself as wise in your own eyes. You who proclaim that others should not "think for even a moment" have no place whatsoever mocking at cultists.
    - moistly 4y ago
      Bless your heart for caring so much. I do not.