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Elon has things to show for these claims. His cars do self-drive, though not at an average human level yet. But if you've been following the progress, he is qui

Elon has things to show for these claims. His cars do self-drive, though not at an average human level yet. But if you've been following the progress, he is quickly approaching that point. Same with neuralink, it's not just words.

ncmncm 4y ago
Musk bought into both of those, however much he would like it forgotten. The only thing he started himself that has worked out so far is SpaceX. Yet the whole Martian colony line is 100% grift. Starlink might yet flop, as it needs more subscribers than it probably can support. SpaceX has been very good at eliciting government handouts. Starship will absolutely not be able to turn around in less than 30 days until after they figure out a tile scheme different enough from NASA's, if ever. It is very far from certain the chopsticks catching scheme will work. Each time a Superheavy detonates on the launchpad (which will happen) will set them back months, because it will wipe out the whole "stage 0" and tank farm.
- rlt 4y ago
  Typical anti-Musk talking points. > Musk bought into both of those Very early on. And grew, at least Tesla, many orders of magnitude from early prototype to mass production. > SpaceX has been very good at eliciting government handouts Contracts, not handouts. Which they have delivered on in spades. Starship and Starlink are still early, yes. But Falcon 9 has brought launch costs down considerably, is putting more mass to orbit than the rest of the world combined, and is currently the only way the United States can get astronauts into orbit.
  - ncmncm 4y ago
    You correctly note that of all Musk initiatives, only SpaceX has shown partial success, and that only via direct government subsidy. You correctly do not assert that Martian colonization or suborbital passenger or freight service are better than grift even with a 100% Starship success. You correctly do not assert that any other Musk initiative, including hyperloop, domestic robots, self-driving cars, electric trucks, are anything other than grift.
    - rlt 4y ago
      He has accomplished more than many people thought possible, so I’ll continue to believe he will deliver some, but certainly not all, of the things you mentioned. Being ambitious and risky doesn’t make it a “grift”. And “government subsidy” is a complete red herring. Inventing and building things takes money, I don’t care if that comes from the government or private investors. I’d say he has plenty to show for the investment the government made in his companies.
      - ncmncm 4y ago
        Of course he has plenty. He got it from us. The only reason he has as much as he does is via grift, puffing the value of his properties. He has delivered a bunch of legendarily unreliable expensive cars and a bunch of rocket launches, and been handed pots of money of far greater value than anything he has delivered. Grift. And he gets free puffery from internet volunteers.
        rlt 4y ago

ncmncm 4y ago

Musk bought into both of those, however much he would like it forgotten. The only thing he started himself that has worked out so far is SpaceX. Yet the whole Martian colony line is 100% grift. Starlink might yet flop, as it needs more subscribers than it probably can support. SpaceX has been very good at eliciting government handouts. Starship will absolutely not be able to turn around in less than 30 days until after they figure out a tile scheme different enough from NASA's, if ever. It is very far from certain the chopsticks catching scheme will work. Each time a Superheavy detonates on the launchpad (which will happen) will set them back months, because it will wipe out the whole "stage 0" and tank farm.

rlt 4y ago
Typical anti-Musk talking points. > Musk bought into both of those Very early on. And grew, at least Tesla, many orders of magnitude from early prototype to mass production. > SpaceX has been very good at eliciting government handouts Contracts, not handouts. Which they have delivered on in spades. Starship and Starlink are still early, yes. But Falcon 9 has brought launch costs down considerably, is putting more mass to orbit than the rest of the world combined, and is currently the only way the United States can get astronauts into orbit.
- ncmncm 4y ago
  You correctly note that of all Musk initiatives, only SpaceX has shown partial success, and that only via direct government subsidy. You correctly do not assert that Martian colonization or suborbital passenger or freight service are better than grift even with a 100% Starship success. You correctly do not assert that any other Musk initiative, including hyperloop, domestic robots, self-driving cars, electric trucks, are anything other than grift.
  - rlt 4y ago
    He has accomplished more than many people thought possible, so I’ll continue to believe he will deliver some, but certainly not all, of the things you mentioned. Being ambitious and risky doesn’t make it a “grift”. And “government subsidy” is a complete red herring. Inventing and building things takes money, I don’t care if that comes from the government or private investors. I’d say he has plenty to show for the investment the government made in his companies.
    - ncmncm 4y ago
      Of course he has plenty. He got it from us. The only reason he has as much as he does is via grift, puffing the value of his properties. He has delivered a bunch of legendarily unreliable expensive cars and a bunch of rocket launches, and been handed pots of money of far greater value than anything he has delivered. Grift. And he gets free puffery from internet volunteers.
      - rlt 4y ago