8 ms·

Not to derail from your main point, but how does Musk's public conduct play into your reason for selling your Tesla? I'm not a fan of the man but that shouldn't

by 4wsn 4y ago

Not to derail from your main point, but how does Musk's public conduct play into your reason for selling your Tesla? I'm not a fan of the man but that shouldn't really be a factor in whether or not I use a product he's involved in.

mrfusion 4y ago
Welcome to the culture war?
- Sparkle-san 4y ago
  Boycotts and buycotts are nothing new.
bagels 4y ago
Some people feel uncomfortable funding people whose antics they don't care for.
LeoPanthera 4y ago
Unfortunately, when people see you own a Tesla, they assume you are a fan of Musk. I'm not, but that doesn't change what they think. I have plenty of other reasons to get rid of the car anyway. This one is just a bonus.
- 4wsn 4y ago
  > Unfortunately, when people see you own a Tesla, they assume you are a fan of Musk. I see. Musk being an asshole attracts assholes who act like assholes towards you for your choice of car. I have to admit that would also be a factor in me wanting to sell a Tesla if I owned one.
- api 4y ago
  Tesla is a public company. The board could fire him if they wanted and might if he further escalates his trolling.
  - ineedasername 4y ago
    That's might be very difficult. Musk may not own a majority but the corporate bylaws require a supermajority of shareholders to support any major changes, though I'm not sure if firing the CEO is covered by that. If it does, it would require roughly 75-80% of non-Musk shares to vote him out.
    - melony 4y ago
      His cult of personality is one of the reasons for Tesla's valuation. Remove him, and you have a crash.
      - powerbroker 4y ago
        Strange that this did not happen when a) Steve Jobs first left Apple; and b) after Tim Cook succeeded him. CEOs loose their mojo. When Elon fails to follow-through with taking Tesla private, and (seemingly) acquiring Twitter -- its a sign that he isn't thoroughly thinking through the weightiest of decisions.
        pstuart 4y ago
        When Jobs was ousted Apple was floundering an his departure was more drama than impactful. When he stepped down at the end he had a well running machine that could generally point in the right direction.
manuelabeledo 4y ago
> I'm not a fan of the man but that shouldn't really be a factor in whether or not I use a product he's involved in. No one likes giving money to assholes. And to be fair, he is doing a pretty good job at revealing himself as one.
- COGlory 4y ago
  Little late for that if you already bought it.
- edmcnulty101 4y ago
  - encryptluks2 4y ago
  - SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
    The first he pays lip-service to (we haven't seen an evidence for or against outside of his desire to bully people into silence), but doesn't his plan to make the human race multi-planetary involve bringing back indentured servitude?
    - edmcnulty101 4y ago
      Am I missing something? Indentured Servitude?
      - SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
        Yeah, if you can't afford to go to Mars, just take out a loan and then pay it off by working for him[1]. [1] https://twitter.com/Kristennetten/status/1217992009794740224 https://twitter.com/Kristennetten/status/1217992009794740224?
        4y ago
eganist 4y ago
> I'm not a fan of the man but that shouldn't really be a factor in whether or not I use a product he's involved in. Everyone else is disagreeing with you, but I'll take a different tack: Why shouldn't his behavior be a factor?
- oh_sigh 4y ago
  Because he may be the face most associated with Tesla but he doesn't provide strategy for the company, and doesn't really have a ton of input on operations, and 110,000 other people work there.
  - lwansbrough 4y ago
    Tesla didn't seem to have a problem with Musk's public image when it was lifting their stock price into the stratosphere.
    - LoveGracePeace 4y ago
  - eganist 4y ago
    > Because he may be the face most associated with Tesla but he doesn't provide strategy for the company, and doesn't really have a ton of input on operations, and 110,000 other people work there. CEOs set company strategy and drive execution.
  - pengaru 4y ago
    > Because he may be the face most associated with Tesla but he doesn't provide strategy for the company, and doesn't really have a ton of input on operations, and 110,000 other people work there. Mr. Musk is the largest individual shareholder.
p1necone 4y ago
If someone is an unhinged asshole on personal time, I'm not inclined to trust the long term success of their business. I also wouldn't want to be funding a future political play by Musk by buying a Tesla now.
- LoveGracePeace 4y ago
- davidgould 4y ago
  He cannot become president as he was not born in the US. However, he could perhaps become governor of Texas. Might even be an improvement.
- raxxorraxor 4y ago
  I think people having problems with Twitter comments instead of questionable corporate dealings are mostly extremely ignorant. People have a different opinion on who the asshole is in the end. I don't really believe people care much about antics or if they do they just want shallow massage to their own ego. I believe there have been problems at Tesla and Musk was known to sometimes lose himself against his employees. Didn't seem to interest anyone and they still bought the cars. For a company that can become a problem too when customers are seen as assholes.
dragonwriter 4y ago
> Not to derail from your main point, but how does Musk's public conduct play into your reason for selling your Tesla? Luxury items function significantly and social signals. Associate the brands with things potential buyers don't want to be associated with, and those buyers won't want to buy (or display) them. Tesla has benefitted from Musk’s image when it was less partisanly political and more “To Mars!”; his recent shift may shift where the brand has appeal.
- boardwaalk 4y ago
  It’s already doing so according to a recent poll [1]. [1] https://www.axios.com/2022/05/26/brands-politics-axios-harris-poll-100 https://www.axios.com/2022/05/26/brands-politics-axios-harri...
1shooner 4y ago
Does the consumer that passes on Tesla because of Musk look much further than their twitter feed when evaluating the alternatives? How does the impact of one person's social media behavior weigh against the conduct and impact of mega corporations making decisions about large scale industrial production and energy consumption?
- mcguire 4y ago
  According to Tesla (and SpaceX) fans, Musk is the company. He not only makes strategic decisions, but is also involved in day to day engineering development. The valuation of the company is driven by Musk's social media behavior; certainly, there's no rational economic reason. One person's impact is the reason for Tesla, no?
  - smotched 4y ago
    by "According to Tesla (and SpaceX) fans" you mean some random tweet I read one time?
BenoitEssiambre 4y ago
I mean businesses are an undeniable source of political power in a democratic capitalist system. There is lobbying, influence over the media (see Bezos) etc. The choice of where you buy has an effect that is not totally unlike voting.
jm4 4y ago
He has made a number of false claims about the capabilities of his cars. In my case, these claims influenced my decision, not only to purchase the car, but to pay for expensive options. Although it’s a great car, I feel like Tesla (Elon) over promised and under delivered. The idea that I was scammed out of $6000 for FSD pisses me off every time I get into the car to the point where I’ve considered selling it. That’s not a great reason to sell a car, but at least I won’t have a daily reminder of the time I was stupid sitting out in my garage.
- powerbroker 4y ago
  In addition, Tesla has dropped a feature from autopilot, without making any mention of it in the sales process or manuals. This happened before with the voice recognition operation falling out of sync with the manuals. However, the AP, formerly, in less advanced cars, allowed the car to change lanes with a simple operation of the turn signal -- all the while, maintaining position in the new lane, and adjusting for traffic aware cruise control. Now, the '22 model S, at least, you are forced to deactivate autopilot with a lane change. I'm now starting to think that there is no specification for autopilot, and every model year it will operate differently (worse) than prior model years.
- systemBuilder 4y ago
  If it's any compensation all self driving car companies are staffed by liars. Big ones. Of the AI variety, which deserves a special genus all its own.
trs8080 4y ago
People have moral compasses and don't want to give money to companies he's involved in.

by 4wsn 4y ago

mrfusion 4y ago

Welcome to the culture war?

Sparkle-san 4y ago
Boycotts and buycotts are nothing new.

bagels 4y ago

Some people feel uncomfortable funding people whose antics they don't care for.

LeoPanthera 4y ago

Unfortunately, when people see you own a Tesla, they assume you are a fan of Musk. I'm not, but that doesn't change what they think. I have plenty of other reasons to get rid of the car anyway. This one is just a bonus.

4wsn 4y ago
> Unfortunately, when people see you own a Tesla, they assume you are a fan of Musk. I see. Musk being an asshole attracts assholes who act like assholes towards you for your choice of car. I have to admit that would also be a factor in me wanting to sell a Tesla if I owned one.
api 4y ago
Tesla is a public company. The board could fire him if they wanted and might if he further escalates his trolling.
- ineedasername 4y ago
  That's might be very difficult. Musk may not own a majority but the corporate bylaws require a supermajority of shareholders to support any major changes, though I'm not sure if firing the CEO is covered by that. If it does, it would require roughly 75-80% of non-Musk shares to vote him out.
  - melony 4y ago
    His cult of personality is one of the reasons for Tesla's valuation. Remove him, and you have a crash.
    - powerbroker 4y ago
      Strange that this did not happen when a) Steve Jobs first left Apple; and b) after Tim Cook succeeded him. CEOs loose their mojo. When Elon fails to follow-through with taking Tesla private, and (seemingly) acquiring Twitter -- its a sign that he isn't thoroughly thinking through the weightiest of decisions.
      - pstuart 4y ago
        When Jobs was ousted Apple was floundering an his departure was more drama than impactful. When he stepped down at the end he had a well running machine that could generally point in the right direction.

manuelabeledo 4y ago

> I'm not a fan of the man but that shouldn't really be a factor in whether or not I use a product he's involved in. No one likes giving money to assholes. And to be fair, he is doing a pretty good job at revealing himself as one.

COGlory 4y ago
Little late for that if you already bought it.
edmcnulty101 4y ago
- encryptluks2 4y ago
- SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
  The first he pays lip-service to (we haven't seen an evidence for or against outside of his desire to bully people into silence), but doesn't his plan to make the human race multi-planetary involve bringing back indentured servitude?
  - edmcnulty101 4y ago
    Am I missing something? Indentured Servitude?
    - SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
      Yeah, if you can't afford to go to Mars, just take out a loan and then pay it off by working for him[1]. [1] https://twitter.com/Kristennetten/status/1217992009794740224 https://twitter.com/Kristennetten/status/1217992009794740224?
      - 4y ago

eganist 4y ago

> I'm not a fan of the man but that shouldn't really be a factor in whether or not I use a product he's involved in. Everyone else is disagreeing with you, but I'll take a different tack: Why shouldn't his behavior be a factor?

oh_sigh 4y ago
Because he may be the face most associated with Tesla but he doesn't provide strategy for the company, and doesn't really have a ton of input on operations, and 110,000 other people work there.
- lwansbrough 4y ago
  Tesla didn't seem to have a problem with Musk's public image when it was lifting their stock price into the stratosphere.
  - LoveGracePeace 4y ago
- eganist 4y ago
  > Because he may be the face most associated with Tesla but he doesn't provide strategy for the company, and doesn't really have a ton of input on operations, and 110,000 other people work there. CEOs set company strategy and drive execution.
- pengaru 4y ago
  > Because he may be the face most associated with Tesla but he doesn't provide strategy for the company, and doesn't really have a ton of input on operations, and 110,000 other people work there. Mr. Musk is the largest individual shareholder.

p1necone 4y ago

If someone is an unhinged asshole on personal time, I'm not inclined to trust the long term success of their business. I also wouldn't want to be funding a future political play by Musk by buying a Tesla now.

LoveGracePeace 4y ago
davidgould 4y ago
He cannot become president as he was not born in the US. However, he could perhaps become governor of Texas. Might even be an improvement.
raxxorraxor 4y ago
I think people having problems with Twitter comments instead of questionable corporate dealings are mostly extremely ignorant. People have a different opinion on who the asshole is in the end. I don't really believe people care much about antics or if they do they just want shallow massage to their own ego. I believe there have been problems at Tesla and Musk was known to sometimes lose himself against his employees. Didn't seem to interest anyone and they still bought the cars. For a company that can become a problem too when customers are seen as assholes.

dragonwriter 4y ago

> Not to derail from your main point, but how does Musk's public conduct play into your reason for selling your Tesla? Luxury items function significantly and social signals. Associate the brands with things potential buyers don't want to be associated with, and those buyers won't want to buy (or display) them. Tesla has benefitted from Musk’s image when it was less partisanly political and more “To Mars!”; his recent shift may shift where the brand has appeal.

boardwaalk 4y ago
It’s already doing so according to a recent poll [1]. [1] https://www.axios.com/2022/05/26/brands-politics-axios-harris-poll-100 https://www.axios.com/2022/05/26/brands-politics-axios-harri...

1shooner 4y ago

Does the consumer that passes on Tesla because of Musk look much further than their twitter feed when evaluating the alternatives? How does the impact of one person's social media behavior weigh against the conduct and impact of mega corporations making decisions about large scale industrial production and energy consumption?

mcguire 4y ago
According to Tesla (and SpaceX) fans, Musk is the company. He not only makes strategic decisions, but is also involved in day to day engineering development. The valuation of the company is driven by Musk's social media behavior; certainly, there's no rational economic reason. One person's impact is the reason for Tesla, no?
- smotched 4y ago
  by "According to Tesla (and SpaceX) fans" you mean some random tweet I read one time?

BenoitEssiambre 4y ago

I mean businesses are an undeniable source of political power in a democratic capitalist system. There is lobbying, influence over the media (see Bezos) etc. The choice of where you buy has an effect that is not totally unlike voting.

jm4 4y ago

He has made a number of false claims about the capabilities of his cars. In my case, these claims influenced my decision, not only to purchase the car, but to pay for expensive options. Although it’s a great car, I feel like Tesla (Elon) over promised and under delivered. The idea that I was scammed out of $6000 for FSD pisses me off every time I get into the car to the point where I’ve considered selling it. That’s not a great reason to sell a car, but at least I won’t have a daily reminder of the time I was stupid sitting out in my garage.

powerbroker 4y ago
In addition, Tesla has dropped a feature from autopilot, without making any mention of it in the sales process or manuals. This happened before with the voice recognition operation falling out of sync with the manuals. However, the AP, formerly, in less advanced cars, allowed the car to change lanes with a simple operation of the turn signal -- all the while, maintaining position in the new lane, and adjusting for traffic aware cruise control. Now, the '22 model S, at least, you are forced to deactivate autopilot with a lane change. I'm now starting to think that there is no specification for autopilot, and every model year it will operate differently (worse) than prior model years.
systemBuilder 4y ago
If it's any compensation all self driving car companies are staffed by liars. Big ones. Of the AI variety, which deserves a special genus all its own.

trs8080 4y ago

People have moral compasses and don't want to give money to companies he's involved in.