4 ms·

Why do many people (including myself) like what Elon Musk's doing, and why do we disregard all the hit pieces and smears targeting Musk across social media (ver

Why do many people (including myself) like what Elon Musk's doing, and why do we disregard all the hit pieces and smears targeting Musk across social media (very prevalent on Reddit, etc.)? It's because SpaceX and Tesla are the clear leaders in opposing the de-industrialization trend in the hyper-financialized American economy. It's so incredibly stupid and short-sighted to move manufacturing and the associated technological R&D outside the United States, as it results in the loss of critically important technological skills. Follow that route and you end up with financial institutions desperately trying to retain control of technology via intellectual property lawsuits targeting countries with their factories in China, which as history has shown, will alway be a losing battle. Rolling back the financialization of the American economy, and re-introducing industrial activities at scale, is the only way the country will avoid devolving into a dystopian Third World system of wealthy enclaves with large capital holdings (protected by private security armies) surrounded by miles and miles of festering slums.

no_butterscotch 4y ago
Yes I'm not on the Elon hate bandwagon. He's entitled to his politics. Most of the people who are on that bandwagon would place their favorite celebrity on a higher pedestal than EM. Which is to say the way we rank people and go after people seems off. It's easier to stay on people's "good side" when you're not doing anything different.
- BirAdam 4y ago
  I just think it's neat that America has a celebrity who's a nerdy engineering type rather than another Kardashian (no hate, I just don't relate to that cuz I'm a nerd). For the most part, the people I've admired in my life like Claude Shannon or Jim Keller are known exclusively within the tech world and even then not universally even in that subculture. Elon everyone knows. I don't care too much one way or another about the guy, but I at least like that the country I live in has more or less embraced a nerd. Feels good somehow.
mehphp 4y ago
Well, it doesn't have to be either or. It's possible to think he's built impressive companies while also thinking he's an unsavory character. As far as I can tell, the people who "smear" Musk don't do so because of his companies, it's because they oppose his ideas and how much influence he has to implement them. Whatever you think of Musk, it's a little scary that someone can just buy the megaphone that is Twitter and disseminate whatever information you wish.
- robertlagrant 4y ago
  I have somewhat similar feelings, but when I think about it, it's a megaphone some people choose to listen to. You can not use Twitter or not follow him on Twitter or block him on Twitter. I choose the former.
  - TremendousJudge 4y ago
    You really need to live under a metaphorical rock in order to not find out what Musk is up to. He's constantly talked about on this forum, and all other internet forums related to technology. Just watching regular news will get you some info on what he's currently doing. His megaphone is too loud even for dedicated people who wear earplugs.
    - robertlagrant 4y ago
      That's not relevant to buying Twitter, though. "Other people freely choosing to talk about him" is not a megaphone. And also, no. Many people I know are barely aware of him. Tesla is more famous than Elon Musk, who is more famous than SpaceX.
      - TremendousJudge 4y ago
        In my opinion, they are "freely choosing to talk about him" the same way people freely choose to buy a product after being exposed to advertisments for it.
armatav 4y ago
This guy is correct on all accounts. Sad to see his comment turn gray and magically disappear because his opinion is “unworthy”.
topspin 4y ago
Can't upvote this enough.
grej 4y ago
This is a huge part of why I was really hoping the Twitter sale wouldn't go through. Elon is great at leading engineering companies building real hard tech. I hope his taking ownership over arguably the biggest cess pool in social media doesn't distract him from what he's better at.
- mensetmanusman 4y ago
  Elon buying twitter is a win win. If it fails-great, if it succeeds at not banning satire and increasing the amount of speech-great!
  - macintux 4y ago
    The world has all the speech it needs. What it needs is more truth and less disinformation.
    - mensetmanusman 4y ago
      Nah, it needs more speech. Over a billion people can be imprisoned for life in China alone if they speak truth. Twitter banning the discussion of preferences was a bridge too far with the role it plays geopolitically.
- BirAdam 4y ago
  Elon Musk's career was initially in software. He started out on a VIC-20 and BASIC. He sold his first game at 12. More professionally he then was involved with Zip2. After that came X. X merged with PayPal and the product eventually sold to eBay. It was after those endeavors that he started SpaceX, followed by Tesla, Neuralink, and the Boring Company. Twitter is just the latest, and it represents his return to software. I understand not wanting him to get out of physical stuff where he seems to really shine, but I am not too worried. The biggest threat is really a matter of time management. He is now spreading his time really really thin across some of his companies.
  - Symmetry 4y ago
anon291 4y ago
I am extremely saddened (but not surprised) that your comment is being downvoted. I think you hit on a lot of good points. You are right. The de-industrialization of America is extremely sad, especially. It's uncouth to say today, but the truth is American culture is exceptional in its production of novel technologies and the entrpreneurial systems that let such technologies be industrialized and scaled for the benefit of humanity. Without a solid industrial base, the harder that becomes.

no_butterscotch 4y ago

Yes I'm not on the Elon hate bandwagon. He's entitled to his politics. Most of the people who are on that bandwagon would place their favorite celebrity on a higher pedestal than EM. Which is to say the way we rank people and go after people seems off. It's easier to stay on people's "good side" when you're not doing anything different.

BirAdam 4y ago
I just think it's neat that America has a celebrity who's a nerdy engineering type rather than another Kardashian (no hate, I just don't relate to that cuz I'm a nerd). For the most part, the people I've admired in my life like Claude Shannon or Jim Keller are known exclusively within the tech world and even then not universally even in that subculture. Elon everyone knows. I don't care too much one way or another about the guy, but I at least like that the country I live in has more or less embraced a nerd. Feels good somehow.

mehphp 4y ago

Well, it doesn't have to be either or. It's possible to think he's built impressive companies while also thinking he's an unsavory character. As far as I can tell, the people who "smear" Musk don't do so because of his companies, it's because they oppose his ideas and how much influence he has to implement them. Whatever you think of Musk, it's a little scary that someone can just buy the megaphone that is Twitter and disseminate whatever information you wish.

robertlagrant 4y ago
I have somewhat similar feelings, but when I think about it, it's a megaphone some people choose to listen to. You can not use Twitter or not follow him on Twitter or block him on Twitter. I choose the former.
- TremendousJudge 4y ago
  You really need to live under a metaphorical rock in order to not find out what Musk is up to. He's constantly talked about on this forum, and all other internet forums related to technology. Just watching regular news will get you some info on what he's currently doing. His megaphone is too loud even for dedicated people who wear earplugs.
  - robertlagrant 4y ago
    That's not relevant to buying Twitter, though. "Other people freely choosing to talk about him" is not a megaphone. And also, no. Many people I know are barely aware of him. Tesla is more famous than Elon Musk, who is more famous than SpaceX.
    - TremendousJudge 4y ago
      In my opinion, they are "freely choosing to talk about him" the same way people freely choose to buy a product after being exposed to advertisments for it.

armatav 4y ago

This guy is correct on all accounts. Sad to see his comment turn gray and magically disappear because his opinion is “unworthy”.

topspin 4y ago

Can't upvote this enough.

grej 4y ago

This is a huge part of why I was really hoping the Twitter sale wouldn't go through. Elon is great at leading engineering companies building real hard tech. I hope his taking ownership over arguably the biggest cess pool in social media doesn't distract him from what he's better at.

mensetmanusman 4y ago
Elon buying twitter is a win win. If it fails-great, if it succeeds at not banning satire and increasing the amount of speech-great!
- macintux 4y ago
  The world has all the speech it needs. What it needs is more truth and less disinformation.
  - mensetmanusman 4y ago
    Nah, it needs more speech. Over a billion people can be imprisoned for life in China alone if they speak truth. Twitter banning the discussion of preferences was a bridge too far with the role it plays geopolitically.
BirAdam 4y ago
Elon Musk's career was initially in software. He started out on a VIC-20 and BASIC. He sold his first game at 12. More professionally he then was involved with Zip2. After that came X. X merged with PayPal and the product eventually sold to eBay. It was after those endeavors that he started SpaceX, followed by Tesla, Neuralink, and the Boring Company. Twitter is just the latest, and it represents his return to software. I understand not wanting him to get out of physical stuff where he seems to really shine, but I am not too worried. The biggest threat is really a matter of time management. He is now spreading his time really really thin across some of his companies.
- Symmetry 4y ago

anon291 4y ago

I am extremely saddened (but not surprised) that your comment is being downvoted. I think you hit on a lot of good points. You are right. The de-industrialization of America is extremely sad, especially. It's uncouth to say today, but the truth is American culture is exceptional in its production of novel technologies and the entrpreneurial systems that let such technologies be industrialized and scaled for the benefit of humanity. Without a solid industrial base, the harder that becomes.