# Musk predicts civil war in the UK? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** elon-musk\ **Created:** [August 7, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381 "2024-08-07T17:14:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/1 "2024-08-07T17:14:50Z")
I’d add some cites, but they are all over the media… [To moderators: this might become inflamed, move to BBQ if appropriate] It looks like a pot calling the kettle black. There seems to me to be at least as much divisive political polemic in the US as the UK? And perhaps just as much risk of serious political breakdown? [https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/06/tech/elon-musk-civil-war-uk-riots/index.html](https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/06/tech/elon-musk-civil-war-uk-riots/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/2 "2024-08-07T17:22:32Z")
1. Musk is a racist junkie moron whose opinions cannot be taken seriously. 2. Is Musk still a racist junkie moron? If yes, GOTO 1. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/3 "2024-08-07T17:34:45Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I’d add some cites, but they are all over the media… No matter how widespread you think a story is, I think it’s still expected of the person opening a thread/topic to provide at least one cite, at least for the sake of politeness. Edited to add, I guarantee you that there will be those unfamiliar with the issue, whatever it is. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/4 "2024-08-07T17:35:44Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Edited to add, I guarantee you that there will be those unfamiliar with the issue, whatever it is. I, for one, am that person. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/5 "2024-08-07T17:39:22Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > No matter how widespread you think a story is, I think it’s still expected of the person opening a thread/topic to provide at least one cite, at least for the sake of politeness. Agreed. I even went onto the BBC News website, where I found no sign of this story. Please share a link or two, OP? ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/6 "2024-08-07T17:40:00Z")
Oh, I’m sorry, fair point. Perhaps this has been more publicised in the UK media than the US? Here’s one. > **[Elon Musk says ‘civil war is inevitable’ as UK rocked by far-right riots....](https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/06/tech/elon-musk-civil-war-uk-riots/index.html)** > > Social media has played a big role in fueling the anti-immigration riots engulfing towns and cities in the United Kingdom. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/7 "2024-08-07T17:42:04Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > It looks like a pot calling the kettle black. > There seems to me to be at least as much divisive political polemic in the US as the UK? > And perhaps just as much risk of serious political breakdown? Why are you assuming that Musk doesn’t think there’s an equally big political divide in the US? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/8 "2024-08-07T17:42:05Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I even went onto the BBC News website, where I found no sign of this story. Upon further digging, I did find this opinion piece there, which notes this: > [@](#): > > It may also have something to do with Mr Musk’s views on threats of regulation - and in the UK specifically, the Online Safety Act, which was passed under the previous government. > > When this comes into full effect in 2025 it will require social media firms to remove illegal content, including where it is “racially or religiously aggravated”. Mr Musk has repeatedly been vocal about his concerns that attempts by governments to regulate social media sites - like his own - risk infringing freedom of speech. > **[UK disorder: What's Elon Musk's game?](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cze5gd1jzkeo)** > > X’s owner has chosen to wade in to opine on unrest in the UK. It isn't clear what's driving him. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/9 "2024-08-07T17:44:14Z")
In today’s world, social media has way more influence on actual incidents than is appropriate. Lies spread can cause a “prediction” to actually happen. I fear Musk is becoming more of a hinderance than a help. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/10 "2024-08-07T17:48:19Z")
**I’m going to copy your link into the OP.** ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/11 "2024-08-07T18:36:15Z")
It’s more than just that. IMO Musk’s post was a deliberate call to action in an conscious attempt to create a civil war. Or at least widespread civil unrest and an increasing polarization of UK society into an Us and Them. He’s cheerleading for that outcome as loud as he can. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/12 "2024-08-07T18:38:09Z")
nevermind ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/13 "2024-08-07T18:39:15Z")
Of course he’s doing the same thing in the USA too. As is his co-fascist trump. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/14 "2024-08-07T18:40:15Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > - Musk is a racist junkie moron whose opinions cannot be taken seriously. > - Is Musk still a racist junkie moron? If yes, GOTO 1 Huh? Racist moron, sure, but where is “junkie” coming from? Please tell me you’re not referring to his use of ketamine as an antidepressant. I would want to fact check his claim that he’s using it under medical supervision, but it’s an entirely legitimate form of treatment, and isn’t addictive. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/15 "2024-08-07T18:46:12Z")
England had a civil war nearly 400 years ago. There is no evidence (nor any reason) to assume we are going to have another one. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/16 "2024-08-07T19:05:25Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Huh? Racist moron, sure, but where is “junkie” coming from? Not speaking for the poster, but I took it to mean a junkie for creating unrest. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/17 "2024-08-07T19:23:18Z")
couple of quick thoughts: - his predictions are pretty always wrong - Twitter “thrives” on such situations - so there is vested interest in stirring the pot - what, a chance for a cheap shot at a leftish government? … count me in!!! - what, a chance for a cheap shot at a brown people? … count me in!!! that’s my 3 sec. analysis … carry on - nothing to see ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/18 "2024-08-07T19:26:04Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Musk is a racist junkie moron whose opinions cannot be taken seriously. Ah, you’re being too generous. You missed absentee father, misogynist jerkwad who sleeps with his female employees and his “best friend”’s wife, self-aggrandizing scamwit who takes credit for the work of others, libelous asshat, and the oldest teenage edgelord on the internet. This is a guy who forced a nearly bankrupt social media site to self itself to him because he wanted to make a dumb stoner joke, and then tried to back out once he realized that “due diligence” is the offer’s obligation and that he’d actually be throwing US$44B into /dev/null, so he responded by firing most of the people keeping it running and then having to rehire them while doing a stupid rebranding that included erecting an illegal strobing display that annoyed the entire SF Civic Center neighborhood even though they are usually up for any kind of asshole nonsense as long as a billionaire is doing it. And this is without even going into repeatedly devastating the Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area and Boca Chica Wildlife Refuge, blocking access to the Boca Chica Beach, and driving out the residents in Boca Chica Village without fair compensation. Mike Campbell said it best: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1_Wzjl3i8Xs/maxresdefault.jpg "F\*ck That Guy - Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs at Brooklyn Bowl NYC 3/23/22") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_Wzjl3i8Xs) > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Huh? Racist moron, sure, but where is “junkie” coming from? Please tell me you’re not referring to his use of ketamine as an antidepressant. I would want to fact check his claim that he’s using it under medical supervision, but it’s an entirely legitimate form of treatment, and isn’t addictive. There is no evidence that he is using ketamine (or any of the other many psychotropic substances) “under medical supervision” any more than he has received a legitimate diagnosis for his self-professed autistic spectrum disorder. Certainly, executives and board members of his companies are legitimately concerned about the impact of his drug use on his public and social media behavior: > **[The Suits Are Worried Elon Musk Does Too Many Drugs](https://www.vice.com/en/2024/01/08/elon-musk-drugs-report/)** > > A new report in the Wall Street Journal says leaders at Tesla and SpaceX are worried that illegal drugs are behind Musk's constant erratic behavior. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/19 "2024-08-07T19:26:15Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Racist moron, sure, but where is “junkie” coming from? [He does more than just ketamine.](https://www.wsj.com/business/elon-musk-illegal-drugs-e826a9e1) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381/20 "2024-08-07T19:48:20Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > executives and board members of his companies are legitimately concerned about the impact of his drug use on his public and social media behavior Thank you for beating me to the explanation. Also for cataloging his manifest failings across a rainbow of additional subjects. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musk-predicts-civil-war-in-the-uk/1005381.md?page=2)