# Now that Elon Musk has bought Twitter - now the Pit edition (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 25, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442 "2022-04-25T22:50:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 175
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3484 "2023-03-04T12:59:48Z")
That’s a bit unfair. He has always been more than willing to share his great wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![fordgt100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fordgt100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fordgt100)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3485 "2023-03-04T13:10:30Z")
Musk is headed for the “Lady Gaga” syndrome. Remember when she was just brilliant and cutting edge? Then she walked away from key people and things went downhill fast. One person can only do so much, it requires a perfect storm of talented people all working at the same level. He’s now getting out of his depth, spreading himself too thin, and his personality is running good people away. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3486 "2023-03-04T13:44:53Z")
Except Gaga still has award-winning talent and continues to prove it. A key difference is in not “needing” to be THE one and only top superstar of everything. Musk could have been The undisputed Man in commercial spaceflight with a nice EV gig on the side. But he just needed to _do something_ about how Someone Is Wrong On Twitter About Me. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3487 "2023-03-04T13:52:57Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Musk could have been The undisputed Man in commercial spaceflight with a nice EV gig on the side. It was already more than that, although even trying to run both SpaceX and Tesla was stretching him too thin – but there was also Starlink, Neuralink, the Boring Company, SolarCity, and probably others I’m forgetting. Taking on Twitter at the same time is sheer arrogant madness, to the point that I’m certain there’s something wrong with him at quite a basic level. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3488 "2023-03-04T14:03:16Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > but there was also Starlink, Neuralink, the Boring Company, SolarCity, and probably others I’m forgetting. And those other than Starlink should have shown that he was not the genius that turned everything that he touched into gold. He had ideas and money. Some of those ideas could be combined with his money to do cool things like SpaceX and Starlink (though the latter is still to be determined how much of a benefit it ends up being), but also tried to combine his money with bad ideas, or at least ideas that were not yet feasible. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3489 "2023-03-05T00:57:02Z")
> > **[Musk’s bid to start Neuralink human trials denied by FDA in 2022, report says](https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/03/musks-bid-to-start-neuralink-human-trials-denied-by-fda-in-2022-report-says/)** > > FDA reportedly listed dozens of "deficiencies," including serious safety concerns. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3490 "2023-03-05T02:32:38Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > but there was also Starlink, Neuralink, the Boring Company, SolarCity, and probably others I’m forgetting. > > And those other than Starlink should have shown that he was not the genius that turned everything that he touched into gold. > > He had ideas and money. Some of those ideas could be combined with his money to do cool things like SpaceX and Starlink (though the latter is still to be determined how much of a benefit it ends up being), but also tried to combine his money with bad ideas, or at least ideas that were not yet feasible. Let’s not let SpaceX off the hook so quickly as not being something he combined his money together with bad ideas. What was the stated goal in making [SpaceX again](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX)? > It was founded in 2002 by [Elon Musk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk) with the stated goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the [colonization of Mars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_Mars). And how’s that been going? SpaceX’s [own website](https://www.spacex.com/human-spaceflight/mars/) still has a Marvel Studios Ironman vision on its feasibility: > ## WHY MARS? > > At an average distance of 140 million miles, Mars is one of Earth’s closest habitable neighbors. Mars is about half again as far from the Sun as Earth is, so it still has decent sunlight. It is a little cold, but we can warm it up. Its atmosphere is primarily CO2 with some nitrogen and argon and a few other trace elements, which means that we can grow plants on Mars just by compressing the atmosphere. Gravity on Mars is about 38% of that of Earth, so you would be able to lift heavy things and bound around. Furthermore, the day is remarkably close to that of Earth. You know, tiny little problems like it’s a little cold (average temperature -81F, dipping to -220F, nothing wearing a Tony Stark suit won’t tide you over for a while), but don’t worry. we can warm it up! How? Umm… hey look over there! Gravity is only about 1/3 that of Earth so you can be a real-life Ironman and lift heavy things while bounding around! Meanwhile, [outside of fantasyland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Mars_program#Reception_and_feasibility) > ## Reception and feasibility > > SpaceX has not detailed plans for the spacecraft’s life-support systems, radiation protection, and [in situ resource utilization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_situ_resource_utilization), technologies which are essential for space colonization. Great progress after 21 years! ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3491 "2023-03-05T02:57:26Z")
I’m intrigued by the concept of compressing the atmosphere. Theoretically speaking, how would that work? EDIT: Actually, he’s probably just talking about pressurized buildings. Assuming that’s the case, ignore my question. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3492 "2023-03-05T04:00:44Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I’m intrigued by the concept of compressing the atmosphere. Theoretically speaking, how would that work? Easy! Increase the size (or mass) of the planet substantially (2-300% will probably do) and the increased gravity will compress the atmosphere. > [@EllisDee](#): > > he’s probably just talking about pressurized buildings Yeah, pretty much. I can’t imagine what else that blurb could have meant 🤷‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3493 "2023-03-05T04:08:14Z")
I assume he watched the end of Total Recall while high and thought to himself “I could do that.” ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3494 "2023-03-05T04:09:07Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > pressurized buildings Tunnels. I feel that boring will be involved. Of course there’s no sunlight in a tunnel, by why use something more sensible when you can use a tunnel instead? ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3495 "2023-03-05T04:13:59Z")
He’s also probably assuming there’s an alien terraforming device on Mars. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3496 "2023-03-05T04:29:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I assume he watched the end of Total Recall while high and thought to himself “I could do that.” He could probably transplant Scott Adams’ head to his torso. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3497 "2023-03-05T05:39:31Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Easy! Increase the size (or mass) of the planet substantially (2-300% will probably do) and the increased gravity will compress the atmosphere. If Elon goes to Mars, his gigantic brain will deliver the necessary mass to increase planetary gravity, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3498 "2023-03-05T11:21:19Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > Great progress after 21 years! He reduced space transportation costs. I mean, we can laugh about his Twitter and personal ridiculousness all we want, but Space X has absolutely lowered the cost to put shit in space. That is the stated plan, reduce cost, enable Mars. If you don’t get the reduce cost thing done there’s no point putting any effort into the Mars stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3499 "2023-03-05T11:23:21Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > He reduced space transportation costs What inventions has he patented that have reduced space transportation costs? ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3500 "2023-03-05T12:24:05Z")
To be fair, SpaceX has greatly lowered costs. I believe in the large part this is due to the reusable rocketry. For all of Musk’s faults, and they are legion, SpaceX has been a great success. How much is due to him? Probably not a lot. > **[SpaceX vs. NASA: Cost](https://medium.com/geekculture/spacex-vs-nasa-cost-4fae454823ac)** > > SpaceX is 10X cheaper with 30X lower cost overrun than NASA in lifting payload into space. Why? Because SpaceX is platform-based, NASA not. > **[To cheaply go: How falling launch costs fueled a thriving economy in orbit](https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/space-launch-costs-growing-business-industry-rcna23488)** > > Companies that once had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to put a satellite into orbit can now do the same for a fraction of that price. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2023, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3501 "2023-03-05T12:27:15Z")
I suppose it’s theoretically possible to simply vastly increase the quantity of gas in Mars’ atmosphere and gravity, even Mars’ weak gravity, will do the rest. Now where Elmo finds umpteen gajillion kilograms of gas and a mechanism to release it at the Martian surface is left as an exercise for the reader. But I suspect that vast quantities of refried beans will be needed. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3502 "2023-03-05T12:29:47Z")
With Musk’s people living on Mars, Earth won’t needs its atmosphere anymore right? Oh my God, he is a Bond-esque villian!!! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442/3503 "2023-03-05T13:40:27Z")
When I read numbers like these, it’s unclear to me how much of those lower cost are subsidized by burning through investor capital. We know, for example, that Starlink isn’t even profitable yet, though they claim it’s going to become profitable this year. So, I dunno. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=174) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-elon-musk-has-bought-twitter-now-the-pit-edition-part-1/963442.md?page=176)