# Why the hate for Elon Musk? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 14, 2022, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053 "2022-03-14T21:22:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2022, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/342 "2022-04-28T13:24:55Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Musk is like the little kid from “It’s a Good Life”, if that kid smoked weed. Or Trump with a much better moral compass. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/343 "2022-04-28T16:12:16Z")
> [@nate](#): > > My complete debunking of the “Musk didn’t consult with anyone/any experts/Thailand authorities/blah blah” The truth is indeed not a democracy, but that doesn’t mean that anybody arguing against a widely held consensus view is therefore necessarily speaking the truth. The fact that you think you “completely debunked”, or debunked to any significant extent at all, the criticisms of Musk for his self-aggrandizing bungee-ing into the Thailand cave rescue project is sufficent evidence that you’re not operating within the constraints of reality here. And I’m saying this not because everybody else thinks so too, but based on the actual words of Musk and his correspondents quoted in this thread, and factual journalism about their actions. > [@nate](#): > > All you need to do is read the evidence I provide. Reading the (selectively chosen) evidence you provide, along with the other factual evidence (such as direct quotes from Musk) supplied by other posters, is exactly what has convinced me that your views of Musk and his public image are profoundly and persistently anti-factual. I mean, you could have been part of a productive conversation on this subject starting from common-ground positions like “Some popular criticisms of Elon Musk are based more on exaggerated accounts and anti-billionaire sentiments than on documented facts” or “Instances of assholish personal behavior on Musk’s part don’t automatically negate the significance or positive contributions of some aspects of his work”. But no, you have instead committed to and doubled down on the factually indefensible position that essentially all criticisms of Musk are made-up bullshit due to irrational hostility, and that anything assholish that Musk does is either just misinterpreted by his “haters” or else an excusable minor “oddness”. Contrarianism is one of those things whose value often depends on dosage. Just because a little bit of “well, to be fair” contrarianism often gets one closer to the truth than sweeping denunciation doesn’t mean that a position of across-the-board dogged contrarianism will make you even more truthful. You did have a chance, nate, to be an even-handed sifter of facts and defender of truth in this discussion, but you have permanently blown it. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/344 "2022-04-29T05:27:09Z")
If you would put forth the same effort you took to post this to actually, you know, show where I’ve been wrong on these matters that would be pushing the conversation forward. I think that truth matters, do you? ---
**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:** [April 29, 2022, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/345 "2022-04-29T05:41:43Z")
> [@nate](#): > > show where I’ve been wrong (silently points up at whole thread) ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/346 "2022-04-29T05:58:48Z")
Gotcha, I know it isn’t easy to show where I’ve been wrong. Much easier to make a low effort snarky comment, ---
**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:** [April 29, 2022, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/347 "2022-04-29T07:31:12Z")
Musk apparently paid the ACLU (!) to help draft a Washington Post article falsely accusing Johnny Depp of domestic abuse. > **[ACLU helped draft article at heart of Depp v Heard case for $3.5m donation,...](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/apr/28/johnny-depp-amber-heard-libel-case-aclu)** > > American Civil Liberties Union’s general counsel testifies that at least $500,000 came from fund connected to Elon Musk Is there anything this shithead won’t inject himself into? ---
**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:** [April 29, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/348 "2022-04-29T15:17:31Z")
> [@nate](#): > > I think that truth matters, do you? Oh, is that why you accused me of fabricating a citation in [Post #332](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/332)? Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/349 "2022-04-29T15:40:39Z")
> [@nate](#): > > Gotcha, I know it isn’t easy to show where I’ve been wrong. Much easier to make a low effort snarky comment, Much easier to simply pretend you weren’t already shown to be wrong. I mean, you noped your way through all the points the first time and then simply declared yourself the winner, so it’s not surprising that no one wants to do your homework for you again. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/350 "2022-04-29T16:08:38Z")
Stranger, I wasn’t accusing you of fabricating a citation. I was accusing you stating that the report found in your link ([this](https://www.wfp.org/publications/wfp-global-operational-response-plan-update-3-november-2021https://www.wfp.org/publications/wfp-global-operational-response-plan-update-3-november-2021)) is the “real” report although it’s nowhere to be found in Beasley’s link ([this](https://www.wfp.org/appeal-billionaires-famine)). I don’t know how many more ways to ask why you think the two are related. It appears to me you are just side-stepping the question because this will be like the 4th time I’ve asked. > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Oh, is that why you accused me of fabricating a citation in [Post #332](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/332)? > > Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/351 "2022-04-29T16:16:27Z")
> [@nate](#): > > that would be pushing the conversation forward. You have demonstrated clearly that there is no effective way to push this conversation forward with you as one of the participants. > [@nate](#): > > I think that truth matters You keep asserting that, and then your actions in this thread keep contradicting it. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/352 "2022-04-29T16:44:53Z")
> [@nate](#): > > I don’t know how many more ways to ask why you think the two are related. It seems self-evident to me that they’re related in that they’re both published by the WFP and list a lot of the same concerns in the same countries. The 48-page report identifies a shortfall $7.1B in funding, but it’s not written as a direct response to Musk or a direct plea for $6.6B. But it clearly identifies the areas of greatest need and where the money would be spent. The direct response to Musk _does_ spell out, at a high level, where $6.6B would be spent. If your claim is that Musk could reasonably look at the direct response to his ask and conclude that the WFP would be incapable of providing a plan in greater detail (which everyone agrees would probably be required for both parties prior to a check being cut), then the 48-page report is simply evidence that they have the ability to provide a plan in greater detail. And, as it’s obvious that the 48-page report itself is a summary of a much larger pool of data, it’s clear to any casual observer that the WFP is more than capable of backing up any request Musk might further have. To think that he could look at the totality of information available to him and conclude that it wasn’t worth his time to pursue the matter further is simply laughable. He never had any intention of donating money to feed the hungry. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/353 "2022-04-29T16:51:40Z")
> [@nate](#): > > Gotcha, I know it isn’t easy to show where I’ve been wrong Literally nothing you’ve posted in this thread has been accurate, as has been demonstrated repeatedly, with cites, often the very cites you posted to defend your position. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/354 "2022-04-29T17:21:21Z")
I don’t necessarily disagree with anything you wrote Steronz. The only apparent link between the two is that they are both published by WFP and have some intersecting concerns. If Stranger would have said something like “WFP is clearly capable of providing a report, such as this (link to 48-page PDF), so providing details is not an issue” instead of “that is a summary. here is a direct link to the 48 page report” I would have no issue. And I agree, of course Musk wasn’t going to fund this plan because it wasn’t what he asked for. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/355 "2022-04-29T17:23:45Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Literally nothing you’ve posted in this thread has been accurate, as has been demonstrated repeatedly, with cites, often the very cites you posted to defend your position. Would you be so kind as to point out where I’ve been wrong? Seems like no one has this ability. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/356 "2022-04-29T17:32:10Z")
> [@nate](#): > > Would you be so kind as to point out where I’ve been wrong? The part where you claimed Elon Musk consulted with the Thai government on the design of his submarine was pretty egregious. You’re also being schooled by **Stranger** on the “plan to end world hunger” subject. Those are just two of the subjects where you’re arguments have been shown to be objectively incorrect. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/357 "2022-04-29T17:34:13Z")
---
**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:** [April 29, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/358 "2022-04-29T17:38:19Z")
This thread has moved into attack the poster territory. It is pretty non-productive at this point and seems to have become about **nate** rather than Elon Musk. I think it will remain closed. It is a major mess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053.md?page=17)