# 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:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/101 "2022-03-17T14:05:32Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I’m sure that this post puts me squarely in the drooling fanboy club since I dared to say anything positive about Musk and his accomplishments, so it is likely that this is my only post in this thread as I don’t anticipate many responses that can be answered without digging out the straw bailer. I’m the OP, but not a fanboy. I’m posting this through my Starlink connection. I have two internet connections right now. Both sat dishes. The Starlink gives me 35ms ping. The old one that I keep as a back up is 650ms ping. For those that aren’t familiar with ‘ping’. the bigger the number, the worse it is. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/102 "2022-03-17T14:09:56Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Thomas Edison also took credit for the work of his employees, made an ass of himself regularly and by all accounts was a terrible person to work for, but most look back on him as an inventor that brought about the electric age Ironically, Musk didn’t name his electric car the Edison 😉 ---
**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 17, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/103 "2022-03-17T14:10:15Z")
What are you pinging? If I ping google, I get a range from 22 ms to 35, on cable. Actually, out of curiosity, what does a tracert look like? Wondering if it goes through multiple satellites, and if the tracert sends that info back. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/104 "2022-03-17T14:12:37Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > What are you pinging? > > If I ping google, I get a range from 22 ms to 35, on cable. I use the ookla site speed test. Just got 32ms. No cable available here. Or DSL, fiber etc. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/105 "2022-03-17T14:25:47Z")
Appears to bounce around a bit. 6 hops with tracert to 8.8.8.8 Tracing route to dns.google [8.8.8.8] over a maximum of 30 hops: 1 3 ms 2 ms 2 ms StarlinkRouter.lan [192.168.1.1] 2 27 ms 28 ms 30 ms 136.22.93.33 3 46 ms 29 ms 30 ms 136.22.254.94 4 38 ms 37 ms 37 ms 108.170.252.193 5 41 ms 45 ms 37 ms 142.251.61.181 6 38 ms 46 ms 44 ms dns.google [8.8.8.8] Trace complete. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/106 "2022-03-17T15:55:00Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > it’s pretty much impossible to say anything positive about Space X, Starlink, or Tesla without being accused of being a fanboy or gleeful supplicant or thoughtless devotee. That’s a legitimate complaint (although kind of contradicted in this very thread, where plenty of positive statements have been made about some aspects of those companies without provoking accusations of fanboyism etc.). ISTM that the root of the problem is that so many people seem to think that if there are positive things that can be said about Space X, Starlink, or Tesla, then Elon Musk’s personal assholery and ethical missteps just don’t matter. And that anybody who criticizes him for them is just “wanting to hate” him, or jealous or misinformed or “pathetic” etc. etc. No. As I said, it is perfectly feasible and appropriate to acknowledge some significant contributions that Musk’s companies have made while not giving Musk himself a pass on his personal assholery and ethical missteps. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/107 "2022-03-17T17:07:44Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > it’s pretty much impossible to say anything positive about Space X, Starlink, or Tesla without being accused of being a fanboy or gleeful supplicant or thoughtless devotee. Are we reading the same thread? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/108 "2022-03-17T20:58:42Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > No. As I said, it is perfectly feasible and appropriate to acknowledge some significant contributions that Musk’s companies have made while not giving Musk himself a pass on his personal assholery and ethical missteps. OP here. I never had heard anything about his personal assholery and ethical missteps. But, I guess I’m learning. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/109 "2022-03-17T23:06:11Z")
In all fairness, I think Elon Musk explains a lot about why he acts the way he does on his [SNL monologue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCF8I_X1qKI): 1. He suffers from Aspergers 2. He “reinvented electric cars and is sending people to Mars. Did you really think he’d be a chill, normal dude?” ---
**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:** [March 18, 2022, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/110 "2022-03-18T06:29:51Z")
The “pedo guy” story is Musk lashing out (and later apologizing to) Unsworth because Unsworth went on CNN and shitted on Musk’s engineers’ attempt at solving a problem that, at the time, was a big “how are we going to get these kids out of this flooded cave” crisis. So the divers later put the kids under anethesia w/ oxygen masks on and drug them out and Musk’s tech solution wasn’t needed. What I won’t defend if Musk hiring a shady PI to investigate Unsworth after the “pedo guy” tweet. This PI reported he married a 12 year old girl in Thailand but apparently he was full of shit. I guess a British guy can regularly visit an area in Thailand known for pedo vacationing and find a wife and not actually be a pedo, but I don’t exactly blame someone for thinking the worst. ---
**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 18, 2022, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/111 "2022-03-18T07:24:19Z")
> [@nate](#): > > The “pedo guy” story is Musk lashing out (and later apologizing to) Unsworth because Unsworth went on CNN and shitted on Musk’s engineers’ attempt at solving a problem Most people can handle criticism without calling the critic a pedophile. > [@nate](#): > > So the divers later put the kids under anethesia w/ oxygen masks on and drug them out and Musk’s tech solution wasn’t needed. If by “wasn’t needed” you mean “would never have worked”, that is. > **[Elon Musk's mini-sub was 'not practical' for Thailand cave rescue](https://www.engadget.com/2018-07-10-elon-musk-mini-sub-was-not-practical-for-thai-cave-rescue.html)** > > The Thai cave rescue is over, with all 12 boys and their coach safely above ground. Elon Musk's miniature submarine clearly arrived too late. However, it's now clear that it wouldn't have seen use regardless. In the last few hours of the... > [@msmith537](#): > > He suffers from Aspergers Aside from the fact that “Aspergers” isn’t a valid diagnosis in the DSM anymore, having an ASD diagnosis is not an excuse to act like an immature frat boy. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2022, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/112 "2022-03-18T07:36:15Z")
> [@nate](#): > > Musk’s engineers’ attempt at solving a problem This is an interesting shift: we start with Musk being a technical savant whose engineering prowess is at the center of his ventures’ success and who is at the forefront of his companies’ idea generation work; but when we get to this ridiculous and nonsensical boondoggle of a cave-rescue submarine that was properly condemned and mocked by anyone with more than two brain cells, it’s not Musk’s solution, it’s “Musk’s _engineers’ **attempt** _” at a solution. Curious. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/113 "2022-03-18T07:45:03Z")
On a side note, the National Geographic documentary on the cave rescue is really excellent and fascinating. It’s one the best documentaries I’ve seen. The Rescue (2021) - [Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHIrK3dO3SU) There’s no mention of Musk at all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/114 "2022-03-18T07:47:13Z")
For shits and giggles: Would you climb into a submarine engineered by Musk (‘s people)? The first prototype, built in a rush? Musk hired a PI after what he twattered, couldn’t find shit and now you want to defend your Hero with implying that it was a valid assumption regardless? Wow. How much money did your guy send to help? His announcement to “help” gave him a ton of free publicity- did he send more or less than 0,001% of your most pessimistic valuation of that publicity? Would it be fair to call it “cynical” or “narcissistic” to profit in such a fashion of the misery of others? How much money did he send to Ukrainian refugees? Or is he profiting from other’s misery for free publicity? If he was not so obviously manipulating crypto with his “social” media presence, you might think all of this a little callous. As it is, it is straight up evil. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/115 "2022-03-18T08:52:48Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Would you climb into a submarine engineered by Musk (‘s people)? It had ‘full self-diving’. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/117 "2022-03-18T12:19:04Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > having an ASD diagnosis is not an excuse to act like an immature frat boy. Someone who is responsible for raising capital and promoting his company is obviously not neurologically incapable of acting in a socially acceptable manner. Assuming his ASD diagnosis is correct (I think someone earlier said it was a self-diagnosis), he’s not an asshole because of ASD, he’s a guy with ASD who chooses to be an asshole. Using his ASD as a shield against criticism is just another example of _being_ an asshole and is insulting to the great many people on the spectrum who suffer from some social awkwardness and confusion but nevertheless are legitimately kind and good people. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/118 "2022-03-18T13:31:24Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > …but he chooses like to act like a tendentious shitbird, apparently trying to be the coolest 14-year-old edgelord in the room. Oh, Goddammit, this is funny! I’d like to see Musk get into the film business, so he can face off with the Reigning Coolest 14-year-old Edgelord. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2022, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/119 "2022-03-18T15:20:46Z")
Who is saying Musk is a “technical savant whose engineering prowess is at the center of his ventures’ success and who is at the forefront of his companies’ idea generation work” or anything like that? Regardless, the sentence I wrote makes complete sense. Musk sees this as his engineers attempting to solve a crisis with a tech solution (at his direction) and some dude gets on CNN and tells him to shove his submarine up his ass, that it wouldn’t work. So Musk defends and goes a little overboard. I understand the condemnation of Musk’s tweets regarding this. What I don’t get is the hate for him & SpaceX attempting to solve a crisis that was, at the time, portrayed as a problem without a solution. Nobody was shitting on them at the time, but after the kids were rescued and SpaceX’s solution wasn’t used it suddenly became a joke and now something to call Musk an asshole about for some reason. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/120 "2022-03-18T15:36:43Z")
BTW, all you guys that are shitting on Musk’s solution to the trapped kids, read [this SDMB thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/152) as this crisis was unfolding. A lot of posters had similar ideas to get the kids out. This wasn’t a hare-brained solution and I don’t know why it’s so hard to believe Musk would have genuinely altruistic intentions about saving these kids. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/121 "2022-03-18T15:43:42Z")
> [@nate](#): > > have genuinely altruistic intentions about saving these kids. To steal your phrasing from the post above, who is saying Elon Musk didn’t “have genuinely altruistic intentions about saving these kids.”? I’m sure there are, but it’s not really relevant to whether or not Elon Musk is a self-aggrandizing asshole. You know why we don’t accept it as “going a little overboard” when Elon Musk calls someone a pedo for having the gall to criticize him? It’s because he’s a multi-billionaire with the capability and willingness to hire a detective to dig for proof. You don’t get point for altruism when you do that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053.md?page=7)