# 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:** 8
**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 29, 2022, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/142 "2022-03-29T10:09:06Z")
The Onion hits the nail on the head! > **[Please Like Me](https://www.theonion.com/please-like-me-1848674003)** > > It can be strange, sometimes, to be me. I’m the wealthiest man on the planet, for starters. Leaders across America, and indeed the world, look to me as a visionary driving technological progress in areas from transportation, to communication, to... ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/143 "2022-03-29T11:35:12Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Vance’s book blames some of Musk’s trolling on growing up in a certain hypermasculine culture where he did not always fit in. Is this true? White English South African culture is no more “hypermasculine” than the Canada he moved to or the America he now is in. ---
**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 29, 2022, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/144 "2022-03-29T13:48:35Z")
> [@nate](#): > > Oh? I posted a link to an ars article that clearly states Musk sent a team of engineers to Thailand to gather information needed for the design, on whether it would work or not. But at least two posters here continue to spout “he didn’t acquire basic information”, “he didn’t consult Thailand gov’t”, “he only gathered his info from the media”, etc. Complete fabrications. No, you posted a link stating that Musk tweeted, alongside his personal musings about solutions, that he would send a team of engineers. [Here’s one saying](https://news.yahoo.com/elon-musk-reveals-submarine-rescue-213500213.html) that the design was influenced by a team who’d been to Thailand, but also that Musk was doing redesign based on feedback from Twitter and hadn’t even gotten the sub to Thailand by the time other methods were in use getting the boys out. So he wasn’t coordinating with the real rescue operation and his engineers were either incompetent or overruled by a Musk acting exactly like we are criticizing him for. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/145 "2022-03-29T14:01:48Z")
In case anyone missed it, Musk is considering starting his own social network. > **[Elon Musk says he's considering building a new social media platform](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/28/elon-musk-says-hes-considering-building-a-new-social-media-platform.html)** > > Elon Musk said he is giving "serious thought" to building a new social media platform in a Tweet on Saturday. The usual complaint about “free speech”, just like certain other people who’ve been banned from Twitter. Musk has not been banned, but as a CEO of a major corporation, his tweets are scrutinized by the SEC much more than your average person. I got news for you Mr Musk. Moving to a new platform will not reduce the scrutiny you face. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/146 "2022-03-29T14:18:52Z")
> [@nate](#): > > This reminds me so much of how the right treats Hillary Clinton. Everything she does has self-serving, evil intent. They assume the worst. They blow up anything, any true mistake into a huge deal. But when you look deep into the specific claims made they are always misrepresented at best, completely false at worst. So many don’t like Hillary Classic whattaboutism. Don’t think about the real question at hand just point fingers at other people. It’s important to identify and call out whattaboutism asap, so we can all ignore it and move on with the discussion at hand. You want to talk about H.C?, there is no one stopping you from starting a thread about her. ---
**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 30, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/147 "2022-03-30T18:10:43Z")
I honestly don’t know what point you’re trying to make. I read the article. It describes Musk as working to find a solution to save lives. I just don’t get the hindsight hate on him for trying something that ended up not being needed. It’s weird. ---
**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 30, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/148 "2022-03-30T18:14:55Z")
I don’t think that whattaboutism describes my analogy of the way Musk is treated by haters is the same way Hillary is treated by the right. Whattaboutism is excusing the behavior of your “side” by pointing out that someone at some point on the other “side” did something similar. I don’t see how I’m doing that? ---
**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 30, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/149 "2022-03-30T18:25:24Z")
> [@nate](#): > > I honestly don’t know what point you’re trying to make. I read the article. It describes Musk as working to find a solution to save lives. I just don’t get the hindsight hate on him for trying something that ended up not being needed. It’s weird. What is weird is you rearranging reality into this strawman, _again_. He’s not getting hindsight hate for trying something that ended up not being needed. He’s getting scorn for the way he went about it, chiefly how he reacted to criticism. You keep just editing the “calling someone a pedophile, doubling down on it being true, rather than petty childishness, and claiming he’d hire investigators to prove it” out of the conversation. The conversation turns to quibbling about whether his was a worthwhile attempt at helping only once someone claims the attempt justifies the outrageous inability to take criticism, because few people have the willpower to acknowledge this means they are talking to someone with a faulty moral compass and should just walk away. ---
**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 30, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/150 "2022-03-30T19:41:02Z")
This thread is about Musk, how is it not obvious to you that bringing Hillary into the discussion is textbook whataboutism? > [@nate](#): > > It describes Musk as working to find a solution to save lives He very publicly announced he would help (with some harebrained scheme). When the people working on the problem said “thanks, but no thanks” he lashed out, slandering those actually doing stuff (and knowing what they were doing) then he hired a fucking PI to substantiate his slander. — is this the hill you’re picking? He (and his employees) has zero experience building submarines or rescue equipment. why would you think the “offer” to “help” was anything but a cheap publicity stunt? Musk makes more money in crypto piramides than he does selling cars— publicity is his primary source of income. So not only a cheap stunt; also very cynical. ---
**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 30, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/151 "2022-03-30T19:59:17Z")
Textbook Whataboutism in the service of peak Fanboism wrapped up in Deep Denial. ---
**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 30, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/152 "2022-03-30T21:50:32Z")
To be fair to nate he didn’t write “Hillary is terrible, so why are you after Musk”, he stated in too many words “This pursuit of Musk is just like the Right’s pursuit of Hillary”. Still a bad argument, but not whataboutism. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/153 "2022-03-30T21:55:16Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Textbook Whataboutism in the service of peak Fanboism wrapped up in Deep Denial. I see a band name, an album title, and a track title there. Not necessarily in that order. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/154 "2022-03-30T22:02:54Z")
Yeah, I’ll try that. With a side of slaw. What sauces do you have? Got any relish? ---
**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 1, 2022, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/155 "2022-04-01T07:55:24Z")
> [@naita](#): > > What is weird is you rearranging reality into this strawman, _again_ . > > He’s not getting hindsight hate for trying something that ended up not being needed. He’s getting scorn for the way he went about it, chiefly how he reacted to criticism. You keep just editing the “calling someone a pedophile, doubling down on it being true, rather than petty childishness, and claiming he’d hire investigators to prove it” out of the conversation. Wait… what? Your post was this: > [@naita](#): > > No, you posted a link stating that Musk tweeted, alongside his personal musings about solutions, that he would send a team of engineers. [Here’s one saying](https://news.yahoo.com/elon-musk-reveals-submarine-rescue-213500213.html) that the design was influenced by a team who’d been to Thailand, but also that Musk was doing redesign based on feedback from Twitter and hadn’t even gotten the sub to Thailand by the time other methods were in use getting the boys out. > > So he wasn’t coordinating with the real rescue operation and his engineers were either incompetent or overruled by a Musk acting exactly like we are criticizing him for. …and it didn’t mention anything about _reaction_ to criticism. You were criticizing him for a failed attempt at helping to save lives. My views on Musk’s reaction to Unsworth’s equally shitty behavior on CNN is posted elsewhere in this thread. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/156 "2022-04-01T08:45:49Z")
> [@nate](#): > > My views on Musk’s reaction to Unsworth’s equally shitty behavior on CNN is posted elsewhere in this thread. Unsworth criticized Musk for a solution that was misconceived and had zero chance of working from the beginning, because Musk had never bothered to find out the actual details of the situation. What Unsworth said was the truth. Musk then made a serious criminal allegation against him, which was totally false, because his petty little ego was hurt. Equally shitty? 🙄 ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/157 "2022-04-01T11:38:01Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Equally shitty? 🙄 If you literally believe that Elon’s shit doesn’t stink, then… ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/158 "2022-04-01T22:03:06Z")
After reading this whole thread, I am left with one serious question… Have @nate and Elon Musk ever been seen in the same room together? 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2022, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/159 "2022-04-02T00:22:32Z")
From an article on “social media influencers” in The Economist: “Their staying power suggests that (influencers) add value in several ways. They can save money: Elon Musk is an honorary influencer whose raucous online presence lets Tesla do without any conventional advertising (General Motors blew $3.3bn on it in 2021). Influencers’ networks reach new audiences, particularly younger shoppers. Global brands can localise their appeal by cutting deals with them.” There is madness. But there is method. ---
**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 2, 2022, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/160 "2022-04-02T08:41:50Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Unsworth criticized Musk for a solution that was misconceived and had zero chance of working from the beginning, because Musk had never bothered to find out the actual details of the situation. > > What Unsworth said was the truth. > > Musk then made a serious criminal allegation against him, which was totally false, because his petty little ego was hurt. > > Equally shitty? 🙄 The issue I take with this, as I’ve stated several times in this thread, is that contemporaneously Musk’s plan was not ridiculed or hated on. It’s only in hindsight that this opportunity is available. It’s the fact that a more simple solution proved to work out that the public can look back and say “well that was a dumb solution that had no chance to work! Everyone knew that! This was just a PR stunt for Musk!” But anyone not blinded by hatred of Musk would remember what actually happened. Some of you guys won’t even read the SDMB thread that I linked above that was an account of the story in real-time to see that Musk’s effort wasn’t shitted on but actually encouraged. I’ve been reading/participating in the SDMB since 1998 or so after clicking on a link form [bored.com](http://bored.com). I truly believe it has influenced me in part into what I am today. From my experience here I don’t understand the resistance to actually dive into claim’s about Musk’s actions that cause a such a revulsion. but at the same exact time advance claims like they are true. To me, it seems like you guys probably don’t like some headlines you’ve seen about it, that’s shaped your opinion, but you never really took the time to read the articles, or the linked source articles, and so on… but why would you? Who would actually care to dive that deep? Who would care? Why do I care? I don’t know! Why do I put forth the effort to debunk some claims about him? I don’t know! But I want to believe it’s to fight ignorance in the one place I know that would appreciate that. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2022, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053/161 "2022-04-02T08:53:50Z")
> [@nate](#): > > The issue I take with this, as I’ve stated several times in this thread, is that contemporaneously Musk’s plan was not ridiculed or hated on. It’s only in hindsight that this opportunity is available. Not true. There’s a difference between what the general public thought at the time, and what the experts on the ground could have told him at the time, if they had been asked. Either he didn’t even bother to ask them if it would work, or he ignored what they told him. Either way it was a publicity stunt. > [@nate](#): > > It’s the fact that **a more simple solution** proved to work Musk’s idea was not a solution at all. It simply could not work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-elon-musk/961053.md?page=9)