Lauren WeinsteinDec 11, 2022

It's interesting to see how many current Tesla owners are now expressing embarrassment at driving them in public, due to the now unavoidable associations with Musk's increasingly fascist behavior and statements, with many owners noting that they will never drive another one, and many prospective drivers saying they will now cancel and/or look elsewhere than Tesla.

Of course it's not fair for drivers (who bought into Teslas before Musk's true proclivities were obvious) to be faced with this, but that's what Musk has done to the brand -- single-handedly and with eyes wide open.

Show threadJeff JarvisDec 11, 2022
@lauren I have to say that if I see anyone bragging about buying a new Tesla, I will think worse of them -- especially considering how many better choices there are now.
Show threadChris JohnsonDec 11, 2022
@lauren @jeffjarvis It’s amazing how quickly the Tesla went from a car for affluent liberals to a MAGA-mobile.
Show threadJeff JarvisDec 11, 2022
@captainslim @lauren Given that the Volkswagen went from the car of Nazis to hippies, I suppose there is symmetry somewhere in this.
Show threadLauren WeinsteinDec 11, 2022
@jeffjarvis @captainslim Notably, after Hitler was long out of the picture ...
Show threadJeff JarvisDec 11, 2022
@lauren @captainslim
I await the bumper sticker:
"Don't blame me. I bought by Tesla before Elon went batshit nazi crazy."
I'm sure glad I don't own one; I never will. And I question the judgment of anyone who buys one now.
Show threadIke PigottDec 11, 2022

@jeffjarvis @lauren @captainslim

Note to self: start selling bumper stickers to Tesla owners that read “My next EV won’t run on hate.”

Show threadtheRealKanukDec 11, 2022
@ike @jeffjarvis @lauren @captainslim All this is a bit overdone. As much as I dislike Musk, Tesla is just a company that makes nice car (disclaimer I own one). Might as well stop eating because seeds come from Monsanto, stop driving your car or getting on the bus because oil you know. And don't get on the subway because electricity may come from coal or natural gas. This list could go on.
Show threadIke PigottDec 11, 2022
@theRealKanuk @jeffjarvis @lauren @captainslim I look at it like this — I have a lot of regard for engineers, employees and line workers who make those things happen. The difference is that only a tiny percentage of people can name the leadership of Ford, GM, Toyota or Honda. Musk is a narcissist who is happy to have the world believe him to be the genius responsible for everything (which he is not.)
Show threadtheRealKanukDec 11, 2022

@ike
Henry Ford was a Nazi. People still buy Fords (though not Jews) and aren't labeled Nazi sympathizers. One can buy a Ford and not sympathize with Musk.

@jeffjarvis @lauren @captainslim

Show threadJeff JarvisDec 11, 2022
@theRealKanuk @ike @lauren @captainslim Henry Ford is long gone. Musk is here. I'm not buying his products.
Show threadtheRealKanukDec 11, 2022
@jeffjarvis
And I respect that. But we should be careful of not labeling people who might still want to get one. They're not inconsiderate or worst for it.
@ike @lauren @captainslim
Show threadLauren WeinsteinDec 11, 2022
@theRealKanuk @jeffjarvis @ike @captainslim I've said before, it's not *fair* that they will be so labeled now. The reality though is that they increasingly will be.
Show threadtheRealKanukDec 11, 2022
@lauren
Only if we choose to. People are applying their own values onto someone else whom they know nothing about. And I don't have to explain why that's wrong.
@jeffjarvis @ike @captainslim
Show threadmathewDec 12, 2022
@lauren @jeffjarvis @theRealKanuk @ike @captainslim I think perhaps you do have to explain why it’s wrong for people to apply their own values to others. After all, isn’t that what the legal system does every day? Is it wrong for me to judge someone else for stealing, for example?
Show threadtheRealKanukDec 12, 2022
@mathew
Judging someone for stealing is one thing. Looking at someone's skin and ... well you know what I mean. Same concept applies to someone driving a Tesla.
@lauren @jeffjarvis @ike @captainslim
Show threadLauren WeinsteinDec 12, 2022
@theRealKanuk @mathew @jeffjarvis @ike @captainslim You don't choose your skin. You do choose to buy a Tesla. And today, anyone doing so knows full well what that will imply to many onlookers.
Show threadtheRealKanuk
@lauren
Onlookers can project their values on me while driving my Tesla but I know why I'm driving it. (Hint: it has nothing to do with Musk).
@mathew @jeffjarvis @ike @captainslim
Dec 12, 2022 at 12:35amWeb