Ken WhiteElon being Elon is familiar -- so familiar that it's no longer even particularly grotesque. But Elon fans tying themselves in knots trying to explain how WELL ACTUALLY all of this is PERFECTLY CONSISTENT with free speech absolutism he promised . . . . well, that's showing some new lows in groveling and abasement.
Thomas H Jones II@Popehat What I don't get is *why* people try to defend the indefensible? I mean, what's the gain of doing so? If there's none, why do it. At least with the GQP office-holders and hangers-on, the potential gain is getting voter-support to further political aspirations or office-holders' desire to hire or do business with you. But the kind of people who are kissing Elon's ass?
GraceToo@ferricoxide maybe they think he'll buy them a horse.
Sarah@AndGraceToo @ferricoxide lol. In all honesty I think it mostly is twofold: they are really into the idea that billionaires are smarter and better then everyone else, and that much of their identity is wrapped up in either Tesla or “owning the Libs.” Anything that runs contrary to these ideas would make them question parts of themselves and that is a very uncomfortable position to be in. It would be kind of sad if it weren’t so pathetic
@SarahOestreich @ferricoxide putting my snark aside, I agree.
Oh how I hate reality, sometimes. It can be *such* a buzzkill. It's especially so when you know – or at least have a reasonable suspicion of – why, but you're trying hard to fight your own pessimistic world-view. :p
silverhorseman@SarahOestreich @AndGraceToo @ferricoxide
I think we all would like to believe that powerful people are exceptional in some general way.
Mostly, they aren't.
I think we all would like to believe that powerful people are exceptional in some general way.
Mostly, they aren't.
@silverhorseman @SarahOestreich @AndGraceToo
…Because if they aren't all that exceptional, then what excuse do the rest of us have for not being high-flyers (or something)?
As an Xer, an *early* embrace of slacker-ism was a no-brainer. :)
CharliI was a fan-transwoman with a Model 3. My husband often mentions his attacks on the LGBTQ community. I'm somewhat eating crow now.
He appeals to Libertarians (who through fortune don't need social safety nets.) Mad-max culture I argued was a transition to a better place to make space accessible and force EVs on the road. Look at Steve Jobs to see how cults are needed for the iPhone, and the quick adoption of Android after.
We needed a Musk, but he's outlived usefulness.
There was a point in my life where I thought I was a libertarian, but, the current manifestation of libertarian bears no resemblance to the definition I learned in school. I feel like the term got perverted in much the same way the term "conservative" has been.
Maybe it's because I always tempered "ideals" with "but you need to factor in the real world".
Kathy E. Gill 🇺🇦@ferricoxide @Charli2 @Popehat
I call that “pragmatic idealism.”
Libertarianism as espoused by SV, EM, Rand Paul, et al, is naive, idealistic and uninformed (think public roads, for example). It is The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged on steroids.
Busted Flush@kegill @ferricoxide @Charli2 @Popehat
The problem with Ayn Rand is that her heroes are over-wrought cartoon characters. They are noble in way E. Musk most certainly isn't.
And if some John Galt really does invent something that harvests energy from the air, like wind power, it's attacked by people like Rand Paul because it threatens fossil fuel corps.
Libertarianism shares the same problem Communism has. It's a Utopian pipe dream that doesn't scale well past a handful of true believers.
@BustedFlush @ferricoxide @Charli2 @Popehat
No argument from me, BustedFlush.
Joe Hill 🇵🇸🇺🇦
@Charli2 @Popehat
As to "needing a Musk" I'd argue that what we really need is people having a better understanding of practical self-interest and an interest in posterity.
Going for a "green" economy doesn't need to be a matter of altruism. One could have recognized, "we can own an entire sector by hopping on early and establishing dominance". Near-term sacrifice to assure oneself good economic position, later. Good governments help make that practical ...rather than catering to dying models.
I think part of self-actualization is understanding of risk tolerance.
It helps add context to work relations, family responsibilities, etc
People who win the Ovarian Lottery or the business game can afford risks that others can't. This is the "bootstrappy" fallacy; rich see rich as better stewards, w/o risking social ladder place.
I suspect Musk would respond he is altruistic in that his personal quality of life would be much better on self care/strippers and cocaine.
Argot_Robbie@ferricoxide @Popehat Cognitive dissonance. He has told so many lies, and they've bought in. No turning back now.
JascollinsDon't you think there's some disinformation value to the 5-D Chess canard?
Even if by some (tiny) chance Elon himself doesn't believe it, his Brownshirts certainly do. And keeping people marinating in a Fourth Reich environment definitely impacts the Overton Window.
Comfortably Numb@ferricoxide It's the same reason regular MAGA kissing Trump's ass - if they stop doing this - if they stop defending them - they have to admit they have been conned, that they have been the marks all along. They will never do this.
Rorzer@ygalanter @ferricoxide this. This is also why people who get scammed online keep on giving and giving to their grifters until there's nothing left