Dan GillmorFeb 13, 2023
Musk and Murdoch together at the football game is a gathering of today's most powerful anti-democracy media barons. And it's a reminder that journalists who would never consider working for Murdoch's Fox "News" -- at least he pays for his content -- are still toiling for free to support Musk's rancid trollsite.
Show threadJohanna's GardenFeb 14, 2023
@dangillmor I was trying to think recently when my opinion of Musk really sunk, and I saw a piece of a teaser for "Thirteen Lives" and quickly remembered that was it, when he called the cave diver "That pedo guy" because he thought Elon's idea wouldn't work and the rescue would require actual divers. "Not at his best" or whatever, there was no excuse for making that statement b/c of his ego.
Show threadenmodo ⚛️ 🧬 🇺🇦 🍉Feb 14, 2023
@JohannasGarden @dangillmor my opinion of him sank after I read a biography of him. He has a deeply fucked up childhood, spent his life perpetually just avoiding bankruptcy often with huge help from the government. I'd say creating Tesla and SpaceX are great achievements but that doesn't mean he's not a dick.
Show threadJohanna's GardenFeb 14, 2023

@enmodo @dangillmor Justine Musk, his first wife, is an intelligent and empathic woman. She wrote "I Was a Starter Wife" for Marie Claire, and has also referenced a number of articles, though I can't find them off the top of my head, about how the suddenly wealthy will usually decrease in empathy, especially for those who aren't wealthy, as their wealth increases.

https://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/a5380/millionaire-starter-wife/

"I Was a Starter Wife": Inside America's Messiest Divorce

In the middle of her headline-grabbing divorce settlement from Elon Musk, Justine Musk reveals the truth about her marriage.

Marie Claire
Show threadenmodo ⚛️ 🧬 🇺🇦 🍉

@JohannasGarden interesting read, it definitely shows there's more to Elon than meets the eye - was the marriage just a transactional arrangement to him, to pop out babies? I've read there's probably another 10 lil' Musks out there not from wedlock...

After a lot of searching I finally found some references that suggested after the divorce appeal Justine got 10% of SpaceX and $80K a month. I wonder how Talulah faired after her two marriages to Elon?

Feb 15, 2023 at 9:23pmWeb
Show threadJohanna's GardenFeb 20, 2023
@enmodo I suspect he's tried to make each successive wife/partner easier/cheaper to "fire", but I also suspect they get significant money, especially if they parent his children. He seems to want them available whenever he wants them, but not to have responsibility for them, other than financial, when he doesn't.
Show threadenmodo ⚛️ 🧬 🇺🇦 🍉Feb 21, 2023

@JohannasGarden maybe he should just be hiring a 24/7/365 escort(s). But no, I think he wants to feel loved and admired, if he is paying for it he will never feel that way.

Of course he could be in a relationship without being married, and we've heard stories that suggest he engages in polyamorous sexual encounters, so what's his hang up about getting married unless he just treats it as a transaction venture to keep someone around long enough to pop out some more Musks.

Show threadJohanna's GardenFeb 25, 2023
@enmodo Yup, he doesn't want to see it as transactional, yet he also sees himself as the most important person in the relationship and will bring that up when the partner doesn't do what he wants.
Show threadJohanna's GardenFeb 25, 2023
@enmodo This is reminding me of a bit of the first season of White Lotus. There was a line from the woman who had just married the wealthy guy that was something like, "I wasn't sure how much I was falling in love with you or with the sound of doors opening." I am quoting it wrong and making more of it than it was, but the "sound of doors opening" was in there.