Charlie Stross

POLL: Best nickname for Elon Musk

(Please RT for coverage?)

Space Karen
67.1%
Dilbert Stark
16.9%
The Emerald Heir Incel
10%
Singularity Fash
5.9%
Poll ended at .
Mar 21, 2023 at 8:05pmWeb
Show threadTed Han ★ 韓聖安Mar 21, 2023
@cstross phony stark is still my favorite
Show threadBob ThomsonMar 21, 2023
@cstross @ted was going to say, that’s the one that sticks in my mind.
Show threadNicholas WeaverMar 21, 2023
@cstross I like Pony Stark the best...
Show threadTed Han ★ 韓聖安Mar 21, 2023
@ncweaver @cstross haha jinx https://an.errant.cloud/@ted/110063070406796332
Ted Han ★ 韓聖安 (@[email protected])

@[email protected] phony stark is still my favorite

An Errant Cloud
Show threadwhetstoneMar 21, 2023
@ncweaver @cstross Phony Stark is my fave too, but Space Karen is a close second.
Show threadHairyChrisMar 22, 2023

@ncweaver @cstross +1. Pony Stark ftw. Amazing on so many levels.

I also like Apartheid Clyde. And Elmo. Ah, so many good ones!

Show threadBillMar 21, 2023
@cstross I'm partial to Melon Husk
Show thread4GrandMar 22, 2023
@billswallow @cstross and FElon Mush
Show threadSindarina, Edge Case DetectiveMar 21, 2023
@cstross None of the above, as I maintain that ‘Edgelord Messiah’ is the best nickname of all time.
Show threadKarl T.Mar 21, 2023
@sindarina @cstross In that same vein, I like "Kwisatz Blahderach," but it may be a little fannishly specific.
Show threadJon_AlperMar 22, 2023
@sindarina @cstross I wish I could recall who but someone hipped me to ‘Phony Stark’ after I was admonished Space Karen was problematic to some. (I love P.S. but I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the take on S.K.)
Show threadkexlineMar 21, 2023
@cstross Phony Stark, with Melon Husk a distant second.
Show threadMaddler  Mar 21, 2023
@cstross incredibly hard to pick one!
Show threadWilliam Lewis IIIMar 21, 2023
@cstross I prefered to call him Elmo The Boi NAZI before I pulled the plug on the dead bird site.
Show threadTim BrayMar 21, 2023
@cstross The “Karen” meme is juvenile and really nasty to a substantial number of unfortunate people who have that name.
Show threadilmariMar 22, 2023
@timbray @cstross Yeah, my wife is not a fan. Any time she has to actually raise an issue she worries she'll be stereotyped, mocked, or not taken seriously because of her name.
Show threadFeralRobotsMar 21, 2023

@cstross
'Singularity Fash' is a new one on me & I like it even better than 'Space Karen'.

But I'm going with 'Dilbert Stark' - it's also new to me & it's lovely - Dilbert's nebbishy ineptitude melded with Tony Stark's bravura hyper-confidence.

Show threadCharlie StrossMar 21, 2023
@FeralRobots Disclaimer: I invented "Dilbert Stark" just now and wanted to field-test it.
Show threadFeralRobotsMar 21, 2023
@cstross <chef-kiss />
Show threadOwen BlackerMar 21, 2023
@FeralRobots @cstross this this
Show threadHighlandLawyerMar 21, 2023
@cstross @FeralRobots Stark, as in the Ben Elton novel of that name, is extremely fitting.
Show threadChris [list of emoji]Mar 22, 2023

@cstross @FeralRobots

The problem is that Dilbert (the character) is good at tech and moderately likeable.

Musk is more of a pointy-hairplugged boss.

Show thread(rainynight65) has movedMar 21, 2023
@FeralRobots @cstross not to mention the fact that the Dilbert creator has also come out as a fascist and racist.
Show threadScott Raymond Mar 21, 2023
@cstross Melonhead
Show threadRob LandleyMar 21, 2023
@cstross I generally go with "twitler".
Show threadBrian MoonMar 21, 2023
@cstross I voted Space Karen but I have to admit Dilbert Stark is <chef’s kiss>
Show threadfrandroid 🏴‍☠️ jin jiyan azadîMar 21, 2023
@cstross That's Apartheid Emerald Heir to you... :)
Show threadGregg "Cabe" BondMar 21, 2023

@cstross

Chief Twit.

Or a simple hearty - Bellend.

Show threadMichael RawdonMar 21, 2023
@cstross I’ve been using Space Putin, but I also like Phony Stark.
Show threadRick Moen 🇺🇸 🇳🇴 🇬🇧Mar 21, 2023

@cstross : I'm rooting for two favourites missing from your otherwise commendable list:

Phony Stark
PayPalpatine

Show threadMegaZoneMar 21, 2023
@cstross Phony Stark
Show threadbogenschlagMar 21, 2023
@cstross Paypalpatine 🤷🏼‍♂️
Show threadHirvoxMar 21, 2023
@cstross Not listed: His Muskness.
Show threadMike CohenMar 21, 2023
@cstross @coolgrey I prefer Rocket Boy
Show threadPeter Drake HAS MOVEDMar 21, 2023
@cstross In a recent #ttrpg campaign I played, there was a self-styled Space Karen and a villain named Edgelord Grimdark.
Show threadJochie 👨🏻‍💻🏳️‍🌈Mar 21, 2023
@cstross I like Phony Stark even more than Space Karen (seen in @gruber posts, no idea if he came up with that or someone else)
Show threadGerard Cunningham ✒️Mar 21, 2023
@cstross Apartheid Clyde.
Show threadOrcMar 21, 2023
@cstross I favo(u)r "Electric Car Trump", though "elmo" is a good runner up.
Show threadCatEyeJayneMar 21, 2023
@cstross
Not relevant
Forgotten
Who?
Show threadBakersRelayMar 21, 2023
@cstross Mini Musk?
Show threadWichtawstrawMar 21, 2023
@cstross Whatever ends up winning he is in the Charlie Sheen zone now. When you read something about him your first thought will be yes that sounds about right. Musk announces merger with Truth Social. Musk named father of Bella Ramsey's child. Musk announces new two wheeled Tesla line. Musk sells Space X to Putin and is paid in gold.
Show threadPterryMar 21, 2023
@cstross I usually use Melon, but he is also a Nepobaby
Show threadKevin MarksMar 21, 2023
@cstross Felon Mush?
Show threadJoshua BowmanMar 21, 2023
@cstross I prefer Jetty McJetface.
Show threadJoby (chaotic good)Mar 21, 2023
@cstross Other: Apartheid Clyde
Show threadJeanne MastodonMar 21, 2023
@cstross I'm not a fan of "Karen" as an insult. Instead I use "Nanni" in honor of the person who wrote the first recorded complaint letter (specifically the one about low quality copper sold by Ea-nasir).
Show threadHarry TurtledoveMar 21, 2023
@cstross I often call him Melon Husk over on the Muskbird place.
Show threadBrent, in a jarMar 21, 2023
@hntdove
Ooo, good one! I've used MElon before, but definitely prefer yours. I think my favorite is Elongated Muskrat, and of course “tiny fingered, Cheeto-faced, ferret wearing shitgibbon” is an all time classic
@cstross
Show threadMary BranscombeMar 21, 2023
@BrentInMasto @hntdove @cstross The Most Divorced Man EVER
Show threadBrent, in a jarMar 21, 2023
@marypcbuk I know, right? Also funny how many children he has yet still comes across as an incel
@hntdove @cstross
Show threadMary BranscombeMar 21, 2023
@BrentInMasto @hntdove @cstross even some of those children have divorced him
Show threadMary BranscombeMar 21, 2023
@hntdove @cstross I'm still tipping my hat to David Simon's excoriating final thread and using mr sparky car
Show threadRoseanna Cunningham 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🖖Mar 21, 2023
@hntdove @cstross Noel Skum
Show threadnotsoloudMar 22, 2023
@hntdove
Dump the husk, grab the tusk!
@cstross
Show threadHarry TurtledoveMar 22, 2023
@notsoloud @cstross I have professional reasons not to do that. I sell books on both services, and my platform there is more than 10x bigger than this one.
Show threadJim CappioMar 21, 2023
@cstross I go with “Eloi Morlock” for the SFnal reference.
Show threadRob EickmannMar 21, 2023
@cstross Phony Stark from @gruber
Show threadVincent Wanders AimlesslyMar 21, 2023
@cstross muskrat
Show threadPatrick Johanneson 🚀 🇨🇦Mar 21, 2023
@cstross All good choices. I'm partial to "Elongated Muskrat" and I kinda wish I could recall where I first heard that one.
Show threadKelly GuimontMar 21, 2023
@cstross @lunarobverse you missed my favorite, Paypaltine (: