Hacker News Reader

Comment by coldpie | Hacker News Reader

Yeah. I used to be pretty excited about SpaceX stuff (remember those first re-usable booster landings?? amazing). But now it's impossible to separate that work from their CEO's bonkers conspiracy theory mongering and anti-trans, anti-democracy, and white supremacist views. So I mostly just ignore SpaceX news items now. It sucks.

I hope SpaceX is able to dump him soon so they can get back to just being a cool company doing cool things.

View on HN

yeah I find all of this pretty strange, because Musk was very much adored by the left leaning people before he started his cultural war. Around 2016-2017 he was still the cool guy even on Reddit. I find this whole political circus slightly unnecessary and I believe he got himself few doors closed by this.

It's probably the single most high-profile example of the dangers of social media addiction in history. Guy fell in a deep social media hole around that time and in a few short years it's completely destroyed his reputation and seems to be affecting his personal mental health pretty massively.

> But now it's impossible to separate that work

Why? Is it just negative associations and emotions preventing you from enjoying it?

> bonkers conspiracy theory mongering and anti-trans, anti-democracy, and white supremacist views

That's a supremely uncharitable description.

Particularly the "white supremacist" bit. Just because I am friends with a communist and support/defend them and agree with some of their views (that aren't "communism is the best socioeconomic system") does not mean I am a communist.

> Why? Is it just negative associations and emotions preventing you from enjoying it?

Yes. I see SpaceX and think, "oh, the company owned by that jackass who wants to hurt my trans friends." It sucks.

If it helps, he doesn't want to hurt your trans friends, it isn't a terminal value. If you could convince him that trans people and potentially-trans people will be better off with people respecting trans pronouns and teaching about transness in schools then he would change his behavior.

(x) doubt.

That would go about as well as trying to convince him of the benefits of Scientology. Most people, once they recognize a harmful ideology masquerading as a benign one, aren't likely to be convinced otherwise.

How on earth is he hurting your trans friends?

I KNOW you voted for far left wingers, who all voted against gay marriage at one point, so tell me cold pie in minnesota, how do you possibly support those that actively voted against your beliefs? Explain that. How do you reconcile that?

What exactly is anti-democracy? It sounds like to me you are actively trying to supress viewpoints you disagree with, and by extension decrease their voice and reach leading to suppressing their vote which is anti-democracy, no?

I'm convinced this numb minded narrow viewed narrative is such a minority that it's proponents have a zeel to spew their misinformation every chance they can get.

> What exactly is anti-democracy?

He promotes and supports the US politicians who architected and supported the January 6th attempt to overthrow the 2020 election, and who are continuing that work today to end democracy in the US.

hahahaha, what a load of crap. You can't possibly believe that narrative with a straight face.

I can and do. And as a result of him getting mixed up in this politics junk, we're having this stupid conversation instead of celebrating the cool stuff SpaceX is doing. Boo :(

Didn't he vote Hillary on record?

From far left wikipedia:

>>Within the context of American politics, Musk has said he supported George W. Bush in 2004, Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Joe Biden in 2020.

So neocon, neolib, neolib, neolib - all warmongers, all boogie man Russia (lol), all proven beyond doubt to skim off the government. All crony capitalists, need I go on? All at one point against marriage for all - on record. Facts.

These are the people you support? Better take a look in the mirror bud.

Stop believing the narrative! Wake up folks!

-I'm not the one with cognitive dissonance letting a little bs politics get in the way of forming an opinion about a company.

How anyone can possibly not see the amount of undercover feds on the ground that day stirring the pot or the fact Speaker of the House didn't allow a major National police presence that was requested by the administration has serious blinders on and needs to check their view of reality.

I'm mean grandma didn't even go outside of the velvet ropes. Seriously. Check yourself. Disgusting.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com