Hacker News Reader

Comment by DwnVoteHoneyPot | Hacker News Reader

I just cancelled my Wall Street Journal subscription over this article. There’s so much going on in the world right but in the front page of WSJ.com are two hit pieces about Elon. First, this article where “board members are worried”, Second, “Mr. Beast rebuffs Elon” even though Mr. Beast would use X for videos if it was financially feasible.

I’ve never been a hater of “mainstream media”, but they are turning out to be ridiculous right now.

Just compare WSJ tabloid to FT.com now and the difference is huge.

View on HN

Several board members confirmed his drug use affecting his work performance off the record.

And you’re blaming Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper for this? This isn’t Gawker, FYI.

If you read the article, none of their sources are board members but “people with knowledge”. Could be anyone. WSJ has a history of bad reporting on Silicon Valley.

> I just cancelled my Wall Street Journal subscription over this article.

Is it part of cancel culture to cancel things you don't like?

"Mainstream media" isn't a monolith, it's filled with many types of content.

WSJ is going full bore down the path of most other Murdoch News Corp media properties, less neutral news, more click generating emotional rage bait.

( Okay, technically WSJ is directly a Dow Jones & Company, Inc. asset - but Dow Jones is now just another American publishing firm owned by News Corp.)

Give it a few years and they'll have a page three girl.

Dennis Potter on Rupert Murdoch's lasting impact on journalism, democracy and politics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRV835XkraI

I dont know.

A famous person with a drug problem. This is famously "good" news. Look at any other celebrity and the in depth coverage of their personal problems. Why should he be any different?

Hold on, there's a world of difference between recreational drug "use" and having a drug "problem". It seems like Musk is engaging in the former while being painted as having a "problem". And I say that as someone who dislikes him a lot for his other antics.

Some of those things are legal in certain places and circumstances. Coke isn't really either, ever. Especially for an officer of several public companies, some of which have big government contracts.

If the CEO of Boeing or Raytheon was acting this way, would we be acting differently?

To be clear, the WSJ article linked here states that people are worried he has a problem.

Using before going on stage for work is not recreational, it's a problem.

I would look at the behaviors and decisions made by the CEOs of Boeing and Raytheon. If they meet my expectations I would excuse the substance use.

If it’s a problem, it’s a minor problem, not justifying the attention. Elon has a lot of major problems that this distracts from, and creates the suspicion of a media bias against him, which is harmful.

Would employees of their companies, who must do drug tests, be given the same leniency?

In my opinion, it should depend on their role. And only look for active intoxication.

(Separately, regarding business and political leaders in particular) I’m not in favor of the “blackmail vulnerability” arguments in this discussion. Substance use should not be stigmatized.

I agree with your first point, that makes sense.

Yea, I’m a downright Elon-hater. I could not care less if business leaders use drugs responsibly. This is the wrong tree to bark up, an utter distraction when Elon’s actual meaningful behaviors and decisions are so objectionable.

It's good that you don't care, but we are a soceity of laws, and we need to apply them equally. If it's ok for business leaders to use responsibility then we need to make it ok for everyone, and free those that have been encarcerated for such. Many people that work for these companies must submit for drug testing. Where is your sense of right?

Yes, let’s free the incarcerated, absolutely!

In my opinion, drug testing should only required for certain roles (like driving or operating machinery). And it should only look for active intoxication.

Agreed on your second point. Well put.

I really don't understand this instinctive urge people have to grovel and simp for wealthy celebrities.

Musk is the owner and CEO of one of the most important defense contractors in the country. It is a matter of national strategic importance if he is spending his time coked out of his gourd or neck-deep in a k-hole.

Oddly i think he’s less important than you do, but you think I’m simping lol.

If you really think Musk’s drug habit is that important, People.com and NYPost Page Six may be closer to your preference.

There’s a couple of wars, shipping crisis, antisemitism, airplanes grounded, an upcoming election, employment and inflation numbers that are of more consequence than the private behaviour of Musk.

Hunter Biden’s drug use is then unimportant, right?

Did we forget that Jared Kushner couldn’t get a security clearance because of his financial black hole?

Exactly! It’s the same distraction as the noise about Hunter’s substance use. I do not care about either.

SpaceX is one of the most important defense contractors in the country?

Does the article explain how Musk avoids getting caught by the mandatory drug tests that NASA does to all involved SpaceX employees?

Musk is not an employee.

CEO, Chair and CTO are employee roles within a company.

employee: a person who works for an employer; spec. a person employed for wages or a salary under an employment contract, especially at non-executive level.

Source: Oxford English Dictionary

https://archive.ph/jj8AU

The drug tests are mentioned in the article.

It's no secret.

Congress carved out provisions allowing federal contract waivers for virtually every crime you can think of. It includes assault, rape, and murder.

Mainstream Western media is just a tool for few people to covertly control society. Totalitarian society media is a tool for fewer to blatantly control society. Nothing good can come from it.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com