Elon Musk

[LordMortis]

Lyrics take on a new meaning...

[Alefroth]

I feel like if Biden had made this mistake we'd be seeing it all over the media, and not just the fringe.

[Blackhawk]

The Professional or Blade Runner?

The surprisingly creepy one.

[Carpet_pissr]

I feel like if Biden had made this mistake we'd be seeing it all over the media, and not just the fringe.

Let it go, he's out.

[Alefroth]

I feel like if Biden had made this mistake we'd be seeing it all over the media, and not just the fringe.

Let it go, he's out.

I think you missed the point. Let me help. I feel like if Harris had made this mistake we'd be seeing it all over the media, and not just the fringe.

[Holman]

Musk has spent the past 24 hours retweeting lame right-wing memes and pushing the (debunked) Haitians-eating-pets story to a truly gross and openly racist degree. His output is what you would expect from a would-be Edgelord 10th-grader. He's playing to his most grotesque sycophants, but he's alienating everyone else.

Which makes me wonder: is Musk actually just kind of stupid?

Musk is routinely labeled a "genius" because of the technical success of (some of) the companies he has bought. But it occurs to me that every time I've seen a clip of him interviewed (even by those who revere him), he's just not impressive. And I don't believe I've ever seen him write anything that wasn't a dumb tweet. HAS he ever written anything intelligent or articulate?

[Alefroth]

Musk has spent the past 24 hours retweeting lame right-wing memes and pushing the (debunked) Haitians-eating-pets story to a truly gross and openly racist degree. His output is what you would expect from a would-be Edgelord 10th-grader. He's playing to his most grotesque sycophants, but he's alienating everyone else.

Which makes me wonder: is Musk actually just kind of stupid?

Musk is routinely labeled a "genius" because of the technical success of (some of) the companies he has bought. But it occurs to me that every time I've seen a clip of him interviewed (even by those who revere him), he's just not impressive. And I don't believe I've ever seen him write anything that wasn't a dumb tweet. HAS he ever written anything intelligent or articulate?

Interesting observation.

[Holman]

I know that facility with language is hardly the only measure of intelligence, but Musk seems to enjoy all kinds of fawning press based on the work done by people he pays (or fires when they become inconvenient).

What does *he* actually bring to the enterprise aside from bags of money and a (now eviscerated) reputation?

[Isgrimnur]

[Smoove_B]

What does *he* actually bring to the enterprise aside from bags of money and a (now eviscerated) reputation?

He really might be intelligent but he's clearly doing everything he can to soak in the adoration of millions of willing fans on the social media platform he purchased, in part, to be able to do so. Why? Another sad case of a guy that didn't get enough hugs from Daddy when he was a kid so now he desperately trying to fill that void by courting edgelords and white supremacists.

You can understand why he relates to and idolizes TFG.

[Kraken]

Isn’t it well-known that Musk likes to get high before he does public appearances or posts on xitter? That and his juvenile sense of humor would explain a lot.

[Pyperkub]

Isn’t it well-known that Musk likes to get high before he does public appearances or posts on xitter? That and his juvenile sense of humor would explain a lot.

It would also make him fit right in with a Trump administration, given the rampant drug use in the White House last time.

[Blackhawk]

I'm still a believer that the disconnect from the real world experienced by the truly rich has an outsized effect on their behavior.

[ImLawBoy]

I feel like if Biden had made this mistake we'd be seeing it all over the media, and not just the fringe.

Let it go, he's out.

It's important to continue to emphasize the double standard the media has for the candidates. It's important to be aware that Trump's baseline is at least as old/confused/addled as Biden, but the media continues to ignore it or at best give it minor attention. It's not about Biden and whether he's in the race - it's about the media continuing to sanewash (new term I learned from Bluesky!) things that Trump says when they wouldn't do that for any other candidate.

[Carpet_pissr]

I feel like if Biden had made this mistake we'd be seeing it all over the media, and not just the fringe.

Let it go, he's out.

I think you missed the point. Let me help. I feel like if Harris had made this mistake we'd be seeing it all over the media, and not just the fringe.

Fair enough. So you aren't still bitter as hell that Biden was bounced? Maybe I am confusing you with another poster. If so, apologies.

[Carpet_pissr]

sanewash

Aaaaaand STOLEN.

[Carpet_pissr]

I feel like if Biden had made this mistake we'd be seeing it all over the media, and not just the fringe.

Let it go, he's out.

It's important to continue to emphasize the double standard the media has for the candidates. It's important to be aware that Trump's baseline is at least as old/confused/addled as Biden, but the media continues to ignore it or at best give it minor attention. It's not about Biden and whether he's in the race - it's about the media continuing to sanewash (new term I learned from Bluesky!) things that Trump says when they wouldn't do that for any other candidate.

I guess I lost most faith in the media long ago, and people like Malchior kept getting all kinds of upset over the fact that the NYT was seemingly off the rails. News flash: for the most part, our media has been bought and paid for for a looong time now. I think it's way past time trying to hold anyone's feet to the fire, when the only fire that matters is "eyeballs", and now, maybe more importantly, the billionaires' views that own the media companies that own the news outlets.

Yes, I am very very cynical, but it feels (to me) like you guys are beating a dead horse.

[Unagi]

Honest question, what's your path forward then? Just give up and tell other people too, as well?

[Carpet_pissr]

Honest question, what's your path forward then? Just give up and tell other people too, as well?

Honest answer: discount the media as if they are going to save us. If anything, they are working against us and caused a lot of our current problems. We will somehow have to struggle through, in spite of the media writ large, and their interests, which are mostly not our interests (as a country). I'm not poo-pooing the excellent journalism that still exists, just that I think they are the exception to the rule now.

[LordMortis]

Honest question, what's your path forward then? Just give up and tell other people too, as well?

Honest answer: discount the media as if they are going to save us. If anything, they are working against us and caused a lot of our current problems. We will somehow have to struggle through, in spite of the media writ large, and their interests, which are mostly not our interests (as a country). I'm not poo-pooing the excellent journalism that still exists, just that I think they are the exception to the rule now.

Agreed. Also I think the excellent journalism is some sort of nut to keep face and to be able to point to in the sea of editorialized reporting likely induced by ownership or the desire to sell something.

[Alefroth]

I feel like if Biden had made this mistake we'd be seeing it all over the media, and not just the fringe.

Let it go, he's out.

I think you missed the point. Let me help. I feel like if Harris had made this mistake we'd be seeing it all over the media, and not just the fringe.

Fair enough. So you aren't still bitter as hell that Biden was bounced? Maybe I am confusing you with another poster. If so, apologies.

I'm not crazy about how it went down, but I couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome, which was far from a certainty.

[Unagi]

Honest question, what's your path forward then? Just give up and tell other people too, as well?

Honest answer: discount the media as if they are going to save us. If anything, they are working against us and caused a lot of our current problems. We will somehow have to struggle through, in spite of the media writ large, and their interests, which are mostly not our interests (as a country). I'm not poo-pooing the excellent journalism that still exists, just that I think they are the exception to the rule now.

I agree with all of this, but I think it's important to call out the MSM on their inability to call out Trump for being absurd - even if 'they are lost', as it were, to the might $$$

[Unagi]

So you aren't still bitter as hell that Biden was bounced?

Wait? Was there someone here that was 'bitter as hell' that Biden was bounced?

Sanity check (for me). I feel well read around here and I don't recall anyone being more than just surprised - and perhaps someone pointing out that Biden was indeed "forced" out and that wasn't totally cool - but not bitter. Certainly not bitter as hell.

[Pyperkub]

Trump is bitter as hell...

[LordMortis]

https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/e ... 236140915/

“Fine Taylor … you win … I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life,”

And he bans people for tracking his plane.

“Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them.”
― Margaret Atwood

[hepcat]

Remember when Musk was a somewhat respected tech billionaire?

Sheesh. Now he’s just a creepy J.D. Vance wannabe with Trump level narcissism.

[Kurth]

Apparently, Musk tweeted this gem out today:

And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala?

(Emoji in original)

How is this ok?

[hepcat]

He bought Twitter so he could control the truth.

[Unagi]

Apparently, Musk tweeted this gem out today:

And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala?

(Emoji in original)

How is this ok?

Honestly, this should be a crime.

[LordMortis]

Apparently, Musk tweeted this gem out today:

And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala?

(Emoji in original)

How is this ok?

Honestly, this should be a crime.

And no one is even trying to assassinate Leon?

[Unagi]

Yeah, I had that same thought too.

[stessier]

Apparently, Musk tweeted this gem out today:

And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala?

(Emoji in original)

How is this ok?

Honestly, this should be a crime.

No it shouldn't.

[Unagi]

Apparently, Musk tweeted this gem out today:

And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala?

(Emoji in original)

How is this ok?

Honestly, this should be a crime.

No it shouldn't.

I mean, I know you are right - but the level of power and irresponsibility here is out of wack.

[Zarathud]

Not even the Secret Service may be able to save Trump from decades of irresponsible politics. You might expect a “smart guy” like Elon to have realized that, and the consequences of being a bastard in public life.

[Max Peck]

I suspect that he's just shitposting and thinks he's being oh-so-clever by implying that Biden/Harris are behind the attempts. It's also possible that he's going full Henry II and obliquely suggesting that someone should rid him of these troublesome liberals.

[hepcat]

Leon has discovered that his shit talking has resulted in his being persona non grata in the social circles that used to love him. Since he's not one to admit he's wrong, he's dug in and he's going to be the worst MAGA troll ever, he's decided.

But I take solace in my opinion that he's inwardly anguishing over the loss of any respect he might have commanded with liberal leaning celebrities.

[Isgrimnur]

Crying himself to sleep tonight on his lumpy pillow.

[hepcat]

Oh, he's involved in the Mike Lindell lawsuits as well?

[El Guapo]

I suspect that he's just shitposting and thinks he's being oh-so-clever by implying that Biden/Harris are behind the attempts. It's also possible that he's going full Henry II and obliquely suggesting that someone should rid him of these troublesome liberals.

I think the former is the most natural reading of what he said. Of course, regardless of intent it's obviously also wildly reckless and irresponsible.

[Smoove_B]

I mean, I know you are right - but the level of power and irresponsibility here is out of wack.

Which is why he should get a visit from Secret Service - which I'd expect for anyone shouting similar things to millions of people. Second, he needs to be ejected from his U.S. government entanglements. Whatever security clearances he was given and the contracts he was provided. He's a menace and I suspect it's only going to get worse over the next ~50 days.