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I binned twitter a few months back and couldn’t even be arsed to look at Tesla when I bought my EV, just can’t bring myself to buy his products. However……about 2% of my pension fund is in Tesla stocks which I hate but I cannot bin them unless I change my whole fund.
I’d say that extends to buying/leasing a Tesla or using Starlink.
i agree with this. I truly despise the fact I have to use Starlink - there’s simply no alternative where we live (bt estimated 3mbps, via overhead wires, in the middle of a forest). We’ve the opportunity for some community funding for a fibre link if I can get everyone in the hamlet to sign up, if that comes off then SStarlink goes in the bin straight away.
In my small circle I know one Tesla driver who is selling and will not have another, despite thinking the car is great and cheaper than equivalent alternatives, also a bunch of others like me who simply would no longer contemplate. Boycotting is the only way to really express effective disapproval - and live with your own decisions. These cars are luxury choices, not necessities. It’s not much to ask, of yourself or others. What’s he going to do with your money? The evidence is clear.
Just when you thought he’d already taken bellendery to its logistical conclusion …..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy53vz1qpx1o
Massive undercrackers seems an appropriate name for such a gigantic arsehole.
One of his kids is called Techno Mechanicus
Looks like a CyberTruck has exploded quite bigly right outside the Trump Hotel in Vegas.
Will nobody rid me of this turbulent billionaire big-head?
Looks like a CyberTruck has exploded quite bigly right outside the Trump Hotel in Vegas.
The suggestion on the news earlier was that it was possibly a terror attack, potentially linked to the one in New Orleans.
I won’t post the link to his toxic platform, but I see Elon is now calling for the release from prison of that renowned persecuted political prisoner Tommy Robinson, and has been joined by his fellow traveller… *checks notes*…. Liz Truss
Just another perfectly normal day
I've thought for a long time that Musk is like a modern day Howard Hughes, with a more pernicious pathology. Both show that extreme wealth isolates you from the real world and the necessary checks on your thinking and behaviour. So while both did/do achieve 'amazing' things and incredible engineering endeavours*, they both became/are becoming impossible people. I think the best hope is that Musk's forays into politics ends up consuming him and the power he is trying to build for himself, so that he just becomes a mega-rich figure of universal ridicule (he's already there for me, but not yet universally).
*Space X and his desire to colonise Mars is an equal to the Spruce Goose and a pure indulgance of egotistical whim. Both good adverts for curtailing the ability to become uber-rich.
Musk’s forays into politics ends up consuming him and the power he is trying to build for himself, so that he just becomes a mega-rich figure of universal ridicule
Unfortunately he’s very very dangerous. If you look what he’s presently doing on his cesspit, he’s enthusiastically spreading Tommy Robinson/EDL propaganda, when he clearly doesn’t have a bloody clue what he’s on about. He’s lending credence to what is just far right scaremongering and racism
It’s power without responsibility and we know already from what happened after Southport in the summer where this leads. It’s one thing to have Yaxley Lennon spreading his bile, but it’s another thing altogether when Musk is parroting the same racist nonsense
Given what we know about Cyber truck owners - my suspicion is that the Cybertruck explosion is more a tragic accident then intended incident.
Given what we know about Cyber truck owners – my suspicion is that the Cybertruck explosion is more a tragic accident then intended incident.
No, it was a deliberate attempt. He loaded it up with fireworks, camping gas canisters, and petrol containers, drove up, and then set it off. He died in the attack. He rented the Cybertruck, it's possible he chose that hoping that the battery would explode. The stuff he had wasn't really very explosive so it didn't really damage the building at all, in fact the Cybertruck was still intact afterwards, burnt rather than exploded.
Just when you thought he’d already taken bellendery to its logistical conclusion …..
Muuuuuuuuum! Grandpa's being cringe again! Tell him to stop trying to meme!
so both attackers were ex military?
America is a mess
it’s possible he chose that hoping that the battery would explode
Hats off to Musk though, for a while no one could work out whether it was set on fire on purpose, or whether, because it was a Tesla, it just "exploded because; reasons"
so both attackers were ex military?
America is a mess
To be fair, they hardly have a monopoly here.
Apologies if I’ve somehow offended/upset squirrelking?
so both attackers were ex military?
America is a mess
Theres a long tradition of mad, pissed-off ex-military that predates the present mess.
Timothy McVeigh was considerably more blowy-uppy and ironically would no doubt have worn a MAGA hat and been a huge fan of Trump. Actually, he’d probably have been in Washington for the insurrection
Allegedly the cybertruck guy was a guy who 'loved trump'
Hats off to Musk though, for a while no one could work out whether it was set on fire on purpose, or whether, because it was a Tesla, it just “exploded because; reasons”
For a while you mean 5 mins.
Looks like he’s gone completely hatstand, far-right conspiracy-theorist, having fully disappeared down the Tommy Robinson wormhole. All without stopping to maybe ask whether he should take everything little Tommy Two Names says at face value, without checking the facts first
Well let's see what DOGE Musk economic superhhero does when in position.
He's going through those efficiency savings to trim the fat from public money. Think shrinking the public debt will grow the economy.
Let's see what happens when he takes a strongly growing US economy with previous government stimulus bill and puts it through his DOGE filter.
(Will contract.)
Dumb-assery doesn't know a shit load of public money ends up in his own pocket.
The level of absolute shit he says it is simply astounding that he is the worlds richest man
The level of absolute shit he says it is simply astounding that he is the worlds richest man
Liars and charlatans have always prospered - all they needed was an audience. Up till a few years ago this audience was always limited in size, even if they owned say a newspaper or a TV channel but with social media that's no longer the case.
Looks like he’s gone completely hatstand, far-right conspiracy-theorist, having fully disappeared down the Tommy Robinson wormhole
That post is utterly repugnant on so many levels.
It’s now very obvious why he bought Twitter. Total financial madness but I suppose if you’ve limitless cash and can waste 40 billion or so just so that you’ve got somewhere to gob off…
Does anyone else think we're at war?
Looks like he’s gone completely hatstand, far-right conspiracy-theorist, having fully disappeared down the Tommy Robinson wormhole.
He's been there a long time and I think he knows exactly who these people are, and exactly what he's doing.
What his motivations are, I'm not sure anyone can be certain. There is clearly an attempt to destabilise existing governments in multiple countries across Europe, and I don't think he cares what means he uses to get results.
This is the richest man in the world, who has seemingly bought himself the position of co-President of the United States, and is now using one of the largest social media platforms in the world (which he owns) to launch a massive disinformation campaign in an attempt to control the narrative across Europe and influence elections. He's not even discrete about it.
The question is, what are we doing to protect ourselves?
He really is a total whopper, isn’t he? I know that the Tommy Robinson lot will be loving this, but surely everyone else is just laughing at him?
WTF is he even talking about? He knows nothing about the UK or how it is governed. He comes from one terribly ****ed up country and now lives in another. Perhaps he should look closer to home. ****wit
but surely everyone else is just laughing at him?
There's a few disgruntled Labour supporters who'd go along with it, as well as most Tories and everyone to the right of them, and all those people who can't see how the current system helps them in any meaningful way.
We can laugh all we want, but it's an idea that will appeal to quite a few.
He's gone full Bond Villain, that's for sure.
Apologies if I’ve somehow offended/upset squirrelking?
Lol @sillyoldman I was ripping it out of Musk
Interesting that the Tories are also criticising Musk for some of his Tommy Robinson comments. Possibly different motives of course...
BBC News - Musk 'misinformed' on grooming gangs, says Streeting
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxdzng92lno
Does anyone else think we’re at war?
Yes, I have been saying for some time now that the Oligarchs are now a bigger threat to western democracy and our lives and our economic stability than nation states. But it is a war that western politicians seem unwilling to fight, we are going to concede everything to them with barely a whisper from our supposed leaders. There has a least been some pushback from German politics, but not by the leaders just further down the food chain.
I find the response from the body politic to be rather depressing so far and there is barely a murmur that response will change and rise to the challenge.
Hopefully he’ll be dealt with like one.
Unfortunately, due to 14 years of austerity, MI6 have gone from James Bond to Johnny English.
Though the more I think of it, Bond villains were rarely foreign states, they were mainly crazy rich business people. Maybe we should have taken the Prophecies of Sir Roger of Moore more seriously...
Nah, Bond villains are charismatic or at least slightly interesting.
I’m scared that the only antidote to this is critical thinking which is just too hard for many, and is rarely deconstructed into a slogan or 20 second video.
I am starting to think Musk doesn't believe a word of what he's actually doing, and is deliberately lurching further and further right (indeed, dragging the whole republican party even further to the right of Trump) to see how far he can take it and in doing so, deliberately expose the whole trumpian republican bleeding into far right shit show it for the idiocy it is.
Trump has to go with him, because he's already put himself into Musks pocket. A useful idiot. How far will musk be able to ratchet up the rhetoric taking Trump with him, until Trump's in bluff is called?
(Note: Musks rhetoric does seem to be ratcheting up, and is completely out of character of how he acted maybe just 2 years ago)
Trump is already bombing in the approval ratings. I think a lot of Americans who voted for trump (holding their noses but wanting a better economy // not a black woman) will probably be quite appalled by how it's going.
Edit to add: I am not saying this is definitely what is going on, but I do think it's a possibility.
I think he's just entirely delusional about how much power he has and at the same time suffers from an appalling inferiority complex. Stack that with poor emotional control and a tendency to massively overreact to perceived slights, and we are where we are.
The only advantage is that the only people he's preaching to are mostly lunatics now that most sensible people have left Twitter.
At least Trump seems to have some marginal respect for politicians who say what they mean (eg David Lammy).
@Flaperon which I agree is also a possibility.
He's either gone bonkers, or he's being underestimated. I don't pretend to know which at this point.
Wouldn’t you just say this was the inevitable conclusion to being entirely surrounded by yes men who just tell you what you want to hear, never hearing the word no, and everyone you interact with is paid staff because absolutely everyone else, including all your own kids think you’re a ****?
With him and Trump I’ve never seen two people in more desperate need of that mate we’ve all got who tells you when you’re being a bit of a Dick
What I am trying to work out, is the reason for the gigantic lurch, not just to the right, but now *the far right* (further right than Trump now) based on recent tweets.
'just the right' could be explained by wanting a seat at the table with trump for tax breaks or whatever form personal gain.
I don't actually now see what Musk stands to gain by lurching into far right territory.
I remember at one point I thought he was doing his best to save the world. And at one point I also thought he was a very smart guy indeed.
Yes I know he's done some bloody stupid things since the halcyon days of before the cave rescue paedo debacle. But still....
I've been saying that for a while. The problem isn't musk specifically, it's the system that allows - creates, even - such a concentration of virtually unbounded wealth and power in a single person. I think a lot of people would struggle to cope with it.
I don't know much about ketamine but is it unrealistic to hope for the sort of fate that various prominent drug addicts have enjoyed over the years? The world would be a far better place without him, that's for sure.
- Ket is not great for your mental health long term. Doctor prescribed or not.
I think the mask has slipped and it did a long time ago
Musk's father was an interesting character, something Freud might have a view on.
Definitely not buying a Tesla now.
From Newsthump
When he talked about electric cars, I didn't know anything about electric cars, so when people said he was a genius, I figured he might be a genius.
Then he talked about rockets. I didn't know anything about rockets either, so when people said he was a genius, I figured he might be a genius.
Now he's talking about some of Britain's biggest political grifters. Now, I happen to know quite a lot about Britain's biggest political grifters & Elon Musk is saying some of the absolute stupidest shite I've ever heard anyone say, so when people say he's a genius, I figure we should stay the hell away from his cars and rockets.
Also: this timeline is VERY interesting reading.
Why exactly, did musk only come out to fully support Trump very very late, after the assiassination attempt, I wonder? Could it be, that this was the point where the odds became very strongly stacked in favour of a trump presidency?
Musk was playing a VERY cool hand prior to that. No right wing bile at that point at all (other than maybe the Mexico wall bit)
Makes you think <tounge in cheek laughing emoji>
I'm really not usually a conspiracy theorist honest guv!
What a load of bullshit, Musk has never done anything to suggest that he's not a hard right figure.
What is it about his actions, background or previous statements that seems to make people think he's anything but a hyper-capitalist, Quasi-fascist borderline Bond villain?
I just don't understand people's constant suprise when they suddenly discover what a throbber he is. At what point during the last 20 odd years did he give off positive vibes?
It’s obvious that he’s always been an epic stroker. Just look at the company he keeps.
Its just that with his latest Adventures in Trumpland, he really has started to believe his own hype and sees himself as some sort of kingmaker.
At least Murdoch just published a tacky headline saying ‘It’s the Sun Wot Won It’ when trying to take credit for an election victory, Elon seems to think he’s now some huge global political player, who can make or bring down governments
I expect he’s about to massively overplay his hand in this respect and Trump is going to show him where the real power lies. You run a social media platform, you don’t have a nuclear arsenal.
For now, at least. Though I’m sure he’s presently checking out potential lairs in hollowed out volcanoes. What a dick!
Musk has never done anything to suggest that he’s not a hard right figure.
I'm pretty sure he donated to both Hillary Clinton and Bidens campaigns when Trump previously stood for president
and Trump is going to show him where the real power lies
I'm not sure it lies where you and Trump think it lies. Though Trump may decide to nuke Musk just to rid himself of his turbulent priest.
I expect he’s about to massively overplay his hand in this respect and Trump is going to show him where the real power lies....
What palantir? ?
Trump doesn't have "power" he's a useful idiot who's scored a fancy sounding job title for the next 4 years.
Elon is a slave to his own narcissistic tendencies and needs to be considered edgy/clever/cool he's none of those things, like most people he's a flawed, overgrown child, the only real difference is he's got far too much money...
Yeah he's chucked money at the Dems before, so what, even the Donald lent support to Bill in the past. Union busting, tax dodging, worker's rights denying all par for the course. Buying up a platform to sculpt a bit of propaganda and stoke some culture war?
Fascists aren't born fascist, they need some time and the right circumstances to nudge them that way...
Why do people think Musk is a genius?
He's made some astute IT business decisions and made a lot of money.
He's not an engineering genius building new batteries and developing space rockets.
I think Musk was always a right winger but played the democrat while they were in power - like Murdoch backing labour at time. Its all about public appearances. I actually think buying twitter was bad for him and with Trump in power he has no need to play nice and has become radicalised far right.
Both him and Trump are badly damaged men who will never find happiness
Though Trump may decide to nuke Musk just to rid himself of his turbulent priest.
That is a distinct possibility, given how Trump cultists worship the very ground he walks on, and, well to be frank, many of them are not high on critical thinking skills and might act in what they think is the dear leaders best interest.
Trumps a complete flake, and he might one day go after Musk. I suppose Musk should be gathering evidence for when that day comes or irate trump supporters might be the least of his worries.
BBC News – Musk ‘misinformed’ on grooming gangs, says Streeting
We discussed this ad nauseam on the Farage thread. What a pathetic mealy mouthed response.; Musk should be called out for what he is - a hard right racist and that should be continually hammered home. The government should be boycotting twitter
The statement should have been more like
"Musk is a well known racist using this tragic case to stir up racial hatred. He is either lying or has a total lack of understanding of what actually happened"
What a load of bullshit
Just to reiterate - *I agree that what I posted above might well be a complete load of claptrap*
I am not pretending that I know it to be true in any way.
But on the other hand I do think it is one potential plausible scenario that explains a lot of Musks behaviour in past few months that seems completely irrational.
Before the last 3 months, what specific musk actions make you think he's always been hard right?
Ps. I also wonder whether the cybertruck exploder was thinking along similar lines to me hence the whole oddness of that particular incident. It would seem to fit.
Stick that confirmation bias in your pipe and smoke it eh :-p
Once again - I'm not saying any of the above is true. Just a possible plausible scenario.
Before the last 3 months, what specific musk actions make you think he’s always been hard right?
Union busting, illegal stockmarket manipulation. Hatred of his own trans child
Does anyone else think we’re at war?
Yes, I have been saying for some time now that the Oligarchs are now a bigger threat to western democracy and our lives and our economic stability than nation states. But it is a war that western politicians seem unwilling to fight, we are going to concede everything to them with barely a whisper from our supposed leaders.
Nothing new in this. right wing parties have always and only been about keeping power and wealth in the hands of the powerful and wealthy. some take that further down into the middle classes than others.
Left wing parties like or labour party start of as true leftwingers attempting to reverse this but are soon taken over by those who want to retain the status quo with softer edges than the right and chucking a few crumbs to the poor and powerless.
there is nothing new in this at all. Hence revolutions from the Russian revolution to the Sandanistas. Thats the mass of people the poor and powerless trying to take control. All revolutions get taken over by the right in later years once in power
the only difference now is because of social media its more visible ( made so in part because the misinformation by the right can be countered) and in recent years the right have been more open and pushing harder. The right also own almost all the media
Every step of gain for the poor and the powerless has been hard fought for and under constant attack from the rights attempts to roll it back
I'm not convinced Musk's own political persuasion is important here and I think it may be somewhat missing the point discussing it.
What I'm getting from all of this, is somebody taking advantage of other people's politics for their own personal gain. He doesn't need to personally agree with Tommy Robinson to publicly support him. He's deliberately stoking a fire that can't be put out.
I suspect he's seeking deregulation across Europe and a weakening of the EU, so he's attacking Europe in the most effective ways he knows, and the same ways he carried Trump to victory. He really has become a bond style villain and I think is being massively underestimated when viewed as an over zealous billionaire. He's building a global empire.
People like Starmer with all their bothersome views on law and order, and the beuracracy of the EU, he wants burnt to the ground. He just needs that raging fire.
@butcher good points. All valid and another potential good set of reasoning for the behaviour we're seeing
I don't profess to know what Musks motivation actually is, but what I am almost certain of is that there is a hidden agenda.
There was that time he was washing up with Walowitz at the charity food place on Christmas day…..
And that was the only time ever on BBT that Walowitz wasn't the creepiest ****er in the room
Dave Troy on Byline Times below is worth a read regarding musk
https://bylinetimes.com/2024/10/02/elon-musk-a-dangerous-evolution/
Yes, I have been saying for some time now that the Oligarchs are now a bigger threat to western democracy and our lives and our economic stability than nation states. But it is a war that western politicians seem unwilling to fight, we are going to concede everything to them with barely a whisper from our supposed leaders.
To be fair, the EU does seem to be fighting back, to a certain extent. Not much use in the UK I guess 🙁
I saw this on reddit, so much for Xitter being a free speech platform, that turns out to be have been a load of cobblers.
https://www.reddit.com/r/BrexitMemes/comments/1htkv76/musk_is_as_fragile_and_pathetic_as_any_reform/
I don’t profess to know what Musks motivation actually is, but what I am almost certain of is that there is a hidden agenda.
Dont rule out just being a spoiled manchild on a ****load of drugs who cant take criticism and is now just lashing out at any groups he thinks has dared criticise his genius.