He went from having student debt to the richest man on the planet, transforming two industries, cars and rockets, on the way. That's not so easy to do. At least I haven't managed it yet.
Seth Abramson the "Musk biographer" who as far as I can tell has not written an actual biography seems pretty bitter.
(edit: He has some sort of biography but it's not on Amazon etc - you get it free if you subscribe to his substack)
In fact in that video from minute 1-7 you can pretty much see how he beats the likes of Boeing and gets stuff out faster and cheaper than NASA. It's hard to say - ah that's a good idea, that's how he beats the other rocket scientist guys and then argue he's stupid. At least when it comes to rockets. Politics I'm less convinced.
In the Attention Economy, that social media platforms create, he knows how to capture Attention. The question is not Elon but about why we tolerate these platforms that prop up people like Elon or what the alternatives are.
Michael Goldharber pointed out at the dawn of the Internet => info explodes but Attention does not + ppl have a limited capacity to pay attention but unlimited capacity to receive attention.
The truth is Everyone needs a bit of Attention (it is a source of self esteem), that's why sites like HN work because people feel they are seen or heard even if its one upvote.
But then there are Elon and Trump types who are born with a need to be loved and respected by everyone. Plant them in the social media environment, where attention capture is rewarded, and is the main source of profit for the platforms, and we get the abnormal fruits we sow.
The probability there would be a musk i.e. someone born to money that doesn't lose it all, has one success, then believes they're not a statistical certainty, is very high.
It's not that he's stupid but that he's not really that smart.
But nor are most people. Hence his unknowing fan club.
I often hear progressives stating this line about Elon being born into money, but as far as I can tell it isn't actually true.
He was a poor university student like everyone else, had student debt like everyone else, and his business success seems to have come from rolling profits from his previous venture into his next one, and this domino starts from very modest beginnings with Zip2.
> Haha, Elon is dumb, he should be fired!
> Trump smells, to the dungeon with him!
> All republicans have a lot of dandruff, they must be traitors!
> Scientists discovered that right leaning people fart more than nice people.
He is smart. His achievements appear to be in seizing opportunity and attracting various other smart people. Unlike Trump, he hasn't destroyed too much wealth along the way.
He is smart, and progressives in general lose credibility by claiming otherwise, but short tempered.
Also, this headline is misleading. This wasn't said by Walter Isaacson who actually wrote the biography on Musk. It's a random dude, who seems to have a personal vendetta against Musk, compiling a bunch of his tirades into something he optimisically calls a "biography".
He went from having student debt to the richest man on the planet, transforming two industries, cars and rockets, on the way. That's not so easy to do. At least I haven't managed it yet.
Seth Abramson the "Musk biographer" who as far as I can tell has not written an actual biography seems pretty bitter.
(edit: He has some sort of biography but it's not on Amazon etc - you get it free if you subscribe to his substack)
Clearly a greater intellect than the guy in second place who sells overpriced handbags and booze.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1892710698683142638.html
I have never seen a Musk tweet that seemed very smart.
SpaceX Musk is pretty good!
If you see video of him talking about spacex he's obviously reasonably smart eg. https://youtu.be/cIQ36Kt7UVg?t=55
In fact in that video from minute 1-7 you can pretty much see how he beats the likes of Boeing and gets stuff out faster and cheaper than NASA. It's hard to say - ah that's a good idea, that's how he beats the other rocket scientist guys and then argue he's stupid. At least when it comes to rockets. Politics I'm less convinced.
Here's another comment so you can downvote me some more for stating a completely innocuous personal opinion.
Actual subject line is "Author of Upcoming Elon Musk Biography Says ‘There Is No Evidence’ Billionaire Has Any ‘Intellectual Achievements’".
https://xcancel.com/SethAbramson/status/1892710698683142638
It doesn't matter how many people say it.
In the Attention Economy, that social media platforms create, he knows how to capture Attention. The question is not Elon but about why we tolerate these platforms that prop up people like Elon or what the alternatives are.
Michael Goldharber pointed out at the dawn of the Internet => info explodes but Attention does not + ppl have a limited capacity to pay attention but unlimited capacity to receive attention.
The truth is Everyone needs a bit of Attention (it is a source of self esteem), that's why sites like HN work because people feel they are seen or heard even if its one upvote.
But then there are Elon and Trump types who are born with a need to be loved and respected by everyone. Plant them in the social media environment, where attention capture is rewarded, and is the main source of profit for the platforms, and we get the abnormal fruits we sow.
[flagged]
He is but a statistical chance.
The probability there would be a musk i.e. someone born to money that doesn't lose it all, has one success, then believes they're not a statistical certainty, is very high.
It's not that he's stupid but that he's not really that smart.
But nor are most people. Hence his unknowing fan club.
I often hear progressives stating this line about Elon being born into money, but as far as I can tell it isn't actually true.
He was a poor university student like everyone else, had student debt like everyone else, and his business success seems to have come from rolling profits from his previous venture into his next one, and this domino starts from very modest beginnings with Zip2.
What's a 'progressive'?
Fireworks producer.
"Said @sherdil2022."
Really? At least 4 more years of this?
Pulitzer-worthy journalism.Sure Musk is abrasive and has a ton of flaws, but you lose a lot of credibility pretending the guy isn’t smart.
He is smart. His achievements appear to be in seizing opportunity and attracting various other smart people. Unlike Trump, he hasn't destroyed too much wealth along the way.
He is smart, and progressives in general lose credibility by claiming otherwise, but short tempered.
Also, this headline is misleading. This wasn't said by Walter Isaacson who actually wrote the biography on Musk. It's a random dude, who seems to have a personal vendetta against Musk, compiling a bunch of his tirades into something he optimisically calls a "biography".
Smart people do not lie as much as Musk does. Smart people care a lot more about their credibility than musk does.
1. Smart people lie plenty.
2. Musk rarely lies, he's honest to a fault.
Elon was too busy hustling to waste time on academic pursuits.
I'm sure he has hundreds of PhDs, etc working for his various companies.