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Comment by kache_ | Hacker News Reader

He's not popular on hacker news. He's definitely popular

The word we're searching for here is "divisive"

I was hoping "unpopular" would be the word we used

maybe controversial? Personally I'm behind 95% of what he does, but the square steering wheel/take away driver control thing is annoying.

The people I agree with are visionaries.

The people I disagree with are divisive.

Those are not antonyms.

I don't think most people would argue that Musk isn't a visionary. I also don't think most people would argue that Musk isn't divisive.

Definitely a visionary, no argument here

Guess that makes you a visionary too

I know the point you're trying to make, but I can't imagine that even the largest Elon Musk fanboys would disagree that he's divisive. At best, I can imagine them saying it's not his fault and people overreact, but that's still recognition of the divisiveness.

Why is Elon described as divisive? Because it sounds bad.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was never described as divisive, though she was objectively more divisive than a rich guy who makes cars and rocket ships and flamethrowers. Antonin Scalia was described as divisive, so the argument can't be made that SC justices are somehow different.

It's a rhetorical trick that's been used for many decades. It's obvious, and it's tiresome.

I'd say there's a mixed reaction on HN. I think he's kinda cool with the 0-60 in 2 secs cars and trying to make mankind multiplanetary but the haters seem much more inclined to post.

It seems a little contrary to the - Have curious conversation; .... Please don't sneer... guidelines. A lot of sneering going on when Musk gets a mention.

I'm in a similar boat. I like what he's achieved with SpaceX, Tesla and Starlink. I don't like his views on trans people (which are ironic, considering he named his droneships after Culture Minds), as well as his inflammatory character. Art vs. Artist and all that.

What are his views on trans people?

I don't think he has any well-articulated principles about us, just mocking. Like changing his Twitter name to "Elona" and posting shitty memes in response to his ex dating Chelsea Manning, along with posting that gender pronouns are "dumb." 4chan Twitter troll cringe, basically.

I don't believe much in canceling and like what SpaceX is doing, I just don't like Musk making fun of people like me and so I'd sooner work for his competitors than for him.

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