Elon Musk: Genius or Madman?

[mawnansmiff]

Rarely out of the news, this man clearly has a talent for making money, but he is also well known for his controversial views, some bordering on the truly bizarre.

He also appears to be something of a narcissist, revelling in the media attention that he more often than not has cultivated himself.

His latest ‘thing’ was his announcement that he intended to buy Twitter. First he was very interested, even quoting how much he was prepared to pay then a few weeks later stated he wouldn’t buy it unless certain terms were agreed beforehand….meanwhile the value of the company had shrunk considerably. A deliberate tactic? Who knows but possibly a clever one if he indeed intends to make the purchase.

There is no doubting his business prowess, he is after all supposed to be the richest man alive, but at what cost? Does the man have scruples, would he sell his grandmother if the price was right?

So folks, in your opinion, is this guy a saint or a sinner?

Regards,

Jay.

 

[Jimmy_Jack]

He’s both. That’s just the way those people are. Zuckerberg. Henry Ford. Jeff Bezos. Any magnate of industry got there due to narcissism, grandiose ideas and pissing people off.

 

[philobeddoe]

Both, a modicum of madness is often the price of genius.

 

[sablebrush52]

Musk is wicked smart, and one hell of a salesman. He's got the outsized will and ego that's often needed to carry off making realities out of ideas. People are an expendable means to his ends and nothing more.

 

[fireground_piper]

The greatest con man of today. That’s my opinion anyway. He’s a great string puller.

 

[captainsousie]

There's no way that this thread could go sideways... ?

IBTL

 

[mawnansmiff]

There's no way that this thread could go sideways... ?

IBTL

Why should it? It's a serious discussion thread asking for serious opinions....not poking any wasp nest.

Regards,

Jay.

 

[captainsousie]

Why should it? It's a serious discussion thread asking for serious opinions....not poking any wasp nest.

Regards,

Jay.

The last time I talked about a figure who had become inherently political, I got in trouble. Not going there again.

 

[mso489]

Genius is an accolade to be taken lightly. Even historically confirmed geniuses like Einstein were all too humanly flawed. Musk is certainly immensely talented in financial machinations, an expansive quick learner, and a deft operator. If that makes him a genius, okay. In my opinion, he comes with equally outsized dysfunctions and weaknesses. I think his main genius may be being an interesting character, and I suppose, being outlandishly rich.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Why should it? It's a serious discussion thread asking for serious opinions

I've noticed a trend of asking for serious opinions, especially those of a celebrity or other public figure, often leads to heated arguments and mud slinging.

 

[LotusEater]

It’s hard to imagine just what makes the ultra rich and powerful tick. I don’t think any of them (Musk included) are often hampered by any sort of altruistic ideations. But many are probably no worse than the rest of us. Their selfserving narcissism is just played out on a much grander scale.
I think Musk does a lot of things just because he can.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Without defining terms, I'd say both.

He's also (to me, a non-medic) a bit autistic. (?)

 

[Casual]

Both. Look through the works of the great men of history, and you will see patterns.

 

[cshubhra]

I have not met him so I would not be able to answer your question just by his public persona.

However he has incredible talent to motivate other people to work for him. Launching a space shuttle requires incredibly talented engineers and scientists

 

[Servant King]

Neither. To be either of those things, you have to be human. He doesn't qualify.

What do I mean exactly? He is one of these:

 

[kcghost]

Call him what you will but any man who can build a space company that showed NASA how they could do things has something on the ball. Yes, he is a genius and flawed human as all of them are.

 

[autumnfog]

Without defining terms, I'd say both.

He's also (to me, a non-medic) a bit autistic. (?)

Autism confirmed.
Now does autism make a person mad? No. Just wired differently.

 

[Sonorisis]

I suspect he will be judged in the future on the basis of his contributions to society. In that regard, he is on a steep, upward trajectory. All the "press" about his human foibles is inappropriate in my opinion.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Without defining terms, I'd say both.

He's also (to me, a non-medic) a bit autistic. (?)

High function autistic, Asperger's. Having a daughter with it, I called it the first time I heard of him with it later confirmed.

 

[Jimmy_Jack]

High function autistic, Asperger's. Having a daughter with it, I called it the first time I heard of him with it later confirmed.

Yeah its pretty easy to see if you’re familiar. He will be know as an incredible visionary many many years after we are all gone and our tobacco has been smoked by strangers.