Re:Hyperloop One Becomes ‘Virgin Hyperloop One’
by ghostly_s on Thursday October 12, 2017 @11:30AM
(#15458696)
He operates the first-ever successful private spaceflight company. (You can quibble with this but it's something close to the truth). Likening him to Barnum is a little insulting.
Re:Hyperloop One Becomes ‘Virgin Hyperloop One’
by ravenstine on Thursday October 12, 2017 @11:48AM
(#15458830)
That's not something I would contest, and I don't think I implied such a position. I(and presumably others) actually like impossible ideas but dislike the rampant lack of skepticism in the direction of Musk, therefore criticism of his company's proposals is justified and not necessarily coming from the direction of "it can never work".
Likening him to Barnum would perhaps paint him as a little more nefarious than Musk actually is, but I wouldn't consider that insulting. The man was a master promoter. But perhaps he's not a good analogue because their "products" are very different. People liken Musk to Edison, and they did both own technology companies that produced innovations, but that's where the similarity ends.
Re:Hyperloop One Becomes ‘Virgin Hyperloop One’
by always_good on Thursday October 12, 2017 @02:47PM
(#15460265)
Let's be honest. People criticize because it's easy, makes them feel good, and because they have no skin in the game.
You might like the idea that it's some sort of reasoned rejection of Elon PR, but it's not. Just make a Show HN sometime.
People are pointing out the glaring flaws in the Hyperloop idea, not because they can't or won't believe that crazy ideas are possible, but in reaction to the media's reaction to Elon Musk's PR. Surely I'm not the only one who wants to upchuck every time that Musk makes a claim and the media drools all over whatever he says. It even goes beyond the media itself but how the public reacts to how the media reports Musk. Otherwise smart people I've met have likened Musk to a modern day Edison, or even Tesla. Musk's companies have achieved great things, but he has more in common with Barnum than famous inventors.
Testing impossible ideas is wonderful. Musk's PR being inflated by the media, creating an audience of believer sycophants, is a different story and I really don't mind people blowing holes in the Hyperloop theory if the newsprint-spewing public isn't going to get that from technology reporters. I'd bet Hyperloop critics actually like the idea at one level or another, and hate to see such ideas looked at with pollyanna eyes.