Re:Ask HN: Why Do We Act Like Elon Musk Is Super-Man?
by ForHackernews on Wednesday July 01, 2015 @11:10AM
(#9812312)
I think many HN users tend to be Elon Musk fanboys because he (or at least his public persona) represents an idealized vision of what they wish they could be. He's fantastically wealthy, successful and driven, and he's working on "important" projects and Big Ideas. More to the point, he portrays himself as an engineer/visionary. Unlike other "heroic" figures in business (e.g. Steve Jobs, Richard Branson) Musk styles himself a builder, an engineer first and a businessman second, and so HN users who are primarily software engineers who maybe dream of starting a business see themselves in him.
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Re:Ask HN: Why Do We Act Like Elon Musk Is Super-Man?
by Nursie on Wednesday July 01, 2015 @11:25AM
(#9812429)
Yup.
Basically it comes down to "If I were a really rich guy then I would totally make electric cars and space stuff, that's awesome".
I guess he also managed not to step on any toes or mudyd the waters too much - the B&M Gates foundation does amazing work, but there's the legacy of MS and its dirty tricks there. And Steve Jobs did... what with his fortune? Obviously we don't know what he might have done were he still alive.
That's not to say other billionaires are less deserving of praise, or that Musk actually deserves the hero-worship he gets, just that Musk is a bit of a fantasy for nerds I suppose.
Re:Ask HN: Why Do We Act Like Elon Musk Is Super-Man?
by cconcepts on Wednesday July 01, 2015 @11:12AM
(#9812330)
Yes, it all just seems so well executed. I find it hard to imagine that level of cool is achieved without a well oiled PR machine working in the background...
(At least thats my cynical initial reaction)
Re:Ask HN: Why Do We Act Like Elon Musk Is Super-Man?
by ForHackernews on Wednesday July 01, 2015 @11:15AM
(#9812349)
Obviously there is. How many people even know that Musk didn't found Tesla (he was an early investor who later stepped in as CEO)? It's clearly a good PR strategy to identify him closely with their brand, and give the company a persona. Quick, name the CEO of Ford!
Re:Ask HN: Why Do We Act Like Elon Musk Is Super-Man?
by stephengillie on Wednesday July 01, 2015 @11:18AM
(#9812378)
Henry Ford. No, wait - Lee Iacocca.
Re:Ask HN: Why Do We Act Like Elon Musk Is Super-Man?
by billmalarky on Wednesday July 01, 2015 @11:19AM
(#9812389)
Best I can do is tell you the founder of Ford ;-)
Re:Ask HN: Why Do We Act Like Elon Musk Is Super-Man?
by auntienomen on Wednesday July 01, 2015 @11:26AM
(#9812453)
I don't particularly want to be Elon Musk -- frankly, I prefer the life I've built for myself. But I think the world could use more people like him, trying to effect big positive changes. Social networking technology is lovely stuff, but it doesn't inspire me in the same way as NASA's glory days.