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Nov 2023
3:28pm, 6 Nov 2023
22,536 posts
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larkim
Could you elaborate on what specifically you admire about him?
The disruption that effectively caused Tesla to bring about is one; I don't think we'd be as far down the EV path without him / Tesla. Paypal as a business model is another. Some aspects of his vision of future travel modes too. Plus SpaceX.
He's soiled himself with many of his political views, actions and comments, and what he has done to Twitter. And of course that is now his over-riding reputation.
And you may have different views about some of those things which he has effectively brought to market; but that first list is something which is admirable, even if not all of them are going to bring about world peace and harmony.
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Nov 2023
3:40pm, 6 Nov 2023
15,804 posts
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jda
The problem with Musk isn’t Musk, it’s the system that focusses wealth and power on individuals in a basically unlimited and unaccountable manner. Zuckerberg, Bezos, Thiel, plenty of others just a rung or two behind. They are a stain on our society.
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Nov 2023
3:43pm, 6 Nov 2023
48,347 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
I think you're confusing entrepreneurship for venture capitalism
No, I think he and his bro and friend actually *coded* Zip2, which was a Yell type (equiv of the data in Google Maps / businesses), so that is creative, effort and a useful service. That's what I was thinking.
Then there's larks's list of disruptive technical direction above.
He's a muppet from political, social and philosophical point of view, but he's "created" more than I ever will in my life. Can critics (here or elsewhere) claim the same?  G
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Nov 2023
3:44pm, 6 Nov 2023
64,790 posts
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LindsD
Probably of no interest to anyone but me and Fozzy, but academics voted overwhelmingly for a further mandate to strike, our last one having run out at the end of Sept, but failed to meet the 50% turnout threshold and therefore are not deemed to have such a mandate. Thanks, anti-union laws.
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Nov 2023
3:45pm, 6 Nov 2023
22,537 posts
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larkim
True; they're not victims of the system and they choose to exploit it, but it's not right to insist everything they do is wrong or bad. And even if they charity-white-wash themselves towards the end of their careers, there are tangible "good" outcomes (e.g. Gates ref Malaria).
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Nov 2023
3:47pm, 6 Nov 2023
22,538 posts
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larkim
Probably of no interest to anyone but me and Fozzy, but academics voted overwhelmingly for a further mandate to strike, our last one having run out at the end of Sept, but failed to meet the 50% turnout threshold and therefore are not deemed to have such a mandate. Thanks, anti-union laws.
And poor showing by your union colleagues too. That said, in the current climate of %age increases being petitioned for, when 4 days on strike would amount to 1.5% pay being cut, the cost / benefit of collective action is a tough one for staff to follow through on.
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Nov 2023
3:48pm, 6 Nov 2023
64,792 posts
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LindsD
I wouldn't mind if they voted against strike action, but just not to vote at all is really really disappointing.
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Nov 2023
3:48pm, 6 Nov 2023
64,793 posts
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LindsD
Without a mandate, nothing is possible.
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Nov 2023
4:12pm, 6 Nov 2023
15,806 posts
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jda
That’s disappointing LindsD.
larkim, I’m not remotely impressed by the charity whitewashing. Good causes should be supported (or not) based on a democratic mandate to raise taxes fairly, not on the whims of a handful of mega-wealthy tax dodgers.
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Nov 2023
4:12pm, 6 Nov 2023
10,291 posts
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Fields
Probably of no interest to anyone but me and Fozzy, but academics voted overwhelmingly for a further mandate to strike, our last one having run out at the end of Sept, but failed to meet the 50% turnout threshold and therefore are not deemed to have such a mandate. Thanks, anti-union laws.
Oddly enough strike legislation requires more of a mandate than our current and most previous ones have. Funny that.
I’m sure it’s on the list of things for Starmer to fix
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