Yea haha I was going to remind folks of that too. Elon was building a submarine that everyone involved told him was a terrible idea and to please leave them alone because he was hampering the effort, and Elon responded by calling one of the lead rescuers a “pedo guy” and got sued over it.
I believe his defense was that “pedo guy” was a common insult in South Africa.
It's probably not worth the effort providing any form of defense of any part of Musk's role in this, but his team did ask the British lead divers whether they should carry on working on the sub (well, underwater transportation tank) project, and they received the response that the lead divers wished them to continue as a contingency.
Also, one should obviously not falsely accuse someone of being a pedophile, including if they tell you to shove your submarine up your ass.
But really, this whole thread shows up every time the cave story is mentioned, and I think the whole thing just detracts from the fantastic international act of heroism that the rescue was. It was really a beautiful achievement where no adversaries had to be hurt, the kind of uniting against the cruel laws of nature that I wish the world would see a lot more of.
>I believe his defense was that “pedo guy” was a common insult in South Africa.
This is also what Luis Suarez said about his comment that got him in trouble that his comment is common where he's from. Just because it's what is said in one place does not mean that it is acceptable anywhere else (if even in the one place).
Nowhere the same case, Suárez used a common friendly term with his friend, as a thank you, and he wrote it in Spanish. Anybody who has half a clue about the Spanish language knows that was not an insult, quite the opposite.
Lots of people say dumb things in the heat of the moment. Choosing to stick by it and not apologize is the confirmation dialogue for showing your character.
He afterwards paid someone to dig up more dirt and emailed media with further lies about the guy. At that point it kind of stops being "heat of the moment".
Yeah if every harmful thing constituted the "true character" of someone, we'd all be sinners. Granted, if a lot of harm is done, then it might be fair. (Cue the knee-jerk "isn't dragging a hero's name through the mud a lot of harm?"; I don't know, can you tell me what wouldn't qualify as a "lot of harm" under your worldview? Everyone knows the diver was a hero and if you have evidence his life is affected, pls share)
It's just negativity bias; considering the negative to be "more true" or accurate than the positive.
I have a friend of a friend who worked directly under Musk at one of his big ventures. Can confirm that Musk is a giant egotistical asshole, albeit a brilliant one.
IMO: those weren't "simpler times." Everyone just seems to let Elon get away with saying a lot of BS on Twitter for whatever reason. Trump was the same way until he became president.
I believe his defense was that “pedo guy” was a common insult in South Africa.
Simpler times haha.