Elon Musk is a nice chap

[Siwastaja]

Note that assburger was the trend diagnosis of late 1990's and early 2000's, AFAIK it has been completely removed from official use as a diagnosis everywhere. (Wikipedia says retired as diagnosis in 2013.)

It was always quite iffy as a diagnosis, being some kind of "Autism Lite 2000^TM". Many people are like me, they tick quite a few boxes out of assburger diagnosis but not enough to get it. It makes little sense to diagnose people like that, when most of the criteria are more like personality traits everyone has, just more focused and stronger in some.

[tom66]

It's a real diagnosis, they just don't like using it so much anymore because Hans Asperger was probably a nazi and referred disabled children to certain clinics which were known to execute patients.  The same diagnosis is more typically high functioning autism nowadays.

[tooki]

Note that assburger was the trend diagnosis of late 1990's and early 2000's, AFAIK it has been completely removed from official use as a diagnosis everywhere. (Wikipedia says retired as diagnosis in 2013.)

It was always quite iffy as a diagnosis, being some kind of "Autism Lite 2000^TM". Many people are like me, they tick quite a few boxes out of assburger diagnosis but not enough to get it. It makes little sense to diagnose people like that, when most of the criteria are more like personality traits everyone has, just more focused and stronger in some.

But that is not to say that it was a “fake” diagnosis or anything. It’s just been subsumed into ASD.

And while I agree to an extent that it can be considered a personality trait in mild cases, it goes well beyond that in many.

Much like ADHD: the excessive phony diagnoses that many believe to occur do not mean that real cases don’t exist (and are common) and that they exhibit significant, real-world differences and deficiencies in how the brain works. There is discussion to rename it because of how the ADD/ADHD names make people focus on certain symptoms while ignoring others that are equally, if not more, important. It’s not just a personality trait.

[TimFox]

What ever happened to "neurasthenia", an ill-defined medical condition characterized by lassitude, fatigue, headache, and irritability, associated chiefly with emotional disturbance, as the usual diagnosis for bourgeois maladies?
Raste nie und haste nie, sonst haste die Neurasthenie.

[james_s]

It's a real diagnosis, they just don't like using it so much anymore because Hans Asperger was probably a nazi and referred disabled children to certain clinics which were known to execute patients.  The same diagnosis is more typically high functioning autism nowadays.

I was diagnosed with it years ago, now it's typically just lumped into the umbrella of "autism spectrum disorder". It doesn't really matter anyway IMO, it isn't a treatable condition, my brain is just wired a bit differently making me a bit eccentric. I'm quite sure ASD is vastly more prevalent among engineers than in the general population. It is practically the description of the stereotypical engineer personality.

[james_s]

Musk got obsessed with electric cars, and that made him successful, because he also had the money for it. He also is obsessed with a lot of other things that are utter failures. And the electric car took like 15 years to become successful, and their only redeeming quality is being "first electric" because they are not very good cars in other ways.

I've driven a few Teslas, and a handful of other electric cars, and a large number of cars in general. To say their only redeeming quality is being the first electric is ridiculous. Yes they have had some problems, but the performance is so far ahead of every other production EV around that it's hard to even compare. A Tesla next to just about any other electric car is like a high performance supercar next to a Toyota Corolla. I was blown away by the acceleration, the Model Y my dad had is the fastest car I've ever driven by a wide margin and it isn't even the fastest version they offer. It drove very nicely too, smooth, quiet, my friend's dad owns it now and it has been problem free.

[SiliconWizard]

Note that assburger was the trend diagnosis of late 1990's and early 2000's, AFAIK it has been completely removed from official use as a diagnosis everywhere. (Wikipedia says retired as diagnosis in 2013.)

It was always quite iffy as a diagnosis, being some kind of "Autism Lite 2000^TM". Many people are like me, they tick quite a few boxes out of assburger diagnosis but not enough to get it. It makes little sense to diagnose people like that, when most of the criteria are more like personality traits everyone has, just more focused and stronger in some.

Yep.

Anyway. Now Musk has a mental condition that would expain his very nasty behavior. Is this where the thread is heading?

Next step should be to claim that he has a cancer, which would explain everything.

[Kasper]

Sometimes I wonder if everyone is on the autism spectrum.  It is a spectrum.  I think there is more difference between people diagnosed on either ends of the spectrum than there is between people with a mild diagnosis and people without.

Take the social butterfly that goes to clubs often.  I would initially think they are not on the spectrum because they don't seem to mind bright lights or loud noises or eye contact but they obsess (about socializing and drinking), they get upset if the pattern changes (if they can't go out or friends don't want to go out), they partake in repeating words and actions (singing and dancing) and self harm (hangovers).  Some of them even get anxious in social situations, hence the attraction to the anxiety depressant: alcohol.

[Psi]

Sometimes I wonder if everyone is on the autism spectrum.  It is a spectrum.  I think there is more difference between people diagnosed on either ends of the spectrum than there is between people with a mild diagnosis and people without.

Yep, its just a made-up word to describe a personality trait that exceeds some arbitrarily level.
Everyone has the trait it's just small enough to cause no real problems in life.

'personality trait' is probably the wrong word for it, but i couldn't think of something better

[james_s]

Yep, its just a made-up word to describe a personality trait that exceeds some arbitrarily level.
Everyone has the trait it's just small enough to cause no real problems in life.

'personality trait' is probably the wrong word for it, but i couldn't think of something better

I think that is an understatement to say the least. I often literally feel like an alien that was dropped into a planet of strange inhabitants, their apparent thought process not making much sense at all to me in most cases. It was far more acute when I was younger, since then I've learned largely by observation the appropriate way to respond to people in various situations. I occasionally feel like an actor in the role of a "normal" person.

[Kasper]

Yep, its just a made-up word to describe a personality trait that exceeds some arbitrarily level.
Everyone has the trait it's just small enough to cause no real problems in life.

'personality trait' is probably the wrong word for it, but i couldn't think of something better

I think that is an understatement to say the least. I often literally feel like an alien that was dropped into a planet of strange inhabitants, their apparent thought process no making much sense at all to me in most cases. It was far more acute when I was younger, since then I've learned largely by observation the appropriate way to respond to people in various situations. I occasionally feel like an actor in the role of a "normal" person.

I don't mean to minimize it, I think everyone is different and some more than others but I think feeling different is an ironically common feeling.

[tom66]

I've driven a few Teslas, and a handful of other electric cars, and a large number of cars in general. To say their only redeeming quality is being the first electric is ridiculous. Yes they have had some problems, but the performance is so far ahead of every other production EV around that it's hard to even compare. A Tesla next to just about any other electric car is like a high performance supercar next to a Toyota Corolla. I was blown away by the acceleration, the Model Y my dad had is the fastest car I've ever driven by a wide margin and it isn't even the fastest version they offer. It drove very nicely too, smooth, quiet, my friend's dad owns it now and it has been problem free.

A few years ago sure - but now you have vehicles like the Jaguar i-Pace, Porsche Taycan, Audi e-Tron (S Quattro), Ford Mach-E...  These have comparable performance to the Tesla's in the same price range.  Really all Tesla has left now in unique performance is at the ultra high performance end, the sub 3-seconds sports sedans.

[Buriedcode]

Note that assburger was the trend diagnosis of late 1990's and early 2000's, AFAIK it has been completely removed from official use as a diagnosis everywhere. (Wikipedia says retired as diagnosis in 2013.)

It was always quite iffy as a diagnosis, being some kind of "Autism Lite 2000^TM". Many people are like me, they tick quite a few boxes out of assburger diagnosis but not enough to get it. It makes little sense to diagnose people like that, when most of the criteria are more like personality traits everyone has, just more focused and stronger in some.

Yep.

Anyway. Now Musk has a mental condition that would expain his very nasty behavior. Is this where the thread is heading?

Next step should be to claim that he has a cancer, which would explain everything.

As he's such a divisive figure, it was pretty clear from the outset that the posters here will either defend him regardless of what he's done, or criticise him (for the obvious things he's done).  Those who don't care either way just don't post.  I'm still unsure why so many see him as an "engineer" or "inventor".  I'm unaware of any actual technical achievements or decisions he has made - he's a businessman.

[Mark19960]

I'm still unsure why so many see him as an "engineer" or "inventor".  I'm unaware of any actual technical achievements or decisions he has made - he's a businessman.

I see Musk as a vapourware copycat snake oil salesman that lives off the government and acts like Veruca Salt.

[X]

In the knowledge that this forum never seems to want to delete threads, I’ve change the title to reflect my opinion change over the last month or so. I’m not going to sit here and “Justify” or “Validate“ why I changed  my mind, but let’s just say that I think Elon musk is a very nice chap, and I hugely misjudged him, and the fact that he is very very anti-left liberal woke… That’s enough for me to like him.

You met the guy have you? I'm anti-left and anti-woke also, but I'm not about to forget absurdities just because of this. From Hyperloop to his promotion of how wonderful his AI is, cold gas thrusters, one-lane tunnels to "reduce traffic", and now people seem to think he's the bastion of Free Speech. Of course, why would Elon ever do anything for the benefit of Elon Musk when he can be a free speech hero instead? I suggest a wade through Thunderf00t on YouTube, who has done countless videos about his shenanigans.
Don't get me wrong, I'd be more than happy to give him the benefit of the doubt, but something is a bit off about all this, and so I remain neutral on my views about him. That said, it's his money and I am not one to tell him how to spend it.

[james_s]

As he's such a divisive figure, it was pretty clear from the outset that the posters here will either defend him regardless of what he's done, or criticise him (for the obvious things he's done).  Those who don't care either way just don't post.  I'm still unsure why so many see him as an "engineer" or "inventor".  I'm unaware of any actual technical achievements or decisions he has made - he's a businessman.

I don't really feel strongly about him one way or another. I do think he's intelligent and he has certainly made some great accomplishments, whether by developing anything himself, or just having a vision and being skilled as a salesman. I wouldn't personally want to work for him but I don't think he's as great or as terrible as a lot of people think.

[Zero999]

Note that assburger was the trend diagnosis of late 1990's and early 2000's, AFAIK it has been completely removed from official use as a diagnosis everywhere. (Wikipedia says retired as diagnosis in 2013.)

It was always quite iffy as a diagnosis, being some kind of "Autism Lite 2000^TM". Many people are like me, they tick quite a few boxes out of assburger diagnosis but not enough to get it. It makes little sense to diagnose people like that, when most of the criteria are more like personality traits everyone has, just more focused and stronger in some.

Yep.

Anyway. Now Musk has a mental condition that would expain his very nasty behavior. Is this where the thread is heading?

Next step should be to claim that he has a cancer, which would explain everything.

As he's such a divisive figure, it was pretty clear from the outset that the posters here will either defend him regardless of what he's done, or criticise him (for the obvious things he's done).  Those who don't care either way just don't post.  I'm still unsure why so many see him as an "engineer" or "inventor".  I'm unaware of any actual technical achievements or decisions he has made - he's a businessman.

I hope you know it's possible to agree with a person on some things, yet disagree with them on others. Elon reducing censorship and clamping down of child porn on Twitter is great, but that doesn't mean I agree with him on everything.

[Ranayna]

Elon reducing censorship and clamping down of child porn on Twitter is great

I heard this claim often here in this thread, and also elsewhere. But always unsourced.
So: What are credible sources to this alleged clamping down?

[tom66]

Well, he's definitely reduced censorship by sacking off most of the moderation teams, and all(?) of the "Trust & Safety" team (whether you agree on that being 'good' or 'bad' is another matter)

[tooki]

Elon reducing censorship and clamping down of child porn on Twitter is great

I heard this claim often here in this thread, and also elsewhere. But always unsourced.
So: What are credible sources to this alleged clamping down?

Yep. I made your argument, too. Apparently, his promises to do more than the (obviously) insufficient response from pre-Elon Twitter is enough to garner adulation, regardless of what they actually end up doing.

Well, he's definitely reduced censorship by sacking off most of the moderation teams, and all(?) of the "Trust & Safety" team (whether you agree on that being 'good' or 'bad' is another matter)

Yeah, I said that too, and was admonished that it’s supposedly a different team… 

[tszaboo]

I've driven a few Teslas, and a handful of other electric cars, and a large number of cars in general. To say their only redeeming quality is being the first electric is ridiculous. Yes they have had some problems, but the performance is so far ahead of every other production EV around that it's hard to even compare. A Tesla next to just about any other electric car is like a high performance supercar next to a Toyota Corolla. I was blown away by the acceleration, the Model Y my dad had is the fastest car I've ever driven by a wide margin and it isn't even the fastest version they offer. It drove very nicely too, smooth, quiet, my friend's dad owns it now and it has been problem free.

A few years ago sure - but now you have vehicles like the Jaguar i-Pace, Porsche Taycan, Audi e-Tron (S Quattro), Ford Mach-E...  These have comparable performance to the Tesla's in the same price range.  Really all Tesla has left now in unique performance is at the ultra high performance end, the sub 3-seconds sports sedans.

This is exaclyly what I wanted to write. And I would add, that teslas have all these gigantic panel gaps, uneven gaps, quality issues, or just plain and simple bad design choices, or badly written software that breaks your car, that don't exist with other brands. I know someone with a model S, he spent more on repairs than me on my Toyota. The built in charger blew up twice. I asked about the warranty. Oh yeah, its 2 year. 2 year! Imagine that. The Lexus electric comes with 10 year warranty.
He drove into a concrete post at 1km/h and that was a 6000 EUR deal to repair.
Just looked up the price of the new model S, it's 140000 EUR.
So yeah, shiny bad cars which are overpriced.

[wraper]

I've driven a few Teslas, and a handful of other electric cars, and a large number of cars in general. To say their only redeeming quality is being the first electric is ridiculous. Yes they have had some problems, but the performance is so far ahead of every other production EV around that it's hard to even compare. A Tesla next to just about any other electric car is like a high performance supercar next to a Toyota Corolla. I was blown away by the acceleration, the Model Y my dad had is the fastest car I've ever driven by a wide margin and it isn't even the fastest version they offer. It drove very nicely too, smooth, quiet, my friend's dad owns it now and it has been problem free.

A few years ago sure - but now you have vehicles like the Jaguar i-Pace, Porsche Taycan, Audi e-Tron (S Quattro), Ford Mach-E...  These have comparable performance to the Tesla's in the same price range.  Really all Tesla has left now in unique performance is at the ultra high performance end, the sub 3-seconds sports sedans.

Nope, they don't cave comparable performance for the price. For the same price you get inferior acceleration and/or range. Only base model Mach-E looks comparable to rear wheel Model 3 at similar price, but you still get somewhat inferior range.

[wraper]

Just looked up the price of the new model S, it's 140000 EUR.

For Model S Plaid with 2.1s 0-100 km/h acceleration. Now look for a price of the most powerful variant of Porsche Taycan which does not even come close in specs.

[tom66]

Nope, they don't cave comparable performance for the price. For the same price you get inferior acceleration and/or range. Only base model Mach-E looks comparable to rear wheel Model 3 at similar price, but you still get somewhat inferior range.

Uh, no.  Tesla has a lot of competition nowadays.

The base Model 3 is 5.8s to 60, this will set you back £48.5k excl fees of about £1k.

The Ioniq 5 "77kWh 325PS Performance" is 5.1s to 60 and £50k.  And it'll go at least as far as the Model 3 and comes with a 5 yr warranty on the car and 8 yr on the battery.

The Polestar 2 Long Range has 402hp and is 4.5s to 60 and just under £50k.  Also has similar range, though fast charging speed not quite as good, and warranty is only 3 years.

There are others, but Tesla has lost its performance advantage except in the sub 3 second range, where it's only really Porsche and Audi on the same platform in competition, but Tesla are down to 2 seconds there.  Which is definitely cool but you probably won't run a mass auto production business on £120k sedans.

At the lower end Tesla has serious competition.  If you don't care about 0-60, you can get an ID.3 77kWh which will go a similar range to the LR Model 3, and still get to 60 in a decent 6.5 seconds (VW advertise 7.3 seconds, but they undersell deliberately.)  That will set you back £42k.

[Zero999]

Elon reducing censorship and clamping down of child porn on Twitter is great

I heard this claim often here in this thread, and also elsewhere. But always unsourced.
So: What are credible sources to this alleged clamping down?

Yep. I made your argument, too. Apparently, his promises to do more than the (obviously) insufficient response from pre-Elon Twitter is enough to garner adulation, regardless of what they actually end up doing.

Well, he's definitely reduced censorship by sacking off most of the moderation teams, and all(?) of the "Trust & Safety" team (whether you agree on that being 'good' or 'bad' is another matter)

Yeah, I said that too, and was admonished that it’s supposedly a different team… 

To be fair, there really isn't any objective data on this. I found this article which says 44k CP accounts have been deleted since Musk too over, but it's probably the tip of the iceberg.
https://www.outlookindia.com/national/twitter-bans-44k-accounts-on-child-pornography-but-not-enough-improve-manpower-technology-to-urgently-address-issue-say-critics-news-241526

I do know Twitter has refused to delete CP in the past and Musk has sacked the person who was in charge of censorship back then.
https://www.opindia.com/2022/10/censor-chief-vijaya-gadde-is-fired-how-twitter-refused-to-take-down-child-porn/

Whether Musk has or will make any progress on clamping down on CP, the fact he's acknowledged it's a problem is a start.