Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

291–300 of 542 posts

Re: Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

#291

Post by Paul_S »

leesalminen wrote: post #289
Paul_S wrote: post #278

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about all the people working in marketing, software patent lawyers, drug dealers? You want them to quit their jobs? --- Let me make my point in a less obtuse way. Most people make decisions about their careers based on opportunity and maximising profit. No one becomes a footballer to make the world a better place. This would all be fine as long as the capitalist market rewarded choices that make the world a bett…

'Tis an interesting point. > Drug dealers Perhaps drug dealers (and their suppliers) can implement testing, QA and proper labeling. I'm not totally sure about software patent lawyers. But, deep down, my gut says that if software patent law wasn't to crappy, perhaps the occupation would be perceived in a better light. Maybe they could push for reform from the inside? On the whole, I think every industry can do some in…

Let me make my point in a less obtuse way. Most people make decisions about their careers based on opportunity and maximising profit. No one becomes a footballer to make the world a better place. This would all be fine as long as the capitalist market rewarded choices that make the world a better place. Obviously it does not and it's not the fault of a footballer that we as a civilisation choose to channel our available resources their way and not towards frivolous play like space exploration.

If anyone ever figures out a way to make the free market choose the greater good they will win all the Nobel prizes forever (we won't need Nobel prizes after that).

Re: Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

#292

Post by i2shar »

fchollet wrote: post #212
iMuzz wrote: post #2

Question/Answer I found interesting: Sama> How should someone figure out how they should be useful? Elon> Whatever this thing is you are trying to create.. What would be the utility delta compared to the current state of the art times how many people it would affect?

The equation should have per-subject weights to modulate the "how many people" part. For instance, if my app helps Mr. Musk be 10% more productive, that's more impactful than helping Mr. Smith be 10% more productive.

The weights would be different based on who's assigning them.

Re: Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

#293

Post by tokipin »

rdiddly wrote: post #193
kstenerud wrote: post #105

It always saddens me when I see a slew of Debbie Downer comments from the HN crowd. "Yes, he ushered in the electric car revolution, but the production carbon footprint is still huge!" "Yes, he's building rockets, but he took a bunch of government money!" "Yes, he's paving the way to Mars, but what has he done for world hunger?" And it not just with Musk, but really with anyone who has been successful. I would have t…

There are rational, non-envy-based reasons to object to all the hero-worship. For example, all the things "he" did above were actually done by big teams of people working together, but Elon gets all the credit. He deserves credit, but not all of it. And let's not forget the millions of people who worked to generate wealth that could be transferred via, and taxed by, PayPal, accruing the fortune with which to start al…

According to your logic, Elon's been "in the right place at the right time" how many times? That you think that's due to luck, when it's clear he's a polymath with great design talent and work ethic, says more about him as a psychological Rorschach than anything else, I think.

He does trigger conservative-minded people pretty hard, which I imagine is partly due to how Tesla got politicized during Obama's first term.

I don't know how serious you are about the billion dollars thing (or what exactly your point may be), but I'd bet a billion dollars you wouldn't be anywhere as effective as Elon is with that money. The idea that any two people are going to be equivalently effective given $X is silly. There are just as many orders of difference in effectiveness with money as there are in any other endeavor.

Re: Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

#294

Post by karmelapple »

Paul_S wrote: post #291
leesalminen wrote: post #289

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Tis an interesting point. > Drug dealers Perhaps drug dealers (and their suppliers) can implement testing, QA and proper labeling. I'm not totally sure about software patent lawyers. But, deep down, my gut says that if software patent law wasn't to crappy, perhaps the occupation would be perceived in a better light. Maybe they could push for reform from the inside? On the whole, I think every industry can do some in…

Let me make my point in a less obtuse way. Most people make decisions about their careers based on opportunity and maximising profit. No one becomes a footballer to make the world a better place. This would all be fine as long as the capitalist market rewarded choices that make the world a better place. Obviously it does not and it's not the fault of a footballer that we as a civilisation choose to channel our availa…

Why isn't some entertainment - even if it's somewhat frivolous - for the greater good?

An hour spent watching a football game is an hour less committing crime or doing other unsavory acts.

But agreed - that person would win all the Nobel Peace prizes.

Re: Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

#295

Post by marcosdumay »

Paul_S wrote: post #291
leesalminen wrote: post #289

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Tis an interesting point. > Drug dealers Perhaps drug dealers (and their suppliers) can implement testing, QA and proper labeling. I'm not totally sure about software patent lawyers. But, deep down, my gut says that if software patent law wasn't to crappy, perhaps the occupation would be perceived in a better light. Maybe they could push for reform from the inside? On the whole, I think every industry can do some in…

Let me make my point in a less obtuse way. Most people make decisions about their careers based on opportunity and maximising profit. No one becomes a footballer to make the world a better place. This would all be fine as long as the capitalist market rewarded choices that make the world a better place. Obviously it does not and it's not the fault of a footballer that we as a civilisation choose to channel our availa…

I'm wary of the specific claim about sports (or better, I do almost completely disagree with it).

But if you look at the worst offenders, you'll see that the professions that take the most profit normally also take the most power. And in yielding that power, they have a big share on the blame of making their negative utility profession lucrative.

Re: Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

#296

Post by falsestprophet »

Havoc wrote: post #225
hbt wrote: post #161

What amazes me about Elon is the level of self control, discipline, perseverance, resilience, willpower etc. He's not the only one playing the game so effectively at that level but to me, he exemplifies rational behavior. I wish more entrepreneurs like Page or Bezos were in the public eye as much as Musk. I believe those traits are common to achieve your goals.

Plus he is a pretty mediocre public speaker...yet puts himself out there & makes an impact

He is a captivating public speaker. He accessibly expresses new ideas of considerable importance and complexity. What else do you want from him?

SpaceX doesn't need Vince Offer.

Re: Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

#297

Post by TheOtherHobbes »

Paul_S wrote: post #291
leesalminen wrote: post #289

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Tis an interesting point. > Drug dealers Perhaps drug dealers (and their suppliers) can implement testing, QA and proper labeling. I'm not totally sure about software patent lawyers. But, deep down, my gut says that if software patent law wasn't to crappy, perhaps the occupation would be perceived in a better light. Maybe they could push for reform from the inside? On the whole, I think every industry can do some in…

Let me make my point in a less obtuse way. Most people make decisions about their careers based on opportunity and maximising profit. No one becomes a footballer to make the world a better place. This would all be fine as long as the capitalist market rewarded choices that make the world a better place. Obviously it does not and it's not the fault of a footballer that we as a civilisation choose to channel our availa…

Free markets are the problem, not the solution. You're not going to get much strategic planetary intelligence out of a system designed to maximise short-term profit. The absolute best you can hope for is the occasional individual like Musk who takes a longer view.

Politics - which includes economics - is a much bigger challenge than AI.

We've completely transformed our understanding of science and technology, but our political and economic thinking would be recognisable to a Roman senator and a medieval banker.

Politics and economics are still waiting for a Copernican revolution. Our survival prospects as a species are limited until that revolution happens.

Re: Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

#298

Post by Disruptive_Dave »

djcooley wrote: post #228

I have all the respect in the world for what Mr. Musk has accomplished, but it has come at an amazing cost to the people around him. He is worshiped from afar but reviled by many the closer you get to his inner circle. Go read "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future." The question I always ask myself with the people who move mountains is what cost did that progress come at? What would someone'…

In theory - and in the greater scheme - that's a small sacrifice to pay if the end result is impactful enough.

Re: Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

#299

Post by kamaal »

Paul_S wrote: post #278
iMuzz wrote: post #2

Question/Answer I found interesting: Sama> How should someone figure out how they should be useful? Elon> Whatever this thing is you are trying to create.. What would be the utility delta compared to the current state of the art times how many people it would affect?

What about all the people working in marketing, software patent lawyers, drug dealers? You want them to quit their jobs? --- Let me make my point in a less obtuse way. Most people make decisions about their careers based on opportunity and maximising profit. No one becomes a footballer to make the world a better place. This would all be fine as long as the capitalist market rewarded choices that make the world a bett…

Not every one needs to subscribe to the world view that a person has to win spectacularly at big things to find meaning in life.

Re: Elon Musk on How to Build the Future

#300

Post by leesalminen »

Paul_S wrote: post #291
leesalminen wrote: post #289

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Tis an interesting point. > Drug dealers Perhaps drug dealers (and their suppliers) can implement testing, QA and proper labeling. I'm not totally sure about software patent lawyers. But, deep down, my gut says that if software patent law wasn't to crappy, perhaps the occupation would be perceived in a better light. Maybe they could push for reform from the inside? On the whole, I think every industry can do some in…

Let me make my point in a less obtuse way. Most people make decisions about their careers based on opportunity and maximising profit. No one becomes a footballer to make the world a better place. This would all be fine as long as the capitalist market rewarded choices that make the world a better place. Obviously it does not and it's not the fault of a footballer that we as a civilisation choose to channel our availa…

Thank you for clarifying. I do agree that it is expected to optimize ones career for maximum income.

Even so, an individual can often choose to push for the greater good within the confines of free market forces.

A footballer can use their image to promote organizations that do good. A SaaS owner can help their customers become more secure and efficient. Lawyers can push for better oversight and reform.

Maybe we can't all be Elon, but we can all try to improve our surroundings.

Maybe I'm too young and naive, but I think it can be done.

Post reply on HN