Why is there only one Elon Musk? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why is there only one Elon Musk?

#21

Post by CodeCube » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 2:10 PM UTC

k__ wrote: post #9

binarymax wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is straight up ageism. When I am 50 I will have 15 more years of knowledge and experience under my belt - and will be just as excited and determined as I am now.

can't say this for most of the +50 I know.

yeah, but most of the +50 crowd grew up in a time where computers (and more specifically, programming computers) wasn't exactly commonplace. My son (9) plays minecraft everyday where he "programs" traps into his buildings with a combination of redstone and switches. There's a whole generation of kids (ie. just about all his friends) that will grow up speaking software as a second language. Of course, they will still be in the minority against the population at large ... but I'm really truly excited to see what they come up with, if I can live long enough to see it ;)

Re: Why is there only one Elon Musk?

#22

Post by BerislavLopac » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 2:11 PM UTC

rexreed wrote: post #15

simonbarker87 wrote: post #3

I wonder what percentage of the worlds billionaires are over 50? Over that age the ability to assimilate and do "new stuff" drops of considerably I should think, along with drive and determination as well. As the article suggests hopefully some of the Zuckerburgs and co will help remedy this.

Ahem... Ray Kurzweil? Dean Kamen? and one if one stretches way back, Thomas Edison or Nikola Tesla, both who were prolific inventors and creators throughout their lifespan? There's no demonstrable evidence that innovative thinking, inventive proclivity, or capacity to innovate decreases with age.

In that case, don't forget Da Vinci. ;-)

Re: Why is there only one Elon Musk?

#23

Post by mikecane » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 2:11 PM UTC

One Elon Musk? There are probably more of them than we can count. They just can't rise to the top due to one thing or another. Where would Jobs have been without Wozniak? There are many factors. And I see some people have cited some names. Well there are probably many Musks outside the U.S. who we have never heard of because they don't do something as world-changing as his publicly-stated aspirations. Plus, not everyone wants a spotlight on them.

Re: Why is there only one Elon Musk?

#24

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 2:11 PM UTC

snowwrestler wrote: post #14

A few others who come quickly to mind: - John Carmack - id software and Armadillo Aerospace - Jeff Bezos - AWS, Kindle, Blue Origin, and the Long Now Clock - Larry and Sergei - Google, Android, Google Glass, self-driving cars, etc. I'm sure we can think of others.

[deleted]

Re: Why is there only one Elon Musk?

#25

Post by CodeCube » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 2:12 PM UTC

manaskarekar wrote: post #18

James Gosling: Liquid Robotics http://www.liquidr.com/news_events/press/2011/2011-08-30-gos... John D. Carmack: Armadillo Aerospace http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home I'm tempted to throw in Google's Sergey Brin (Larry Page too?) for Google Glass. And I'm sure there are a few others. Elon Musk just shows up more in the news due to his success. Also, not all billionaires are technically inclined geek…

Jeff Bezos: http://www.blueorigin.com/

In addition to glass, the google guys get credit for http://www.planetaryresources.com/ and the driverless cars ;)

Re: Why is there only one Elon Musk?

#26

Post by unreal37 » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 2:13 PM UTC

snowwrestler wrote: post #14

A few others who come quickly to mind: - John Carmack - id software and Armadillo Aerospace - Jeff Bezos - AWS, Kindle, Blue Origin, and the Long Now Clock - Larry and Sergei - Google, Android, Google Glass, self-driving cars, etc. I'm sure we can think of others.

Richard Branson with Virgin Galactic which predates SpaceX in the space race.

Re: Why is there only one Elon Musk?

#27

Post by keepitkosher » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 2:14 PM UTC

thomseddon wrote: post #13

I'll take your one Elon Musk and raise you one Richard Branson: http://www.virgingalactic.com/ http://www.virginearth.com/ http://www.virgingreenfund.com/ + Massive, continued, success in countless other markets (+ set a few personal world records)

From my unresearched perspective, the difference is that Musk (admittedly) is pursuing crazy ventures because he's passionate about them -- and oftentimes for no other reason. He apparently originally expected that SpaceX would be broke by the time he had managed to get to Mars.

Branson seems to be deeply rooted in a business-first approach to creative innovation. "Yeah, we'll do it, but if the market accepts it."

Re: Why is there only one Elon Musk?

#28

Post by kybernetyk » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 2:14 PM UTC

binarymax wrote: post #6

simonbarker87 wrote: post #3

I wonder what percentage of the worlds billionaires are over 50? Over that age the ability to assimilate and do "new stuff" drops of considerably I should think, along with drive and determination as well. As the article suggests hopefully some of the Zuckerburgs and co will help remedy this.

This is straight up ageism. When I am 50 I will have 15 more years of knowledge and experience under my belt - and will be just as excited and determined as I am now.

I don't know man. I'm not sure about me. I'm 30 and I notice that I start to get into the 'old fart' attitude. I'm more skeptical about new tech and in my head this skepticism is logical. Until I step aside and take a look.

Most of the time I even don't bother taking a detailed look at the new stuff and just discount it as "stupid hipster crap".

I try to combat that behaviour but it gets harder. And I don't know how I will act in 20 years. (God, I'm old.)

Re: Why is there only one Elon Musk?

#29

Post by zimpenfish » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 2:15 PM UTC

thomseddon wrote: post #13

I'll take your one Elon Musk and raise you one Richard Branson: http://www.virgingalactic.com/ http://www.virginearth.com/ http://www.virgingreenfund.com/ + Massive, continued, success in countless other markets (+ set a few personal world records)

+ Possibly the worst train company in existence

Re: Why is there only one Elon Musk?

#30

Post by edw519 » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 2:16 PM UTC

This post reminds me of that old joke:

Husband: I am the head of the household! I determine our family's position on all of the major economic, political, and social issues of the day!

Wife: I decide the little things, like where we'll live, what we'll eat, and where the kids go to school.

As much as I admire the dreams and accomplishments of Elon Musk, I have trouble getting past the idea that he failed to maintain his marriage (the biggest promise of them all) and rarely sees his own children.

Maybe the answer to OP's question is, "Because many who could dream and do like Elon Musk would rather focus on the "little things" like life, love, and family.