Why I Love The Idea of Elon

I matched with a girl on a dating app. She roasted Elon. I was triggered. Why?

Why I Love The Idea of Elon

I matched with a girl on a dating app a few days ago and we were talking about how people get offended when you roast their favorite celebrities. I jokingly mentioned “as long as you don’t talk about our demi-god Elon, we’re good” … and she went on to roast Elon. To my dismay, I was triggered.

*insert surprised Pikachu face*

Normally the opinions of random people don’t really affect me, but this time it did. I was intrigued. Why was I feeling this way? So, I did what I do best… I started pacing & thinking for hours in an attempt to come to a conclusion.

Here’s the conclusion I came to: I don’t care about Elon Musk the person – I don’t know him IRL – but I love the idea of Elon. Elon to me is a symbol that you have an opportunity to do great good for society in free markets & democracy.

In general, I think the world sucks & to live is to suffer. BUT, (especially these days) I’m very optimistic about the future because I believe I have the power to mold the world to be better.

I’m coming to realize that money is just a tangible representation for the intangible idea of value. If I give someone $5 for a sandwich, its because I believe that sandwich will give me 5 units of value. If I am giving someone money its because they’re adding value to my life; inversely, if someone gives me money it means I’m adding value to their life.

In a free world, I can do whatever I want. In free markets, I can do good for others in exchange for units of value. If I choose to dedicate my life to doing good for others, I can collect & stockpile these units of value. Eventually when I’m ready, I can cash in these units of value and give them to people who can do good for me.

Now, “good for me” can mean a lot of things. It can mean eliminating enemies, or releasing toxins into water streams…… But for the sake of this article, lets continue thinking optimistically. “Good for me” can mean taking care of the homeless population in my community (ie. Donating to a homeless shelter), or having someone find a solution to a problem (ie. Funding research), or getting people to build a rocket that can transport cargo to Mars (ie. Investing capital into the SpaceX organization).

I don’t think the system is perfect, but I think free markets & democracy enable you to have the potential to do great good. An example is Melinda & Bill Gates building Microsoft, exiting the company, and then using the amassed capital to fund research & other initiatives through their foundation.

I guess when this girl roasted Elon she also took a stab at my optimism for the future (unknowingly to both her and myself). I know I’m young and I don’t have this world figured out. But even if this optimism is not factually legitimate, perhaps it is better for society that I believe the Idea of Elon to be true.