Responding to the "Rich Man's Car" Comments

[ZestyChicken]

Who's rubbing anyone's nose. I simply saying I do not apologize what what I have--gesshh. I didn't come from much and made, saved and continue to prosper in life--what's wrong with that? I pay way more in taxes than I should, and I don't rub my nose in anyone's face, I was just merely commenting that I don't care what anyone else thinks about what kind of car I own. If someone wants to take a gamble in life, open a business, put their entire life savings on the line and become successful--is that wrong? If so, maybe complain to Elon--I think he did the same.

"You want to be respectful and realize not everyone has been fortunate enough to make the money we make" - Oh brother--are you kidding me. "Fortunate" is what YOU make it--some do some don't.

Trust me, I'm supporting the economy plenty, so I will NOT apologize for what I own (which doesn't mean faulting--it means NOT apologizing--big difference).

My post might have come across as harsher than intended. You shouldn't be ashamed of success - well as long as you worked for it (let's be honest many didn't). It's about being humble. When someone is jealous of you, that's the best approach. Not everyone had the same opportunities or abilities. Sure a lot of people squandered their opportunities, but many more never had them.

 

[PhilBa]

It's not always about jealousy. In a lot of places people view conspicuous consumption as a social injustice. Certainly in Seattle. What I don't say very often is I've given far more to charity than I ever spent on my cars. Still, people feel the need to teach me the error of my ways. Scroo'm.

 

[leilanimunter]

Just got some backlash on my FB page. I have spent the last few years, since I watched "The Cove" volunteering my time to fight the dolphin slaughter that is exposed in the Oscar winning film:

I was posting some updates about a protest I attended last night and then some updates from Japan that Ric O'Barry sent me about the slaughter beginning again. A guy posted this in response: "Might as well go drive your Tesla model s around, to off put the evil in taiji." So the question is - what does my driving an electric car have to do with the dolphin slaughter in Taiji? Apparently to Jay, raising the funds to drive a Cove race car at Daytona, giving away 1000 DVDs of The Cove there, spending several weeks in Taiji over three trips in two years recording the dolphin slaughter (A Look Inside the Taiji Slaughterhouse - YouTube) and lighting up the Empire State Building not enough activism on my part. I should be ashamed of myself for driving an electric car. Thanks for pointing that out, random dude on facebook. Am I going to have to deal with a lot of this? Is this a sign of things to come?

 

[dsm363]

Unfortunately yes. Thank you for all the work you put into this though and sorry for the flack you take for being in the public eye.

 

[Jason S]

It is a standard "troll" move -- say that since you are still alive, then you must not be doing everything possible to combat 'teh eval wombats' or whatever. I'm surprised you haven't seen it before.

Standard responses include acronyms like stfu. :wink:

Enjoy and be proud of the good deeds you do.

 

[Doug_G]

Ignore the haters, they just undermine their own credibility by posting crap like that.

 

[Discoducky]

He appears to be an activist for dolphins as well. Maybe his account was hacked?

 

[Kenneth chapman]

My point is this:
Save. Almost every middle-class American can afford a Model S. Most people simply didn’t take the long-term steps that were necessary.

+1000. Well said.

 

[Born 2 Skydive]

Every time someone throws "The average person can't afford a Tesla," comment at me. I very politely reply, "It's The Law of Diffusion Of Innovation." It usually stops them in their tracks and they will wait for me to explain. Watch the video, Simon Sinek will explain it far better than I ever will be able to. It starts at 10:35 but I recommend watching the entire seminar, it will also explain "Why" we are so passionate about Tesla.

Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action | Video on TED.com

 

[leilanimunter]

He appears to be an activist for dolphins as well. Maybe his account was hacked?

He apologized profusely so I took my response post to him down. I hope he was genuine. Seemed like a very strange remark though. I guess I am on edge because I am normally in Taiji on this day, and at this moment the dolphin hunters are trying to drive a pod of dolphins into the Cove for captivity and slaughter. I have seen the killing with my own eyes and once you have seen it, you can never un-see it. It stays with you forever. So it was not the best day to make a rude remark to me, but I guess he meant no harm. I normally have a very thick skin, but it was wearing thin tonight. Hate it when that happens.

 

[EVNow]

My point is this:
Save. Almost every middle-class American can afford a Model S. Most people simply didn’t take the long-term steps that were necessary.

Not true - unless you think "middle class" = above median income.

If we take middle class as someone in the 25 to 75 percentile, we are looking at a household income of between 30k and 95k. Tell me how someone with an income of 30k and 2 kids can save enough for S.

 

[yobigd20]

Tell me how someone with an income of 30k and 2 kids can save enough for S.

"Well, you could whore yourself out to a thousand fat chicks for 50 bucks apiece. Or - or - or 50 *really* fat chicks for a thousand bucks."

giggity giggity.

-quagmire.

 

[Andrew]

He apologized profusely so I took my response post to him down. I hope he was genuine. Seemed like a very strange remark though. I guess I am on edge because I am normally in Taiji on this day, and at this moment the dolphin hunters are trying to drive a pod of dolphins into the Cove for captivity and slaughter. I have seen the killing with my own eyes and once you have seen it, you can never un-see it. It stays with you forever. So it was not the best day to make a rude remark to me, but I guess he meant no harm. I normally have a very thick skin, but it was wearing thin tonight. Hate it when that happens.

Glad you sorted that out with him... And for what it's worth, I think you're awesome.

 

[texex91]

Not true - unless you think "middle class" = above median income.

If we take middle class as someone in the 25 to 75 percentile, we are looking at a household income of between 30k and 95k. Tell me how someone with an income of 30k and 2 kids can save enough for S.

They probably can't--that's okay. They might not even be able to afford a new Hyundai, but does that make Hyundai drivers bad people too?

End of the day, not everyone can afford a Tesla--no different than ANY other expensive car--pretty simple.

People make choices in life. Some save their money, some rent their house some buy, some don't choose to have kids, some worked very hard and became wealthy--everyone's different. Personally I don't get this big argument on who can or can't afford the car. Either you have the money or you don't. Why you don't and others do is a muted point.

For those that have or are getting a Tesla I applaud you. You have worked hard and deserve everything you choose to buy. Bravo.

 

[leilanimunter]

Glad you sorted that out with him... And for what it's worth, I think you're awesome.

Thanks Andrew. I am glad too. I normally have really nice interactions with people on my FB and Twitter but since the people on my page are a combination of NASCAR fans, deadheads, and environmentalists, occasionally some bickering happens. There have only been a handful of people that were so unruly I actually banned them from my page. But for the most part, they coexist.

- - - Updated - - -

For those that have or are getting a Tesla I applaud you. You have worked hard and deserve everything you choose to buy. Bravo.

Congratulations on your order as well! I will definitely be pinching my pennies for a while after this purchase, but for me - the reality of finally owning my dream car, and breaking up with oil forever (at least, when I am not on the racetrack) is SO WORTH EVERY PENNY! I will finally meet her six days from now. I can hardly wait!!! :biggrin:

 

[lorih]

I normally have a very thick skin, but it was wearing thin tonight. Hate it when that happens.

Every activist (and many public caregivers, like nurses and social workers) feel this way at times. To keep from burning out, you have to be compassionate enough to care to continue do good; to help other people and other causes, yet tough enough to deal with the angry people.

Some people have different political views, some are just unhappy hurtful people. The way to get through it and not get burned out is to continue to cultivate compassion. Compassion for yourself, because you deserve it, and compassion to others that live a life that is filled with hate. If your skin is too thick, you start to not care, with compassion, you can care and let it roll off you.

Keep it up, you inspire!

 

[Kaivball]

I keep seeing these arguments as well. I can say that I saw one of the first plasma TVs. It cost $25,000 and the guy in the TV store said they could never be mass-produced because of problems with the pixels. I was so stunned with the quality of the picture I said right then and there that one day I would own a plasma TV. I now own a 60" plasma TV that cost less than $4,000. As you say, it's the same with every new electronic gadget or invention. I remember when CDs first arrived (I saw them in Italy in 1983 before they arrived here). At a time when a new vinyl album would go on sale for $5 a CD was over $30 and remained over $25 for years (Man, was it expensive to replace every Beatles album!). I bought one of the first commerically available Beta video tapes of the Wizard of OZ. It cost $80. I remember seeing the first computers and first Walkmen. (Man, am I dating myself here). Everything was insanely expensive when it first appeared. That's just the way the world works: rich people have to be the early adopters so that economies of scale can kick in and everyone can afford them. Complaints right now are just sour grapes. I read an article that attacks the car because the stock price is unrealistically high and the view out the back is restricted (Tesla is impressive - but it’s not a real car company yet - The Globe and Mail). It's one of the stupidest attacks on Tesla that I've seen. Let it all roll on by like water off a duck's back. You'll have the last laugh.

- - - Updated - - -

I keep seeing these arguments as well. I can say that I saw one of the first plasma TVs. It cost $25,000 and the guy in the TV store said they could never be mass-produced because of problems with the pixels. I was so stunned with the quality of the picture I said right then and there that one day I would own a plasma TV. I now own a 60" plasma TV that cost less than $4,000. As you say, it's the same with every new electronic gadget or invention. I remember when CDs first arrived (I saw them in Italy in 1983 before they arrived here). At a time when a new vinyl album would go on sale for $5 a CD was over $30 and remained over $25 for years (Man, was it expensive to replace every Beatles album!). I bought one of the first commerically available Beta video tapes of the Wizard of OZ. It cost $80. I remember seeing the first computers and first Walkmen. (Man, am I dating myself here). Everything was insanely expensive when it first appeared. That's just the way the world works: rich people have to be the early adopters so that economies of scale can kick in and everyone can afford them. Complaints right now are just sour grapes. I read an article that attacks the car because the stock price is unrealistically high and the view out the back is restricted (Tesla is impressive - but its not a real car company yet - The Globe and Mail). It's one of the stupidest attacks on Tesla that I've seen. Let it all roll on by like water off a duck's back. You'll have the last laugh.

You have capitalism to thank for this.

 

[bobw]

Remind me to say out of Seattle :smile: Wow, I've had high end cars for the past 12 years and never been keyed. What the heck are people so angry about. That you drive an expensive EV?

It's not the high end car, it's the people. We got a new Ford Escort keyed in San Antonio in 1998. Some people...

 

[brianman]

It's not the high end car, it's the people. We got a new Ford Escort keyed in San Antonio in 1998. Some people...

Also, I believe I recall Chad's post saying there are over 700 Model S registered in WA. First forum report of a keying. Let's not paint an entire region with a broad brush based on one incident. Haven't we learned that from our politicians and media by now?

 

[Andrew]

...the people on my page are a combination of NASCAR fans, deadheads, and environmentalists...

A-ha! I think we've finally cracked the code to the real Secret Tesla Motors Master Plan! All they have to do is find the right crossover demographics, and they'll completely corner the market!

(with my apologies to, well, everyone)