Elon Musk & the Mission to Mars

[lucky420]

Business Insider gushing about Elons new "hyperloop". Quotations because its not actually a hyperloop, or even remotely close. Its literally a road tunnel for personal automobiles. A regular road. For regular cars. But hey its underground so its gotta be that innovative and revolutionary "tomorrow tech" right?

Every once in a while there is someone out there that has dreams this big. Problem is, are we as a species ready and capable?

I don't know bud, as a species I'd say we've been ready and capable for underground roads (tunnels) for quite some time...

[The Rod]

Success is relative.

Sure, he may very well manage to establish a SLAVE COLONY on Mars.

But will he succeed in “furthering the advancement of the human race” as his personal brand is supposedly built on? Probably not.

[Lonesomebri]

I've been out of the (hyper) loop, what's this thread about, has Elon joined the bmorg board? God-damned right, no more of this bullshit Black Rock City Subway, with it's sporatic service and nearly inaccessible crime ridden stations, and what's up with the long promised connection to the Black Rock City Railroad Station? Yes to tubes!!! It's about time. I think it's one thing the whole Burn look into our belly button re-evaluation, readjustment, has led us to agree on is more tubes would make the Man more accessible. Bikes on the playa: old, weak. Bikes in the playa, in tubes: new, shiny.

[The Rod]

448F7731-8320-4D3C-8DE4-E1C7F8B13799.jpeg

[wraith]

Business Insider gushing about Elons new "hyperloop". Quotations because its not actually a hyperloop, or even remotely close. Its literally a road tunnel for personal automobiles. A regular road. For regular cars. But hey its underground so its gotta be that innovative and revolutionary "tomorrow tech" right?

Every once in a while there is someone out there that has dreams this big. Problem is, are we as a species ready and capable?

I don't know bud, as a species I'd say we've been ready and capable for underground roads (tunnels) for quite some time...

A dangerously bad road tunnel. No maintenance walksways, limited ventilation, and no provision for dealing with a stalled car or medical emergency in the tunnel.

First time a car catches fire in there is going to be a mass casualty event.

[The Rod]

Musk has been to burning man. It was only a matter of time before Tweeter adopted a BORG approach to labor exploitation.

[Token]

My favorite anti-hero, my boy Elon gets the green light to flip that Starship into the stratosphere from the Texas launchpad.

He got his 5-year permit.

They say it was a hefty EIS, lust like the BORG has to do

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/04 ... -starship/

Mars is looking good.

[The Rod]

C9B20033-07BD-492E-8EFD-230F15CC6B0E.jpeg

[Elorrum]

Mars is looking good.

If we have terraforming tech to shoot off planet, to make Mats a habitable planet, wouldn’t it make sense to use it here and save the cost of space travel?

[Elorrum]

If we have tech to make an uninhabitable planet habitable, why not use it here?

[Elorrum]

dp

[ygmir]

If we have tech to make an uninhabitable planet habitable, why not use it here?

private enterprise, private money. His own idea.
Maybe he'll bring back noodles and paper money?

[Elorrum]

If we have tech to make an uninhabitable planet habitable, why not use it here?

private enterprise, private money. His own idea.
Maybe he'll bring back noodles and paper money?

Elon Polo? And that rigid EIS… “The SpaceX launch on the southern tip of Texas last week caused large concrete chunks and stainless steel sheets to shoot thousands of feet away and started a fire in the Boca Chica State Park, according to a federal agency investigating the test flight.”

[The Rod]

Mars is looking good.

If we have terraforming tech to shoot off planet, to make Mats a habitable planet, wouldn’t it make sense to use it here and save the cost of space travel?

Cause slavery is unfortunately against the law in most places on this planet. Plus it’s filled with filthy poor people.

[ygmir]

Mars is looking good.

If we have terraforming tech to shoot off planet, to make Mats a habitable planet, wouldn’t it make sense to use it here and save the cost of space travel?

Cause slavery is unfortunately against the law in most places on this planet. Plus it’s filled with filthy poor people.

"slavery" is interesting in this context.
I'd guess if they want "workers/servants" there, there would be some sort of "if you want to go to Mars for free, here's what you have to do" conversation.
"slavery" sort of implies going/being held against their will? yes?
I mean, I might consider the option of a job, maybe a lifetime job, on Mars, to get to go there. I'd bet, because we are a much more educated and enlightened society, there would be contracts and such, to inform someone before the sign on the dotted line.
Of course, this does not take away from the possibility that, once there, the "overlords" don't change the rules, and with probably total control over communication with Earth, there would be no way to call for help, or warn others.
Interesting details will emerge, I'm sure.

[Popeye]

[/quote]
"slavery" is interesting in this context.
I'd guess if they want "workers/servants" there, there would be some sort of "if you want to go to Mars for free, here's what you have to do" conversation.
"slavery" sort of implies going/being held against their will? yes?
I mean, I might consider the option of a job, maybe a lifetime job, on Mars, to get to go there. I'd bet, because we are a much more educated and enlightened society, there would be contracts and such, to inform someone before the sign on the dotted line.
Of course, this does not take away from the possibility that, once there, the "overlords" don't change the rules, and with probably total control over communication with Earth, there would be no way to call for help, or warn others.
Interesting details will emerge, I'm sure.
[/quote]

Seems like this was tried before. Then there was a Tea Party...
Doesn't mean it won't be tried again.

Weren't books written that mentioned this? Heinlein, Bradberry, Clark, Asimov?

[The Rod]

I was wrong. From the US Constitution:

“ Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

Slavery is only ilegal in the USA if the person being enslaved hasn’t been convicted of a crime.

Enter the War On Drugs. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! A steady supply of criminals to keep the slave camps (for profit prisons) stocked with slaves.

[ygmir]

I was wrong. From the US Constitution:

“ Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

Slavery is only ilegal in the USA if the person being enslaved hasn’t been convicted of a crime.

Enter the War On Drugs. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! A steady supply of criminals to keep the slave camps (for profit prisons) stocked with slaves.

I think your key is "slavery or involuntary servitude"? If they say: "you can go to Mars, for free, but you have to take on this job (description attached)", you have voluntary servitude, yes? I very much doubt "they" would take prisoners or anyone they felt "sketchy", on that trip.
Is resentment for Musk, coloring your attitude perhaps?

[The Rod]

Hah! I can only imagine the optics and spin when Elon Musk starts recruiting from prisons because not enough unconvicted citizens are willing to volunteer to die on Mars or somewhere along the 228 million mile commute.

Sure you can “volunteer” to go to Mars as a contracted laborer, but once you are there, what freedom will you have if you change your mind about living on Mars? Or if your corporate bosses change their mind about your “contract” or working/living conditions with fuck all for the protection of government regulations.

And speaking of government regulations, all those pesky labor laws that keep capitalists from sending children to the mines, or locking factory doors, or murdering workers who have the gall to ask for better conditions? The ones that won’t exist on Mars. You can thank a bunch of stupid communists and socialists for those. BRCCP Represent!

And finally, concerning my resentment? My dude, I can 100% guarantee you that my resentment towards capitalists who exploit human labor is definitely coloring my attitude.

[Token]

I think you captured the history and founding events of our great nation quite well. We turned out OK.

I mean, you didn’t flee to Costa Rica to form a commune in the jungle, did you?

I know it’s fun to play these scenarios out like a bad Hollywood script, but do you really think the half dozen folks that actually do this at some point will fall into that base ganglia pattern?

Exploitation requires a significant pool of subjects. On a Mars quest at best you get some tribal behavior, not some grand overlord villainy.

What army is gonna protect Elon when the proletariat revolts? For that matter, what space pirate court is going to enforce the ‘indentured servitude’ contract?

You gotta start looking at this as a cult. That’s the only way he pulls it off. Everyone willing and brainwashed.

[The Rod]

You gotta start looking at this as a cult. That’s the only way he pulls it off. Everyone willing and brainwashed.

I think you captured the state of our nation quite well.

[Elorrum]

It requires a lot of money. So much money. I think it will be pay to go. I don’t think they’ll be scouring prisons for indentured labor. He’s selling escape, and entitlement. Will they be capable types? Why not the simplicity of a suicide cult? Convince these too special to stay types that they will be conveyed bodiless. It’s been tried, and was a good earner as cults go.

It’s a rare megalomaniac who gets a fresh new planet.

[The Rod]

And who is going to serve the drinks and bus the tables and cook the food for the megalomaniac and all his escaped and entitled ultra wealthy friends? Someone has to sweep the floors and haul the sewage out to the asteroid belt.

You really think that billionaires on Earth are going to sign up to become the working class on a different planet?

No. They’re going to do what the rich assholes who colonized the new world did; bring slaves and servants.

[Token]

You gotta start looking at this as a cult. That’s the only way he pulls it off. Everyone willing and brainwashed.

I think you captured the state of our nation quite well.

Hahaha! Fucking brilliant! You make a good point there brother.

[ygmir]

You gotta start looking at this as a cult. That’s the only way he pulls it off. Everyone willing and brainwashed.

I think you captured the state of our nation quite well.

Hahaha! Fucking brilliant! You make a good point there brother.

seconded...
as such, I'd bet we are talking about different groups...

[The Rod]

I think you captured the state of our nation quite well.

Hahaha! Fucking brilliant! You make a good point there brother.

seconded...
as such, I'd bet we are talking about different groups...

The struggle for true liberation transcends mere party lines and simple minded ideological conditioning. There’s oppressors on both sides, and they all go to the same parties where together they stare ambitiously towards the heavens through gilded windows toasting champagne that you and I will never afford.

[ygmir]

Hahaha! Fucking brilliant! You make a good point there brother.

seconded...
as such, I'd bet we are talking about different groups...

The struggle for true liberation transcends mere party lines and simple minded ideological conditioning. There’s oppressors on both sides, and they all go to the same parties where together they stare ambitiously towards the heavens through gilded windows toasting champagne that you and I will never afford.

agreed