28 votes

Saudi Arabia’s 105-mile long Line city has been cut a little short – by 103.5 miles

12 comments

  1. mild_takes
    Link
    Theres a good chance it'll get shortened by another 1.5 miles.

    Theres a good chance it'll get shortened by another 1.5 miles.

    32 votes
  2. [4]
    Eji1700
    Link
    I'd only seen very little about this. The occasional pretty render with some headline about it, and assumed, as is obvious, that it was a total pipe dream that would never get off the ground. What...

    I'd only seen very little about this. The occasional pretty render with some headline about it, and assumed, as is obvious, that it was a total pipe dream that would never get off the ground.

    What I did not understand until recently, is just how outrageously bullshit this entire project is from top to bottom. It makes the hyperloop look practically sane, since at least it sounds like it makes sense. This thing has videos of flying automated hover cars and was planning on having glow in the dark sand and robot dinosaur parks.

    It's made me want to look into if this is a recent thing or if history has always had these disgustingly impossible super projects that still somehow get absurd funding from the powers at the time.

    20 votes
    1. Fiachra
      Link Parent
      It feels exactly like a Kickstarter scam but on a grand scale. CGI mockups played over inspirational music and total unearned confidence. Shockingly, I have been served YouTube ads for this thing,...

      It feels exactly like a Kickstarter scam but on a grand scale. CGI mockups played over inspirational music and total unearned confidence. Shockingly, I have been served YouTube ads for this thing, as though it was already completed.

      6 votes
    2. [2]
      MimicSquid
      Link Parent
      The pyramids did get built.

      The pyramids did get built.

      4 votes
      1. Eji1700
        Link Parent
        Yes but are arguably grounded by the standards of The Line. Building on previous iterations and simple “huge”. Not “gargantuan “ by the standards of any human made structure. The line is as tall...

        Yes but are arguably grounded by the standards of The Line. Building on previous iterations and simple “huge”. Not “gargantuan “ by the standards of any human made structure.

        The line is as tall as some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world

        12 votes
  3. [3]
    zptc
    Link
    This short opinion piece is based on this article from Bloomberg which has more info.

    This short opinion piece is based on this article from Bloomberg which has more info.

    15 votes
    1. Chiasmic
      Link Parent
      Thank you, that’s useful to read for further details

      Thank you, that’s useful to read for further details

      4 votes
    2. PuddleOfKittens
      Link Parent
      So this is unconfirmed. Guaranteed, but unconfirmed.

      the person familiar with the matter said, who asked not to be named discussing non-public information.

      So this is unconfirmed. Guaranteed, but unconfirmed.

      1 vote
  4. Wafik
    Link
    Patrick Boyle has an entertaining video on this project worth watching if you enjoy his style.

    Patrick Boyle has an entertaining video on this project worth watching if you enjoy his style.

    5 votes
  5. Ullallulloo
    Link
    What even is this article? I get the whole project since like a joke to start with, but the entire article is just like 5 bad reddit comments strung together. The title is more descriptive than...

    What even is this article? I get the whole project since like a joke to start with, but the entire article is just like 5 bad reddit comments strung together. The title is more descriptive than the entire article, which immediately jumps to a different story about the NHS.

    5 votes
  6. [2]
    Fiachra
    Link
    Outlandish projects like this always get me speculating about hidden motives. I wonder did The Line already accomplish its true objective? Did it successfully distract from some scandal, or...

    Outlandish projects like this always get me speculating about hidden motives. I wonder did The Line already accomplish its true objective? Did it successfully distract from some scandal, or attract VC investment to the country? Were certain groups of people already removed from that land?

    3 votes
    1. ggfurasta
      Link Parent
      I'm pretty sure Saudi Arabia just wants to advertise it's tourist potential to potential tourists. They have been investing heavily in tourism for the past 5 years to try and diversify their...

      I'm pretty sure Saudi Arabia just wants to advertise it's tourist potential to potential tourists. They have been investing heavily in tourism for the past 5 years to try and diversify their economy. Even though they were never actually going to be built, these crazy spectacles put Saudi Arabia as possibly a cool destination in the back of someone's mind. It's similar to how a brand would advertise.

      3 votes