16 votes

Elon Musk's testimony in defamation trial: Pedo guy insult was 'not classy' but not meant literally

7 comments

  1. [4]
    krg
    Link
    I can understand calling someone a shithead and not meaning it literally, as I don't think people walking around with shit on their heads is all that common. But pedophiles exist, so how can...

    I can understand calling someone a shithead and not meaning it literally, as I don't think people walking around with shit on their heads is all that common. But pedophiles exist, so how can calling someone "pedo guy" not be taken as an accusatory insult?

    18 votes
    1. [2]
      Deimos
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I think it's really interesting that he's going with this as his defense, because I think he made it absolutely clear that it was meant literally through some of the other things he did...

      I think it's really interesting that he's going with this as his defense, because I think he made it absolutely clear that it was meant literally through some of the other things he did afterwards. The article only mentions it briefly, but about a month later he wrote an email to a Buzzfeed writer that included:

      I suggest that you call people you know in Thailand, find out what’s actually going on and stop defending child rapists, you fucking asshole. He’s an old, single white guy from England who’s been traveling to or living in Thailand for 30 to 40 years, mostly Pattaya Beach, until moving to Chiang Rai for a child bride who was about 12 years old at the time. There’s only one reason people go to Pattaya Beach. It isn’t where you’d go for caves, but it is where you’d go for something else. Chiang Rai is renowned for child sex-trafficking.

      Those are... very literal pedophilia accusations (and weren't true). I don't see how anyone can possibly read that email and believe this defense, so it seems like desperation that they're trying to play it off this way.

      31 votes
      1. unknown user
        Link Parent
        His words in this trial bely his actions... and his words. Not only did he converse with the aforementioned Buzzfeed reporter about this, he also employed a private investigator (who later turned...

        His words in this trial bely his actions... and his words. Not only did he converse with the aforementioned Buzzfeed reporter about this, he also employed a private investigator (who later turned out to be a convicted felon) to find dirt on Unsworth.

        The whole thing is so fucking bizarre.

        18 votes
    2. zptc
      Link Parent
      At some point he claimed that "pedo" was commonly used to denote a creepy man where he grew up, iirc, and that was what he really meant. Of course his other actions mentioned in this thread kinda...

      At some point he claimed that "pedo" was commonly used to denote a creepy man where he grew up, iirc, and that was what he really meant. Of course his other actions mentioned in this thread kinda throw that idea out the window.

      10 votes
  2. envy
    Link
    That’s his take away? At least he can afford being sued.

    “I fucking hope he sues me,” Musk wrote to the journalist. After reading the email aloud to the court, he added, “I guess be careful what you wish for.”

    That’s his take away? At least he can afford being sued.

    10 votes
  3. [2]
    heady
    Link
    Does this belong in tech? I realise that the guardian has put it in their technology section but Musk's status as a tech ceo doesn't have any relevance to the substance of the article.

    Does this belong in tech?

    I realise that the guardian has put it in their technology section but Musk's status as a tech ceo doesn't have any relevance to the substance of the article.

    2 votes
    1. unknown user
      Link Parent
      Probably not. I'm happy to move it to another group if you've got one. Maybe ~misc?

      Probably not. I'm happy to move it to another group if you've got one. Maybe ~misc?

      1 vote