The most surprising thing about this thread, and I say this as a long time member of this site who has watched the "Elon Musk" thread forever, is that people really seem to think they "know" what Elon thinks or wants or intends at every turn. I see an inordinate number of posts talking about "Elon will" or "Elon believes" or whatever. I'd multi quote them but it would feel a little ad hominem. I just don't know if any of us really has that insight. Really, the posts should be "it seems like Elon.." or "I suspect Elon.." if we're all trying to be honest. And it softens the rhetoric quite a bit because it doesn't feel so cocksure.
I don't think all opinions are equal here when it comes to Elon, though language caveats can be useful. My word choices do reflect my certainty, and I've been interested in human behavior and psychology since I was a kid. I've read several Elon biographies and heard all of his long-form interviews. His movements don't surprise or shock me, and I'm not offended by him. In fact, I've predicted enough behavior around Elon, TSLA, and EVs to know that I have a pretty good handle on human motivations.
I think people who are offended by him don't understand him, not that I agree with everything he does or says, but overall I feel like I understand his thought process. Given that he's a human with fairly obvious and well-stated aspirations, his spectrum-level honesty can be taken on face-value for the most part. People are used to duplicity and deceit, or a polished politician who they suddenly find is a criminal (Former Nissan/Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn) or is a grifter like Bernie Madoff or Sam Bankman Fried or Elizabeth Holmes (now with a fresh prison sentence). These people made ALL the right noises to placate their victims and observers until they were found out. Elon has the courage to piss off everyone whilst doing precisely what he said he would do, be that landing boosters on their struts, FSD, popularizing EVs, launching Starlink, or freeing the Bird that is Twitter.
What is Elon's crime? Being too honest or too bold? Too much success? Being too courageous? Being too smart? Too rich? Almost everything I see against Elon is a baseless character attack, and for many his status as a multi-billionaire is a high crime that brings unforgiveable heresy. Elizabeth Holmes and AOC accused Elon of tax-evasion, never apologized when corrected, and Warren and others are trying to urge the FTC to harass or 'investigate' Elon.
Elon is pretty transparent due to that *Asperger's Honesty, but people also invent their own narratives due to their own peculiar political orientation. This too falls within the purview of human psychology lending itself to narratives which fit their ingroup. It's the very basis of religion and culture. This is also why it's easy to predict which groups will be most offended by Elon announcing that he'll vote Republican due to unfair treatment from the far Left. Demographically, it's not hard to see who would be offended by Elon and how they would retaliate.
I've done my due-diligence when it comes to sample data, as much as I can without knowing the guy personally. It was one of the precursors for investing in $TSLA. A lot of people barely need to hear a few choice words from a FUDster to form their 'opinion', which is why any FUD is effective. How else does Gordo get through to those who fall for his narrative against Tesla? Why do low-information voters exist and lack the self-awareness to hide this fact? Why do people spout crazy opinions in public, such as Flat Earth nuttery? Simply having an opinion isn't enough, and the mere existence of an opinion doesn't make it equal with all others.
Anyone surprised by the upheaval and attacks against Elon doesn't understand the Left very well. It may get a little worse before it gets better, but it will get better.
*Asperger's Syndrome is no longer recognized by the DSM V, which is a very Asperger's bit of pedantry.