Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

> Under this theory of damage, there’s no such thing as theft until you die because there’s always a chance you’ll get your belongings back on your deathbed.

Only if you take really specific statements and turn them into a general theory. But this discussion isn't about theoretical thefts and deathbeds, it's one about the reality that Musk is buying Twitter[0]. There is no "army of lawyers that Twitter shareholders had to pay for", because the current shareholders won't have to pay anything. Twitter is paying for the lawyers and Musk will and up owning Twitter. That's not some moral judgement, it's a description of the facts. Nothing I've said so far is in defense of what Musk does.

To be clear: I behavior is justifiable. He created this mess by making really dumb decisions and then trying everything to get out of this situation by not caring about anything or anyone but himself. It has been a huge waste of time and money. But as it turns out, Musk will be the one owning a company he doesn't want, and as that owner he'll be the one paying for that wasted time and for the costs made by both parties of the lawsuit. It just seems that the person that's by far the most hurt by Musks actions is Musk himself.

[0]In this entire comment I'm assuming the deal actually goes through.




There are a few other parties that could claim some sort of injury, although I don't know how much of a legal case any of them would have.

Some employees may have suffered undue emotional distress due to the excess uncertainty.

Anyone who sold TWTR while the price was depressed due to Musk's unjustified legal maneuvering certainly suffered economic injury.

Elon's creditors and co-investors may view his maneuvering as having damaged the asset, thus decreasing their expected returns.

To reiterate: I don't know if any of these people have a legal claim. And I acknowledge that Musk certainly injured himself the most. But the economic injuries suffered by these other parties are not trivial.


> Some employees may have suffered undue emotional distress due to the excess uncertainty.

That is absolutely hilarious but also sad that people in 2022 are so fragile that they would try to claim such nonsense in all seriousness.


Sorry it's hilarious that people would be emotionally distressed about their jobs potentially disappearing? Curious to know what year this new "fragility" kicked in, in your eyes.


>…distressed about jobs potentially disappearing

Anyone’s job can “potentially disappear” at any time and often without public notice and drama. I know former colleagues who showed up to work on a Monday morning at a company that had been operating profitably for decades to find the office shuttered and the company out of business just because the real estate it owned was more valuable to the owners than the company itself. No one at any level below the ownership group and CEO/CFO had any idea it was coming. Just wake up like another day and boom—a thousand people out of work.

If Twitter folk were worried to the point of health implications they have had six months to make a change. I know folks that would have given precious body parts for that kind of notice.

>what year this new “fragility” kicked in…

Apparently some year prior to 2022.


Ah the ol’ “this isn’t bad because there are things that are worse” argument. I suspect you don’t actually believe that, given the absurdity of its final conclusions, so I’m going to conclude here. Have a good rest of your week!


I'll withhold judgment until my livelihood is under the thumb of a capricious billionaire who has expressed disdain for my work.


It’s a damn shame that you can’t just up and quit a job in America in 2022…oh wait, you can.

Never mind.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: