[tastyface]

Yes, but: it's hard to have optimism when 4/5 of articles about Musk's horrifying behavior are insta-killed, while Grok and SpaceX puff pieces are cheerfully discussed with nary a mention of their owner's murderous politics.

What does it take to make someone persona non grata in SV tech? Absolutely nothing, as long as they keep bringing in the big bucks. Nazi salutes, incitement of racial violence, thousands dead from starvation and cut-off medical care -- doesn't matter in the slightest. In a functioning society, Musk would not be able to go anywhere without being swarmed by protestors.

[webglfan]

Yes, being optimistic, specially today, is hard. But it is important to remember that HN is not SV, and SV is not the USA, and that the USA is not the World. But people have absolutely prevailed over much harder conditions. Even SV in the past was exceptionally anti worker: I wrote about the history of SV here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47099922.

A few more things that can give you perspective:

"Hope can be the consequence of action, not just its cause" https://youtu.be/WK6kRaBzbg4?t=114

https://feld.com/archives/2017/10/hope-consequence-action/

Elon Cancelled This...Let's Do it Anyway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxmqTLps334

Finally, sometimes we just need a break. It is OK to take a break. Do not burn yourself out. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Finally, to quote a historian, "You're always in history, and your choices matter" (src: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFbzg_bp-Q0)