Elon Musk recently stirred up debate with his subtle endorsement of a controversial theory suggesting that only “alpha males” are fit to make decisions in a democratic society. On a recent Monday, he shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) from the account Autism Capital, which included a theory that posited women and “low T” men as more susceptible to influence, arguing that only “high T alpha males and aneurotypical individuals” can effectively analyze new information.
The original theory, dating back to 2021 and first shared on 4chan, posited that a government led by high-status males would be optimal for decision-making, framing this concept as a form of democracy—albeit one limited to those seen as “free to think.” Intriguingly, the post was labeled as “the Reich effect,” referencing the former German state until WWII.
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Musk’s remark “interesting observation” has drawn a flurry of responses, racking up 18.4 million views and inciting controversy. Many users, particularly women, were quick to dismiss the notion that they couldn’t form their own opinions, while others criticized the theory for being rooted in outdated stereotypes. Chief AI specialist at Meta, Yann LeCun even quipped, “So, you’ve gone full-throttle sexist now?” pointing out flaws in the theory.
In a subsequent post, Musk shared a meme echoing concerns about the declining ability of individuals to think critically. Since acquiring X in October 2022, he has positioned the platform as a bastion of free speech, reinstating several high-profile accounts including those of Alex Jones, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Donald Trump.
The renewed platform for such controversial figures has sparked ongoing discussions about the responsibilities of free speech, especially in light of Musk’s backing for the former president and the opportunity it afforded Trump to share his views on pressing issues like immigration and climate change.