I talked to a guy with a Cybertruck at a Supercharger the other day, and I asked how he liked it. He said it was awesome, but was surprised at how often he was getting double "fingered" while driving it

An interesting debate is brewing over what is the root of all the reports of Cybertruck hate based on a recent post on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum where the OP posits the source of hate Tesla owners are experiencing―especially Cybertruck owners―is coming from anti-Elon sentiment or the stereotypical southern boy/redneck truck owner.

Where the Hate Comes From

Responses to the forum post so far weigh toward the side of the anti-Elon sentiment, which is not surprising.

Earlier this week, I reported on the growing phenomenon that Tesla vehicle owners are beginning to wise up to the fact that Elon is not the messiah they had been led down the EV pathway to believe.

The only “Green” Elon appears to be interested in is the color of money rather than environmental stewardship. Reaching the Promised Land by going to Mars is less about being "For All Mankind" and more about building a space-based monopoly on internet service satellites.

Not convinced? An article in The Economist titled "The rockets are nifty, but it is satellites that make SpaceX valuable" predicts that Elon Musk's venture into space will soon generate more capital for him than Tesla.

In other words: We've been duped.

More recently, however, politics has appeared to be the biggest source of anti-Musk feelings among both Tesla and non-Tesla owners. His association and financial support of Trump's election have "earned" him a place in government policymaking, and many are justifiably worried about where all of this will lead.

Insensitive remarks and a callow attitude are staining his (and Tesla's) image enough so that Tesla and future Tesla owners are admitting guilt and shame.

Related article: "The Destruction by Tesla And Elon Musk to Protect Forests And Water ―Has Elon Musk Turned Robber Baron?"

Does it Matter Where the Hate Comes From?

Back to the question, "Is it anti-Musk fans or Good Ol' Boy traditional truck enthusiasts" from which the hate primarily comes?

According to an article from Fortune magazine titled "As Tesla CEO Elon Musk continues to bash California and stump for Trump, West Coasters are getting revenge," we should look West, not South, for the blame.

But why the blame? Will it change anything if this can be quantified?

The initial post responses may give us an idea:

The root cause is Elon Musk… the more he talks tweets the more hate we get.

Initially, it was the EV haters in general. IMO, a lot of it had to do with the resentment of being told by the government (or others) they would be forced to give up their ICE trucks and comply with owning an EV. Now it seems it is almost exclusively anti MUSK sentiment, that is the ELON haters, all liberals (small L). The CT, more than any other TESLA, is literally seen as the personification of ELON. So, we drive the best vehicle in the world, and it is hated by almost everyone. Go figure. I try to be an ambassador.

Near Seattle it's all the first category, none of the second. Constant protests at Tesla showrooms.

Rest assured, there are a few "look South" posts, but given the news of late―it is Elon Hate.

Be that as it may, however, hate is a serious problem and one that we should focus on educating the public about, whether it comes from the West or the South or over Mars.

When hate toward Tesla car owners or Cybertruck owners occurs, everyone who owns a car, whether a Ford, Chevy, Toyota, or whatever, ICE or EV, should call the offender on the hate and attempt to discuss their reason or reasons.

You may not like what you hear, but it is a good first step toward dealing with hate of any kind.

We Want to Hear From You: Where do you stand on the topic? Can we separate the man from the machine? Or do you believe Elon Musk is not as bad as he has been made out to be on the news?

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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