Close Ad

Elon Musk Apologized For Calling Thai Cave Rescuer a 'Pedo' - And the Situation Is a Reminder EQ Matters
Elon Musk in Idaho
Self-Improvement

Elon Musk Apologized For Calling Thai Cave Rescuer a 'Pedo' - And the Situation Is a Reminder EQ Matters

Sometimes (often) people say really inappropriate and damaging things about others. The important thing is to know when you messed up and to apologize -- before more damage is done.

Such was the case with Elon Musk, who just publicly apologized to British cave diver Vernon Unsworth after calling him a "pedo." The diver contributed to the several-day rescue operation of the 12 boys stuck in a cave in Thailand.


How the situation escalated to firing insults

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO had his team build a mini-submarine to rescue the boys. However, the tool didn't end up being used because the head of the rescue mission Narongsak Osottanakorn found the method to be  “not practical.”

Ultimately, the boys got out via the use of stretchers, but Musk’s tool was left in Thailand in case it ended up being useful in the future. This is where things got murky, because soon after, Unsworth did an interview with CNN and called Musk’s plan a PR stunt.

“He can stick his submarine where it hurts,” Unsworth said. “It just had absolutely no chance of working. He had no conception of what the cave passage was like.”

Musk replied with an unnecessary smear shortly after, but soon apologized.

Musk tweeted that "his actions against me do not justify my actions against him, and for that I apologize to Mr. Unsworth and to the companies I represent as leader. The fault is mine and mine alone."

“I am aware of his apology, and (have) no further comment,” Unsworth told Reuters over the phone Wednesday.

Handling conflict and criticism with grace

Whew. Ultimately, resorting to name-calling and personal attacks is never the answer, even if the other guy "started" -- it doesn't mean you have to go to that level and make a bad situation worse.

It comes down to emotional intelligence and the healthiest way to handle a complicated situation with another person. Many of us have a tendency of going to an immature place, sometimes, and beneath reactivity are hurt feelings.

Musk got hurt and reacted in an immature way. Having a brilliant mind doesn't shield us from the tendency to let our social skills and emotional intelligence be impacted by hurt feelings.

Here is a guide to handling conflicts in a productive way if you're interested in learning more.

Hot Stories

Why Paul Walker Left His Only Daughter With Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel & Paul Walker were more than just friends, they were …

content.jwplatform.com

When the tragic news of Paul Walker's death surfaced, the world was left in shock. As one of the most beloved stars of the Fast and Furious franchise, his passing was felt deeply by fans around the globe. But perhaps the most devastating impact was felt by his daughter, Meadow Walker, who was left without a father.

Keep ReadingShow less
Life Stories
4 Signs You've Found a Kindred Spirit, Not a Soulmate
friends wearing same outfit

Spirituality exists beyond words — to a dimension where language can only hint at deeper truths. Any words used to attempt to describe or explain it will always be poor translations because words often fall short when describing spiritual experiences. It's like trying to capture the ocean's vastness in a photograph. It might show its surface but there's no replacement for the direct experience of reality.

RELATED: The Psychology and Spirituality Causes Of An Identity Crisis

On Defining Spiritual Connections

Throughout history, people have tried to capture extraordinary experiences and spiritual connections through language. Terms like soulmates, twin flames, and kindred spirits attempt to describe these non-ordinary bonds. Yet these labels are merely signposts that point to something mysterious and won't fully capture it.

Keep ReadingShow less
Relationships
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his parents Randi and Pat
Archive

Make no mistake about it: Patrick Mahomes is the face of the NFL. The Tyler, Texas native is the son of Pat Mahomes, a former Major League Baseball player, and Randi Martin.

He burst onto the scene in 2018 when he made history by throwing 50 touchdown passes and 5,000 yards in a single season — a record he shares with Peyton Manning. He followed up his initial success by leading the Kansas City Chiefs to an incredible victory at Super Bowl LIV. If that wasn’t enough, he carried the team through to yet another Super Bowl the very next year, though they ended up losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mahomes has gone to two more Super Bowls since and he's won back-to-back titles (2023 and 2024).

Keep ReadingShow less
Family