Here’s something fun. The venerable New York Times has a “Style” section that it puts out every week, featuring everything from advice about Tinder dating to trying to explain the KHive/CharliXCX to your grandma. In between all of that, they did an article on the Tesla Cybertruck and included the most stylish man any of us know: David Tracy.
Yes, that’s right, David Tracy was in the big feature from the freakin’ New York Times right in the Style section. If you didn’t already think we were living in unprecedented times, you do now.
The story is from Joe Berenstein, a great reporter who was tasked with trying to explain why people are getting so excited/so upset about a car. And who better to ask than David? He both reviewed the Tesla Cybertruck and then had to write about getting blown up for writing about the Tesla Cybertruck.
People have some big feelings about Elon Musk and Tesla, as the article notes:
Mr. Musk’s public image hasn’t entirely eclipsed the Tesla brand. David Tracy, the editor in chief of the car culture website The Autopian, said the company’s other offerings still exist apart — to a certain extent — from the man himself.
“They’re logical,” Mr. Tracy, an automotive engineer, said of the rest of the Tesla lineup, sleek, electric sedans that largely blend in with other vehicles on the road. “They are aerodynamic, they are efficient, they make sense from a usability standpoint. You can convince yourself anybody would have developed this car.”
Still, Mr. Musk’s politics may be repelling some potential Tesla buyers, contributing to a recent slump in sales. Perhaps that makes the drivers of Cybertrucks stick out even more. And in a culture obsessed with the political implications of consumer decisions, it’s probably inevitable that owning a Cybertruck reads as an endorsement of Mr. Musk and his ideas.
“The Cybertruck is very hard to separate from Elon Musk, because it’s not really logical,” Mr. Tracy said.
Indeed! If you were all wondering where commenter rootwyrm has gone, after we wrote a barely positive review of the Cybertruck he sent me a long email about why we’re terrible for doing so. It was nice to hear from him even as he was calling us Nazi sympathizers.
Musk, of course, brings this on himself. Even worse, he now owns one of the best platforms for getting into useless debates on the web, meaning that he makes more money the more all of us get upset. It’s like he’s supercharging his own grievance engine.
At least that’s one take. It’s far easier to try to explain away some of what he says as ruthless calculation than him just being a dipshit. It fits more nicely with the “but he’s a genius” narrative.
Either way, let’s not let whatever Musk said deter us from recognizing the greater point: The New York Times Style section quoted David N. Tracy. This guy:
Delightful!
Of course they would contact Handsome Devil David Tracy aka HDDT
It’s pretty cool to see DT, and this site in general, cited in NYT.
As always, I can’t quite comprehend people getting so upset about a car culture website reviewing a car. Arguably (or maybe not so), Hitler was much worse and we aren’t making every VW car review into a thinly veiled endorsement of actual Nazis. But we live in 2024 and we are most assuredly all suffering from brain rot.
I can’t think of a subscription I’ve paid for that has provided as much enjoyment as this one. And I do actually subscribe to the “failing “ NYT. ( I missed the mention of Dave, so thanks.)
It’s good exposure for the site if even a few people click the link to David’s write up of the Cybertruck. The comments got heated (big understatement, I know), but I think it’s important to talk about separating the art from the artist because it’s only going to become a bigger consideration as we put our lives out into the digital world.
David has been a style icon for years! Just look at that car collection! Its no surprise to me he was quoted in the NYTSC. What is surprising is how long they waited!
Oh come on. How could the Style Section miss that his full name is High Def David Tracy.
That’s right isn’t it? “High-Def”?
Yup, and I thought his middle name was “Rusty”
Get back Loretta. Get back to where you once belonged.
Really the world has gone nuts. What’s next?
Detailed dissertations on the merits of a sinking battery powered boats vs killer shark…
DT being appointed Sec. of Transportation by the new boss?
Stranger shit has happened.
Get back Loretta. Get back to where you once belonged.
America, what a country.
DT for President !
I’d prefer Alice Cooper. YMMV
Col Lingus is a greaaaat name
Thank you. Was gonna comment further but forgot. It was on the tip of my tongue though.
Oh yeah Alice told me I could be Secretary of Weed back in 76, if he ever wins…Have a good night amigo.
“meaning that he makes more money the more all of us get upset.”
You could just not use Xitter. Mastodon and BlueSky are entirely viable.
Incidentally y’all should pay Twitter menswear genius Derek Guy to give DT a wardrobe makeover.
I for one, like my tuxedos like I like my cars, used, abused, and put away wet.
I, for one, immediately translated this to mean you only use tuxedos for Taco Bell runs, after which, you get the Taco Bell Runs, remain suited up, then put the now well abused Tux in the closet for next time.
Are you spying on me? Last time I wore a tux (I bought used from the rental shop) I did go to Taco Bell, and that Taco Bell trip was more memorable than whatever I wore the tux for.
Taco bell is awesome.
My 10 year old used to love it, but now she hates it.
Kids are so cruel
When I first moved to the US, at 17, I absolutely loved Taco Bell. When I got my Green Card, I got a job at Taco Bell the same week and worked there for a year or so.
I have not eaten at a Taco Bell since circa 1999, and it is unlikely to ever happen again. Absolutely horrible stuff.
Another proof David sold his soul to the dark man himself. Moving to LA, catching a hot GF, going to a red carpet event, acquiring holy grail of BMW i3 and now being quoted by NYT
you missed “bought a tux”. It may only be a $35 Tux, but the man had enough use for a tux he bought one.
It was cheaper than renting!
Don’t ever change DT. This is why we love you.
Agreed, this is very on brand for DT but I will also confess one of the nicest dress jackets I own is a beautiful custom tailored one that I found in a thrift store for $10. Likewise a number of quite lovely silk ties in the $3-10 range. Quality is quality if you can find it.
About 20 years ago, I found a $1500 suit with the tags still on it for $30 at Goodwill. It had never been worn. Sometimes you get lucky and find gems like that, though I hear Goodwill is no longer the place for it.
I’m gathering that people that are obsessed with cars really couldn’t be bothered to buy new clothes…even dress clothes
Myself included.
My mom is disappointed in me. My gf thinks I’m an idiot.
But I think everyone on this forum must be a genius
The Harbor Freight justification, as applied to mens’ coture!
Get ready for the summer of Southfield Chic! The kids are going to be covering themselves in the grease of early 90’s Chrysler products. The sales of fine Meijer flannels are going to be off the charts. Youth will be doing a TikTok dance with canned spaghetti in a shower, to Steely Dan. Invest in every Holy Grail now, cause you’re about to retire on selling base model Jeeps from first Bush administration to influencers.
Yeah, and maybe they’ll also add a garbage disposal to the shower drain like Kramer did
My son dresses like David, “normcore”
The things kids do to piss their parents off…
“losercore” is all the rage now, the kids never fail to deliver.
Really, this is a step down for David. Has anyone else at the Times every done the things he’s done? Of course not. They don’t have the chops.
That man bought me a Slushie.
Elon and his cult of personality can no longer be separated from his companies and business ventures.
Idk man, I don’t have a problem separating them.
See, in real life, Tbird’s comment would have been self-focused. e.g., “For me, Elon and his cult of personality can no longer be separated from his companies and business ventures.”
In internet-speak you just remove the “for me” or “in my opinion” part and turn everything into an absolute, blanket statement. It’s a simple formula! 🙂
Umm did you just make assumptions about Tbird’s personal life and how they would act?? You are objectively…
Sorry I got a migraine halfway through pretending to be that type of person. Have a great day!
Funny *I* have a problem separating people who spend money on Musk’s products from supporting his biases
okay but what do you think about the people with Teslas with the “I bought this before I knew he was insane” bumper stickers
Context matters. They understand there is a problem. I’d be pissed if they buy another
What about someone who buys used private party, is that OK?
Oh yay! I get to answer gotcha questions all day. Thanks Santa it’s just what I was hoping for.
Look, Musk is a garbage human being who is actively working to hurt people I love. Every bit of positive attention and every incremental dollar that he gets helps him do that.
He is like any other problematic artist and needs to be treated that way. Everyone has to choose the lines they won’t cross. Support and attention implies approval (or ignorance) and tribe implies character.
This is my moral stance and I’m not an idiot. Of course there are gradations and I make judgments based on ignorance, need, and action.
The Chicks rebranded/renamed themselves so…are they still problematic? I haven’t checked.
“I care way too much what people think about me.”
These people are universally shit drivers, so avoid at all costs.
w00000t w000000000000000000000000000000000t
yay the Autopian made it big time 😛
Next: Adrian in the BBC news talking about the Ford Capri (Insert red laser eyes lol)
Once again…
Dear sweet baby Jesus,
Please let our favorite goth Uncle Adrian appear on the Beeb to air his entirely reasonable opinion on the new Ford Capri. He absolutely pinky swears to only speak the truth that the world so desperately needs to hear on the subject.
Thanks for listening,
Stillnotatony
The BBC has this ridiculous policy on “balance” meaning that they couldn’t interview anyone who hates the not-a-Capri without also interviewing someone who thinks its the best thing they could have done with the badge. And the problem is they just won’t find anyone for the other side.
If they could find that person, I think Uncle Adrian would manifest actual laser eyes and burn their skull to ash.
Big assumption that their brain isn’t already a bunch of loose powdery ashes rattling around in there.
King Eric is the spokesperson for the Ford Capri.
King Eric 1: Uncle Adrian 0
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/gallery-new-ford-capri-and-um-eric-cantona-wait-what-now
I want to see them fight. Poetry vs insults, football boots vs goth boots, shrugging vs fury-induced laser eyes.
[instant cancellation]
But is the BBC News allowed to air all of Uncle Adrian’s fantastic vocabulary?
Yes. YES.
Kind of on brand for the NYT to focus on the negative connotations from your CT review. I thought the review was overall very balanced and included plenty of positives
David Tracy.
In the Style section of the NYT.
Dogs. Cats. LIVING TOGETHER.
Need I say more?
Cats, Jeeps, living together.
Don’t forget the opossum!
Mass hysteria for sure!
I suspect David’s style is the same as mine. Short sleeve or long sleeve tees’ and hoodies as dictated by season. Unbuttoned flanneI over tee, grunge style. I own nice clothes, but refuse to wear them without incentive. Comfort is king.
I consistently wear jeans, tshirts, hoodies, and a beanie. Like full time. I sit under an AC vent at my office building, and its so cold there I am usually wearing the beanie and hoodie even in the summer while at my desk.
People I work with are often baffled to discover I own a vast collection of very nice suits and like 20 pair of dress shoes, and I can in fact clean up pretty darn well. I once thought I would have a career that required that stuff, so I prepared for it. Then ended up in a office where I wear a beanie and hoodie year round… 😀
Yep, I own a number of fedoras and Irish flat caps, not a fan of ballcaps. I can dress up or down for anything and like the Irish flat caps best. I have 4? nice suits and an assortment of shirts and ties. Did the same preparing for an office job that never needed it.
At this point, it’s more dictated by Elise.
My wife tells me what to wear out – I’m powerless.
David Tracy IS brat!
See, David has gone all Hollywood, otherwise this would have been about his derelicte fashion and shower spaghetti.
From shower spaghetti to being in the goddamn Times style section….the hollywoodification of our dearest boi is finally complete!
Get back Loretta.
Nice work Autopian team! Now get ready for the Teslastans!
But seriously, the Cybertruck is like a crystallization of influencer tips and tricks rolled into a vehicle. It’s primary purpose seems to be as a marketing vehicle.
It sure is difficult these days to make Elon Musk look like the well-adjusted, polite, and relatively normal human being in any two man comparison, but our friend never seems to disappoint.
rootwyrm is a knowledgeable fellow but it’s just not healthy to go through life that goddamn angry all the time
He is the living definition of the midwit meme IMO.
Knows enough to be dangerous, but can’t comprehend the idea that he might not know as much as he thinks and has no desire to broaden his knowledge or learn from others.
The site is improved by his absence.
Note that I typically do not like to speak ill of other commenters personally, but since this particular gentleman has insulted me in nearly every interaction we’ve had here, I’m comfortable airing my views. If the staff feel the need to edit or delete this comment, I disagree with their decision but understand it.
I find that this is, refreshingly, a place where a lot of folks of differing opinions can come together to talk about our mutual love of cars and occasionally share our thoughts on some other things as well. I don’t think his bombastic style, frequent insults, and often absurd and consistently unwavering opinions contributed very much to that.
He had some knowledge and good things to say from time to time, but like many I found his delivery to be so grating that it overweighted them. Hell I remember taking a week long break from the site after one particularly wretched rant of his…I think he went off on one of his tangents and was advocating for the death penalty for drunk drivers?
Anyway, if he works through some of whatever he has going on and wants to come back and join the conversation in a reasonable manner I’d personally be okay with it…but I will say I don’t think we’re missing out on anything with the old him being gone.
You suck! /s
Honestly, I’m disappointed at all the people shitting on rootwyrm post-departure. So much for that much-touted inclusiveness everyone is on about. I guess that only applies if you’re part of the echo chamber. He was certainly not without fault, but it’s not a classy look.
And specifically calling out a user in an article? That’s a strange, awkward flex and, if I’m being blunt, unprofessional. He hasn’t even been active here for some time. That could’ve been kept private. Don’t conflate that with me condoning his conduct; I just think it reflects poorly on a those involved.
You and I have very different ideas of what “shitting on” looks like
Yeah, I guess so.
I tend to think you forfeit the right to inclusiveness when you continuously call other commenters “Nazis” or worse for fairly milquetoast opinions, curse them out, and then go so far as to do the same to the writers over a new car review.
I’m often strident in my statements here and I attract blowback for some of them, which I accept, but in two years only one person has stooped to that level with me, and from the other responses here, it’s clear I’m not alone.
I see your point. Legitimately speaking, though, is there a formal code of conduct or community rules? I know there is a tacit gentleman’s agreement about hate speech and general conduct, but maybe further specificity is required. If not as a guideline, then as a CYA thing.
Aside from that, I stand by my earlier statement that the public airing of dirty laundry is in poor taste on the part of any staff member here. Yes, rootwyrm sent awful things in an email to the staff but, regardless of how you feel about that individual, does that necessitate the suspension of their own professional code of conduct? The aside was, at best, tangentially germane to the topic of the article and smacks of a or needless petty acrimony for its own sake.
It’s not all that long ago I was here when this site launched. I believed in their mission statement then and I’d like to believe that The Autopian is better than that. If things like this continue to get peppered in here and there then perhaps history is one slippery slope away from repeating itself.
If you, or anyone else here, wishes to believe that this was appropriate, that’s your choice. I don’t condone it.
Coming back to this a few hours later I find myself agreeing with you more than I did yesterday. In hindsight, I probably should have left it at my first comment and been done with it.
By this point my feelings on the matter are well known and there’s no value in dwelling on it any further or airing any more publicly.
I respect you for saying that.
I’m still disappointed in The Autopian for standing firm on their decision to stick with that inclusion (which obviously passed the editorial process). They’ve issued retractions for far more innocuous slights or perceived wrongs in the past. Although I’m disappointed, it is their right to do so, just as it is my right to consider whether I prefer to spend a portion of my limited time and attention to them each day. At this point, I’ve spoken my piece.
I’m sure this comment is buried deep by now, but hopefully it resonates with someone who appreciates the gravity of the matter.
>Honestly, I’m disappointed at all the people shitting on rootwyrm post-departure. So much for that much-touted inclusiveness everyone is on about. I guess that only applies if you’re part of the echo chamber. He was certainly not without fault, but it’s not a classy look.
I’m not. Speaking as someone who was on the receiving end of his screeds more than once for the grave sin of daring to express a different opinion, as well as one of only about three people who would consistently call out his BS (and the other two I don’t see anymore), the class of the place has only gone up. Echo chambers? Dude existed in one and assumed every other normal person occupied it as well, so clearly anyone outside them is a dangerous deviant. Inclusiveness? The only people who would ever call him out were people who disagreed with him, his fellow-travelers on political matters would never do it. Appealing to standards of common decency when such standards were in very short supply in any discussion he was involved in rings very hollow.
I had a few interactions with him before I decided that being made furious by a lunatic over nothing wasn’t a good use of my time. Once he even pitched himself as possibly writing for the site and it took a lot of restraint not to say anything.
Seriously though, I can’t say anything about the person IRL but his online persona was similar to those of people who are dangerous in real life. Constant anger, occasional calls for violence or executions, wildly disproportionate responses. Like the craziest people on Twitter. I don’t think any of it was a joke, shock value or anything like that.
I noticed he wasn’t around and figured either someone in his personal life found the account and it caused issues or his serious anger issues had led him into legal trouble. Hopefully he’s getting some help. Even if this was his only outlet for negativity that level of it can’t be healthy.
What I’m not sure of is how this kind of behavior is related to ideology. People act like this across the political spectrum so I don’t think it’s related to the beliefs themselves. But do rigid or extreme beliefs cause this behavior or do people with behavioral issues latch onto ideology as an excuse for their actions? Since online conflicts often involve large numbers of people is the phenomenon subject to ‘mob mentality’ where group action is seen as invalidating individual culpability?
Unfortunately all my answers are just opinions and I haven’t seen a lot of research on the topic.
Putting on our pretend hats for a moment, even IF his technical knowledge were what he claimed (no one who actually has the depth of knowlege ever goes off about knowing thier shit at every possible turn) but without the self awareness to grasp that being an all correct full send blowhard is going to get you put on the train out of town faster than Arman Tanzerian.
My experience has shown this to be the general practice in either work or fun-time/hobby environments.
80% as technically capable but tolerable to interact with is going to be what wins out every time.
This is the key point.
That’s an 80/20 rule I can live by. 80% capable, 20% tolerable.
I like the idea of reversing the ratio. “He doesn’t really know what he’s doing, but he’s a nice enough guy.”
Ha, that’s probably what I actually achieve, but I’d rather cop to being unlikeable, which sounds like a choice, than incompetent or incapable, which is a little more baked-in.
I have unfortunately worked with that guy (on a couple of occasions). It’s not as fun as you’d think.
I am now going to refer to myself as an “all correct full send blowhard”. It just has a nice ring to it.
Not to be an all correct full send blowhard, but it is Armin Tamzarian. Please don’t tie me to a chair and put me on the next train out of town.
I liked it better when he was here, I miss the long-winded and opinionated comments on nearly every Morning Shift article. I didn’t take any of it too seriously, and it was funny and often actually informative. But I’m not the kind of person that minds rudeness or insults even a little.
I also recognize that a significant factor in this is just being slightly nostalgic for when this website was much smaller and, in my opinion, better.
The Autopian has been around for two years and we’ve already reached the point that we’re getting “this blog just isn’t what it used to be” comments? That has to be some sort of record.
I’d say anything under a year would be grossly premature, but a couple years, albeit early, is on the short side of reasonable.
I sort of agree on your point about his comments being entertaining.
Problems arose whenever someone would challenge anything he said and it would turn ugly real fast.
I disagree with a lot of things I read in articles and the comments. But just try to have a conversation with the people, man (or woman)! No need to get personally vicious about every point.
To Nsane’s point, he needs some anger management, for his personal health and sanity.
I didn’t mind rootwyrm that much. Sometimes, he had interesting, insightful comments to share, albeit with a good dose of rage. In that regard, is he much different than Uncle Adrian? Granted, U.A. comes off as a little more tongue in cheek, whereas rootwyrm, I think, was often rather upset.
Somehow, I’m simultaneously surprised, and not, that he lit up the Autopian staff over Musk and the Cybertruck. I had already noticed he hadn’t been commenting as much for the better part of a year; I’d already assumed that he moved on at that point.
I hate to agree, but I do. He seemed knowledgeable and was often entertaining. But that kind of negativity can be very contagious, especially the in anonymous cesspit of the internet.
Enough about rootwyrm.
Let’s move on to important shit here.
Like the question of when Taylor Swift is gonna notice DT’s magnetic sex appeal?
Soon he will be as famous as the Pope dude…
Yeah, I genuinely worry about him sometimes. I know he means well deep down, but he’s gotta find some joy in his life, if for no other reasons than for his health.
Either way, I don’t know if I’d have called him out in an article despite him posting his letter publicly elsewhere. Seems a bit much for one commenter when it’s not something absurd and enjoyable like “no good cotomer sevis” guy.
Huh. You know, I do think about this stuff sometimes, and wonder if I’m just weird for thinking about it. It’s kind of validating to know others are paying attention, too. Not just to screeds and rambling but the community shifting and excising the rotten bits as necessary – i.e., commentors coming and going and sometimes being made gone.
There was a theory bouncing around my favorite taillight fetish sub-Reddit that Rootwyrm was actually Jason’s meth-induced alter-ego. This was reinforced when Jason blew an artery and Rootwyrm disappeared.
Dr. Torchyll & Mr. Wyrm?
Under the lovable auto-nerd exterior there could beat the fragile heart of a monster.