By John Q. Hosedrinker 
SpaceX and Cards Against Humanity reached a settlement in a lawsuit concerning land owned by the party game company in Texas. The lawsuit alleged that SpaceX trespassed on the property by placing construction materials and debris there without permission. While the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, Cards Against Humanity confirmed that SpaceX admitted to trespassing and has since removed its equipment. The company had hoped to use settlement funds to pay back donors who contributed to the land purchase.
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Cards Against Humanity and Elon Musk’s SpaceX reach settlement over alleged trespassing in Texas, and frankly, the whole situation is a perfect storm of absurdity, activism, and a dash of corporate intrigue. It’s almost too good to be true, the kind of headline that feels tailor-made for a late-night talk show monologue. You see, the story starts with Cards Against Humanity, the irreverent card game known for its often offensive and always unpredictable humor, buying land in Texas. Their stated goal? To obstruct the construction of a border wall, a project they vehemently opposed. They cleverly offered fans a piece of the action, or rather, a piece of land, for a mere $15. For that price, you got a certificate “proving” your ownership of a tiny parcel. Many people, myself included, saw this as an amusing form of protest, a middle finger to both the wall and, in some ways, the current political landscape.
Now, fast forward to the main event: SpaceX. Somehow, while constructing their facilities, the company ended up using the land that Cards Against Humanity had purchased. I mean, it’s not exactly clear how they missed it, but the fact of the matter is, they were trespassing. So, Cards Against Humanity, not one to back down from a fight, sued. Let’s be honest, the headline itself—”Cards Against Humanity vs. Musk against humanity”—is comedy gold. Knowing the company’s brand, you just *know* they approached this with a healthy dose of sarcasm. The whole situation smacks of a comedic plotline.
The lawsuit’s initial promise was to potentially distribute any settlement money to the fans who bought the land, maybe $2 a head. But, after the fact, the Cards Against Humanity folks had said that it was probably better than nothing. They were originally hoping for a $100 payout. However, they soon realized the legal expenses of a trial would be significant. So, they decided to settle. And what exactly does the settlement entail? Well, it appears SpaceX has agreed to cease using the land and restore it to its original, hopefully space-garbage-free, state.
I’m getting the sense that the money isn’t the main thing here. The main “win” is that SpaceX will stop using the land and restore it. That’s a moral victory in itself, right? It sounds like the company wasn’t expecting a huge payout. It was more about making a point, using their platform to push back against what they saw as an injustice. The fact that SpaceX admitted to trespassing during the discovery phase of the case is the real kicker. They had no case, and so, the settlement followed.
But what about the money? The article doesn’t specify exactly how much was agreed upon. However, the Cards Against Humanity crew mentioned they may send money to the individual land owners, although there weren’t many expectations for getting it back. It seems the company has said that the money will be used for clean up and restoration of the land, and maybe whatever is left over will go to the contributors. That sounds like a fairly good deal for the land owners, considering most of them bought it to stop the border wall from going up, or were there just to show some support.
This whole situation also provides a fascinating glimpse into the mindset of certain people and companies in our society. The article touches on some pretty serious observations about the motivations of billionaires like Elon Musk, including comments about the pursuit of power and a detached view of human life. It’s a sobering reminder that sometimes, the lines between reality and satire become incredibly blurred.
Cards Against Humanity’s actions are a clever example of using humor and the power of collective action to challenge powerful entities. The fact that SpaceX, a company valued in the billions, ended up settling with a card game, is undeniably hilarious and inspiring. If that doesn’t make you believe in the power of a good laugh and some righteous indignation, I don’t know what will. Maybe, in the end, it’s not about the money, but about the message. And in this case, the message is clear: even the smallest of Davids can take on the corporate Goliaths, and with a little bit of wit, even win.