Talks to Watch

William Shatner Tries To Describe The Awe of Space, Jeff Bezos Shoots Champagne Like An Asshole

441K views · Oct 13, 2021 · 1:02 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2022–2026

A one-minute clip of William Shatner trying to describe the awe of space after a Blue Origin flight while Jeff Bezos sprays champagne.

Why Hacker News points people here: HN mostly uses it to criticize or mock Bezos, not as a recommendation.

What Hacker News said 3

CriticalvinceguidryApr 2025

“Reminds me of this clip of Jeff Bezos being a total dick to William Shatner.”

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> Lack of such frantic craziness is seen as boring (I never heard of this word boring in my childhood). Slow life in general is being viewed as socially unacceptable. We are frogs in a boiling pot. Reminds me of this clip of Jeff Bezos being a total dick to William Shatner. this video Shatner later realized that 11 minutes in space wasn't really anything to write home about and that billionaires are assholes.

in “Cozy video games can quell stress and anxiety” · view on HN
CriticalgeorgemcbayApr 2026

“The clip humanizes Shatner and makes Bezos seem like a creepy narcissistic ghoul in comparison”

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Interesting read. I'm fully willing to buy the author's assessment of Jeff Bezos' detachment from the reality that we normal folk live in by viewing his (Bezos') interaction with William Shatner post Blue Origin's NS-18 launch. this video The clip humanizes Shatner and makes Bezos seem like a creepy narcissistic ghoul in comparison (which is quite a feat assuming stories told about Shatner by many of his former coworkers are accurate). Given all of the events since then its a bit interesting that despite the thinly veiled not-quite-name-dropping (eg. Gaiman, Chabon, Andrés) he didn't mention the presence of Ghislaine Maxwell who has been to Campfire several times including in 2018.

in “What I Learned About Billionaires at Jeff Bezos's Private Retreat” · view on HN
JokeMorizeroOct 2022

“Bezos was too busy playing with champagne.”

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I'm glad NPR took the time to get his thoughts since Bezos was too busy playing with champagne. this video

in “William Shatner experienced profound grief in space. It was the overview effect” · view on HN