For simplicity sake - I'm going to just post a combined response.
"Only engineers can be geniuses, eh ?"
Nowhere was that said. While someone doesn't have to be an engineer to be a genius - Elon possesses neither of those qualities.
"Do you think that only engineers can have a science background ?"
That was once again stated nowhere. A Bachelor's degree in physics doesn't make someone an engineer. Let me put it this way - Neil deGrasse Tyson (who's arguably a genius in the field that Musk has a Bachelor's degree) has a science background. I don't want to ride on an airplane that Neil deGrasse Tyson was responsible for engineering. Do you?
"Do you think that a topic can only be learned in school ?"
No.
"You don't need an engineering degree to be an engineer."
You're right. I used to do recruitment and placement for engineers for the government. Here's the minimum qualifications that were part of determining whether or not someone was qualified for the job.
(https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj7vbKEovv1AhUnDzQIHW-cDL0QFnoECAQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1Vcp-hGNpgQTESJwed2bv1)
In fact, Musk could theoretically have completed the coursework required for meeting the basic degree requirements. Not surprisingly, all of the engineers that were doing the interviews always selected folks who had an engineering degree from an ABET accredited engineering program or were registered Professional Engineers.
"I doubt Thomas Edison had an electrical degree either."
Thomas Edison has over 1,000 patents registered in his name. - You can probably name some of them. I can guarantee you can't name any of Musk's inventions of the top of your head.
Musk has 6.
5 of which have a small enough number of people that it's clear he contributed something and those predate Tesla. The last one has 17 people listed - it's doubtful Musk is doing much other than providing some overall direction as a CEO. His fragile ego is likely a large part of why he's listed - keep in mind this is the guy who sued the founders of Tesla to be listed as a co-founder.
https://patents.justia.com/inventor/elon-musk
As you may be aware - times have changed since the late 1800s. For example, when I buy a plane ticket for an airline - i have expectations that the airplane i will be riding in wasn't built in someone's garage.
"A degree is just a shorthand way for an employer to check competency. Doesn't tell you about their actual skill."
You may consider me so advised. Although - AFAIK, I'm the only one of the three of us who's actually done recruitment and placement of engineers in any capacity.
What's entirely fascinating to me however that when faced with an assertion to the contrary of what you believe both of you were unable or unwilling to make a list of Musk's concrete accomplishments as an inventor - something that's not particularly hard since patents are a matter of public record. (https://www.uspto.gov/patents/search)
It's pretty telling when the most ardent supporters can't name a single invention and have to result to trying really, really hard to move the goalposts with arguing what engineers are and aren't in a bid to lower qualification standards.
