Wired had done an article in which they compared what Bill Gates has done to what Steve Jobs has done to the community and world at large. And since Gates had recently donated some 650 Million to a charity it was stacked in his favor. Plus it was stated that Jobs had not made any huge public donations.
So we get todays article in which they answer all the hate mail. And it’s an interesting read. I’m no fan of Gates… but they did bring up some valid facts about Jobs. Jobs may seem a better guy, and Gates may be trying to buy good feelings. But some of these comments like:
One reader, responding to Kahney’s column, referred to Jobs as a “Saviour,” with a capital S and the British u, bestowing on the word a sort of creepy, quasi-biblical connotation. Look, Jobs revived (or, in keeping with the theme, “resurrected”) a for-profit, stockholder-beholden company. That’s all. Well, bully for him. He didn’t walk on water, although a lot of you seem to believe that he can. He’s Jobs, OK? Not Job.
Great point. Jobs is the ultimate marketer… but he’s doing his job.
And then this great retort jumped out at me.
But I digress. What I want to know is why guys who manufacture computers or make software are worthy of being elevated to near-deity status by you techno-utopians. Technology, this manna from heaven that was supposed to free us from our chains, has done nothing of the sort. On the contrary, while computer technology may increase personal productivity, it’s only complicated the nature of class struggle by eliminating jobs, weakening labor unions and dispersing workers. Meanwhile, the few still reap enormous wealth from the labor of the many. To a large degree, we have Gates and Jobs to thank for that.
But enough bits… read both the original article and the comeback yourself.
Tags: Apple, Irony, Microsoft, News, Uncategorized
