4 ms·

Hot take: Bill Gates is massively underrated today, compared to how he will be viewed by history. When the reckoning of history books happens, I could see him

Hot take: Bill Gates is massively underrated today, compared to how he will be viewed by history. When the reckoning of history books happens, I could see him in the running for “most positive social influence of anyone 1800-2100”. His humanitarian work is second to none and we can expect 20+ more years of his direct influence on global policy. The world is a better place thanks to Mr and Mrs Gates.

MediumD 8y ago
Completely agree with you, although I'm not sure how much of 'Hot take' that is.
- blueside 8y ago
  Definitely not a "hot take" but there are certainly a lot of users on here who would argue otherwise. A lot of older programmers who were well into their careers during Microsoft in the 90's seem to have a different opinion of Bill and his business practices.
  - SkyMarshal 8y ago
    The irony is that ultimately Gates and MS did relatively little significant or lasting damage to the world, and FOSS eventually took over many important parts of global infrastructure. Afterwards, Gates went on to create the most effective and well-funded philanthropy since the Carnegie Foundation, eradicated Malaria, etc. While his former competitors spent their riches on superyachts and the like.
    - solveit 8y ago
      The irony could go deeper now that MS has github. Only time will tell...
soperj 8y ago
Not really. You look at Andrew Carnegie who has a similar history, and even a hundred years out, no one cares. People like Einstein and Picasso are who lasts. No one really gives a shit about businessmen, regardless of their philanthropy.
- basementcat 8y ago
  Perhaps few will wonder why their university has an certain name or why a particular mountaintop is full of telescopes.
- mrb 8y ago
  Carnegie was worth only $5 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars. Gates is worth $100 billion, so we can expect him to have a philantropic impact 20 times greater.
  - evilduck 8y ago
    I don't think the general public will particularly care about his behavior a century from now but historians aren't likely to forget or ignore that he's a robber baron. I'd expect the 180º of his moral compass will make his life that much more interesting to discuss for them.
  - dgacmu 8y ago
    $372 billion for Carnegie in 2014 dollars: http://money.com/money/3977798/the-10-richest-people-of-all-time-2/ http://money.com/money/3977798/the-10-richest-people-of-all-... 3x gates.
    - mrb 8y ago
      They don't calculate his net worth correctly. They calculate his worth based on a percentage of GDP. If you actually do the math based on an inflation calculator, you find $5 billion: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2014/07/08/whats-become-of-them-the-carnegie-family/#16614d9e7b55 https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2014/07/08/whats-b...
- 8y ago
djrobstep 8y ago
People who extract billions in economic rents from society, then return some of those rents, are the real heroes.

MediumD 8y ago

Completely agree with you, although I'm not sure how much of 'Hot take' that is.

blueside 8y ago
Definitely not a "hot take" but there are certainly a lot of users on here who would argue otherwise. A lot of older programmers who were well into their careers during Microsoft in the 90's seem to have a different opinion of Bill and his business practices.
- SkyMarshal 8y ago
  The irony is that ultimately Gates and MS did relatively little significant or lasting damage to the world, and FOSS eventually took over many important parts of global infrastructure. Afterwards, Gates went on to create the most effective and well-funded philanthropy since the Carnegie Foundation, eradicated Malaria, etc. While his former competitors spent their riches on superyachts and the like.
  - solveit 8y ago
    The irony could go deeper now that MS has github. Only time will tell...

soperj 8y ago

Not really. You look at Andrew Carnegie who has a similar history, and even a hundred years out, no one cares. People like Einstein and Picasso are who lasts. No one really gives a shit about businessmen, regardless of their philanthropy.

basementcat 8y ago
Perhaps few will wonder why their university has an certain name or why a particular mountaintop is full of telescopes.
mrb 8y ago
Carnegie was worth only $5 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars. Gates is worth $100 billion, so we can expect him to have a philantropic impact 20 times greater.
- evilduck 8y ago
  I don't think the general public will particularly care about his behavior a century from now but historians aren't likely to forget or ignore that he's a robber baron. I'd expect the 180º of his moral compass will make his life that much more interesting to discuss for them.
- dgacmu 8y ago
  $372 billion for Carnegie in 2014 dollars: http://money.com/money/3977798/the-10-richest-people-of-all-time-2/ http://money.com/money/3977798/the-10-richest-people-of-all-... 3x gates.
  - mrb 8y ago
    They don't calculate his net worth correctly. They calculate his worth based on a percentage of GDP. If you actually do the math based on an inflation calculator, you find $5 billion: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2014/07/08/whats-become-of-them-the-carnegie-family/#16614d9e7b55 https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2014/07/08/whats-b...
8y ago

djrobstep 8y ago

People who extract billions in economic rents from society, then return some of those rents, are the real heroes.