8 ms·

Doesn't that video seem odd though? I don't understand what's going on here, it's just surreal. Like if I was a multi-billionaire would I hire a film production

by tomgp 5y ago

Doesn't that video seem odd though? I don't understand what's going on here, it's just surreal. Like if I was a multi-billionaire would I hire a film production crew including a bunch of extras and Christmas themed set to tell the world about 5 (already high profile and best selling) books? Is this just marketing for Bill? To what end? I guess everyone has to have a hobby.

etc-hosts 5y ago
Yes this is just marketing for Bill.
notatoad 5y ago
things just grow on their own sometimes, especially if you're successful enough. it's perfectly reasonable for a multi-billionaire to want to write a blog to publish his thoughts on various things. the existence of "the gates notes" is pretty normal. and when you're rich, you hire somebody to run the website for you. web design and marketing are pretty interlinked, so the guys running the blog do some promo, and generally run it the same way they would run any other content site. which includes making some video content targeting the most widely-viewed types of posts.
- bibabaloo 5y ago
  It's interesting to think about how they'd measure success with this. Like, I guess with normal marketing for a product, it's already difficult but at least you have metrics around increased sales etc. What do they measure here, positive sentiment for Bill Gates?
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
throwaw909 5y ago
> Doesn't that video seem odd though? I say yes. In fact: I'd say entire Bill Gates persona and his media portrayal is a bit odd. > Is this just marketing for Bill? I'd say so. From my point of view is shocking how the public (and tech world) did a 180 turn on Gates' public image. Some twenty years ago he was hated in the tech world. There are even Paul Graham's essays about how Microsoft "stopped being dangerous" around 2005 (ie. few years after Gates stepping down from CEO position). You know those memes around Zuckerberg being a lizard person? This is how I remember Gates 20 years ago (except there weren't really memes occasionally someone would email you some funny pictures or a flash app). > To what end? I guess he didn't like people seeing him as Dr. No? Paul Allen described him as a "ruthless schemer". During his tenure as CEO he turned Microsoft into this scary giant that will crush any competition. My personal conspiracy theory is that he enjoys having power - power over market, power over people - and now uses his foundation to exert this power. However, this wouldn't work given his old reputation as an Evil Technocrat, so he also spends a million here and there for things that will make him look good. Why not spend a billion here and there if you still have 140 of those left? So, probably one of his PR guys figured out that his annual book list blogpost are popular in the tech niche and wants to reach wider audience. To go deeper into conspiracy thinking, I'd say that this list is carefully tailored to affirm his image as genius-nerd-philantropist (sci-fi) and extend power of his foundation.

by tomgp 5y ago

etc-hosts 5y ago

Yes this is just marketing for Bill.

notatoad 5y ago

things just grow on their own sometimes, especially if you're successful enough. it's perfectly reasonable for a multi-billionaire to want to write a blog to publish his thoughts on various things. the existence of "the gates notes" is pretty normal. and when you're rich, you hire somebody to run the website for you. web design and marketing are pretty interlinked, so the guys running the blog do some promo, and generally run it the same way they would run any other content site. which includes making some video content targeting the most widely-viewed types of posts.

bibabaloo 5y ago
It's interesting to think about how they'd measure success with this. Like, I guess with normal marketing for a product, it's already difficult but at least you have metrics around increased sales etc. What do they measure here, positive sentiment for Bill Gates?
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

throwaw909 5y ago

> Doesn't that video seem odd though? I say yes. In fact: I'd say entire Bill Gates persona and his media portrayal is a bit odd. > Is this just marketing for Bill? I'd say so. From my point of view is shocking how the public (and tech world) did a 180 turn on Gates' public image. Some twenty years ago he was hated in the tech world. There are even Paul Graham's essays about how Microsoft "stopped being dangerous" around 2005 (ie. few years after Gates stepping down from CEO position). You know those memes around Zuckerberg being a lizard person? This is how I remember Gates 20 years ago (except there weren't really memes occasionally someone would email you some funny pictures or a flash app). > To what end? I guess he didn't like people seeing him as Dr. No? Paul Allen described him as a "ruthless schemer". During his tenure as CEO he turned Microsoft into this scary giant that will crush any competition. My personal conspiracy theory is that he enjoys having power - power over market, power over people - and now uses his foundation to exert this power. However, this wouldn't work given his old reputation as an Evil Technocrat, so he also spends a million here and there for things that will make him look good. Why not spend a billion here and there if you still have 140 of those left? So, probably one of his PR guys figured out that his annual book list blogpost are popular in the tech niche and wants to reach wider audience. To go deeper into conspiracy thinking, I'd say that this list is carefully tailored to affirm his image as genius-nerd-philantropist (sci-fi) and extend power of his foundation.