4 ms·

Jobs is on the whole probably better than the modern "tech right", yes, if only because supposedly he turned down opportunities to get seriously into politics.

by leoc 2y ago

Jobs is on the whole probably better than the modern "tech right", yes, if only because supposedly he turned down opportunities to get seriously into politics. OTOH, who knows what kind of strange political or personal journey he might possibly have taken if he'd been around for the past decade and more. And in fact I think he may have contributed to the US getting where it is now in (at least) one significant way. By committing his options-backdating caper and then avoiding punishment for it he contributed to the feeling that the Special Boy is too precious to suffer criminal consequences for his actions, something which has likely had consequences for the later career of Musk in particular.

jkolio 2y ago
Oh, I'm sure it's even fuzzier than that. Apple's cachet over the past 25 years was built on the type of class consumerism that reflects and then amplifies a lot of America's particular brand of social dysfunction. Much of tech during this time was focused (and continued to focus, to their market detriment, until they "wised" up and stopped) on a sort of egalitarianism; if the proposition is, "Anyone can benefit from our product," most companies whispered the qualifier, "...if you can afford it." Apple, on the other hand, shouted that last part from the rooftops, also encouraging the addendum, "...and it makes you better than people who don't use our products." Apple was a standard-bearer for the toxic exclusivity and gatekeeping that's kind of always been a part of American society, but that we occasionally see some chance of finally throwing off.
- antonvs 2y ago
  > ... but that we occasionally see some chance of finally throwing off. That seems optimistic to me. What are you thinking of?
  - jkolio 2y ago
    [dead]
- endemic 2y ago
  > it makes you better than people who don't use our products. It seemed to me that this was more of a product of the fandom. "Even though this Apple computer is less popular/useful, I'm a discerning tastemaker and am better than the unwashed Wintel masses."
  - mietek 2y ago
    The Apple “Lemmings” ad came out in 1985. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemmings_(advertisement) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemmings_(advertisement)

by leoc 2y ago

jkolio 2y ago

Oh, I'm sure it's even fuzzier than that. Apple's cachet over the past 25 years was built on the type of class consumerism that reflects and then amplifies a lot of America's particular brand of social dysfunction. Much of tech during this time was focused (and continued to focus, to their market detriment, until they "wised" up and stopped) on a sort of egalitarianism; if the proposition is, "Anyone can benefit from our product," most companies whispered the qualifier, "...if you can afford it." Apple, on the other hand, shouted that last part from the rooftops, also encouraging the addendum, "...and it makes you better than people who don't use our products." Apple was a standard-bearer for the toxic exclusivity and gatekeeping that's kind of always been a part of American society, but that we occasionally see some chance of finally throwing off.

antonvs 2y ago
> ... but that we occasionally see some chance of finally throwing off. That seems optimistic to me. What are you thinking of?
- jkolio 2y ago
  [dead]
endemic 2y ago
> it makes you better than people who don't use our products. It seemed to me that this was more of a product of the fandom. "Even though this Apple computer is less popular/useful, I'm a discerning tastemaker and am better than the unwashed Wintel masses."
- mietek 2y ago
  The Apple “Lemmings” ad came out in 1985. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemmings_(advertisement) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemmings_(advertisement)