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The other evidence though is that Forstall has been depicted as "the bad guy" for a long time. Well before he was expected to be departing. http://www.busines

by arn 14y ago

The other evidence though is that Forstall has been depicted as "the bad guy" for a long time. Well before he was expected to be departing. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/scott-forstall-the-sorcerers-apprentice-at-apple-10122011.html http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/scott-forstall-the-sorc... He was even described as CEO-in-Waiting. Even then, the same things were said about his personality conflicts with others: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/17/scott-forstall-is-apples-ceo-in-waiting-says-new-book/ http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/17/scott-forstall-is-app...

gurkendoktor 14y ago
> Forstall has been depicted as "the bad guy" for a long time. > personality conflicts with others: The same things have been said about Steve Jobs over and over.
- rhizome 14y ago
  Over the years I have certainly seen what I think are cases of hindsight or survivorship bias where people think "if I want to be Steve Jobs I have to be a jerk!" People can work this in a PR push like Forstall may have done in the BW profile.
  - illuminate 14y ago
    "cases of hindsight or survivorship bias where people think "if I want to be Steve Jobs I have to be a jerk" Haven't countless MBAs embraced those same ideas before Apple, or even the socially inept who myopically claim that "women like jerks"? People enjoy looking for excuses for their poor behavior, and they'll usually find them without too much trouble.
    - rhizome 14y ago
      Sure, and I'll bet it's all in the family of psychological rationalization. I've never read it, but maybe one can come out of "What Color Is Your Parachute?" with the answer, "be Steve Jobs," or one of those old-timey employment predictors like "You are: A Jerk; Possible careers: Steve Jobs or bad police officer."
- arn 14y ago
  Yes, and Steve Jobs was also ousted from Apple for (in part) that reason. One of the articles even described Forstall as "mini-Steve". I'm just pointing out that "Forstall was a problem" isn't a new narrative that is being spun due to his departure, but one that has been around for some time.
  - wzdd 14y ago
    With this in mind, the "never fit into the culture of Apple" line in the WSJ article is telling. Jobs never fit into the culture of Apple either -- rather, the culture of apple fit into Jobs. It sounds like Forstall wanted to be like Steve, and, for better or for worse, he wasn't allowed to.
  - ebiester 14y ago
    So, what I'm hearing is that in about 10 years, Forstall will be brought to "save" apple again?
    - sigzero 14y ago
      Forstall is no Steve Jobs.
      - jtbigwoo 14y ago
        Steve Jobs was no Steve Jobs... until later anyway.
ChuckMcM 14y ago
I don't know Scott at all, I don't think I've even casually met him. My advice here is to not stress over the "why" of his departure, unless he tells you honestly why he left, or Tim tells you, everything else is just speculation.

by arn 14y ago

gurkendoktor 14y ago

> Forstall has been depicted as "the bad guy" for a long time. > personality conflicts with others: The same things have been said about Steve Jobs over and over.

rhizome 14y ago
Over the years I have certainly seen what I think are cases of hindsight or survivorship bias where people think "if I want to be Steve Jobs I have to be a jerk!" People can work this in a PR push like Forstall may have done in the BW profile.
- illuminate 14y ago
  "cases of hindsight or survivorship bias where people think "if I want to be Steve Jobs I have to be a jerk" Haven't countless MBAs embraced those same ideas before Apple, or even the socially inept who myopically claim that "women like jerks"? People enjoy looking for excuses for their poor behavior, and they'll usually find them without too much trouble.
  - rhizome 14y ago
    Sure, and I'll bet it's all in the family of psychological rationalization. I've never read it, but maybe one can come out of "What Color Is Your Parachute?" with the answer, "be Steve Jobs," or one of those old-timey employment predictors like "You are: A Jerk; Possible careers: Steve Jobs or bad police officer."
arn 14y ago
Yes, and Steve Jobs was also ousted from Apple for (in part) that reason. One of the articles even described Forstall as "mini-Steve". I'm just pointing out that "Forstall was a problem" isn't a new narrative that is being spun due to his departure, but one that has been around for some time.
- wzdd 14y ago
  With this in mind, the "never fit into the culture of Apple" line in the WSJ article is telling. Jobs never fit into the culture of Apple either -- rather, the culture of apple fit into Jobs. It sounds like Forstall wanted to be like Steve, and, for better or for worse, he wasn't allowed to.
- ebiester 14y ago
  So, what I'm hearing is that in about 10 years, Forstall will be brought to "save" apple again?
  - sigzero 14y ago
    Forstall is no Steve Jobs.
    - jtbigwoo 14y ago
      Steve Jobs was no Steve Jobs... until later anyway.

ChuckMcM 14y ago

I don't know Scott at all, I don't think I've even casually met him. My advice here is to not stress over the "why" of his departure, unless he tells you honestly why he left, or Tim tells you, everything else is just speculation.