4 ms·

unlike Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison .. i'm actually struggling to think of an idolized figure in tech who isn't an "asshole". edit:

by uid 13y ago

unlike Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison .. i'm actually struggling to think of an idolized figure in tech who isn't an "asshole". edit: put "asshole" in quotes, which gets my point across better

pg 13y ago
Unless you know these people personally, you don't really know what they're like. I know Mark isn't though.
- guynamedloren 13y ago
  Kanye at the next startup school, so we can rule him out too? :)
- uid 13y ago
  I know them as much as the comment above me knows Kanye. Being an asshole is a public persona, and each of those people has been called or referred to as an asshole. edit: and there are plenty of anecdotal "Kanye is a nice guy when you meet him" stories as well. Evel Knievel sued Kanye and described him as 'vulgar an offensive', after they met he said "I thought he was a wonderful guy and a gentleman": http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-11-27-kanye-knievel_N.htm http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-11-27-ka...
  - Shinkei 13y ago
    Laughing at 'Bill Gates is an asshole.' I've heard this anecdotally about everyone on your list, but not about him. People malign Microsoft and Windows, but please show me anecdotes about Gates the person being an asshole.
    - bgilroy26 13y ago
      Throughout the netscape vs IE era, Gates was considered a ruthless businessman internationally. The situation is 10 years old and fading, but asshole was definitely a predominant take on Gates for a long time
    - nate_meurer 13y ago
      You haven't been around the tech scene long have you? Gates has a well-known reputation within MS as ruthless, snarky, and yes an asshole at times. See the numerous references to his (famous if only anecdotal) refrains when unsatisfied with someone else's work. Also read Paul Allen's book -- specifically the part where Gates tried to screw Paul by diluting his stock.
    - blacksmythe 13y ago
      Here is Spolsky's take on what Bill Gates was like to work for: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html Certainly feared to some extent.
      - opminion 13y ago
        Bill Gates does not come across as an asshole at all in that article.
- alecco 13y ago
  I respect you a lot and you sure have more information than most of us. But Mr. Zuckerberg called "dumb fucks" users who gave him personal information. I do not know him personally, but with that one in mind and the privacy issues of Facebook, I find it hard to see how he isn't.
  - pg 13y ago
    He was showing off/joking. If every undergrad who has said something like that is an asshole, then pretty much everyone is.
morgante 13y ago
Not sure whether you meant to agree with me or not, but that's precisely my point. Only now we're even appropriating assholes from other industries. Also, I doubt all these tech figures are actually assholes. Arguably they're forced to adopt those personas publicly by an industry which demands it.
MartinCron 13y ago
i'm actually struggling to think of an idolized figure in tech who isn't an "asshole" Maybe not as idolized as Jobs/Gates/Zuck, but there are non-asshole public figures in tech, such as Woz, Tim O'Reilly, Matt Mullenweg, Joel Spolsky. Being abrasive isn't a prerequisite to success.
ItendToDisagree 13y ago
Woz would be a huge example. Also do you know any of these people personally?

by uid 13y ago

pg 13y ago

Unless you know these people personally, you don't really know what they're like. I know Mark isn't though.

guynamedloren 13y ago
Kanye at the next startup school, so we can rule him out too? :)
uid 13y ago
I know them as much as the comment above me knows Kanye. Being an asshole is a public persona, and each of those people has been called or referred to as an asshole. edit: and there are plenty of anecdotal "Kanye is a nice guy when you meet him" stories as well. Evel Knievel sued Kanye and described him as 'vulgar an offensive', after they met he said "I thought he was a wonderful guy and a gentleman": http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-11-27-kanye-knievel_N.htm http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-11-27-ka...
- Shinkei 13y ago
  Laughing at 'Bill Gates is an asshole.' I've heard this anecdotally about everyone on your list, but not about him. People malign Microsoft and Windows, but please show me anecdotes about Gates the person being an asshole.
  - bgilroy26 13y ago
    Throughout the netscape vs IE era, Gates was considered a ruthless businessman internationally. The situation is 10 years old and fading, but asshole was definitely a predominant take on Gates for a long time
  - nate_meurer 13y ago
    You haven't been around the tech scene long have you? Gates has a well-known reputation within MS as ruthless, snarky, and yes an asshole at times. See the numerous references to his (famous if only anecdotal) refrains when unsatisfied with someone else's work. Also read Paul Allen's book -- specifically the part where Gates tried to screw Paul by diluting his stock.
  - blacksmythe 13y ago
    Here is Spolsky's take on what Bill Gates was like to work for: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html Certainly feared to some extent.
    - opminion 13y ago
      Bill Gates does not come across as an asshole at all in that article.
alecco 13y ago
I respect you a lot and you sure have more information than most of us. But Mr. Zuckerberg called "dumb fucks" users who gave him personal information. I do not know him personally, but with that one in mind and the privacy issues of Facebook, I find it hard to see how he isn't.
- pg 13y ago
  He was showing off/joking. If every undergrad who has said something like that is an asshole, then pretty much everyone is.

morgante 13y ago

Not sure whether you meant to agree with me or not, but that's precisely my point. Only now we're even appropriating assholes from other industries. Also, I doubt all these tech figures are actually assholes. Arguably they're forced to adopt those personas publicly by an industry which demands it.

MartinCron 13y ago

i'm actually struggling to think of an idolized figure in tech who isn't an "asshole" Maybe not as idolized as Jobs/Gates/Zuck, but there are non-asshole public figures in tech, such as Woz, Tim O'Reilly, Matt Mullenweg, Joel Spolsky. Being abrasive isn't a prerequisite to success.

ItendToDisagree 13y ago

Woz would be a huge example. Also do you know any of these people personally?