I respect Bill Gates

[Zoolook]

See, that's the attitude I don't understand. You basically admit that he has pushed outdates and inferior products and foist them on the public. He "utterly destroyed" the competition with illegal and unethical activities, yet people continue to heap praise upon him. I would label him as an anathema for what he has done, not a phenomenon. In another time he would have been labeled a fraud or a charlatan, but because of the world we live in today and the march of technology he's hailed a hero instead of what he really is. People continue to see greatness where it doesn't really exist. There is a fine line between being famous and infamous, and Bill Gates is firmly on the infamous side at this point.

I hate to be a pedant...

Phenomenon -

1. a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable: to study the phenomena of nature.
2. something that is impressive or extraordinary.

I didn't put any value judgement on Gates' achievements at MS, only that they were extraordinary... and objectively speaking they were. You are putting a value judgement on him, and that is fine, it's up to you, but don't assume that just because his achievements are being acknowledged as fact and as being exceptional by me, that I am judging this as 'good'.

Equally, one could acknowledge that Stalin took a feudal backward country and turned it into an industrial and military superpower, which is an extraordinary achievement. His methods and the ultimately consequence, equally, can be criticised though and history judges him not as someone who helped destroy Hitler, but as a man who murdered and supressed millions of fellow Russians. BTW, I am not comparing Gates to Stalin, although I am sure some would...

 

[baggss]

I hate to be a pedant...

Phenomenon -

1. a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable: to study the phenomena of nature.
2. something that is impressive or extraordinary.

I didn't put any value judgement on Gates' achievements at MS, only that they were extraordinary... and objectively speaking they were. You are putting a value judgement on him, and that is fine, it's up to you, but don't assume that just because his achievements are being acknowledged as fact and as being exceptional by me, that I am judging this as 'good'.

Ok, my mistake. Apologies...

 

[baggss]

I have you beat with three

Up to 4 now:

Attacking the original poster, pretty rude.

Apparently this individual doesn't understand the idea of debate and having a lively discussion! If I wanted to Attack him I would have made comments about his ancestry, his mother or his intellectual capabilities.

 

[cheesybanana]

Up to 4 now:



Apparently this individual doesn't understand the idea of debate and having a lively discussion! If I wanted to Attack him I would have made comments about his ancestry, his mother or his intellectual capabilities.

You didn't attack me Niiiice...

 

[johntalin]

Should I post this, or should I not?

I should.

http://www.billgatesisdead.com/links/His_Life/Charity_Work.html

 

[fleurya]

Up to 4 now:



Apparently this individual doesn't understand the idea of debate and having a lively discussion! If I wanted to Attack him I would have made comments about his ancestry, his mother or his intellectual capabilities.

Does this qualify?

If you think that him giving away money he could never possibly use and will never miss makes up for his past actions you are extremely naive.

 

[dtravis7]

Does this qualify?

Him meaning the OP, not gates.

I have tried to stay out of this except for my one post. All that Baggss is saying about Microsoft is very true. I do though like even Steve Jobs, give gates and Microsoft credit for being a success. Gates is a good business man. Very good in fact. I just do not approve of a few things him and his company have done over the years to others. He has and continues to do some good things also, but it's hard for me to forget some of the bad as to me it's really wrong.

End of my argument.

 

[NanoBite]

I hate to be a pedant...

Phenomenon -

1. a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable: to study the phenomena of nature.
2. something that is impressive or extraordinary.

I didn't put any value judgement on Gates' achievements at MS, only that they were extraordinary... and objectively speaking they were. You are putting a value judgement on him, and that is fine, it's up to you, but don't assume that just because his achievements are being acknowledged as fact and as being exceptional by me, that I am judging this as 'good'.

Equally, one could acknowledge that Stalin took a feudal backward country and turned it into an industrial and military superpower, which is an extraordinary achievement. His methods and the ultimately consequence, equally, can be criticised though and history judges him not as someone who helped destroy Hitler, but as a man who murdered and supressed millions of fellow Russians. BTW, I am not comparing Gates to Stalin, although I am sure some would...

Very well put...

 

[MUDCRABS]

I am serious.

The man has done wonders for this world. He is the epitome of the 'capitalist'. I get really upset when people belittle him and his accomplishments. I am finding myself defending him more and more on an almost daily basis.


If I could meet one person (alive), it would without a doubt be him.

Steve Ballmer a retard in the making, a rich Microsoft retard never the less, but a retard:bushman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSIMeRtVebM

 

[hclincha]

So in your estimation, the end (Aids research and charity work) do justfy the means (lying, cheating , stealing)?

Not really - just that what the guy's done with some of the money redeems him somewhat.

 

[leecho7]

I think Bill Gates is the sexiest man ever. And this is coming from a straight guy.
Am I serious?
You decide.

 

[AnthonyJK]

Haha, agreed. Dead Sexy.

 

[fleurya]

Again, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. If you hate Bill Gates and Microsoft for unethical business and believe we shouldn't encourage such behavior, then you would have to throw out most everything you own and walk around naked. Preaching about how horrible one guy is whose products you don't use and then owning products of others who partake in similar behavior is the act of a total hypocrite.

 

[MacHeadCase]

I'd respect Bill Gates a whole lot if he sent $2 million US my way.

 

[Carol247]

LOL...yeah, that would gain him lots of respect from most people!

I once heard that he could give everyone in the U.S. $50,000 and still have money left over.
I'm too lazy to do the math but last I heard he was worth about 58 billion so maybe it's true.

 

[baggss]

Again, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. If you hate Bill Gates and Microsoft for unethical business and believe we shouldn't encourage such behavior, then you would have to throw out most everything you own and walk around naked. Preaching about how horrible one guy is whose products you don't use and then owning products of others who partake in similar behavior is the act of a total hypocrite.

While that is a true statement it is also totally unrealistic. The scope of this thread is about Bill Gates and MS, not Wal-Mart or any other business. Every business eventually dabbles in unethical practices and many cross the line of legality from time to time. MS has simply done both so often, so long and without, until relatively recently, any sort accountability that they stand out as a poster child.

 

[Amen-Moses]

I must be doing something right, I've gotten 2 consecutive negative feedback for this thread already!

I prefer the negative ones to the positive, it helps me identify the idiots. :blind:

As someone who grew up in the real PC era (i.e when we built our own with a soldering iron) I too can't stand the man, I watched him pretty much destroy all that was good in the industry and am just very grateful that there was one person in the world with the bollocks to stand up to him, so even though my OS of choice (and still not beaten even by OS X) has gone the way of the Dodo and my processor of choice has been relegated to running the worlds mobile phones (thanks Intel!) at least I can still buy a decent machine and OS combination and keep my hair!

Amen-Moses

 

[Amen-Moses]

Not really - just that what the guy's done with some of the money redeems him somewhat.

Don't you mean what he has done with OUR money?

Personally I would have preferred it if he put the money into making Vista the OS that was promised!

As an owner of more Microsoft licenses than I can count and having to work with his shite software day in day out just to make a living (my customers are idiots beyond belief) I feel he owes me far more than the half baked pile of bulls doings that Vista has turned out to be.

Amen-Moses

 

[fleurya]

While that is a true statement it is also totally unrealistic. The scope of this thread is about Bill Gates and MS, not Wal-Mart or any other business. Every business eventually dabbles in unethical practices and many cross the line of legality from time to time. MS has simply done both so often, so long and without, until relatively recently, any sort accountability that they stand out as a poster child.

Well, I suppose someday you'll have to enlighten us all as to the exact line between a little unethical behavior and too much.

 

[baggss]

A little unethical behavior is having a beer or two on your lunch-break, too much is coming back drunk AND stoned to boot...