Bono Defends Steve Jobs Against Criticism Over Lack of Public Philanthropy

[Wblakewright]

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Wow. The single most valuable company in the world (which means it pays more taxes to welfare than anything/anyone else on the planet) can still be criticized for not donating to charity?! Steve jobs invented the modern computer, smart phone, and modern tablet that have all gone to place more jobs (not to mention apple itself) than any other human in history. I'd say he has given more to our livelihood than anyone! Tread lightly lest atlas shrug!

 

[Cydonia]

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Maybe all the companies that manufacture and weaponise these developing countries could donate a % from their profits.
I don't donate my money to these developing countries because these problems exist due to political reasons, oil & the sale of weapons.
My donations go to local charities. Not that it is anyones business - chill

 

[mrelwood]

Hey, everybody! I have given money to charity! Where can I get my name announced? Should I e-mail NY Times directly?

 

[divinox]

Steve Jobs was adopted by a fairly middle class family with middle class values.

One thing that many middle class families do is give anonymously to local charities all the time.

That sort of background plus the fact that he is such a public figure and rich enough that he does not need tax deductions could mean that he gives anonymously without any expectation of thanks or tax receipts.

I don't know what beliefs his adoptive parents hold but christians are supposed to not draw attention to their good deeds. It says in the bible that those who receive the praise of man have already received their reward but those who do good in secret will be rewarded in heaven because the father sees what is done in secret and will reward those who do this.

I have very little respect for what Bill Gates and Buffet does because they are seeking attention for their "good" deeds thinking that it makes up for all of their misdeeds. You cannot buy yourself into heaven.

Going by the Book, Jobs is hardly a good christian though.

 

[Ijustfarted]

gates and buffet are saints for the amount of money the give away. how can people hate them?

 

[Kaibelf]

My first inclination is to agree with you. However, I've thought about it in the past, and realized that this may not be the most effective strategy. While I would abhor the appearance of selfish ego boosting, I think if I were rich and famous like these people, it would be better to give very publicly. The reason is simply to try to inspire others - regular people like us here - to also give whatever they can. If a rich and famous person can inspire more giving on the part of regular folks, then it's worth any (wrongful) negative/cynical backlash from people who think it's all about ego.

Just imagine if Steve Jobs made giving to charity seem as cool as owning the latest and greatest Apple product. How many millions of devoted Apple fans would donate $1 more here, or $100 more there, to their favorite charity? It could do a huge amount of good in this world.

If the only reason one wants to donate is because they want to be like a celebrity, that's the utterly wrong reason to even bother giving. And honestly, quite sad and despicable.

 

[Cydonia]

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Steve Jobs was adopted by a fairly middle class family with middle class values.

One thing that many middle class families do is give anonymously to local charities all the time.

That sort of background plus the fact that he is such a public figure and rich enough that he does not need tax deductions could mean that he gives anonymously without any expectation of thanks or tax receipts.

I don't know what beliefs his adoptive parents hold but christians are supposed to not draw attention to their good deeds. It says in the bible that those who receive the praise of man have already received their reward but those who do good in secret will be rewarded in heaven because the father sees what is done in secret and will reward those who do this.

I have very little respect for what Bill Gates and Buffet does because they are seeking attention for their "good" deeds thinking that it makes up for all of their misdeeds. You cannot buy yourself into heaven.

Going by the Book, Jobs is hardly a good christian though.

Oh could we also leave God out Of this? He buggered off after that Rainbow promise.

 

[divinox]

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Wow. The single most valuable company in the world (which means it pays more taxes to welfare than anything/anyone else on the planet) can still be criticized for not donating to charity?! Steve jobs commercialized the modern computer, smart phone, and modern tablet that have all gone to place more jobs (not to mention apple itself) than any other human in history. I'd say he has given more to our livelihood than anyone! Tread lightly lest atlas shrug!

s/invented/commercialized.

There, fyp.



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Ceterum autem censeo, Randism esse delendam

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Oh could we also leave God out Of this? He buggered off after that Rainbow promise.

hard to leave "god" out of a theory that Jobs did x because of "the words of god".

 

[Le Big Mac]

There are more capitalists in China that you might think ....

Probably more than in the United States.

 

[*LTD*]

It doesn't really matter one way or another to consumers. Apple gear, however DOES matter. That's all that really matters. Charity doesn't generate profit, sales, or great products. It's nice. But it's a lucky bonus.

The very quality you criticize about Jobs, helped create three of the products in your sig. I assume you're satisfied with your purchases, are you not? (since you're advertising them.) Perhaps you owe him a word of thanks instead, or at least an acknowledgement that he made great things, and did it perfectly legally.

It's quite likely (if not absolutely true) that if Steve Jobs were any other way, had his personality and attitude been any different, you wouldn't be enjoying those products today (and would probably using something inferior.)

 

[divinox]

gates and buffet are saints for the amount of money the give away. how can people hate them?

RDF and blind loyalty. Somehow they think that acknowledging Gates equals thinking less of Apple. Like it was a zero-sum game or something.

 

[Le Big Mac]

Because that money's not going with him when he dies.

And after he dies, we may learn that he has given a substantial portion of his wealth to some charity or foundation. Some people give their money away after they die, rather than before.

 

[divinox]

So?

It doesn't really matter one way or another to consumers. Apple gear, however DOES matter. That's all that really matters. Charity doesn't generate profit, sales, or great products. It's nice. But it's a lucky bonus.

The very quality you criticize about Jobs, helped create three of the products in your sig. I assume you're satisfied with your purchases, are you not? (since you're advertising them.) Perhaps you owe him a word of thanks instead, or at least an acknowledgement that he made great things, and did it perfectly legally.

It's quite likely (if not absolutely true) that if Steve Jobs were any other way, had his personality and attitude been any different, you wouldn't be enjoying those products today (and would probably using something inferior.)

Charity can generate profit, sales and great products.

 

[prowlmedia]

OK. It's no-ones business what he does with his money. If he gave it all away back after the Apple V1.0 - we wouldn't have Pixar or NeXT Computers... or Apple V2.0. We'd all be in a MS and Nokia world which would would have been fairly ****** without the last decade+ of competition from Apple

Probably does give lots to charity, if anything it's Tax advantagous to do so.

He lives in a relatively small house for his wealth. Worked his arse off to get where he is and given us all great tech. And now he's ill, so leave the guy alone press wankers.

 

[thetoad30]

You're an idiot. Apple is not successful because Jobs is greedy, selfish and capitalist. It is successful because it revolutionized our lives with innovative technology that "just works" and might I add, "works wonderfully" to better our lives.

The hate mongering commonly seen on newspaper comments section is trickling down to MR now.

No... reality is... and it's distorting the cult's once-flawless view of Jobs.

 

[danpass]

He HAS given a lot.

But the simple-minded don't recognize it and therefore criticize it and I'm sure that he has given in private/secret.

How much new wealth has been created by his vision? Not just directly at Apple but in the suppliers as well.


FAR more effective than simply throwing money at an organization.

 

[thetoad30]

Steve Jobs is an intensely private man, he just doesn't like public attention so I am 99.9% sure that he donates to things anonymously as he doesn't like attention, and if he doesn't then big deal, his business no one else's.

99.9% sure? You don't know anything, how can you put a number on it?

This is the cult thinking that made him rich. Instead of spiking the punch, he punched you in the wallet.

Don't get me wrong, I have Apple stuff. But I don't pretend it's the best thing in the world. There are problems with a lot of their hardware, just as there are problems with a lot of other hardware. Stop putting Apple on a pedastool and stop thinking Jobs is God.

Man people will believe anything won't they?

 

[AppleScruff1]

Bono is a prick.

U2 sucks. I must be the only person in the world who doesn't think they are the greatest band.

Jobs may also be under the philosophy that the best giving is done in secret and not shouted from the rooftops in a look-at-me gesture of veiled selfishness.

Highly unlikely considering his ego and arrogance.

So?

It doesn't really matter one way or another to consumers. Apple gear, however DOES matter. That's all that really matters. Charity doesn't generate profit, sales, or great products. It's nice. But it's a lucky bonus.

The very quality you criticize about Jobs, helped create three of the products in your sig. I assume you're satisfied with your purchases, are you not? (since you're advertising them.) Perhaps you owe him a word of thanks instead, or at least an acknowledgement that he made great things, and did it perfectly legally.

It's quite likely (if not absolutely true) that if Steve Jobs were any other way, had his personality and attitude been any different, you wouldn't be enjoying those products today (and would probably using something inferior.)

Don't you get sick of this? Even Jobs couldn't stand a yes man like this.

 

[toddybody]

This is my biggest criticism of Steve Jobs. His continued lack of philanthropic efforts is appalling given how richly he is blessed. If Apple is your focus and legacy, God help you. Millions starve and are afflicted by disease every day, and he's going to sit on his wealth and rest on some laurel of (Red) Product placement and his superfluous adherence to Buddhism? (Real Buddhists are some of the most compassionate and self sacrificing people on this earth)

This jolly back patting is ridiculous, Steve doesn't deserve an ounce of praise or concern.

 

[roland.g]

Maybe he should give half his (former) salary to charity. That would be 50 cents.

 

[samcraig]

First - I think the NYT article was more on the attack of JOBS not APPLE about giving.

Second - there are ALL kinds of giving. The iPad and what it's done for some of the disabled is a KIND of giving. Donating a gym or building to a university is also giving.

And ALL of it is good. It's a little obnoxious to say or assert that one kind is better than the other (or one excuses the other). Whether it's giving a sandwich to the homeless guy on the street, building a gym, or even helping someone across the street. ALL of it is good.

Stupid pissing match that is along the same lines as Mac vs PC. Apple vs everyone else. The world can co-exist with many options. And thankfully giving can be done in a million ways with or without money being involved.

 

[Manderby]

Some people donate, some people don't. Some people say they do, some others don't say that they actually do. Some do it anonymously, some officially, some give something to big projects, some to small ones unknown to the public ear. Some people complain that others should do more, some people complain that others say they should do more. Some do it on principle, some have the principle to not do it. Some have the urge but can not, some could but are still searching for a legitimate reason. Some may be interested in reading all this text, some don't. Some will rate this positive, some will rate it negative.

Have I forgotten anything? Can we close this thread now? This is boulevard-press.

 

[EiriasEmrys]

You mean how when SJ came back he stopped the charity and even with their huge profits and cash in the back it has yet to be turned back on?

They were a month out from bankruptcy. I think we can categorize charity as a luxury. As for the second portion of your statement, product(RED) and extreme environmental awareness in their products makes for philanthropy. Accommodations and kind gestures to victims in Japan during the earthquakes mass for philanthropy. Continued support in the iTunes stores to take donations for catastrophes is evidence of philanthropy.

I have a wealthy person in my life who gives millions away every year. Somethings he remains anonymous on, and somethings he lays claim to. Either way, it is very hard to give and see a result. Most times, more money is needed, and more, and more. Often times he's helped those who've squandered it, or research teams that were looking for the wrong solution. There is something to be said for giving carefully and spending the right attention in the right places to see your money actually do something. Sound familiar?

 

[thetoad30]

Thank you for backing me up. What EVIDENCE do you have that he DOESNT donate? Do you have his bank statements? The only evidence you have is he does not make a public showing when he donates.

For such a hater on the guy that was the reason you even have some of the devices you own, why are you even around? To whine?

You are completely missing his point.

There is no evidence either way. So you can't say he does donate in private, and you can't say he doesn't donate. Period. So the point is here that you can falsely believe in fluffy goodness that he donates anonymously, but that you would be wrong to think so. Same as if you think he doesn't donate. But too many people are all leaning to the fluffy goodness, which just further's the 'Apple is a cult' image.

 

[fredfnord]

Not that you have any reason to believe me...

...but I know for a fact that Mr. Jobs donated to another (small, obscure, and as far as I know not particularly Jobs-related) nonprofit. Given the rumors about the cancer center, and my knowledge of this, my suspicion is that he is a regular donor to quite a few nonprofits, always anonymously.