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Maybe Steve Jobs has aspergers.

In my mind there is no maybe about it. Most people with Asperger's hyperfocus and have almost nil in the area of social skills. I once did a research project while getting my degree on Asperger's since I have two nephews with it and I was getting my teaching degree.

I read study after study and there was one that showed a significant percentage of high level university tenured professors in math, the sciences, and technology have Asperger's. This explains their genius on their topic, but many times their complete inability to teach (and to interact socially, poor hygiene, lack of compassion for students, non-existent sense of humor and so on).

I see many of these qualities in my nephews. One is fascinated by art and has created incredible works of art since he was about 2 or 3, but has an IQ that when tested by traditional measures is not close to 100. But he can DO anything he's interested in. He just can't sit there and fill out a sheet and answer questions because it doesn't interest him. The other nephew can tell you anything about dinosaurs you ever wanted to know and has memorized entire movies (no lie). But both of them say very hurtful things without any knowledge that they are being hurtful and don't understand jokes, social mores, and so on. They just are what they are. Brutal at times with very little regard for the world around them.

I am sure all of you who went to college can think of at least 2 professors that you now think about and say, "Hey wait... I bet that guy had Asperger's", and chances are you'd be right. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jobs had something on the autism spectrum. Autism does NOT equal dumb. It means that there is a disconnect from your "average joe" somewhere in there and socially there is some piece of the puzzle that is missing. It can mean total withdrawal and living within their own mind, up to fully functioning adults who hold down good jobs (like rocket scientists, professors, writers, and yes... even CEO's and tech gurus). I work in software development and I swear half the guys I work with got something like that going on. I've just got serious ADD, so we all get along fine. :)
 
In my mind there is no maybe about it. Most people with Asperger's hyperfocus and have almost nil in the area of social skills. I once did a research project while getting my degree on Asperger's since I have two nephews with it and I was getting my teaching degree.

I read study after study and there was one that showed a significant percentage of high level university tenured professors in math, the sciences, and technology have Asperger's. This explains their genius on their topic, but many times their complete inability to teach (and to interact socially, poor hygiene, lack of compassion for students, non-existent sense of humor and so on).

I see many of these qualities in my nephews. One is fascinated by art and has created incredible works of art since he was about 2 or 3, but has an IQ that when tested by traditional measures is not close to 100. But he can DO anything he's interested in. He just can't sit there and fill out a sheet and answer questions because it doesn't interest him. The other nephew can tell you anything about dinosaurs you ever wanted to know and has memorized entire movies (no lie). But both of them say very hurtful things without any knowledge that they are being hurtful and don't understand jokes, social mores, and so on. They just are what they are. Brutal at times with very little regard for the world around them.

I am sure all of you who went to college can think of at least 2 professors that you now think about and say, "Hey wait... I bet that guy had Asperger's", and chances are you'd be right. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jobs had something on the autism spectrum. Autism does NOT equal dumb. It means that there is a disconnect from your "average joe" somewhere in there and socially there is some piece of the puzzle that is missing. It can mean total withdrawal and living within their own mind, up to fully functioning adults who hold down good jobs (like rocket scientists, professors, writers, and yes... even CEO's and tech gurus). I work in software development and I swear half the guys I work with got something like that going on. I've just got serious ADD, so we all get along fine. :)

I've seen lots of ignorant people talk about Asperger's online so I'd like to thank you for not being one of them and actually coming out with a sensible view on the topic.

Jobs may very well have Asperger's, and Woz probably does too (what kind of kid teaches himself boolean algebra and designs computers for fun?), and if we Aspies weren't around, I honestly don't think any of the technological and scientific breakthroughs we have today would have been made. In fact, we'd probably still be living in the dark ages, gathering around a fire rubbing wood together, because Nikola Tesla worked on or straight out invented a lot of the electronic technology we take for granted today - including AC electricity itself, the radio, remote controls, spark plugs, x-rays, wireless power transmission (and this was in 1899, remember), robotics, and fluorescent lighting - and there's no damn way that guy wasn't autistic. He could visulise and create complex machinery in his head, was described as "insane", and was obsessed with his work. By the way, he also predicted the internet and video calling. In the 1800's.

As you say, look at the scientists, writers, CEO's, and innovators over the years and you'll see a clear pattern.
 
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It surpassed Microsoft in revenue but not percentage profit. If you make $1m from $1m, technically, you didn't do as well as the guy that made $800k from $500k. ;)

You mean a kid who scrounges some lemons for free, then opens a lemon stand and sells ten glasses of lemon juice for 10 cents each, is technically doing better than both Apple and Microsoft?
 
Meh. Stories about Steve Jobs' rough edges and poor management skills are legendary. Notwithstanding all of that, his driving force of personality is part of what makes Apple what it is. And, there was a reason why he was dumped from the company when he was--and why he was brought back when he was. Despite ongoing stories like this one, I'm sure that he is a much better, more mature CEO now than he was in his first go-round.

Does anyone really think it would be so much easier to work for someone like Steve Ballmer, or Larry and Sergey, or Zuckerberg? They're all a little bit insane--it's part of what makes them who they are.

The part that I've never understood is why Jobs has never done more to try to leverage his status with Disney to the advantage of Apple, and create some of those "corporate synergies" all the investment banker types always talk about. Actually, I'd always assumed that the end result of Steve being involved with Pixar/Disney is that Apple would one day own Disney outright (not as if Apple is sitting on a ton of cash or anything), or at least take some parts of the company and merge them with Apple's ongoing operations.

Speaking as a trader and investor of many years' time--Disney has been dead money for nearly twenty years now; you'd think that someone like Jobs would be just the guy to turn that company around. Maybe he would if he didn't have so many ongoing health issues. We lovers of Apple products (and long-term Apple stockholders:)) should probably just consider ourselves lucky that Steve is able to steer the company as effectively as he does under the circumstances.
 
Looks like Steve has some mental problems as well. Seriously, all the other guy did was introducing himself? :eek:

Steve did this guy a favor. There is not such thing as mental illness and the psychology is nothing but a social control mechanism used to keep incompetence in control while labeling the more talented and able as "mentally ill." You are only mentally ill if you agree with it. Steve is wise enough to tell the shrinks to **** off.
 
Steve Jobs may be one powerful, rich, successful man, but that gives him no right to treat other people like crap.
I hope that quote isn't legit.

Nice post. Succinct and to the point.

In my mind there is no maybe about it. Most people with Asperger's hyperfocus and have almost nil in the area of social skills. I once did a research project while getting my degree on Asperger's since I have two nephews with it and I was getting my teaching degree.

I read study after study and there was one that showed a significant percentage of high level university tenured professors in math, the sciences, and technology have Asperger's. This explains their genius on their topic, but many times their complete inability to teach (and to interact socially, poor hygiene, lack of compassion for students, non-existent sense of humor and so on).

I see many of these qualities in my nephews. One is fascinated by art and has created incredible works of art since he was about 2 or 3, but has an IQ that when tested by traditional measures is not close to 100. But he can DO anything he's interested in. He just can't sit there and fill out a sheet and answer questions because it doesn't interest him. The other nephew can tell you anything about dinosaurs you ever wanted to know and has memorized entire movies (no lie). But both of them say very hurtful things without any knowledge that they are being hurtful and don't understand jokes, social mores, and so on. They just are what they are. Brutal at times with very little regard for the world around them.

I am sure all of you who went to college can think of at least 2 professors that you now think about and say, "Hey wait... I bet that guy had Asperger's", and chances are you'd be right. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jobs had something on the autism spectrum. Autism does NOT equal dumb. It means that there is a disconnect from your "average joe" somewhere in there and socially there is some piece of the puzzle that is missing. It can mean total withdrawal and living within their own mind, up to fully functioning adults who hold down good jobs (like rocket scientists, professors, writers, and yes... even CEO's and tech gurus). I work in software development and I swear half the guys I work with got something like that going on. I've just got serious ADD, so we all get along fine. :)

Wonderful post. I had considered suggesting this, but could never have done as good a job in presenting it ;)
 
Steve did this guy a favor. There is not such thing as mental illness and the psychology is nothing but a social control mechanism used to keep incompetence in control while labeling the more talented and able as "mentally ill." You are only mentally ill if you agree with it. Steve is wise enough to tell the shrinks to **** off.

Either way he's behaving like an ******* towards someone he hardly knows who was just trying to be friendly.
 
Either way he's behaving like an ******* towards someone he hardly knows who was just trying to be friendly.

Two company CEOs. One the CEO of a company that has tremendous success at producing excellent products, and to a great part responsible for this. One the CEO of a company that is producing a product that (as we know now) caused the company a $135 million dollar loss.

Steve Jobs didn't try to be friendly, he also wasn't behaving like an *******, instead he was trying to help in his usual brutally honest way. What is unfortunate is the outcome. The story told by the second CEO was "Steve Jobs told me our phone was crap. We built it, nobody wanted it, we lost $135 million". A good outcome would have been "Steve Jobs told me our phone was crap. Back in the company I talked to a few people who are not just yes-men, and they told me that unfortunately Jobs was quite right. They convinced me that building this phone would likely cause us an eight digit loss. I asked Steve Jobs what the main problems were and how he would fix them, and as a result we released a much better product that made us some good profit".
 
So if he was a dick?

Last night I went to a Bob Saget show and the guy is a dick, but guess what? I enjoyed the show..

That is the biggest shocker in this whole thread. I can't believe that you actually admitted to going to a Bob Saget Show:eek:

Maybe Bob and Steve would get along. And then again, if locked in a room together for say, 6 hours, the world might have one less rectum to put up with!
 
Looks like Steve has some mental problems as well. Seriously, all the other guy did was introducing himself? :eek:

It was a horns clashing moment. 'Hi, I am the head of something' is saying you should respect me, cause I am better than you or at least your equal.

This would have riled Jobs who would never, in all likelihood, say something like that, to anyone.

Of course I am reading more into the tone and nuance of the meeting but it obviously pissed him off.

And you see who walks away with their horns up? Or who is left standing there 'bashed'.
 
That's really cool that some of you can diagnose someone with Asperger's when they aren't your patient, you haven't actually seen them, and most of you don't even appear to be medical doctors. You guys are all kinds of awesome, aren't you? :p
 
That's really cool that some of you can diagnose someone with Asperger's when they aren't your patient, you haven't actually seen them, and most of you don't even appear to be medical doctors. You guys are all kinds of awesome, aren't you? :p

First of all, I am a medical doctor. But that doesn't even matter since I'm not "diagnosing" anyone with Aspergers, I'm only suggesting it as a possibility as a casual observer, given Jobs' genius for computer/tech marketing combined with his apparent disregard for social norms. Kind of like you, who comes on here to broadly insult a large group of posters for no apparent reason. Chill out, buddy. This is a discussion forum, not a medical record. :rolleyes:
 
'Hi, I am the head of something' is saying you should respect me, cause I am better than you or at least your equal.

Not necessarily. If they were talking about business it is important for both of them to understand what role the other plays in their respective companies. Going into a meeting or interview and saying "Hi, I'm John Doe and I'm the head of marketing at Company X" is by no means demanding respect, but simply letting everyone know what you do and what you are responsible for in the business.

Steve acted inappropriately in this exchange and only he is to blame.
 
I totally agree with those who think there's no excuse for being a jerk. There are too many stories about Jobs being one. That's not a quality of a good leader.

In this case, though, I wonder if his snap reply really didn't come out of how Jobs must've long wished that someone had said the same words ("Your phone is the dumbest ********* idea I have ever heard") to him back during ROKR development.

Jobs did not look very excited when when he did the usual "One More Thing" speech to introduce the "iTunes Phone" (video here).
 
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Jobs is not a bore.

I just hope he stays on for a long time, and once he leaves, that he's not followed by an apparatchik.
 
I totally agree with those who think there's no excuse for being a jerk.
Really? Not knowing you're being a jerk is no excuse for being a jerk? So, is being quadriplegic no excuse for not standing up for the national anthem? If you believe what you have posted, you have no idea what the life of someone on the autism spectrum is like. People on the spectrum really do "think different" from the rest of us. They are no worse than us, just different. And at least they are unlikely to lie to us or to say things behind our backs that they are not equally willing to say to our faces, lacking the duplicity of us "neurotypicals".
 
Yes ladies and gentlemen. The CEO of the worlds most valuable tech company was too busy to attend board meetings about theme parks and childrens movies. I think he deserves a pass; just this once.

So iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches - the major focus of Apple, on which most people play games, d!€k around and generally don't really do that much useful, are somehow way more important than Disney's business, which arguably also brings joy and entertainment to millions?

The story, if true, shows SJ to be a jerk. A genius, but still a jerk.
I'm a jerk like that as well sometimes, but not as much. I'm also slightly less genius.
 
It's hard for me to accept these kinds of reports as the gospel truth. Jobs may very well be that forward, but it doesn't seem to make a lot of business sense to enter a meeting, tell someone the company's plan was ********** stupid and then walk out the door. At least wait five minutes. =) In all likelihood, things probably went down a bit differently, but someone wants to make a good story out of the event. Fair enough. None of us know if that anecdote is true or false, so I guess it's not worth passing judgement on either Jobs or the people he was purportedly insulting.
 
I don't know if this story is true or not, so I am not passing judgement here -- for all I know Steve Jobs never said that. I'm just saying that no matter who you are, when somebody politely introduces themselves to you, then you should politely introduce yourself in return. Offering up a criticism as a response and then walking away shows a lack of respect for others and an over-inflated high opinion of one's self.

I've heard other stories of Steve Jobs being an utter jerk to people, but I am sure somebody in the lime-light is going to have a few stories told about him that aren't quite true. I've also heard "the guy is a jerk" stories about Bill Gates back in the day, then I look at what Gates has done as a philanthropist and I think that even if those stories are true, he can't be all bad. Basic respect for others is always important and I think every one of us forgets that sometimes (including myself -- sorry if you have been on the receiving end of that from me). Either way, I will reserve my opinion for folks like Jobs or Gates for if and when I actually meet them.
 
Really? Not knowing you're being a jerk is no excuse for being a jerk?

I never said he didn't know he was being a jerk. If you noticed, I was even giving him an excuse for popping out with what he said in this case.

I do think that I wasn't clear in what I wrote. My intention was to mean that there's no excuse to be a jerk just because you're the boss.

So, is being quadriplegic no excuse for not standing up for the national anthem? If you believe what you have posted, you have no idea what the life of someone on the autism spectrum is like.

Please don't put your words in others' mouths to try to promote an unproven scenario. Also do not make any assumptions about my own experience with kids with such problems. Thanks.

Some people here are making the assumption that Jobs has a medical excuse for acting the way he has for decades... and has remained undiagnosed and/or untreated, and moreover, unaware all that time.

Obviously my comment applies only if making the opposite assumption.

There are plenty of stories from early Apple employees that Jobs would make thoughtless comments, and when called on them, he became meek and apologetic. So at least back then, he was aware that he was being a jerk and would apologize. He seems to have lost the apology part as he got more powerful.
 
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