Steve Jobs Offers Support to Apple Employees Affected by Earthquake

[epicwelshman]

It's another brilliant business idea from Gates: extort money from Buffett or Chinese billionaires to save his own wealth. And of course every little step is advertised, "Look at me, I'm a world's top philanthropist."

This is the attitude I don't understand. Who cares if Gates publicises every single charitable thing he's ever done? The man gives millions and millions of dollars to charity. It doesn't matter if it's his personal fortune, or whether it's money he helped raise.

Would you rather a selfless individual who could give only a few thousand, or a media whore who gives away millions?

 

[MattInOz]

Exactly.

Microsoft is trying to help people in Japan. Not just this week while the news is hot, but over the course of the reconstruction.

Apple has made a very nice gesture to help Apple's employees in Japan.

Both are good - but the "idol worship" of "anything Apple" here on MacRumours is sickening in the context of the enormity of this disaster (and the possibility each day that it will get much worse).

Maybe I'm reading with rose colour glasses, but It seemed to me Apple was asking employees to tell them where they can help in the boarder community as well as in the first instance helping the employees directly.

The hardest thing to do sometimes is find useful ways to help.
I do find it strange that people are turning this in to a shout match of who's better than who, when the most important thing is getting in doing what you can.

 

[hchung]

Wow. Just wow. Some of you whiners are just freaking unbelievable.

Somehow this thread twisted into a "who's donating more" shout-fest?

Look, there's good will, there's intent, and there's self-rightousness. The first one's good. The second one depends. And the third is just being an ass.

So Apple store managers/employees done something to help some people get in touch with people, and offered to help people get back to their homes, and let employees and their families camp out in the store. That's great.

And then some of you think that's not enough? That they're not ethical? That footing the bill for transaction costs through payments systems for donation is lame? Seriously? It's not like this was a press release, it's a internal email. And you should know by now that Apple is always secretive, and that even stuff that would garner good PR doesn't make it into press releases either.

I think it's great that Apple, Microsoft, Sony, and various other companies have donated to relief efforts. But trying to compare between them is like saying, "oh, he's better cuz he fed some guy bread instead of clean water."

Dude, everything helps.

If Bic Camera, FamilyMart, and Lawsons were helping whoever walked into their stores out there, I'd think that's great too. Maybe they are, who knows. Just because it's not in a press release doesn't mean it's not being done, nor does it give you any right to criticize those who do help out in any way.

The intent to help, and good will is there. Debating who's got more press releases saying they're "good" is stupid.

 

[tcador]

It's a caring gesture that any upper management should offer their employees in a time of crisis.

 

[hchung]

The hardest thing to do sometimes is find useful ways to help.

Yes, very true. I asked a friend near Sendai if there's anything we can send to help, and he said that the most important thing was food and water. Then fuel. None of which we can directly ship to his area at the moment.

Rescue crews are in the area. Funds go to helping the rescue crews do their job. That's great. But if you're in the disaster area, there's other things people appreciate more than being thrown money.

 

[28monkeys]

retard 31 negative(r)s

I would feel very happy if i were the Japanese apple employee

 

[greytmom]

Some of you need to work for a charitable organization for a few days, especially in a crisis. You'd quickly understand a basic fact - every donation or helpful action is meaningful because every person who receives assistance is one less person draining the remaining resource pool. When my organization gets a $10 check from someone, we treat that donation with as much respect and gratitude as we do a donation of $10,000. And we don't stop first to compare income levels or personalities of the donors, and then make judgment calls on whether or not their donation was good enough.

If Apple helps their employees and that's all they do, then they are keeping those employees from needing aid from other sources, and that means that overall, more people will receive help.

Shame on all of you who are turning this into a stupid battle of wits (or lack thereof) and insults. Go turn on your TV and imagine that yourself and your loved ones are the ones suffering. Hopefully that will knock you off your high horses and prompt you to spend your time doing something a bit more useful.

 

[patp]

It's really sad that people still find a way to bash Apple and Steve Jobs in this time of disaster.

Really says a lot about the negativity surrounding MR. The energy that some people put towards just being negative is sad and a reminder that even though we all strive to be better people, some of us are just rotten to the core and find any opportunity to spread negativity in any situation.

I applaud anybody doing their part to help out in this tragedy. I applaud Apple and Steve Jobs for reaching to their employees and actually offering substantial help to their staff. Nothing wrong with this and if you can criticize it, well that says more about you and your negative, sad bitter slant on the world. I hope someone is there to help you when you need it.

 

[thecartoonguy]

if your head is in the sand, then google. There's A LOT of information out there. Do some leg work yourself if you desire knowledge. Don't be a baby bird waiting to be fed.

If you make a statement, then prove it. I will not seek facts that you claim are out there. Prove what you say.

 

[AidenShaw]

The problem isn't just negativity, it's extremism on both sides

It's really sad that people still find a way to bash Apple and Steve Jobs in this time of disaster.

Really says a lot about the negativity surrounding MR. The energy that some people put towards just being negative is sad and a reminder that even though we all strive to be better people, some of us are just rotten to the core and find any opportunity to spread negativity in any situation.

I applaud anybody doing their part to help out in this tragedy. I applaud Apple and Steve Jobs for reaching to their employees and actually offering substantial help to their staff. Nothing wrong with this and if you can criticize it, well that says more about you and your negative, sad bitter slant on the world. I hope someone is there to help you when you need it.

I agree with your take on the "haters", but it's incomplete to criticize just the negativity when there are so many posters so blindly in love with Apple that anything from Cupertino is lauded as the best thing ever in the world.

Seldom has this been more obvious that the comparison earlier that Apple's magnanimous gestures to its Japan employees was greater than the United States of America sending part of the 7th Fleet to help all of the affected Japanese people.

On the other hand, MacRumours is still very classy - I ran into a Facebook thread where most of the posters said that Japan deserved the earthquake and tsunami because of Pearl Harbor. Wow!

 

[Apple Corps]

The US did not have to send the 7th Fleet very far to help - it is HQd in Yokosuka Japan.

 

[AidenShaw]

And your point is?

The US did not have to send the 7th Fleet very far to help - it is HQd in Yokosuka Japan.

What's the relevance of this?

Dozens of ships and thousands of seamen are not cheap, whether they're moved from Guam or Yokosuka.

The United States is making a significant contribution to help reduce the impact of these disasters.

Or are you just being "negative" and implying that the help given by the United States is meaningless because the ships were in the area?

 

[applemagic123]

Finally steve jobs does something good with his money.

 

[JForestZ34]

Finally steve jobs does something good with his money.

DO you think he is using his OWN money.. Oh NO NO NO.. This will be a business expense and he will write it off...


James

 

[AidenShaw]

Finally steve jobs does something good with his money.

DO you think he is using his OWN money.. Oh NO NO NO.. This will be a business expense and he will write it off...

This isn't Jobs' money, and he won't write it off.

Everything here is corporate/national Apple finances. And of course, if tax laws allow there will be writeoffs.

Regardless, it's still a kind and generous gift to Apple's Japanese employees who may be under horrible stress worrying about family members in affected areas.

Kudos to Apple for bending (and breaking) their rules to help their employees during such a disaster.

 

[Apple Corps]

What's the relevance of this?

Dozens of ships and thousands of seamen are not cheap, whether they're moved from Guam or Yokosuka.

The United States is making a significant contribution to help reduce the impact of these disasters.

Or are you just being "negative" and implying that the help given by the United States is meaningless because the ships were in the area?

No - the ships are paid for and the navy personnel receive their salaries if in port or sailing 175 miles north - very little extra cost.

 

[AidenShaw]

No - the ships are paid for and the navy personnel receive their salaries if in port or sailing 175 miles north - very little extra cost.

Have you checked the fuel and maintenance costs for ships and helicopters? It's not "very little".

 

[tigress666]

On the other hand, MacRumours is still very classy - I ran into a Facebook thread where most of the posters said that Japan deserved the earthquake and tsunami because of Pearl Harbor. Wow!

There is *so* many things wrong with that statement too (I really think anyone saying that should be slapped hard with a clue by four).

1) Wasn't Japan "paid back" more than 3x over by the two nuclear bombs we dropped?!!! Honestly, it's still questioned if that was even ethical on our part regardless if "japan started it".

2). If any country has a right to hold a grudge it's China (Japan has done some pretty horrid things in the past to China). Shoot, there's still some *current* enmity between the two countries. They are out there helping Japan, if they can do it, we can easily do it (trust me Pearl Harbor is nothing compared to the horrors that Japan did to China, Rape of Nanking anyone?).

3). Despite that, and most importantly, all that stuff that Japan did was *IN THE PAST*! In fact, I bet most people griping about this is payback for Pearl Harbor weren't even alive then. I bet most people in Japan weren't even alive then either. There really should be a rule that you cannot hold a grudge against a country for something the current generation in affected country didn't experience that the current generation in the perpetrating country didn't even do!

 

[patp]

It's sad that we're still arguing over the merits of this or that.

Why can't we just appreciate a nice gesture without splitting apart the motivation behind it? Maybe the Apple excutive team are human and are genuinely affected by this and want to help?

Why does every good deed have to be scrutinized and torn apart?

I see more negativity at this forum than any other forums I visit. Music, guitar, it's really weird how the hate is so prevalent in this forum. Sure there are many good folks, but the sheer number of people just willing to be so rude and demeaning to others in such a concentrated area is so visible.

 

[kdarling]

All of this is surface stuff. Helping your own employees is expected. Helping other people with comms during a crisis is a good thing as well.

What I wonder is, has Apple used any resources to help find people with iPhones who might be buried, and who might have MobileMe locating turned on??

When the Trade Towers fell, Verizon immediately set up a portable cell tower onsite, so that anyone buried with a working phone, weak battery or not, could be heard. I assume that other carriers followed suit. (Sadly, no calls were ever received.)

I'm wondering if Apple tried using their servers to locate lost iPhones, thus pinpointing survivors. I realize this is probably too late now (even iPhones don't keep charges this long while running).

 

[linux2mac]

....when there are so many posters so blindly in love with Apple that anything from Cupertino is lauded as the best thing ever in the world.

So what if Apple is their passion? It's their right, not yours. Why do you feel it is your duty to turn others away from what they enjoy by criticizing anyone that likes Apple? Why does it bother you so much that people are really happy and excited about Apple products and Steve Jobs?

On the other hand, MacRumours is still very classy - I ran into a Facebook thread where most of the posters said that Japan deserved the earthquake and tsunami because of Pearl Harbor. Wow!

This coming from the guy with poor taste in comments in regards to Steve's health?

 

[dethmaShine]

you maybe want to check your very own avatar before calling other people names .. I guess you are right, it never ends with the haters.

Hatred goes both ways. There is some astonishing amount of hate towards Bill Gates and his charity work here as well. There is blind and quite frankly stupid fanboys on both sides of the fence.

T.

And why does that avatar bother you?

D.
d.
∂.

 

[Apple Corps]

Have you checked the fuel and maintenance costs for ships and helicopters? It's not "very little".

The ships and copters are using fuel and requiring repairs all the time - they are either training or on a mission - little extra cost.

You are chasing the wrong car tire with me as I come from a navy family AND served on active duty in the military in combat (giving and taking fire) and involved with sophisticated military equipment. How about you?