@Jesus Diaz:

Would you mind telling everyone what Apple's succession plan is?

yoshi

@Jesus Diaz: "[Steve Jobs is] good for the industry and the world."

Gee, I can't imagine why anyone would accuse you of being an Apple fanboy...

Personally, I didn't think the analogy was putting Jobs on the same level as FDR or JFK, I just thought it was incredibly weak. If you're going to make an analogy and not explain it, the connection needs to be obvious. Bringing up JFK and FDR doesn't tell you ANYTHING about whether or not Jobs needs to tell investors about his health. The parallels simply aren't there. Many others have pointed out flaws because of the era, succession plans, etc. - but on a fundamental level, it's just a bad analogy. Political decision making has nothing to do with the issue of Jobs being the lone creative force behind Apple or responsibilities to shareholders.

Moreover, the article seemed poorly written. Lots of typos, no flow, and poor structure. Jesus' reaction was even worse. Banning people for disagreeing? What a joke. See you guys in the 'banned' circle soon, I suppose...

randalotto

Full Disclosure: I've got V.D. That is all.

But srsly.
The media is within their right to speculate and he is within his right to refuse to prove/disprove the speculation. That's simple enough. Why all the knotted panties and sand in vaginas? Either side hasn't really violated the other.

Captain Bringdown

CARE LEVELS CRITICAL

POWERING DOWN...

boop beep boop boop...

JuiceDaddy

I corrected part of the article, didn't have time for a complete rewrite:

"As brilliant as [Bill Gates] is, [Microsoft] will survive him. Personally, I just hope that he [stayed] for as long as he want[ed to]. He's good for the industry and the world."

There, much better. Please make changes consistent with my edits, and real life, throughout the next draft.

DaveExile

Jesus, ever since you wrote, by far, the worst article i have ever read:

[gizmodo.com]

people have had a lot of hatred for anything you write. I cant really blame them, since that article was an absolute wretched, gut wrenching read. Oh, and has that article come to bite you in the ass considering the problems its had?

So really, your in a position to save face. Even Ryan Block of Engadget, who was accused of being a Steve Jobs ass licker, cleaned himself up and wrote very good articles thereafter (i think it was a Zune review article, which was unbelievably biased).

By banning people the way you did, your further digging your own hole of irrelevance. For me, consider all your stories no longer read by me. I do offer advice though. You have been declared an Apple fan boy. Whether that is the case or not, who knows, but many will read your articles from now on with a magnifying glass. You shouldn't go and ban people for looking a little deeper into your articles considering what they believe about you. That's why they called you out on the whole JFK, FDR reference. You are a writer. You should expect critics. You brought this upon yourself. The people hate bias. Even if you had a hard-on for the opposite end of the spectrum (obviously, Microsoft), people would bitch and moan if you went too far and declared Google dead because Live is much better.

Anyways, its been fun. Even if you ban me from commenting, i will still read engadget. I just wont read any of your posts from now on. And if you do ban me, you just bring yourself lower than those you banned.

diabolusunknown

@Jesus Diaz: "P.S. - You're Banned"

Wow, just lost all respect for you as an editorial journalist. Grow up.

rrogahn

What if his health problem was mental illness, like schizophrenia, or severe manic depression, that caused him to make decisions based on hallucinations? Should he be required to disclose it? It's not all that black and white.

stryder100

ohh man...he´s not comparing Steve Jobs to FDR or JFK??!! He isn´t crazy- He´s just comparing the situations. Ya´ll out of your mind. How do you think he would dare to compare those men to Jobs??

stopitnow54

@yoshi: That's not true. There were action plans, and this was publicly stated.

Also, Apple is not a monarchy.

Jesus Diaz

I own quite a bit of stock in Apple, and while I agree to a certain extent that SJ's medical condition is none of my business, I feel that if we were fighting a potentially lethal illness, that I and all investors should be brought into the loop. The image that Apple is portraying is that it is SJ's company. He's the guy giving all the keynotes, he's the guy who everyone calls the visionary, and it seems like everyone else there is employed at his pleasure. Now, I know that's not really true, but that is what they project. With that, if he were to die, Apple would tank because a ton of idiots would panic and sell because they would feel that no one is minding the store. What Apple needs to do is put in line a chain of succession in the event that Jobs were to retire or leave due to any other circumstances. Microsoft did this long ago, and it's why their stock isn't in the shitter now that Gates left. What they're doing right now is their typical heads-in-the-sand approach when anything happens that they aren't in control of.

I don't need to see his chest X-Rays, I just need to see a line of succession.

badhatharry

I agree with you, Jesus. You´re right and Steve is right. Nobody should be bothering him...Is his life, and as he said, his health is a private matter.

stopitnow54

@Curves: Good now I won't have to sell my stock I bought in your company.

sharnaff

You know who cares the most about Jobs' health? Short sellers!

The issue of disclosure is relevant because the shorties have turned this into the Steve Jobs Death Watch, and the financial press have been their willing accomplices.

The thing that the NYT article (and all like it) ignores is that AAPL has done the absolutely right thing by their shareholders by not giving in to the shining beacons of journalistic credibility such as:

Jim Cramer's TheStreet.com, which on the Friday before the introduction of the iPhone in January 2007 published a report from noted short funder Doug Kass that Jobs was terminally ill and would be announcing his leave from Apple, effective immediately.

Or, this last Monday's NY Post article that stated, unequivocally, "Apple has no succession plan", flying in the face of statements by Apple's BOD and by Jobs himself that, following his cancer surgery, they had a detailed succession plan in place to satisfy basic corporate governance rules, demands of their institutional investors, and because, as Jobs himself put it, "anyone could get hit by a bus tomorrow".

That is the real truth, plain and simple. So, until such time as it affects one's ability to do their work effectively, a corporate CEO is not obligated to disclose their health issues, period. End of story. When it does, they should go. Until then they can't give in to the unscrupulous practice of gaming on the health of Steve Jobs.

bjsnmc

I dont have to disclose this, but I know youre all concerned....that wicked hangnail I had last week has been cleared up by an Eastern Shaman and I expect to keep commenting for a long time yet to come. You may return to your lives now, the crisis is over.

Curves

@Xavoc:

Did you just call somebody dense and then state "Hell, they didn't disclose that Reagan had Alzheimers during his last term"?? You do know that Doctors stated SIX YEARS after he left office he was just ENTERING the FIRST stages of Alzheimers.

So to summerize...why would they disclose he had Alzheimers when HE DIDN'T?

People amaze me. It isn't like someone just came up with out of the blue..."Are you sick Steve" for no reason.

MANY people have been wondering about his health.(INcluding GIZ I might add, read it here on a post. I know I read questions about his health HERE since this is the only "Apple" related site I visit for news)

Now if Jobs God forbid were to pass (it will happen eventually like to all of us) Apple stock WILL take a dive and probably a big one. The stock price will probably recover those losses and THAT will reflect how much his vision was responsible for Apples success and products.

SO sorry Jobs health is very relevant to some people (like the millions that own Apple stock)

SHOULD he "have" to disclose his PRIVATE issues such as health? Of course not. But to say it isn't anybodies business borders on stupid. Of course it is...he is after all a huge part of Apple. Since many people have millions of dollars tied up in Apple stock Steves health certain is important to many people.

So it is a "reporters" right to ask those questions and in fact if you report on money matters it actually is a VERY pertinent question! It does NOT mean that Jobs has to ANSWER it though. Personally without the profanity I think he could have gotten the point across better with a simple press relase thanking people for there concern but his weight loss has nothing to do with a major health problem. He had a "minor" health issue and it caused some weight loss but he is ok now..thanks. Instead he "goes off" on a reporter. Hey in a perfect world I would say you go Steve!...But fact is he does have a responsibility to his stock holders and he has to ride a fine line between privacy and legit stockholder concerns. His health WOULD be a concern of mine if I held Apple stock. To say it wouldn't be is just plain ignorant.

max11221

@rbedi:

President's don't disclose their health for many reasons. One major reason is because there's a succession plan in place if something happens to them.

Unfortunately, Apple has yet to unveal a succession plan if something were to happen to Jobs.

We can look at Warren Buffet as an example. He realizes that it's very important that a succession plan is in place if and when something were to happen to him. Not only that, he's made it publice that there is one in place to reassure those that are concerned. Fortunately for Buffet, old age is his downfall.

yoshi

The interesting part of this is that Steve Jobs is so monumentally important to Apple not because of his business acumen, but simply because of his cult of personality upon which Apple has based its business. Jeff Immelt was able to successfully transition GE's management from the extremely competent Jack Welsh because customers don't buy GE products based upon hype, image, and a desire to be 'cool'. Without Jobs' impressive ability to whip fanboys and digiterati into a fever pitch, Apple would have to compete on features and value, which would be catastrophic to their business. Hence the very understandable concern about his health.

As for the JFK/FDR analogy, the author is obviously not comparing Jobs to these men in the way his detractors are portraying, but it is funny that these two men would spring into his mind when thinking about Jobs.

AtomicPlayboy

Jesus, as in Jesus f@cking Christ do you know how to proof read? "specially"?? "because of journalist who wants to tell a BIG story" as well as numerous others. Do you just write these stories and post them without even reading them through? If so, that is very unprofessional... Where did they get this guy?

jds17j

@johnnyabnormal: loved the comic u got a star for that. exactly my feeling

chefsami

wow people, the article does not compare the accomplishments of FDR and JFK to jobs....that is just ridiculous. It just uses their health situations/disclosure as a comparison.

Some people need to go back to english class.

MrBlahBlah

Uh if ya'll banned every commenter that took something out of context or misinterpreted an article on Giz, then there'd be, at most, 4 posters left on the whole site.

And don't even get me started on Kotaku. Those idiots would have to ban themselves.

BonoMan

@BiZarRroBALlmeR: Agreed. Is it me or did Joe Nocera come off as a total dick in that article?

MrHaroHaro

Oh shit!

I feel like I just walked around a corner to discover Jesus with a big ass hammer in his hands, standing over two dead bodies in the middle of an agitated crowd!

Just my two cents... I think that IN GENERAL the set of directives that concern how a nation's elected leader conducts business in no way translates to a company's CEO... "IN GENERAL"! They are two totally different jobs with a totally different set of goals that have a totally different impact on the world.

Like EVERYONE... you, me, a dog catcher, a CEO, and the leader of a country, SJ has a right to privacy regarding his health. If SJ can still do his job and not impede the ability of his company to do "good business" then he isn't required to tell anyone shit. His only obligation is to remain in stable health and do all that he can to advance his corporation, and if his health does become a disruption then he has to do what's good for the company. He owes that to his shareholders and customers.

What I didn't get from the article was that Jesus was saying that FDR, JFK, and SJ play for the same team or even play the same sport. Only that their health is their personal business, and if it doesn't negatively impact their work it can remain their personal business. But that will never stop speculation.

DustyButt

@michaelwiggins: FINALLY a comment that I enjoyed reading!! (Since when did we get so serious anyway???!!)

chonnes

Someone call the whaaaaaaaambulance.

MastaFalse

Relax? Everyone?

LJN

I don't pot Jobs or Gates on any sort of pedestal.
I read the article and thought that there was no direct comparison to JFK or LBJ.
What I do find interesting is that so many people read this as Jobs = JFK/LBJ.

If I insert myself in the article in the place of Jobs I come to one easy conclusion. I don't want my employer or backers to know what's going on with my health. Illness can make a person into a summer human, as with Lance Armstrong or Hawlkings, or any woman that has survived breast cancer. It's part of being human and if it affects peoples confidence in a company, so be it. The stock market is gambling, it's emotional, and it's a hell of a game to play.

DeadWriter

Since when do Shareholders have any Stake in someone's personal life??? Sure his the CEO but his personal should be personal. The media is a business just like any other, all they want to do is sell newspapers and magazines, even if they have to make up 1/2 of the stuff, you think they care if they screw up someone's personal life????

snitch29

Steve knew exactly what he was doing when he called this reporter...whatever that was.

BiZarRroBALlmeR

I wonder which expletive he used...

michaelwiggins

1) Jobs has a responsibility to shareholders and his board to publicly announce anything that would impair his performance to do his job.

2) Jobs has NO responsibility to shareholders, his board, or anyone else to publicly announce that he ISN'T sick, or IS able to do his job.

In other words, if he is healthy and able to do the job, he doesn't need to make a formal announcement that he is "healthy". That is just stupid. How often would he have to make that statement? Every day? Every month? Every Macworld? But that is what people seem to want from him. Not just "tell us if you have cancer", but "tell us exactly how you feel right now, as often as we want to know". Which is just whiny bullshit.

dogcow

above comment directed to . . .@Siouxperman:

chonnes

@Siouxperman: Haha. Well, the trip probably helped and hurt. I guess the only way to know is through accurate national polling. (is that a oxymoron?) Anyway, you have to realize it's a pretty stark contrast between our current prez being met with protests everywhere he travels and Obama's 100-200k crowds in Germany. I'd actually be pretty surprised if Obama doesn't win, but then again I was shocked when Bush was re-elected in 2004.

johnnyabnormal

I find your statement beautifully ironic in so many ways. One, your comparison of "apple fanboys" to Atheists supports the fact that both extremes are required to exists as it is impossible to have one without the other. Each exists as a challenge, and therefore as a support to the other. (If the universe were either all Christian or all Atheists, the other ceases to exist). Two, Athests, Apple-fanboys and Christians each believe in something strong enough to promote their beliefs. Just the way you will "never buy Apple products" and are "turned-off" to Apple, you are promoting your own beliefs just as a Christian to an Atheist. In this context, your rant on Apple is equivalent to what you are complaining against.

chonnes

"Like any single person in this country and the world."

I thought this clarified what Mr. Diaz meant.

Even though I disagree that this article has much relevance to anything gizmo-related, I enjoy other off-topic stuff, so who am I to complain.

@Jesus Diaz:

Did you really ban those guys? Just because they didn't understand what you meant.... And being disappointed with Apple every once in a long while doesn't detract from the fact that many people here have seen you praise it far more often. Really, consider other people's perspectives and limitations.

Also: I wonder why the coverage of Apple's iPhone is left up for so long when far more products and information were released at E3. I've come to regard that article at the top as an ad. I mean, the iPhone is cool and all, but reviewing all it's applications borders on ridiculous. I wouldn't mind having such a convenient place to go for Windows Mobile applications if and when I get the HTC Diamond. But, perhaps, you'll just tell me to go to some other site that takes the time to review Windows Mobile applications, right?

Wallmaker

@Jesus Diaz: Over the top seems to be the running motto of this article and its comment section. As a Senior Associate Editor, I had hoped you would exhibit better judgment, and take critique - justified and informed or not - in stride.
I suppose we're all just human, and any one of us can get carried away in the heat of an argument, but Gods be damned, take a step back and a deep breath. I remember we weren't exactly of one mind and opinion in the past, and due to lack of sleep, I totally failed to get your time traveling joke a short while back, but after this little escapade, I've lost a lot of respect for your professional work.
Just because a lot of fanboys and -girls support your ethnic cleansing of the commenters' ranks doesn't make it justified. See what I did there?

Get off your moral high horse and stop trying to stoop to the level of every single flamebait offered in the comments to your articles.
I'd like to be able to read your future articles without having the slightly rotten taste of petty dictatorship in my mouth.

Hvedhrungr

OK...a few things. To the person who stated the untimely deaths of FDR and JFK led to the dropping of the atomic bomb and the Vietnam war.....

First FDR, it is considered by most historians that FDR would have made the same decision as Truman due to their plans to minimize US casualties and FDR's reaction to the holocost and Japan's autrocities commited against the Chinese...he did after all START the Manhatten Project.

Second JFK ESCALATED US actions in Vietnam to include SF and bombings. HE started direct US action in Vietnam, he wanted to start some withdrawls, but was committed to "finishing" the job. There were 500 advisors there when he started and no direct US action....to 16,000 and direct US action when he was assasinated.

Please learn your history!!!

Jesus...banning people for "not reading the article correctly?" Are you serious? DO you realize how lame that sounds? As far as the comparision of the Presidents and Jobs..it really doesn't work because it isn't the people..it is the ERA that is the difference. Look at the dust up for McCain not releasing his medical records and keeping them private...and he is just a CANDIDATE..not the President. If JFK or FDR served now you can bet it WOULD be a huge issue.

Those referencing the name calling?...I am reading the posts and it seems that the only people calling people derogatory names including profanity is people that are ridiculing the people that didn't like the article.

I liked the article, though I agree with the premis that Jobs should have his privacy....BUT a few things...just like anyone else in a position of great power and responsibility these days (including the President NOW)you give up some privacy that you should rightfully have...it comes with the job sorry to say.

So I understood the article but think it is flawed in some ways.(comparing Jobs to FDR and JFK when it does not apply because of the ERAs and the way information it passed now as compared to then. You think JFK or FDR could "hide" their health problems now? People would be all over them worse than Jobs)

I would not be mentioning what in my OPINION are flaws if people were not spouting off with malice towards those that did not agree and the "BANNING" of people that "couldn't comprehend" the article. Hey it's your web site but really come on..they might not have expressed it right but personally I don't think Jesus did either.

This is a gadget web site...do the people that read this site really think that the disemination of information between the ERAs referenced in the ariticle are vastly different? It ISN'T that JFK or FDR "didn't have to" disclose anything it was there wasn't the outcry we have today for information. You would think people that are interested in Gadgets would understand that.

Please don't ban me or delete my post....

max11221

hahahaha steve jobs = jfk!

you got it giz.

AlexLand

@johnnyabnormal: do you think that surprises me! :-) It will be interesting to see who wins the election. I think Obama hurt himself this past week by "playing" president and I think the media hurt themselves by showing their obvious bias. We will see I guess.

I don't have a problem with people that have Apple products as long as they don't act like everything else sucks. I want to like Apple products but I have been so turned off by the attitudes of the fanboys that it has really soured my view of Apple products.

Siouxperman

I have nothing else to say besides that I got Jesus' analogy, and I thought this was a good article. Seeing how the comments were going I felt the need to express that opinion.
Also. Even if Steve does die he'll be back in 3 days, just like Barack Obama. Resurrection. Have you heard of it?

MrHaroHaro

@stryder100: Don't forget to do a bunch of walking to do some stuff, then walk some more, oh, and then walk to throw a ring in a volcano somewhere... Kthx! (Kidding)

Xavoc

@rbedi: I'm not really sold on JFK being a "great" president. He was an assassinated president. He didn't put someone on the moon, scientists did. Quite a few people believe Vietnam to be a mistake, he also managed to get us involved in that little conflict after the French surrendered.

I'm sorry, it's difficult to worship someone because they were killed while young and hadn't accomplished a lot...

Xavoc

@2xMEAT: Welcome to Gizmodo. You must be new if you haven't figured out Jesus Diaz is a good writer. He's just pissed because some a-holes scanned the article and wrote a knee-jerk "Giz loves Apple" screed. You'd be pissed too if you took the effort to actually write something (vs. forwarding on a product announcement) that readers criticized without actually understanding it. If they demonstrate such low reading comprehension, they should be banhammered.

The Lab

@gamecrazychris: Yes we would, we'd just ask if he caught it from his PC...

Xavoc

I agree, Jesus, that that sounded like an Apple fanboy post. But you have a right to be (assuming you are) any kind of fanboy you want to be. I'm kind of a LOTR fanboy, and have a replica Anduril hanging on the wall in back of me. And I don't really care what anybody thinks.

I myself am a windows, gnu/linux, solaris and Oracle (professionally) and lots of free open source software guy. I am not an Apple fanboy. Though in the interest of full disclosure I want to say I ordered an iPhone 3g (16 gig black).

Oh, man! I just checked the Fed Ex web site and the iPhone should be here tomorrow!!!

[[[[[[[stryder100 runs around the room flapping his arms with excitement]]]]]]

stryder100

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Steve Ballmers' illness? His undisclosed "headuphisass-ossis"" can be deadly if one doesn't prepare properly for the prevention of suffocation.

BiZarRroBALlmeR

@Islandkiwi: Speculating isn't the same as printing false/misleading information that could hurt a person's reputation or a company's stock price by attachment.

Xavoc

@ all the idiots who are offended by Jesus mentioning FDR and JFK:
Jesus was not comparing jobs with these two great presidents. If you actually read the very well written article, you would have seen that Jesus was saying that if leaders as great as presidents were not forced to disclose their health for the "good of the country", then why should jobs be forced to do so for "the good of the bloody investors"? Gosh.

rbedi

A fanboy article if I've ever seen one! If Bill Gates had the flu, people wouldn't make a huge deal out of it!

gamecrazychris

@Siouxperman: Yeah, but you're gonna hate me for this:

- I'm an Atheist (but you knew that)
- I have 2 Apple computers and a iPhone 3G
- I'm voting for Obama

Muhahaha!

johnnyabnormal

Steve Jobs' health, by law, should not be a factor in his acquiring or retaining employment. However, because of his postion, people may ask about it. I think there are procedures in place to cover any eventuality and we should leave it at that.

drunken marmot

He has the right to not respond, but people have the right to speculate too...like it or not, he is a public figure.

Islandkiwi

@johnnyabnormal: the cartoon you shared is so freakin funny. That totally describes the comment section experience! Good stuff! Thanks for sharing.

Siouxperman

@baltwade: My resting heart rate is around that, and I spend much of my life feeling like I'm about to slip into a coma. It's really kind of groovy.

stryder100

I will probably never buy Apple products because of the attitudes of the Appleheads that comment here, on review websites, everywhere. I have been totally turned off to Apple because of all of the idiot fanboys. Apple fanboys are like atheists who constantly bash Christianity any chance they get and like the media and their Messiah Obama Lovefest. Annoying!

Siouxperman

Wow, did someone mention Apple or Microsoft?

andrelix

Gosh, I feel stupid. I read the article and this is what I got out of it:

IF Steve Jobs = Leader
AND IF FDR and JFK = Leaders too
THEN IF FDR and JFK = kept health private
IT FOLLOWS Steve Jobs = keep health private too

Did I really miss something here?

chonnes

@Aristeia: I'm happy for your SAT score, but the article was clear from the beginning and most people got it right except for a few. Apparently you belong to the latter.

Jesus Diaz

What a shame that Gizmodo allows someone like this to write articles.

I'm not referring to the author's questionable analogy, but to his behavior towards those that disagree with him--regardless of whether or not they disagreed only because they didn't understand the comparison, or were (as the author arrogantly claims) mentally unable to comprehend the logic.

2xMEAT

@trrosen: Actually, Bill isn't heading up Microsoft anymore, and he's taken his billions of dollars and given them to a foundation that funds everything from the arts to biomedical research on HIV and Malaria cures/treatments.

I may not be hugely fond of his products while @ Microsoft, but it doesn't mean that I don't appreciate what he is doing to help people. He isn't raising multi-billionaire children that are going to end up hanging out with Paris Hilton.

Xavoc

@thetiminator69: I scored an 800 on the verbal section of the SATs (back when it was only two sections).

I felt like there was distinct ambiguity in Jesus' comparison between FDR/JFK and Jobs.

I mean, now that Jesus has clarified his intent behind the comparison, I get it. The presidents were far more important, didn't have to disclose... why should a CEO have to?

But that's not how I interpreted what he wrote initially.

Fact is, invoking *any* famous person's name raises the strong implication of a direct comparison. What if he'd mentioned Hitler hiding his medical history? Kinda brings up other connotations, other problems, right?

But Jesus has clarified his position, so I get it. Still, the banning surprised me.

Aristeia

@impreza: So, basically you're taking examples of people in EXTREME power who had health issues that they kept private to mean that he's obvious as important as said previously mentioned folk?

Are you REALLY that dense?

I don't worship the ground Jobs walks on, but I do appreciate Apple hardware for what it is.

Hell, they didn't disclose that Reagan had Alzheimers during his last term. History is rife with presidential health issues that the First Lady helped run the country during.

Now, Jobs isn't a president, but if they have a right to privacy about their health, so do you, and so does Steve Jobs. Get it?

There's been a good amount of Apple talk lately because the iPhone, even with its limitations, is an extraordinarily interesting phone design. It is psychologically one of the best phones to own, because it requires you to pet and stroke it (comforting gestures for MANY people) to operate it.

Even I mentally filter out a lot of the apple news, but you don't see me whining about leaving Giz because of the sheer amount of iPhone/Apple crap floating around this site. Learn to filter out people/things you don't like. You'll be much happier that way.

Xavoc

majortom1029: IT seems like people care more about steve jobs and his health then about BIll gates.

thats because people WANT Bill to die.@

trrosen

@baltwade: Don't worry, I get it up to 180-190 BPM when I bike in the morning. Lots of hills & a fast dog have been pushing the pace. I think Lance Armstrong's resting heart rate is like 32? I'll live long enough to compete in the Toure De Farce.

@frigg: Dammit, did you just compare goofballs to JFK? HOW DARE YOU!!

johnnyabnormal

yeah Steve is not really important in the real world. Just because he is one of the key reasons ; you have a computer ; your using the Web etc etc.

trrosen

"The truth is that, while there's no doubt that Steve Jobs is The Man......."

This pretty much sums up the whole article.

Luuey

@baltwade: "You might want to get up and move around because it seems like your either about to die or slip into a comma."

I slipped into a comma once. In Oxford.

bitfactory

No.
His health shouldn't be disclosed.

It's another variable introduced in the ever-shifting economy, that's not really based on anything substantial anyway: speculation.

If a false word gets out that Steve Jobs is on his death bed, it could theoretically crash Apple.

Not good.

Keep your health problems to yourself Steve.

tehdahl

@majortom1029: In the past if Gates' health were in question no one would doubt whether or not MS would continue to pump out shitty software if he were gone (they would).

MS is its own ecosystem, chewing up and spitting out companies and printing its own money with their licensing agreements and positions in all sorts of markets (both fairly earned and illegally obtained).

Apple's precarious past brings worries to shareholders and fans alike that their hot-streak could continue sans SJ.

bitfactory

@Jesus Diaz:
"No, he doesn't have to tell. But as CEO, he has to step down."

I completely agree with this statement. I was arguing from the point that if he wishes to stay in charge, disclosure is needed if it is either a life threatening disease, or a debilitating disease either from the ailment or the treatment. Naturally there would have to be a reasonable amount of time to disclose. But it looks like you and I are on the same page. Thank you for taking an active roll in the responses as well.

I think a lot of people are missing the point, beyond what has been stated.
1) when jobs did have a life threatening illness, he disclosed and stepped down (this is a responsible approach).
2) He has another ailment that is not life threatening, and has done the responsible thing (which was originally to say he's OK, which he is. Then later he discusses his ailment, which is beyond responsible, and beyond necessary).

Oh and this is here on Giz, because it's apple news, and apple news is gadget news. Yes, there is more apple news here than I prefer (multiple articles on the same iPhone titles, and an iPhone breakdown article that floats on top analogous to the behavior of pond scum in pond). But this article has a proper place on Giz.

jkr2

as disenchanted as I am with the overwhelming amount of Apple coverage on Giz lately, I am even more disenchanted by the amount of illiterate people reading these articles! for god's sake men! get a grip! Steve Jobs is a big boy now, and he can do what he wants. if he wants to release his personal health information, he can... if not, then it sucks to be an investor diluted by the wizard of Oz. Steve is just the guy behind the curtain, and sadly for all of you, Apple WILL carry on without him. In a corporation that large, nothing happens unless hundreds of people vote on it. So don't fret, the investors will get over their fears.

As far as the comparisons go ... I'm more curious to know how most of you scored on the critical reading sections of your SAT's.

Cheers Jesus!

thetiminator69

@lilkeith7:

EXACTLY!
Giz reporting on it means two things:

1. They know that just by posting the name "Steve Jobs" that they're going to make a god deal of money from the article (since it will be very popular).

2. There is no step two :)

Just stop trying to sound Holier Than Thou and admit that this whole article is just a cash ploy to get people to click here.

DW

Jesus is NOT comparing SJ to FDR or JFK ya goofballs!

He is comparing the medical disclosure of a president to a CEO. His point: if a president doesn't disclose, why should a CEO?

If YOU say, "JFK didn't disclose his Addison's, why should I," you are not saying you are as groovy as JFK, but have a similar right to privacy.

It's one thing to disagree, it's another to say "HUH??? Jesus says JFK INVENTED THE IPHONE??!! WHAAaaaa...??!!"

frigg

I thought the analogy was just fine-- and it made Jesus' point very clear. If the leader of the free world-- with much, much larger responsibilities to many, many more people-- has a right to medical privacy, so does Steve Jobs. Reading comprehension-- some of you should look it up.

And seriously, commenting at Gizmodo is a privilege, not a right. If you're going to zip through the article and race to shit-talk the authors, you've got to expect to be banned.

@Jesus Diaz: Nicely written article, my friend-- and kudos on cleaning the site of some of these morons. Cheers!

@Carmen turns 19 in 3 days!!!: Three more days for both of us! Yay!

wild homes loves you but chooses darkness!

@johnnyabnormal:

I'd like to disclose that my resting heart rate is 46

baltwade

Yes, he has the right to keep his medical conditions private. No, it doesn't make him a weaker leader because of his decision to do so.

But, that doesn't mean that consumers and the Press doesn't have the right to speculate. They do! They have every right to do so.

He is one of the single most popular "celebrities" in the tech industry (by his own choice, largely), so he should understand by now that ANYTHING he does or says will be under the microscope.

His whining doesn't change anything on that front. Pity.

DW

@majortom1029: Well to be fair, we don't look to Steve Jobs for our latest fashion. He was CLEARLY scarily thin. If Bill Gates was to plump up from last time we saw him, we'd be saying something too.

Carmen turns 19 in 3 days!!!

@johnnyabnormal: YES! Now that you are not sick I can rest assure that my money will increase double..TRIP...QUADRUPLE!!!!!!!1

Carmen turns 19 in 3 days!!!

IT seems like people care more about steve jobs and his health then about BIll gates. They both have been important and big people in their respective companies but why do people care more about steve jobs and his health. I didnt seen people looking at Bill Gates through a magnifying glass everytime he got onstage.

majortom1029

@Carmen turns 19 in 3 days!!!: It's like that cartoon I linked a while back:

johnnyabnormal

@everyone: I'd like to disclose that my resting heart rate is 46, my bad cholesterol is low and my good cholesterol is high. You can all invest in my business now...does paypal work for you?

johnnyabnormal

@johnnyabnormal: Yeah people usually tend to become huge assholes over small things on this website. lol.

Carmen turns 19 in 3 days!!!

It is my understanding that Apple is now building a device that will allow the brain of Steve Jobs to fully function outside of his frail, turtleneck-covered body. Sensors and wires will direct his thoughts into an iPhone next to the brain preservation tank. From this "iPhone #1", Steve will continue to run the company, impervious to health rumors.

Rest assured, Gizmodo readers, Steve Jobs will still be creating new products when we are all permanently offline.

ljj

@Tohe: Btw, if you don't like Mr. Diaz's articles, why do you keep reading them?

johnnyabnormal

I think there is a point that everyone is missing. While it is true that a private citizen like Jobs has the right not to release any health information if he doesn't want too, reporters and bloggers and the like have just as much right to speculate about his health as a public figure.

There's no point in demonizing the press for doing their job. Jobs can either ignore the speculations about his health or clear it up by going public or I guess he could call up the offending reporter and cuss him out. Whatever works I guess.

baltwade

@krkeegan:

It isn't an issue of agreement or disagreement, you idiots are not fighting over the topic but some minor side details. It doesn't add to the discussion of the topic in anyways it only starts flame wars and name calling.

Just because you hate Apple and misunderstood a point doesn't mean that you can sink this whole thread's validity. If someone explains to you the issue at hand and you still want to fight over something irrelevant and moronic, then you deserve to get banned; its called trolling.

beardedkid

I couldn't care less about Steve Jobs's health.

NightBlade

@krkeegan: ignorance is no excuse.

kevman90

@Jesus Diaz: I think you need to send your face biting pooch out to settle the score on some people. :)

johnnyabnormal

@Tohe: There's no point of an analogy being "fair and unbalanced." Do you actually understand what an analogy is?

Never mind.

Jesus Diaz

@Tohe: Funny, your star seems to be on...the...wrong side?

johnnyabnormal

@krkeegan: No, we ban people who don't read articles and don't have reading and comprehension abilities, then start stupid illogical tirades based in their preconceptions of Gizmodo being an Apple fan site (which is not, despite the extension of our coverage).

You can argue with the article and disagree. You can't ignore the article content and insult us.

Jesus Diaz

@Carmen turns 19 in 3 days!!!: I was just watching a weird DVD: "The Signal", where everyone starts going insane from TV and radio signals and start killing each other. Then I stumbled upon this thread. Nice continuity!

johnnyabnormal

@TheSonOfKrypton:Even analogies can be fair and balance. This was a lame article period! Oh yeah and so was that other article on the Flying Brazilian Priest by Mr. Diaz, bet you it was pure coincidence!

Tohe

@TheSonOfKrypton: Hahaha...wow. F#@k! You just f*#ling f@*ked those f*ckers good!

johnnyabnormal

Simple question, if its not our business then why post on one of the leading tech blogs about his recent comments and not let it drop? If its none of our business then stop bringing it up, even if it is to make a point. Just let it drop and don't tempt people to keep talking about it, that's my opinion at least.

lilkeith7

I think all of you should just shut the fuck up? Jesus didn't do anything wrong. Who cares what the comparison is. Simple fact is, Steve Jobs ain't gotta say shit. Let it go and all of you who are up the ass about a post need to lighten up ...or go to hell, either one works.

Carmen turns 19 in 3 days!!!

@Jesus Diaz: "p.s. You are banned. "

You ban those who disagree with you?!?!

Not only is that childish, but it goes against your privacy rights, U.N. spouting rant. You expect a right to privacy but you deny others a forum to disagree. Doesn't sound very democratic to me.

I am sadly surprised by you Gizmodo. When did you become such an intolerant environment?

krkeegan

There is a difference between Jobs and the U.S. Presidency. There's a succession plan in place if the president is assisinated or passes away. Guess what, everyone knows the succession plan too.

Unfortunately, Apple investors, customers, employees don't have clue what will happen if something happens to Jobs.

Yes. I think it's Apple's responsibility to reassure the owners, employees, and customers of the company that they have a succession plan and disclose it.

What's the problem?

yoshi

Are you kidding me with this? I guess this is the kind of sh*t that one is got to put with, in order to enjoy the rest of the cool articles at Giz...But Really, Steve Jobs is a public persona and we live in times when information is readily available for us (unlike the times of the people in that lame comparison by Giz). This whole situation is got the potential to backslash on Apple, and perpetuating the myth of corporate secrecy, only serves to makes matters worse. So yeah, bright idea!(sarcasm).

Tohe

People, I don't think the point was to say Steve is as great as FDR or JFK (I mean, when you talk about Steve you actually have to say his name, not just initials). Just that people in far more vital roles than Steve didn't see any reason to reveal their health issues, so why should a CEO?

swarmster

@impreza: @hu_hu_cool: @olafson:
@brian1cj:

All you guys are fucking idiots. Are you fuckin serious? Do you NOT understand analogies you fuck heads? Jesus simply chose two very famous, very historical figures that EVERYONE (even him, in ANOTHER FUCKING COUNTRY) knows the story of. He's not attempting to exalt Steve Jobs to their positions. Fuckin fuck heads, stop berating his story because of his choice of people in an analogy. Fuck you idiots piss me off.

TheSonOfKrypton

@olafson: @olafson:

"Steve? He sells plastic boxes with chips inside. Get some damn perspective."

They are not just plastic boxes.. they are expensive plastic boxes

and he's sitting on billion's worth of stocks, thats why he's important for the wall street people.

bookmark

@impreza: Completely agree. Comparing Steve Jobs to FDR is shameful.

While I have little desire to play into your overly egotistical presidential model consider this, preseidents have a very clear line of succession. Jobs does NOT. You named 3 people who would take over. I need 1, and I need a plan for how it is going to happen.

Moreover, I can tell you from experience that the health of the individual at the helm matters. Large suppliers routinely provide their clients with catastrophe plans. In my head I can think of three instances where we have asked a supplier for specific details on succession plans. We don't want to wake up one morning and find out that a supplier of 20% of our goods is in turmoil. That affects our bottom line too. And it affects our decision to enter contracts with them as well.

Investor's have a right to know that Apple will be in safe hands. Steve should come out and say, "this is the person who will take over". He doesn't do that because he knows that there is NO ONE he can pick that would satisfy investors. Which shows that Steve is Apple. And Steve should inform his investor's, who have put their retirement savings into Apple, some specifics on his health.

This wouldn't be such a concern if Steve hadn't already taken some very risky moves in the past. I am referring to his attempt at holistic healing for cancer. Stupid moves like this demonstrate that he cannot be trusted to make the right decision.

So yes, I think he needs to give some specifics about his health.

And I am APPALLED at your comparison of Steve Jobs, the purveyor of crappy plastic gizmos, to FDR, the man who dug this country out of the great depression.

Your comparison shows your unfounded predilection to swoon over everything Apple and your horribly misguided interpretation of what is important in the world.

Shameful.

krkeegan

The stock markets a gamble anyway. If you think he's sick sell. Then you can buy it back at a higher price in September when wow's the world again. Seriously, it's just gambling anyway if you sell it all and he's not sick you loose. If you sell and it turns out he's sick and stock plummets, you'll be accused of insider trading. Make your picks or don't play.

Bzzzy

@jkr2: No, he doesn't have to tell. But as CEO, he has to step down. The NYT gives a great example:

"On the other hand, when Charles H. Bell received a diagnosis of colorectal cancer shortly after he became the chief executive of McDonald's in 2004, the company quickly released the news. Mr. Bell resigned from the company that November, and died two months later"

In Jobs case, he didn't step down because the doctors told him that his cancer was not fatal. The system worked, someone else took over while Jobs was receiving treatment, and Apple kept on developing and selling products like usual (another reassurance that the company won't go to hell after Jobs leaves).

In this new case, the illness was not fatal either. Things kept working.

I'm sure that if cancer reappears (or anything else happens) Jobs will leave the company like the McDonald's CEO did. Not because of the investors (fuck the investors) but because of his own health and private life.

Jesus Diaz

The "health" of Apple can be quantified in other ways than Steve's personal health, such as naming a successor/successors. So far there haven't been any reassurances in that regard. Sooner or later Apple will lose him, whether out of eventual retirement or sudden illness. And it's no secret that Steve is a significant source of the company's "vision". The problem is that Steve is maintaining his position as the company's leader without demonstrating that any other individuals can become viable leaders in the company's future.

Steve doesn't have any obligation to disclose his personal health for the sake of investors. But choosing to keep it private means he has more of an obligation to provide assurance elsewhere.

terebakashi

we may have an answer to the question, "WWJD"

the1sen

@impreza: No, there weren't better examples. The examples were the perfect ones: comparing the CEO of a tech company, who in the big scheme of things doesn't amount to a hill of beans, with two of the most amazing, most powerful men ever on Earth.

And this doesn't change the fact that you didn't understand the article or just ignored it to give the same old line about Gizmodo being Apple-biased, ignoring any other article we have published against Apple (like I did, just two weeks ago).

Jesus Diaz

oh and guy's the writer here only used presidents as an example, because if people in a position of much greater power didn't disclose their health, then some one who has relatively no power in comparison (steve jobs), shouldn't either. This is jesus' point, not mine.

jkr2

@GusRandall: Correct. Let investors decide with that. Smart ones will remain (check Apple's stock after WWDC). But he has no obligation to disclose anything, no matter the "holier than thou" articles that any journalist may publish in the NYT or elsewhere.

Jesus Diaz

I'm sorry, but does anybody here really believe that the gov discloses as much info as they should? It's definitely a tough topic if a president should disclose a life threatening illness that he acquires while in office. But to keep such a thing secret before going into office should be illegal. When we elect a president (or any leader) one expects that individual to be able to run ones term w/o die (reasonably). I say reasonably because of accidents and assassinations. Whats more, treatment play a very big roll in ones ability to perform the duties of the office. If one is unable to perform, one must step down. The question comes about as to who is making this decision, if they people are left out. JFK was a drug addict, most would argue that is a medical condition, one that had a sever impact on his term, and that impact was swept under the carpet (most are still unaware of all the bad stuff). Now lets get to the big one, Wilson. He has a stroke, wife takes over. Public nor the government know about this.

" On October 2, 1919, Wilson suffered a serious stroke that almost totally incapacitated him, leaving him paralyzed on his left side and blind in his left eye. For at least a few months, he was confined to a wheelchair. Afterwards, he could walk only with the assistance of a cane. The full extent of his disability was kept from the public until after his death on February 3, 1924.

Wilson was purposely, with few exceptions, kept out of the presence of Vice President Thomas R. Marshall, his cabinet or Congressional visitors to the White House for the remainder of his presidential term. His first wife, Ellen, had died in 1914, so his second wife, Edith, served as his steward, selecting issues for his attention and delegating other issues to his cabinet heads. This was, as of 2008, the most serious case of presidential disability in American history and was later cited as a key example why ratification of the 25th Amendment was seen as important."
wikipedia

There is a definite distinction between the gov, and a business, w/ that said, ultimately, if a CEO has a life threatening illness, or requires treatment which will debilitate him, the stock holders have a right to know, such are the prices one pays to be in power (it's not Jobs' company, else you wouldn't have stock holders, he just has a really big share).

jkr2

@Redwraithvienna:

There are plenty of other examples that could have been used that are not some of the most influential people of the 20th century.

All it does is show us all what kind of pedestal that the bloggers here put Steve Jobs on.

impreza

@impreza: +1

Jesus, do you have a personal blog or a myspace page or something where you can let your heart bleed?

.apostle.

@hu_hu_cool: @impreza: @brian1cj:

Dear morons,

Would you fraking read the article and try to understand it instead of spewing any preconceived line out of pure stupidity?

The point is that if FDR and JFK, who were presidents for a whole country, didn't have to disclose their medical records -and didn't do it because they didn't want to-why the heck should Steve Jobs or any other citizen of the world disclose their medical records?

The answer is: they shouldn't.

It's our right not to do so. And it's recognized by the United Nations and in most civilized countries across the world. Not only that, but it's fiercely protected.

So screw the investors and Wall Street.

Thank you very much.
j.

p.s. You are banned.

Jesus Diaz

1) Jobs is not obligated to release his medical condition.
2) Jobs has historically chosen to not release his medical condition even when it appeared that he was going to die of pancreatic cancer.
2a) Jobs debated whether actually have the treatment that ultimately saved his life even though it was not experimental or dangerous (he simply wanted to try Eastern medicine) - had he done so, he likely would not have lived.
3) Jobs' long term health is important to the health of Apple.
4) If Jobs is unwilling to disclose his medical status (which he certainly does not have to do), then it is not unreasonable for stockholders to look at the pictures that show him emaciated and become concerned that his health is in jeopardy and perhaps make financial decisions about the stock.

As stockholders, they are permitted to buy or sell for any reason (other than insider information)and in the absence of clear information, they will use what is available (i.e. pictures showing a very unhealthly looking Jobs). Jobs may not like it but just as he is allowed medical privacy, so stockholders and analysts are allowed to speculate and discuss his health (or their opinions on it) - it's a free country.

GusRandall

@impreza:

Then you didnt get the arcticle. He doesnt compare Jobs with JFK or FDR but uses them and their illness as an example why it a) doesnt matter that a leader of a country (or in this case a company) is sick b) that even if he is sick its his pewrsonal choice to tell the public aboit.

The comparisons maybe a bit extreme. But they fit.

If anything you should be pissed since this is not a gadget related blog entry. But one about personal freedom and due to this politics and the soceiety in which we live.

Redwraithvienna

He's making a point ya smucks. Clearly if FDR and JFK can do their jobs right in the worst of times, so could a simple CEO.

Unfortunately, both FDR and JFK met untimely deaths which resulted in the atomic bombings of Japan and the Vietnam War, respectively. Jesus,maybe you should have chose Stephen Hawking: The only man who could cheat on his wife using only his pointer finger.

beardedkid

Oh, and uh... I don't know that Steve Jobs being "The Man" could be considered fact, but I do agree he has a right to privacy... like any other American, public figure or not.

Personally, I'd be a little pissed about something being an off-the-record conversation then being reported (talking about Nocera, not Gizmodo) if I were Jobs.

Then, I'd probably roll back over in my money-bed and forget all about it.

Evil J

You are right 100% Jesus (I'll be honest I wasnt sure how I felt about it before, but you are right).

@"This is Steve Jobs. You think I'm an arrogant [expletive] who thinks he's above the law, and I think you're a slime bucket who gets most of his facts wrong."
hahaha What a way to start a conversation! I need to call people up with this tagline more often!

atuck

While I do agree that a person's health is generally their own business, I think Jobs handled this situation poorly and without grace. And I agree with impreza that comparing Steve Jobs to FDR is just... bizarre.

Perhaps you're just emphasizing that people in the public's eye don't necessarily need to reveal their health problems, but... seriously, FDR?

Well, whatever. "...I think you're a slime bucket who gets most of his facts wrong." Was that really necessary? If he doesn't want to broadcast his health info, why bother telling the "slime bucket" off the record? I swear, this was a wholly unimpressive episode.

Aristeia

I gotta stop reading The Onion while bored at work. It makes me read anything news-based on the internet as a complete and utter joke... clearly this isn't, but the fact that a whole conversation between Jobs and the NY Times had to occur regarding whether or not he was supposed to disclose anything regarding his private life/health...

Yeah.

Speculation is one thing, but straight up calling someone out like that...

Evil J

i'm sure the world wants photos of his colonoscopy to see how he pulled some ideas out of his ass.

the1sen

After the first two paragraphs, I didn't even have to look at the bottom to know it was Jesus who'd written it.

Granted, the comparisons are a bit... over the top?, but personal health is, as the description implies, personal. Give the Man some room to breathe, and he'll do fine.

Hvedhrungr

FDR? JFK? Seriously? One helped crushed nazi Germany. The other faced down the commies in the Cuban missle crisis.

Steve? He sells plastic boxes with chips inside. Get some damn perspective.

olafson

I totally agree (with imprezza). This company should create an apple-only blog since I, along with the rest of the non-apple products crowd, find myself doing a lot of skipping around to get past all the apple-related content. Gizmodo gets so defensive with apple-bashers. I am not an apple basher, but I read Gizmodo to get gadget news and see what's cool, not to read about every other post relating to apple products since I couldn't care less what Apple is up to or what product they are launching next. Yes, apple does have its place in the gadget world since they have been up and coming for the last 6 years or so, but Gizmodo is obsessive to say the least.

brian1cj

@impreza: i second that.

hu_hu_cool

Comparing his Steveness to FDR or JFK?

Okay, I'm never reading Gizmodo ever again.

(well, not really.) But this does prove that this site should be renamed Applemodo.com

impreza

@Jesus Diaz: I get what you were going for, summarized well by mferrari:

"even though they were far more important than Jobs, their illnesses had no effect on their job performance, and they, like Jobs, had every right to keep personal health problems away from the public."

The problem is, once you start thinking about it, it just doesn't make sense.

At least you've been consistent though - if anyone disagrees with you, it because he/she is a moron. Or banned. Stay classy Jesus.

randalotto

@Jesus Diaz:

Don't you think Apple has a responsibility to its shareholders and board of directors to disclose the succession plan? They don't have to get into details but they could do what Warren Buffet did with Berkshire Hathaway.

I think part of the problem is everyone is taking this too personal. No one wants to see anything happen to Steve Jobs. However, we all have to remember that he's responsible for the livelyhood's of hundreds of thousands of people. Everyone has put their trust and faith in to this incredibly talented human being. I think it's the right thing to do.

yoshi

@randalotto: As shown by everyone in this thread except you and a few others, the analogy was clear and right on target. Clearly, there are two groups of readers here: those who are smart (the majority) and the rest.

Jesus Diaz

@yoshi: They didn't disclose it, but declared it was in place. You can google this.

Jesus Diaz

@stryder100: Exactly.

Jesus Diaz

@Aristeia: Well, I'm going to take wild guess that Jesus didn't take a course on US presidents in school, and he wasn't comparing the influence on the world of FDR and JFK to Steve Jobs, he just used them as examples to show that even though they were far more important than Jobs, their illnesses had no effect on their job performance, and they, like Jobs, had every right to keep personal health problems away from the public.
And, sorry to Steve (really more to Apple fanboys, I'm sure Steve Jobs knows this), but anyone who kills a Nazi (even indirectly) or sends a person to the moon for the first time is more important than a tech company CEO, no matter how cool the iPhone is.

mferrari

@DelSource: Of course, an article published in the NYT is nothing to talk about. That's why there are 150 comments in this thread.

Do a Google search. The internet is not only the sites you visit.

Jesus Diaz

@randalotto: Comments in Gizmodo are not editable. The system doesn't allow it, not even my own comments. We can delete them, but our policy is never to do so unless they contain racist or extremely explicit content.

Jesus Diaz

If Jobs' illness interferes with his work, then he should disclose it to stockholders. But, so far, it doesn't appear to have caused a problem. And who decides when the illness is a problem for Apple? Well, that'd be Steve himself.

So, situation normal, nothing to see here.

fpn1010

@yoshi: No, I don't think Apple has to disclose the plan itself. What they did, saying that there was a plan in place, was more than enough.

Also, tt's the board of directors who would choose and elect the next Apple CEO, not Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs is not a monarch or a dictator. He's a CEO who was named by the board of directors (who previously ousted Gil Amelio).

When Gil Amelio stepped down as Apple CEO, NOBODY took the CEO position. Jobs became interim CEO, and remained interim CEO (he even named himself iCEO, after the iMac, to the hilarity of the crowd-I was there when he did) for a long time.

Then he was named CEO by the board of directors, who begged him to officially take the position.

When he decides to step down, the headhunters will start looking for the successor, who may be inside or OUTSIDE Apple. Like with every other single company in the United States.

Jesus Diaz

@Jesus Diaz: Go back and read what I wrote Jesus. Maybe you can edit it before others read it.

randalotto

@randalotto: This is funny. You quoting mferrari to disprove my analogy shows how bad your reading and comprehension level is. He was agreeing with my analogy.

he wasn't comparing the influence on the world of FDR and JFK to Steve Jobs, he just used them as examples to show that even though they were far more important than Jobs, their illnesses had no effect on their job performance, and they, like Jobs, had every right to keep personal health problems away from the public.

Read that a few times and it may sink inside your (thick) brain.

Jesus Diaz

I love the internet. I spend at least six hours a day surfing Johnny Interweb. All kinds of sites, but mainly tech blogs and news organisations. I have only seen three references to Jobs health. Three only.

All at Gizmodo.

Please stop. Nobody gives a damn about whether or not a rich businessman is ill. No-one except Jesus Diaz. Hope Jobs' kids don't have a pet rabbit..........

DelSource

@randalotto: Are you joking? JFK and FDR's illnesses have direct consequences. Please learn your history.

Steve Jobs' cancer didn't affect his performance. The company worked perfectly when he was receiving treatment. Can you really tell me what are you talking about?

Apparently, everyone here is getting it but you and a couple other [expletive].

And the reason for the bans is for accusing me or Giz or being fanboys with no base except your preconceptions. If you actually READ Gizmodo, you would see how many times we have bashed Apple. The last time, I did it myself:

[gizmodo.com]

Stop misrepresenting facts and get your history and logic right. Then get back. Or don't.

Jesus Diaz

@Jesus Diaz:

I've never mentioned anything regarding Jobs being a "dictator" or "monarch." (Although he sure acts like one)

Let's hope Apple isn't covering up anything and does the right thing for everyone's sake.

You're naive to think Apple isn't trying to protect its butt.

yoshi