Time Honors Bill and Melinda Gates, Bono

[spdl]

Time Honors Bill and Melinda Gates, Bono
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051218/ap_on_en_ot/time_persons_of_year

"...NEW YORK - Time magazine has named Bill and Melinda Gates and rock star Bono its "Persons of the Year," citing their charitable work and activism aimed at reducing global poverty and improving world health..."

Gates has only donated to reap bennefits from trying to force countries into using and paying for Microshaft garbage.

Yes, it's nice that he's helping the poor. But he's so rich it doesn't mean anything to him and he get's money back.

[fuscia]

a friend of mine wrote a song in honor of bono. it's called shut up and sing.

[M3ta7h3ad]

Gates has only donated to reap bennefits from trying to force countries into using and paying for Microshaft garbage.


Do you have to give a bad impression of linux users? really... its like every linux forum out there has its equivalent of a north american evangelical christian (commonly found in groups of 2 or more actually) spouting his/her mouth off about jibberish.

microshaft, windblows, M$FT and assorted bollocks that fills a thread or signature... its spelt Microsoft Windows, or its stock ticker is MSFT for goodness sake! What has windows done to hurt you? Why do you hate windows with such gusto?

Lads and lasses.. its an operating system, not a religion. I didnt have a gun to my head to use microsoft software, and I dont believe microsoft actually sell garbage.

How about we just smile happily at the fact that the a hell of a rich man donated a tump of his dosh to worthy causes, and the users who boycott microsoft software can be happy in the knowledge that not one penny of theres was involved in the charitable donation.

[Knomefan]

Do you have to give a bad impression of linux users?
Ops, I must note have gotten the notice that the opinion of one linux users is equivalent to the opinion of all linux users...


microshaft, windblows, M$FT and assorted bollocks that fills a thread or signature... its spelt Microsoft Windows, or its stock ticker is MSFT for goodness sake! What has windows done to hurt you? Why do you hate windows with such gusto?
And why do you defend it with sucha gusto? If people want to call it M$ WHO THE F*** CARES?


How about we just smile happily at the fact that the a hell of a rich man donated a shite load of his dosh to worthy causes.
While I certainly don't agree with spdl, looking critical at what Gates does should be possible, shouldn't it?

[Malphas]

M3ta7h3ad has a point actually.

[Linux BASHer]

I don't know Gates' true motivation behind his charity work. Perhaps it is truly good-hearted and virtous. However, you cannot justify ill-gotten money (that is, what you have done to obtain this money) by what you do with it.

[spdl]

Well I had my opinion and you have yours. Good enough. But telling me what to say, do, or how to think? That's another story.

[Linux BASHer]

M3ta7h3ad,

Microsoft has essentially destroyed innovation in the industry by denying other companies and individuals the opportunity to enter and compete in the marketplace.

There is substantial proof of this, starting with MS's early days to present. MS was ruled an abusive monopoly by the DOJ, and other governments have also ruled against the company for its anti-competitive behavior.

That is why many people, specially those who value alternatives and users' rights have a problem with Microsoft.

[M3ta7h3ad]

im not doing either. I just dont approve of your opinion thats all.

In reply to:
Ops, I must note have gotten the notice that the opinion of one linux users is equivalent to the opinion of all linux users...

It is often the bad minority that influence the opinions of the uninformed. Its why bad press is better selling than good press. As for equivalent to the opinion? I think you misinterpreted what I said.

And why do you defend it with sucha gusto? If people want to call it M$ WHO THE F*** CARES?

For the same reason im pressing assault charges against 3 blokes who I confronted for racially abusing someone. If I was an overweight person and the bloke called me a fat bastard... he would be shunned, but because its a big company its perfectly fine to defame and slander/libel their name in the public arena because its cool.

I'm sorry but proving that something is better than another thing, by insulting the main rival... just makes you appear misinformed and troll-like.

"m$ft blows!!! linux rocks!"
"yeah.. why's that?"
"coz gate's is satan"
"reallly... okay, any proof on that?"
"YEA!!! XP IS BUGGY AS HELL! LINUX ROOLS!"

See my point?

While I certainly don't agree with spdl, looking critical at what Gates does should be possible, shouldn't it?

It certainly should well be! :) however surely you'd like to critique actual facts as opposed to random bumpf someone has picked up off of the net? :) I certainly would. If someone can come to me and explain where I can read about Microsoft's bad business practices, then I will gladly critique it for myself, :) until then I'll just remain neutral.

[spdl]

M3ta7h3ad,

Microsoft has essentially destroyed innovation in the industry by denying other companies and individuals the opportunity to enter and compete in the marketplace.

There is substantial proof of this, starting with MS's early days to present. MS was ruled an abusive monopoly by the DOJ, and other governments have also ruled against the company for its anti-competitive behavior.

That is why many people, specially those who value alternatives and users' rights have a problem with Microsoft.

Thanks Linux BASHer. That's how I feel and there's more to it ofcourse.

Yes and and I have a problem with Bill Gates as well for his methods. That was my opinion and that was it.

M3ta7h3ad, that's fine. But I don't have to waste my time to prove anything to you. I was just posting an article and thought I would share it with the class.

I actually feel that it was a waste of time for me to post this article because of your passion and hatred towards my comment. I respect your opinions as you should respect mine. I guess i'll just be discussing "ubuntu" stuff on this forum from now on, because anti-freedom of speech is trying to be forced down my throat and I am not on here for that.

[M3ta7h3ad]

M3ta7h3ad,

Microsoft has essentially destroyed innovation in the industry by denying other companies and individuals the opportunity to enter and compete in the marketplace.

There is substantial proof of this, starting with MS's early days to present. MS was ruled an abusive monopoly by the DOJ, and other governments have also ruled against the company for its anti-competitive behavior.

That is why many people, specially those who value alternatives and users' rights have a problem with Microsoft.

Thank you for the informed opinion :) Finally someone with a bit of intellect behind their anti-msft stance :)

As far as I can see they were ruthless indeed, but its not beyond comprehension for a business mind to see why they did it. If you want to be top in the business world, you have to eliminate your opposition, or make it so they are no longer a viable threat against your organisation. Its ethically wrong in some cases (the big guy pushing out the little guy), but it isnt totally unexcusable.

Look at any large corporation and I believe that you will see a little "unethical" business practice going on. Of course that doesnt mean its right in any sense of the word, but its more excusable in my eyes, no.. excusable is the wrong word for it... its accepted as a norm is more like it.

[Knomefan]

It is often the bad minority that influence the opinions of the uninformed.

See, you do it again. He is not the bad minority, he's simply a guy expressing his opinion on a public forum. Now instead of addressing his point, you come out and scream that he is giving linux a bad name. This is of course silly, as there is no such thing as linux apart from a kernel and one person alone, even if you disagree with this person, can't possibly give this something you call linux a bad name.
And what should follow from what he said? Should he not be allowed to voice his opinion, because you think it gives linux a bad name?


For the same reason im pressing assault charges against 3 blokes who I confronted for racially abusing someone.

Boy, if you don't see a difference between people racially abusing someone and someone writing M$ with a dollar sign I'm really sorry for you.


"m$ft blows!!! linux rocks!"
"yeah.. why's that?"
"coz gate's is satan"
"reallly... okay, any proof on that?"
"YEA!!! XP IS BUGGY AS HELL! LINUX ROOLS!"

The funny thing is, I never ever actually see the kind of behaviour you describe. Strange, isn't it?
Anyway, if someone wants to act like an idiot, why not simply let him?


It certainly should well be! :) however surely you'd like to critique actual facts as opposed to random bumpf someone has picked up off of the net? :)

Oh certainly, as I would have enjoyed you replying to the original poster in a civilized manner, arguing against what he said instead of simply dismissing it as random bumpf.


If someone can come to me and explain where I can read about Microsoft's bad business practices, then I will gladly critique it for myself, :) until then I'll just remain neutral.
See, we can't as it would inevitably be some random bumpf we have picked up off of the net. Sorry, you'll have to stay in neutral I fear.

[XQC]

Yes, it's nice that he's helping the poor. But he's so rich it doesn't mean anything to him and he get's money back.Do you actually spend 10$ a year for any charity foundations?

You can say about Microsoft what you want but for me Bill Gates is, when it comes to 3rd-world-countries, not an evil person.
He once stated that these countries don't need laptops or operating systems. What they need is a guarantee for medical healthcare.

Even if he does it only for his image, the result of this is still positive enough for me.

[Knomefan]

http://gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=235&row=1

[ssam]

its great that he is giving away his money (spending it all would have be a challenge), but there are a few questions that need to answered.

i wonder how these donations are given. are they give as no strings attached cash? vouchers to buy from specific companies? is some of it software?

are the donations designed to help people/countries by self sustaining?

theres the old "give a man a fish you feed him for a day" quote and it variants.

so is he giving away AIDS drugs or is he helping people build factories to make there own drugs? with a billion dollars you could probably buy the licences for a lot of expensive drugs and make them freely avaliable.

[M3ta7h3ad]

Krome: I wont enter into a flame war with you because of your misinterpretation of my posts. However here is a response to your latest posting of a journalist mentioning about Bill gates plans of killing 20 million people.

If you read the article carefully, it talks about a foundation... in this foundation you can call it a club for billionaires it includes several high rollers in the pharmaceutical world, along with Mr Bill Gates :) Now I dont think the "evil" being done is on the Gates side of things, I believe that the true "evil" occurring here is by the other companies involved, Gates is guilty by association.

While his money is going towards buying american aids drugs, and not going towards the production of much cheaper generic aids drugs that they can produce themselves is technically a cruel thing to do, that one man cant change legislation regarding intellectual property and copyright, any more than the p2p companies can. Of course his voice and money could help it... however he's doing what he can for the short term.

For an alternate outlook; What if African pharmaceutical companies were given the okay to produce generic drugs. It would help cure disease in the short term, however surely the loss in business (who would want to pay over the odds for asprin, when you can buy it cheaper and import it from africa?) for other big players in the pharmaceutical industry would mean job losses and plant closures for every pharm company.

In short: I think both ideas are as bad as one another, helping them with mass shipments of drugs is great for the short term, but what happens months down the line? And helping them produce generic drugs to help themselves is great in the short term, but 5 years down the line when pharmaceutical companies in the west are reporting losses rather than profits, and people are losing their jobs on our side of the equation..again what happens then?

[endersshadow]

Most of the donations deal with healthcare. Some of them include donating hardware and software for schools.

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm

The point M3ta7h3ad was trying to make is that Microsoft is a company. If you don't like their products, vote with your wallet. In the world of large corporations, ruthlessness and objectivity rule the day. Google is seeing this every day, and I don't think that anybody can argue that Larry and Sergey are evil. I can't speak for him, but I believe M3ta7h3ad was just trying to make the point that by randomly hating Microsoft and manifesting that anger with spellings such as Micro$oft, M$, Windoze, Winblows, Microshaft, etc. is a foolish way to attempt to prove a point. There are many Linux users that step outside of Linux forums and try to push Linux with this tactic, and that's what M3ta7h3ad was referring to when he talked about "bad Linux users," or so that's how I interpretted it.

M3ta7h3ad's initial response was rather cordial and wasn't hostile at all. It's incredible how defensive people get, though. He was simply asking why people hate Microsoft and Gates so much, and saying that those who do it blindly are in the bad minority as they tend to be the most vocal.

At any rate, I thought that people were just being way too testy to some of M3ta7h3ad's comments when he asked politely why someone would hate Microsoft so much for no apparent reason, other than, "Their evil." If you'd like to have that opinion, fine. He was just asking you to support it.

[joflow]

There are many Linux users that step outside of Linux forums and try to push Linux with this tactic, and that's what M3ta7h3ad was referring to when he talked about "bad Linux users," or so that's how I interpretted it.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

I call it the Kerry Tactic. They try to advocate the OS by focsing alot of attention to pointing out the bad things about the other guy rather then the good things about their side. IMO, it makes Linux look pretty bad. There are better reasons to use Linux other then "M$ is evil, Windoze sux".

And now its gotten to the point where people can't even differentiate between Microsoft the corporation and Bill Gates the person and I think thats sad especially when the man gives away billions of dollars to good causes and people can't even say anything positive about it. ZEALOTS.

[cstudent]

.... If you want to be top in the business world, you have to eliminate your opposition, or make it so they are no longer a viable threat against your organisation. ...


If you have no competition you are at the bottom just as much as you are on top. Compitition is what drives innovation. Microsoft's business practices stifle competition and therefore hurts innovation, which hurts the end user.

As far as Gate's philanthropy. He did not start until he was heavily criticised after becoming the richest man in the world. I guess his lawyers and accountants told him it would probably be good for business.

[KiwiNZ]

I do not think we need yet another thread like this .