Does Mark Shuttleworth do yoga, zen or anything similar?

[commodore]

I was thinking about this because usually people don't like to "give" their money to others. He's such a good guy in my opinion. Not like microsoft who does everything to earn more money.

[majikstreet]

I dunno.. Microsoft *DOES* give money. Bill and Melinda Gates do give a lot of money to chairity.

[GeneralZod]

I dunno.. Microsoft *DOES* give money. Bill and Melinda Gates do give a lot of money to chairity.

"Lots" is an understatement. Bill Gates is, in financial terms at least (and discounting "donations" of Microsoft software), one of the greatest philanthropists ever.

[jeremy]

I dunno.. Microsoft *DOES* give money. Bill and Melinda Gates do give a lot of money to chairity.
I'm sure they only do it so that people will point it out!

[Lovechild]

I dunno.. Microsoft *DOES* give money. Bill and Melinda Gates do give a lot of money to chairity.

yes, only the way he got that money is through unethical business methods, so portraying him like Robin Hood is somewhat misguided - he takes from you and gives to whichever group of poor people he feels needs it - had his pisspoor software not existed, you'd be free to install Mark's free OS and give the license fee money to the poor.

I'm all for feeding the poor, don't get me wrong, but I dislike it when that money is taken from us at gun point, I mean Gates has a stranglehold on the industry.

I'm sure Mark has a cunning way to make money on Ubuntu, I expect that he wants to sell support solutions and customized versions to vendors, certification and such. All this however requires a certain sized userbase, he can only get that by giving way the software for free. I think Mark is being very smart here, he has more money than god already it's not like he's struggling to make a living, he's a smart businessman and Ubuntu makes sense to him from a business point of view not just some alturistic ideal of freedom. I expect Mark to break even quite soon, within 2 years would be my conservative estimate.

[macewan]

"Lots" is an understatement. Bill Gates is, in financial terms at least (and discounting "donations" of Microsoft software), one of the greatest philanthropists ever.

like the mafia taking a portion of their illgotten gains and giving it away to look like good guys in the eyes of the world?

he didn't even start giving money away until his dad told him to consider doing so. :rolleyes:

[az]

How did Mark Shuttleworth make his fortune?

He started a company which offered a web service (secure web transactions via encryption) using free software.

He is a great example of how you can be successful in busines using free software and he beleives in the free software model.

He is taking a risk by trying to make this a viable venture. If he loses, he is a philantropist, pouring all that money into the free software ecosystem (the same one that enabled him to earn his millions in the first place). If he is successful, he is a good businessman.

[UbuWu]

I'm sure Mark has a cunning way to make money on Ubuntu, I expect that he wants to sell support solutions and customized versions to vendors, certification and such. All this however requires a certain sized userbase, he can only get that by giving way the software for free. I think Mark is being very smart here, he has more money than god already it's not like he's struggling to make a living, he's a smart businessman and Ubuntu makes sense to him from a business point of view not just some alturistic ideal of freedom. I expect Mark to break even quite soon, within 2 years would be my conservative estimate.

Read this about his plans:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarkShuttleworth

[Stormy Eyes]

I'm all for feeding the poor, don't get me wrong, but I dislike it when that money is taken from us at gun point, I mean Gates has a stranglehold on the industry.

You think Microsoft is bad? Bill Gates is a piker compared to the extortion politicians get away with on a daily basis.

[commodore]

Noone answered my question...
But I still had some interesting reading.

[UbuWu]

I think you will have to ask him yourself ;) He probably doesn't read this forum very often, but you could try by mail (and then add the answer to his faq on the wiki ;) )

[skoal]

How does "yoga, zen, or anything" directly equate to "giving away money" or a "good guy"?

Dave Thomas (Wendys), Tom Monaghan (Dominos Pizza), and several other billionaires (like Gates even) are some of the world's greatest philanthropists. I'm pretty sure Dave and Tom didn't practice yoga or zen, since I know a "little" about their personal lives. Some could argue that juicy fat and delicious burgers and greasy scrumptious pizzas are more damaging to you personally than anything Bill ever did while "forcing" you (by "gun point") to use a mighty fine and physically benign product, such as an OS. Why not eternally condemn Dave or Tom instead? Geez...

By the way, why the persistent Gates bashing for his philanthropy? Can't a man ever do anything right in some people's eyes? I, personally, don't believe anything he's ever done in business was unethical (or the like from sentiments expressed routinely here on linux forums). However, even if I buy some people's assumptions about the man and his "mafia" like business tactics, how many _more_ billions does he need to contribute to noteworthy causes before some finally celebrate and appreciate that man and finally "forgive" him? It must be a sad sad world we live in when mankind is finally stripped of his last bastion of hope - redemption. Eesh. This is so tiring...

In my eyes, "Humanity to Others" is not exclusive or disjoint from "Humanity starts >>here<<". In some respects, Bill has a leg up in that department.

\\//_

[mstlyevil]

Yoga hurts too much and isn't zen a new fruit based softdrink from Pepsi?

[drogoh]

By the way, why the persistent Gates bashing for his philanthropy?
Simple, he's on the top. It's not because of his philanthropy. You're an awfully tempting target when you're on the top. You, me, Joe "I'm from da streetz yoh" Sixpack from Suburbia, anyone can be on the top and whoever it is will still get hell from people because of the size of the target on his/her ***. It's a lot easier to blame problems with Windows on Bill Gates than it is to blame, say, user error or something equally plausible.

But this is straying from the original topic...

[az]

Noone answered my question...
But I still had some interesting reading.


I did.

[Lovechild]

By the way, why the persistent Gates bashing for his philanthropy? Can't a man ever do anything right in some people's eyes? I, personally, don't believe anything he's ever done in business was unethical (or the like from sentiments expressed routinely here on linux forums). However, even if I buy some people's assumptions about the man and his "mafia" like business tactics, how many _more_ billions does he need to contribute to noteworthy causes before some finally celebrate and appreciate that man and finally "forgive" him? It must be a sad sad world we live in when mankind is finally stripped of his last bastion of hope - redemption.
\\//_

So if I made more money than God, but I did so eating babies.. yes innocent babies - as long as gave half away I should be forgiven for my crimes against humanity.

I don't mind capitalism at all, people should make money, I mind bad business ethics, and money made by extoring, monopolizing and stealing - is dirty money regardless of how you look at it, and no matter how much of it you give away to charity, you are still a bad guy.

[commodore]

How does "yoga, zen, or anything" directly equate to "giving away money" or a "good guy"?
Dave Thomas (Wendys), Tom Monaghan (Dominos Pizza), and several other billionaires (like Gates even) are some of the world's greatest philanthropists. I'm pretty sure Dave and Tom didn't practice yoga or zen, since I know a "little" about their personal lives. Some could argue that juicy fat and delicious burgers and greasy scrumptious pizzas are more damaging to you personally than anything Bill ever did while "forcing" you (by "gun point") to use a mighty fine and physically benign product, such as an OS. Why not eternally condemn Dave or Tom instead? Geez...
By the way, why the persistent Gates bashing for his philanthropy? Can't a man ever do anything right in some people's eyes? I, personally, don't believe anything he's ever done in business was unethical (or the like from sentiments expressed routinely here on linux forums). However, even if I buy some people's assumptions about the man and his "mafia" like business tactics, how many _more_ billions does he need to contribute to noteworthy causes before some finally celebrate and appreciate that man and finally "forgive" him? It must be a sad sad world we live in when mankind is finally stripped of his last bastion of hope - redemption. Eesh. This is so tiring...
In my eyes, "Humanity to Others" is not exclusive or disjoint from "Humanity starts >>here<<". In some respects, Bill has a leg up in that department.
\\//_

I didn't say it directly equates. It's just a possibility that he does any of those things and it would be interesting to know.

[skoal]

I didn't say it directly equates. It's just a possibility that he does any of those things and it would be interesting to know.
Yes, sir. I understand. I was just going by your subject line and what followed by _others_ looked like another unwarranted Gates bash fest muddling up another innocent post. Sorry if my distaste for the latter got mixed in with yours...

By the way, I think his personal history is an intersting one as well. Azz cited a brief synopsis of that. In the videos I've seen him talk or from the occasional media articles about him, he never cited any such activities like yoga or zen. I couldn't find any autobiography in book cover form about him, but I personally would like to hear more about his Soyuz rocket ride.

This site may give you the insight you're looking for: http://www.markshuttleworth.com/bio.html

\\//_

[az]

eating babies.. yes innocent babies - as long as gave half away I should be forgiven for my crimes against humanity.
.


I would only condone the consumption of guilty babies.


Come on! The laws under which these things happen is the problem, not the companies themselves.

I hardly thing you can compare monopolism (for which Microsoft was convicted and punnished) and price-gouging with murdering children!

[Lovechild]

I would only condone the consumption of guilty babies.
Come on! The laws under which these things happen is the problem, not the companies themselves.
I hardly thing you can compare monopolism (for which Microsoft was convicted and punnished) and price-gouging with murdering children!

Dumb laws will always be a problem, however basic ethics - that can be enforced by everyone - I agree that while it's technically borderline only illegal, my objection is the same as I have with taxevasion - people know it's wrong but basic morals doesn't kick in when personal gain is in sight.

One thing I admire Mark for is his excellent business ethics, I don't mind rich people like Mark, they are good people (although not flawless.. which is important to note, we shouldn't put our idols on peditals expecting them to be perfect)

[efforts]

long as they're trying, well...