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Ulrich Kinbote · Oct 14, 2005, 02:40 AM

I've never seen an "Apple special event" until today. Hitherto I've known Steve Jobs from photos as the grizzled, slightly heavyset face of Apple computers; but, damn, those publicity events are not what I expected... at all.

The toadying applause of the audience; the prattling, bragging and name-dropping; and Jobs squirming in his seat with boyish excitement and a sheepish grin saying "this is kinda cool... he he he... and this is also kinda cool."

I don't know why, but when Jobs says that, he sounds like someone's dad trying to show the kids he's still hip, and failing.

Then a call to Madonna (overhead projector : Let's Call Her! The audience : Oooooooo) that was so clearly scripted.

Jobs: "Which iPod do you have, Madonna?"
Madonna (reading teleprompter) : "More like, which one don't I have."

The hubristic glee taken in comparing Apple's (admittedly beautiful) products to the (admittedly inferior) products of the competition, and the bootlicking laughter and clapping of the audience, was the biggest surprise for me. Yes, Apple is better, but can't he play it cool?

Oh well. I still love his work, I just which he wasn't so god damn goofy.

brapper · Oct 14, 2005, 02:44 AM

Good one.

Railroader · Oct 14, 2005, 02:45 AM

You're right. He should act more like Balmer.

Cubeoid · Oct 14, 2005, 02:45 AM

Yea.. Steve has always been a goofball. That's why we love him. He's Steve.

Ulrich Kinbote · Oct 14, 2005, 03:08 AM

That's true. And now that I think about it, Jobs is James Dean compared to Gates.

Cubeoid · Oct 14, 2005, 03:39 AM

Yea. Except James Dean is dead. So he's like.. James Bond, the James Bond of computers.. or Elvis.. Heh.. Stelvis.. or Stevevis.. that's pretty good. Heh... Bill Gates is like Dr Evil. Heh.

Ratm · Oct 14, 2005, 05:06 AM

Stelvis

mojo2 · Oct 14, 2005, 05:33 AM

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

I've never seen an "Apple special event" until today. Hitherto I've known Steve Jobs from photos as the grizzled, slightly heavyset face of Apple computers; but, damn, those publicity events are not what I expected... at all.

The toadying applause of the audience; the prattling, bragging and name-dropping; and Jobs squirming in his seat with boyish excitement and a sheepish grin saying "this is kinda cool... he he he... and this is also kinda cool."

I don't know why, but when Jobs says that, he sounds like someone's dad trying to show the kids he's still hip, and failing.

Then a call to Madonna (overhead projector : Let's Call Her! The audience : Oooooooo) that was so clearly scripted.

Jobs: "Which iPod do you have, Madonna?"
Madonna (reading teleprompter) : "More like, which one don't I have."

The hubristic glee taken in comparing Apple's (admittedly beautiful) products to the (admittedly inferior) products of the competition, and the bootlicking laughter and clapping of the audience, was the biggest surprise for me. Yes, Apple is better, but can't he play it cool?

Oh well. I still love his work, I just which he wasn't so god damn goofy.

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
Confucius

Eriamjh · Oct 14, 2005, 06:15 AM

Why did Mickey Mouse dump Minnie?

Because she was f*cking Goofy.

Cubeoid · Oct 14, 2005, 08:07 AM

Hahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhaha.

Dork. · Oct 14, 2005, 08:27 AM

Looks like somebody didn't get his recommended daily dose of RDF before the keynote....

Cubeoid · Oct 14, 2005, 08:33 AM

Who me? Stay clear of my medications dork. Damn it.

Ulrich Kinbote · Oct 14, 2005, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by Dork.

Looks like somebody didn't get his recommended daily dose of RDF before the keynote....

What?

Dork. · Oct 14, 2005, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

What?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_distortion_field

itistoday · Oct 14, 2005, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

I've never seen an "Apple special event" until today. Hitherto I've known Steve Jobs from photos as the grizzled, slightly heavyset face of Apple computers; but, damn, those publicity events are not what I expected... at all.

The toadying applause of the audience; the prattling, bragging and name-dropping; and Jobs squirming in his seat with boyish excitement and a sheepish grin saying "this is kinda cool... he he he... and this is also kinda cool."

I don't know why, but when Jobs says that, he sounds like someone's dad trying to show the kids he's still hip, and failing.

Then a call to Madonna (overhead projector : Let's Call Her! The audience : Oooooooo) that was so clearly scripted.

Jobs: "Which iPod do you have, Madonna?"
Madonna (reading teleprompter) : "More like, which one don't I have."

The hubristic glee taken in comparing Apple's (admittedly beautiful) products to the (admittedly inferior) products of the competition, and the bootlicking laughter and clapping of the audience, was the biggest surprise for me. Yes, Apple is better, but can't he play it cool?

Oh well. I still love his work, I just which he wasn't so god damn goofy.

Hmmm... I think you have the completely wrong impression, and I say that because I've actually been physically to one of his keynotes. The people there are not "studio audiences", they are real people who are not told what to do, just regular people like you and me. I'll go out on a limb here and guess that you're new to the whole "mac thing", but seriously, everything at those keynotes is genuine.

There is no "applause" sign, and people are free to react however they please. I personally don't see Steve's behavior as anything to be condemned, and I always enjoy his keynotes--and so do many others.

demograph68 · Oct 14, 2005, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

Madonna (reading teleprompter)

It's obvious ******** as anyone should know. Same with the U2 promos.

Peter · Oct 14, 2005, 11:38 AM

his coolness (or lack of..) is what makes Jobs Jobs and not Gates.

turtle777 · Oct 14, 2005, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by mojo2

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
Confucius

Confucius is dead, don't listen to him

-t

Sosa · Oct 14, 2005, 12:04 PM

I love Steve Jobs and those Special events! I love that childish excitement over every new product and incremental improvement. The man takes pride in his work for good reason, he doesn't copy anyone else and he takes risks, most of which pay off. And about him being a little goofy well, I always thought he was very cool. It is easy to criticize. I wonder how you would do if you had to get up in front of an international audience every few months to announce small improvements and attempt to generate business for your company. The man is a genious!

typoon · Oct 14, 2005, 03:44 PM

Jobs is probably one of the best speakers out there. Not many can insite so much emotion either way for a product like he can. You should watch some of his Macworld Keynotes. His speeches should be taught in Speech classes. I would think his "boyish excitement" would be a good thing. It goes to show his passion and his belief in his product. If you don't believe in your product and don't have the passion for it people won't buy it no matter how good it is.

Jobs shows this when he speaks during his keynotes. The audience is no way a "studio" audience. I too have had the pleasure of going to a Macworld Keynote and it was one of the best experiences.

Eug Wanker · Oct 14, 2005, 03:54 PM

What? Minnie Mouse and Steve Jobs?

Fred_Cokebottle · Oct 14, 2005, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

Oh well. I still love his work, I just which he wasn't so god damn goofy.

Well, I am hungry and I could use a sandwhish!

Kerrigan · Oct 14, 2005, 04:29 PM

Judging from his S/N I thought that this was another Ken Masters / Fred Cokebottle / Kate Constipate post... but sadly I don't think it is.

Cubeoid · Oct 14, 2005, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by Fred_Cokebottle

Well, I am hungry and I could use a sandwhish!

Check out my cheese toast thread. I end up making curry rice, that was a great night. Mmm.

Ulrich Kinbote · Oct 14, 2005, 11:55 PM

Originally Posted by typoon

Jobs is probably one of the best speakers out there.

Oh. My. God.

That Job's is an enjoyable public speaker is perhaps defensible.

But to call him the best public speaker "out there" is ludicrous hyperbole.

Of course it depends on what you understand to be "out there." To be honest, you need (desperately) to broaden your horizons if you believe a Steve Jobs' Keynote presentation is the zenith of public speaking.

Jobs's presentations are a success because of the Apple products, in spite of his underwhelming public speaking skills.

As for best public speaker, Vilayanur Ramachandran and Noam Chomsky would be on my short list.

Jobs. Tsk.

Cubeoid · Oct 15, 2005, 12:00 AM

yea.. if jobs talked about exports of corn, it would be boring as hell...but we would still love the goofball no matter what he said, even if he talked about some kind of didease he would still fill the statiums.

Ratm · Oct 15, 2005, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

I've never seen an "Apple special event" until today. Hitherto I've known Steve Jobs from photos as the grizzled, slightly heavyset face of Apple computers; but, damn, those publicity events are not what I expected... at all.

The toadying applause of the audience; the prattling, bragging and name-dropping; and Jobs squirming in his seat with boyish excitement and a sheepish grin saying "this is kinda cool... he he he... and this is also kinda cool."

I don't know why, but when Jobs says that, he sounds like someone's dad trying to show the kids he's still hip, and failing.

Then a call to Madonna (overhead projector : Let's Call Her! The audience : Oooooooo) that was so clearly scripted.

Jobs: "Which iPod do you have, Madonna?"
Madonna (reading teleprompter) : "More like, which one don't I have."

The hubristic glee taken in comparing Apple's (admittedly beautiful) products to the (admittedly inferior) products of the competition, and the bootlicking laughter and clapping of the audience, was the biggest surprise for me. Yes, Apple is better, but can't he play it cool?

Oh well. I still love his work, I just which he wasn't so god damn goofy.

Stop judging him....sausage licker!

I don't like you.

Cubeoid · Oct 15, 2005, 12:09 AM

Ulrich Kinbote · Oct 15, 2005, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

Since this thread -- polarized into irreconcilable hearsay -- is breathing it's last, I just want to close by saying your defense of Jobs's public speaking skills* is founded on the ad hominem fallacy that his company's products somehow set him above criticism.

This is a similar position taken by the Catholic Church when with incontroverible authority the Pope speaks ex cathedra.

But it says a lot about Apple products (like, for example, that they kick ass) that they can inspire this kind of consumer loyalty, which extends to a zelous emotional defense of the personality of the founder.

Jobs is cool, just a bit goofy's all. But you have to admit that this ability of some of Mac users to develop an intellectual blind-spot for Jobs's shortcomings is, in different circumstances, the foundation of dangerous personality cults.

Oh yes, you quaff the proverbial Kool-aid, yes you do.

* Or lack thereof.

Ratm · Oct 15, 2005, 04:15 AM

blah blah blah

You know something about your manner and style of writing reminds me of someone....Cubeoid. Alias? Yeah. The freaky sig pick is another giveaway. It's just his style.

Ulrich Kinbote · Oct 15, 2005, 05:02 AM

It's true. I'm Cubeoid. Right Cubeoid?