Requiem

I'm sure most of the people who will read this are aware that I'm not a fan of Apple or especially of Steve Jobs. I'll preface this by saying I won't be saying anything particularly negative about him here; rather, I feel that everything I disliked about him I've already voiced and this wouldn't be the appropriate time to criticize him, anyway.

What I will be saying is this. I didn't realize it until after his death, but I think a lot of the dislike I had towards the guy was misplaced. Sure, he was a ruthless businessman, but so are most of the unbelievably rich. I dislike them as well, but for some reason I've always disliked Jobs on an entirely different level. I think I've finally figured it out, and it's really not anything that's his fault.

It's idolatry. That's what always pissed me off the most. That people would idolize a businessman who is there purely to make a profit. While I never felt that the drive to succeed was anything detestable, I certainly never felt it was anything worthy of praise either. And yet people WORSHIPED the guy. Seriously. People name their children after him, they make shrines to him, they sing his praises on high. That's what really irritated me. The idolatry. People treated a person who was merely a successful businessman as a saint.

And why did this irritate me? I'll tell you why. It's because of the everyday heroes who go unnoticed or, even worse, are forsaken by the public. Firefighters, volunteer workers, even just the random passerby who happens to help out someone in need. They're never noticed in the eye of the public; nobody celebrates their deeds, their trials. Nobody names their children after them, nobody enshrines them. This is what really bothers me, beyond anything Jobs might have done as a businessman.

So, at the very least, I feel like I owe this man an apology. My anger was certainly misdirected. He was more or less your average businessman, and I am truly sorry for treated him, during his life, as some sort of demon.

No, the true target of my anger should not be Jobs, but the Apple fanbase.

You. You people disgust me.

Where were your condolences when the policeman lost his life trying to stop an attacker? Where was your praise for those who gave their time to aid in the relief of a major disaster? When did you ever give recognition to the people who work day in and day out to protect the lifestyle you hold dear? Have you ever, even once, stopped to thank one of the people who sacrifice to make the world a better place?

No. You sit there drinking your mochafrappachino latte du cafe, shoveling undue praise on a person who was merely successful at his trade, as the firemen, the public servants, the army folk; as these people give their lives (sometimes quite literally) so that you can enjoy your lifestyle. Where is your thanks to them? Sure, those people do what they do not expecting or even desiring thanks in return. But does it ever hurt to thank the person who risks their life every day so that you don't have to?

So again, I apologize, Mr. Jobs, for my undue anger toward you; even if it is a bit late. Certainly, the death of any person is a cause for mourning. However, you will have to forgive me if I do not mourn your death in the same way as I mourn the deaths of those faceless few who gave their lives so that you didn't have to.

We shouldn't forget that all of Job's "first innovations" were all Xerox's ideas and technology.

The only hate I have is the people worshiping him and how he was smart enough to trick people into buying overpriced low end part devices(honest to God I haven't seen anyone else do it like him).

While I must admit, I am a bit of an Apple fanboy, I in no way idolised him, and I definitely agree with what you are saying. Just because someone is an Apple fan, doesn't mean you have to worship this guy, who like cows has mentioned, is just a business man good at his trade.

While I will agree that he did wonderful, innovative things in the world of technology, I myself don't see the point in worshipping him.

I definitely wish his family all the best and all my condolences, but I do feel that there are much better people out there who deserve more recognition for their actions.

I thought everyone already knew the worst part of Apple was the fanbase.

Though I must say, some people have pretty legit reasons to admire the guy. Realistically, he was a cunning businessman. He knew how to do business. I would think that whether his achievements are praiseworthy or not are highly subjective.

Honestly, I feel people can rant about the products and all.. but it's the ideas that were the innovation. I feel we'd be in an entirely different world if it wasn't for Steve Jobs- business man aside, he really has helped to shape technology and communication. I think he should be regarded as a forward thinker more than anything, and I think having him as an idol in that regard is actually a great thing.

Most of the world admires him for Pixar, more-so than Apple. And you really can't deny that Pixar has touched many people's lives, and it wouldn't have been that way without him.

I agree with a lot of what was said in your blog, but to go as far as to say that the Apple fanbase as a whole don't hold condolences or praise or recognition for the things you said, especially without knowing much about the people involved in the fanbase?

I think I have the right to admire whomever I choose to; just the same with all of you. But to be scrutinized and criticized in such a way for that? Tactless. I find that highly disrespectful and disconcerting.

ummm the policemen who lose their lives protecting people, the men in Afghan war who die for their country, and the firemen who are killed rescuing people DO get necessary praise. Well where I live they do anyway. There are always memorials, segments in the news, front cover stories in the newspapers telling their story.

Jobs, like those people who help their community/country, also deserves HIS necessary praise. Like Kura said, he helped shape our technology and communications. He just deserves respect on a different level and for different things. But i certainly don't think he, and other business men alike, overshadow the likes of our heroes of society. He is just more well known on an international level.

I am an Apple Fan and I stop what I am doing to read about the heroes in my country who have died or been injured protecting people. I give thanks as part of school Masses and Assemblies when a teacher leaves or give thanks to people like my mother who does volunteer work at my Primary school for the past 14 years. I think your rant is a little naive, accusing apple fans of that :( Also I certainly don't idolize him.

I think there are as many apple haters who don't 'give their condolences to people who risk their lives'.

I don't think anyone who "worshipped" Steve Jobs thought everyday heroes like firefighters, rescue workers, volunteers, etc. were any less worthy of love and adoration, it's just... Jobs worked for a company that pioneered many things about the technology industry that shaped it to what it is today. Whatever his reasons for it, he was very involved in the products that Apple created and for a lot of people, those products bring great joy. I don't necessarily understand it myself but if people want to look up to him and feel impressed by him... so what? Yeah, they get hella annoying when they go around pushing their opinions about him or the company in everyone's face but for the most part, if they want to idolize him, that's their business. There are certainly worse people in the world they could have chosen.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to idolize someone who, for whatever reason, did something great in an industry you love and respect.

I doubt you yourself go around everyday giving thanks to the unsung heroes. If you do, that's excellent and I commend you for it but otherwise? Let people choose their idols in peace.

@Nick: I wasn't aware anyone worshipped him for Pixar-related things, lmao.

@Erica: Most of my Facebook timeline is mentioning him because of Toy Story more than anything. I'm actually surprised so many people are posting statuses related to him on there, because 3/4ths my Facebook friends aren't very technical people.

As if to accentuate my point, a true great was take only a few days prior, it seems (Sept. 30). I've yet to see any news headlines about his death, despite his (in my opinion) far more important contributions.

http://i.imgur.com/KmCzW.png

@Nick: Yes, I was a bit vague. I was referring to a very specific group of people in this post, I didn't mean any particular person who buys or uses an Apple product.

@KG: Where I live at least, they get a brief back-page story in a newspaper. National news doesn't even say anything except maybe a few statistics about soldier deaths.

@Lightning: I guess it just upsets me a bit when the person making headlines world-wide is the ruthless businessman and not the person sacrificing to make the world a better place. Also, I am letting people idolize who they want, I'm just ranting about it. This is just what's going through my head, I'm not going out and forcing my beliefs down peoples' throats.