Apple's Tim Cook profiled as "most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley" - Page 3

Originally Posted by Avenged110

A little piece of the Apple love inside of me just died. Guess it's time to find something else to love in the tech world.

Originally Posted by ramkoff

AI isn't speculating that Tim Cook is gay, they are just reporting that Valleywag is profiling him as such.

As for those offended by AI "outing" him, I remind you that AI is not reporting him as being gay Valleywag is. And seeing that there has been no official confirmation from Cook himself he is hardly "out".

Originally Posted by A Spoonful of Lester

As a gay man, I found this article inspiring and not at all offensive. Being gay is not offensive. And it sounds as if he's already out in his personal life, this is just the first time it's getting any media attention. But none of the content of this article was offensive in the slightest.

We need more people in power to be out and proud.

Originally Posted by halfyearsun

Seriously. This is gossip. And AI is reporting on gossip. Especially something as fiercely personal as this. I'd say it was an inappropriate and irresponsible choice to publish this

Originally Posted by wizard69

There is outrage because Appleinsider is an Apple gadget site, this crap isn't about gadgets at all. Frankly it is diving into peoples personal lives for no good reason. It is objectionable in the same way that diving into Steves health issues is objectionable. Of course many don't see the ugliness of that either, to which we can credit to being brought up in leftist households.

Appleinsider simply isn't the place for this. If one of the secretaries at Apple had a history of attending gang bangs would you want it detailed here? Seriously? For some it might be very interesting but let's face it there are plenty of sites on the net for that.

Except Obama has none of those qualities. That has nothing to do with hate it is just a reflection of reality. What is sad here is that you use this forum and pathetic thread to try to elevate this man beyond what he is capable of. I'm not sure if you are trying to pull focus away from the issue at hand or what. As to the issue at hand what does gay sex have to do with Apple gadgets? That in a nut shell is the problem with this thread.


By definition they are defective, just like anybody else with a birth defect. The great shame here is that any sort of birth defect associated with sex gets classed differently than any other birth defect. There is no justification for that. You can't go around treating people as leapers simple because of an accident of birth.

As to censorship that is BS in this case. Most of us come to AI to read up on Apple hardware, software and rumors. It isn't the place to discuss anybodies sex life, in that regard AI has failed miserably to excercise editorial control. Frankly this whole thread should be pulled because it pollutes the forum with crap that has nothing to do with Appleinsiders mission.

Originally Posted by wizard69

There is outrage because Appleinsider is an Apple gadget site, this crap isn't about gadgets at all. Frankly it is diving into peoples personal lives for no good reason. It is objectionable in the same way that diving into Steves health issues is objectionable. Of course many don't see the ugliness of that either, to which we can credit to being brought up in leftist households.

Appleinsider simply isn't the place for this. If one of the secretaries at Apple had a history of attending gang bangs would you want it detailed here? Seriously? For some it might be very interesting but let's face it there are plenty of sites on the net for that.

Except Obama has none of those qualities. That has nothing to do with hate it is just a reflection of reality. What is sad here is that you use this forum and pathetic thread to try to elevate this man beyond what he is capable of. I'm not sure if you are trying to pull focus away from the issue at hand or what. As to the issue at hand what does gay sex have to do with Apple gadgets? That in a nut shell is the problem with this thread.


By definition they are defective, just like anybody else with a birth defect. The great shame here is that any sort of birth defect associated with sex gets classed differently than any other birth defect. There is no justification for that. You can't go around treating people as leapers simple because of an accident of birth.

As to censorship that is BS in this case. Most of us come to AI to read up on Apple hardware, software and rumors. It isn't the place to discuss anybodies sex life, in that regard AI has failed miserably to excercise editorial control. Frankly this whole thread should be pulled because it pollutes the forum with crap that has nothing to do with Appleinsiders mission.

Originally Posted by halfyearsun

Seriously. This is gossip. And AI is reporting on gossip. Especially something as fiercely personal as this. I'd say it was an inappropriate and irresponsible choice to publish this

Originally Posted by Eye

I've been looking for an article:

"Steve Jobs, the most powerful heterosexual man in Silicon Valley"

But... I didn't find it...

Originally Posted by nvidia2008

Seriously though, there needs to be more info on gay people that do other things besides the above to counter that stereotype! I can't stand watching all that next fashion/model/bimbo-superstar crap on TV with all the flamboyant gay men. Imagine if you're gay and you don't have a great haircut (dyed a flamboyant colour), super-snazzy outfits or a tight body... it can be tough.

Originally Posted by solsun

Well I'm a gay man, and no, I'm not offended by the headline, but yes, it is a silly story... Of course Tim Cook is gay. who cares? and furthermore, did anyone really not know that already?

..

Originally Posted by ascii

If sexual orientation was a choice, then I would be worried about hiring him, because someone who would let that be done to them, what else might they do that could harm my company? But to the best of my knowledge the current science has gayness being genetic, so no worries.

Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton

Gay? Who cares?

The real story is that Steve Jobs requires that Tim Cook and Phil Schiller wear colla'd shirts. Only The Anointed One may wear the black turtleneck.

Originally Posted by newbee

... but AI took it upon themselves to talk about an individual without even asking permission from said individual .... at least, afaik.

Originally Posted by Lorre

... personally I feel like a gay CEO should be a total non-issue. However, many people (and countries) don't see it that way. In big parts of the world, homophily is still a very big taboo.
And many of those areas where it's taboo are important growth markets for Apple.

I wonder how this will affect Apple's growth in areas such as China and the Middle East. I really cannot imagine those Saudi oil sheikhs buying $2000 laptops from a company that has a "sinfull" CEO. Maybe they'll even ban Apple products...

Originally Posted by womble2k2

What a horrible article. Yes I applaud Apple for not having any prejudice's against any person's sexuality, but that is how it should be.

A person's sexuality is their personal life and has nothing to do with what they can / cannot achieve in working life.

Originally Posted by KiltedGreen

I'm not sure what I think about this. It's the oddest article to have come across on AI and seems irrelevant and yet though we are used to pop stars and celebrities and increasingly politicians saying they are gay it's still very rare in the business world.

I'm old enough to remember my teenage years when the only role models I had were Danny La Rue, Larry Grayson and Liberace! Hardly inspiring for a young man trying to work out why I felt different and what that meant. So, if a gay man or woman can see that you can be in Tim Cook's position and be gay then that's a big help to those who have doubts about their own place in the scheme of things.

Having said that, I hate people being 'outed' (unless they are hypocritical gay men or women) and I have never heard of Valleywag though it sounds like some kind of Silicon Valley gossip mag. If he's acknowledged being gay already then that's one thing but I don't know much background.

However, the article has dragged a few interesting response from AI posters the vast majority of which I'm pleased to see are very adult which is encouraging amongst a load of tech geeks I had to respond to a few:



Well, obviously you won't find it - everyone is automatically assumed to be heterosexual until proved otherwise. Doh!



Spot on and goes to my opening remarks!



Well, I had no idea. How would I have known that? I am in the UK admittedly.




An amazingly homophobic comment. " because someone who would let that be done to them, what else might they do that could harm my company?" Let what be done to them? What has this bizarre idea to do with what else they might to do your company? This is very twisted thinking indeed.

Secondly, what the hell has choice to do with anything? The idea that if you choose to love someone of the same sex it's hideous and horrible and wrong but if genetics "made me do it" then it's OK is SO bigoted. The questions for all things humans do should be "Does it cause suffering to another?", "Who is being hurt by this?" (And I don't mean whose morals are upset). If I suddenly chose to enter a relationship with a woman would that be completely wrong because I'm genetically gay? The twisted 'logic' people use to cloak their bigotry never fails to amaze. If you think something is wrong or immoral then say so and then we can discuss it.




Love it!



When was the last time that the media wrote about someone only after they'd asked them if it was OK first?



This is an interesting point around who you are and how much of yourself you hide. What if Steve Jobs announced last year that he was gay and that the "friend" he'd taken to all those staff parties etc. was in fact his partner? Should he pretend to be someone he's not just so that Apple's share price stays high? Should he in effect say that "Yes, your bigotry in [Apple export Market X] is entirely justifiable and as you you would hate me for being me I'll pretend I'm straight to ensure our company's health and your continued purchases". This is something many music artists and other 'media people' have grappled with. I suppose Elton John is a prime example - he got married and hid everything away for years. His career has not suffered for now being completely out. Of course



In some way I agree but you see we are for the most part invisible. Let's say that you are gay and want to be a top footballer. You look to see what other footballers there are who you know are gay. How many do you find. 0. In the world. What is the conclusion? There are NO gay footballers. One, Justin Fashanu is still, 13 years on, the only professional footballer ever to have come out whilst he was still playing. He later committed suicide. Almost every single sports person we know to be gay came out after they left the sport with Gareth Jones as one of the very few exceptions.Why is this? Although being gay has no effect on whether you are or aren't able to play it could crush your spirit. Sitting in the changing rooms listening to homophobic abuse, hearing it shouted from the terraces at football matches and providing no role models. Imagine how it would feel if you were a straight sportsperson and every single footballer you knew of was gay? How would you feel?

Originally Posted by Avenged110

A little piece of the Apple love inside of me just died. Guess it's time to find something else to love in the tech world.

Originally Posted by armaster73

If this was a story about the most powerful minority or female CEO in the US, everyone would be proud that Apple was getting this attention. (How many stories did we hear about Carly Fiorina when she took over at HP?)

This is why this story is powerful and needed, especially to many young gay kids who need good role models. Seeing one of the most successful companies have a gay man treated as an equal by Steve Jobs and the rest of the executive team is a powerful message. It also continues to breakdown stereotypes.

My only hope is he is out and this didn't 'out' him to the world against his wishes.

Originally Posted by bedouin

Hopefully this will repel teabagger losers away from Apple and enhance the community even more.

Originally Posted by Lorre

This is actually the most relevant post in this entire topic if you ask me.

I have a few gay friends, and personally I feel like a gay CEO should be a total non-issue. However, many people (and countries) don't see it that way. In big parts of the world, homophily is still a very big taboo.
And many of those areas where it's taboo are important growth markets for Apple.

I wonder how this will affect Apple's growth in areas such as China and the Middle East. I really cannot imagine those Saudi oil sheikhs buying $2000 laptops from a company that has a "sinfull" CEO. Maybe they'll even ban Apple products... I really hope I'm wrong though, as to me, Tim Cook seems like an extremely capable guy that would be a very worthy successor for Steve Jobs, and I wish him all the best in running this company.

And I, together with many of the people here, hope that one day being gay will be a complete non-issue all over the world.

Originally Posted by newbee

Just because it wasn't slanderous doesn't mean it wasn't potentially embarrassing. There is such a thing as being concerned for a person's right to privacy.

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

I think that is the major issue -- are they outing him against his wishes.

If they are, then your prior point about "young gay kids needing good role models" is put in jeopardy.

How can you be a role model if you are gay and not out?

If you are gay and choose not to be out, will success in your area of endeavor, subject you to being outed against your wishes.


I am 71 years old. I have seen prejudices and stereotypes of all kinds -- some demonstrated by society, friends and family.

I admit I have my own set of prejudices.


During those 71 years I have seen many "accepted prejudices" mitigated if not resolved.

Sometimes, it takes a bold public stance by a group or individual to bring attention to the issue.

Other times it takes an "in-your-face" attitude.

Still, other times, thoughtful discussion is required.

Sometimes, doing nothing (or little steps) while society catches up -- is in order.


Hopefully, someday, society will cast off its prejudices and those that practice them will be relegated to the fringes.


But, we must never lose respect for the individual and his wishes.


IMO, AI and DED have violated that respect by publishing this article.

Originally Posted by newbee

Your idea of "offensive" might be different if the story was about you, no?

Originally Posted by womble2k2

What a horrible article. Yes I applaud Apple for not having any prejudice's against any person's sexuality, but that is how it should be.

A person's sexuality is their personal life and has nothing to do with what they can / cannot achieve in working life.

Originally Posted by KiltedGreen

In some way I agree but you see we are for the most part invisible. Let's say that you are gay and want to be a top footballer. You look to see what other footballers there are who you know are gay. How many do you find. 0. In the world. What is the conclusion? There are NO gay footballers. One, Justin Fashanu is still, 13 years on, the only professional footballer ever to have come out whilst he was still playing. He later committed suicide. Almost every single sports person we know to be gay came out after they left the sport with Gareth Jones as one of the very few exceptions. Why is this? Although being gay has no effect on whether you are or aren't able to play it could crush your spirit. Sitting in the changing rooms listening to homophobic abuse, hearing it shouted from the terraces at football matches and providing no role models. Imagine how it would feel if you were a straight sportsperson and every single footballer you knew of was gay? How would you feel?

Originally Posted by halfyearsun

Seriously. This is gossip. And AI is reporting on gossip. Especially something as fiercely personal as this. I'd say it was an inappropriate and irresponsible choice to publish this

Originally Posted by solsun

Sure, but profiling a person and simply stating that they are gay is not and should not be considered embarrassing or an invasion of his privacy..

Now, if they were slandering him for being gay, and going on about details of his sex life and sexual partners, then yes, I'd consider that an invasion of privacy.. Being gay is a big part of who a person is, and without being invasive or going into details, this article listed plenty of other things about his life... He is dedicated, he is a workaholic, he is a fitness nut, and yes, he also happens to be gay.. big deal..

Sitting in the changing rooms listening to homophobic abuse, hearing it shouted from the terraces at football matches and providing no role models. Imagine how it would feel if you were a straight sportsperson and every single footballer you knew of was gay? How would you feel?

Originally Posted by penchanted

Gay or not, he seems to know how to lead the team troops when Steve is unavailable. I am amazed that gender, race and sexual orientation are even an issue when assessing someone's ability to lead a company. People should be considered on their merits.