My Neighbor, Steve Jobs • Hacker News Board

Re: My Neighbor, Steve Jobs

#11

Post by runjake » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 8:14 PM UTC

truthseeker wrote: post #4

Next up on HN: Blog post from housekeeper of Mr. Steve about how exacting he is on some occasions and how kind he is on other. I think Steve Jobs and his contributions to the tech world are extraordinary. I wish him well and hope he lives happily for a long long time. Just as I wish for anyone I know or do not know, that they live happily. Steve is not a friend of either you or me. I do not need to know how he was as…

There may be some idolizing, but I think it's more about premature eulogizing of a man who's made huge contributions to technology, whether you buy Apple products or not. Ballmer isn't even in the same realm.

Personally, I'm interested in his life beyond Apple. He was an out-of-the-box thinker who went through many serious failures and successes. How could he NOT be interesting? I feel I could learn a lot from him. I certainly learned a lot from his now-classic Stanford(?) speech.

We all really do hope for the best for his health, but we all have this unspoken belief that his days are very numbered.

I suspect that like me, many others feel the need to thank him for what he's accomplished, and reviewing and celebrating his life is the next best thing to shaking his hand.

Re: My Neighbor, Steve Jobs

#12

Post by sethbaur » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 8:19 PM UTC

trekgunner wrote: post #5

I just checked CNN. I had to because the piece at the end made it sound like he ea dead.

I've done the same thing. Even though I knew he wasn't dead, everyone is talking about him as though he is. And now we're supposed to be surprised by the fact that he's a normal person, just like you and me?

Re: My Neighbor, Steve Jobs

#13

Post by hunterjrj » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 8:29 PM UTC

padmanabhan01 wrote: post #10

This audio (6 min long) is worth a listen. Steve Jobs, when he was around 26 or so. http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/pagegen/brochure/p3.html

Great clip. Thanks for sharing.

Re: My Neighbor, Steve Jobs

#14

Post by tedkalaw » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 8:29 PM UTC

This reminded me that the people that seem to know the most ABOUT Steve Jobs don't actually know Steve Jobs. Really cool to read.

Re: My Neighbor, Steve Jobs

#15

Post by idanb » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 8:35 PM UTC

A few months ago I had just taken a meeting in Palo Alto and went down the street to sit at a Starbucks to wait for a ride since I rode the caltrain and had no way to get around. I was doing some work when Steve Jobs walked in. My grandfather passed away from Pancreatic cancer and was by no means walking around having a coffee with friends at this stage. It was really inspiring to see him pushing through the condition and refusing to give up.

Some jerk kid walked up to him and asked if it'd be alright to take a picture with him. Steve dismissed him with such a confidence you wouldn't expect. I think in general a guy like that with such amazing ideas has to have this extremely thick shell to the world, but underneath I'm sure he's an amazing father, husband, and friend. I was really lucky to be there that day, definitely changed my perspective on a few things.

Re: My Neighbor, Steve Jobs

#16

Post by elb0w » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 8:39 PM UTC

Thank god this is on HN, not sure what I would of done without reading this article. Lets make sure to spread this one around folks.

Re: My Neighbor, Steve Jobs

#17

Post by dctoedt » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 8:46 PM UTC

When [EDIT: you think] someone's dying, it's more satisfying to tell him (or her) how much you appreciate him, while he's still around to take some pleasure in it, than to attend the funeral wishing you'd done so.

Re: My Neighbor, Steve Jobs

#18

Post by ryandotsmith » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 9:03 PM UTC

truthseeker wrote: post #4

Next up on HN: Blog post from housekeeper of Mr. Steve about how exacting he is on some occasions and how kind he is on other. I think Steve Jobs and his contributions to the tech world are extraordinary. I wish him well and hope he lives happily for a long long time. Just as I wish for anyone I know or do not know, that they live happily. Steve is not a friend of either you or me. I do not need to know how he was as…

I bet there aren't any biographies on your shelf.

Re: My Neighbor, Steve Jobs

#19

Post by inovica » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 9:17 PM UTC

truthseeker wrote: post #4

Next up on HN: Blog post from housekeeper of Mr. Steve about how exacting he is on some occasions and how kind he is on other. I think Steve Jobs and his contributions to the tech world are extraordinary. I wish him well and hope he lives happily for a long long time. Just as I wish for anyone I know or do not know, that they live happily. Steve is not a friend of either you or me. I do not need to know how he was as…

I personally think that its sometimes the small details that make up the man (sorry, or woman!) and because Steve Jobs is seen as such a success people want to look at what he does partly to look for traits to emulate and naturally partly as curiosity. Yes, there are elements here which are purely 'celebrity' but the interesting thing for me about some of these stories is just how 'ordinary' the guy is. I read one article about his house which is not ostentatious at all. There's a lot that can be learned from people like this and you have the choice to read (or not read) them.

Re: My Neighbor, Steve Jobs

#20

Post by rdl » Wed, Aug 31, 2011, 9:25 PM UTC

sriramk wrote: post #7

I'm ashamed to admit that part of the reason for my wife (artithmetic on HN) and I to pick our current apartment in Palo Alto several months ago was because it was a stone's throw away from Jobs' house. He's been a long time hero of mine and when we got a chance to live close by, we jumped at it. Bonus - we're even closer to several YC startups, I suspect if I shout loudly, the LikeALittle guys can hear it.

One of the most amazing things about Palo Alto is that the city-provided services are actually good enough that people like Steve Jobs use them, in preference to private schools, fortified compounds, etc. At least, this is amazing to me after living in a bunch of third world places where even lower middle class people try to avoid any contact with neighbors, government-provided services, etc.

(my girlfriend actually went to a Palo Alto high school with Lisa Jobs, too)