the writer Antonio García Martínez wrote: “When Apple launched the Macintosh computer in 1984, they famously ran a Super Bowl ad that featured a solitary figure flinging a sledgehammer into a Big-Brother-like face spewing propaganda at the huddled ranks of some drab dystopia. The tech titans nowadays resemble more and more the haranguing figure on the screen than the colorful rebel going against the established order.” – ANTONIO GARCÍA MARTÍNEZ
I haven’t thought about that commercial for years, but the author is right–dazzlingly correct–the tech oligarchs have become exactly the haranguing figure on the screen.
The only statement I slightly disagree with in this article is “But in a world where tech moguls come to us as nice, calm and normal people,” Ok, they’re not as wild as McAfee but most of them are not remotely normal. Look at Gates and Zuckerberg. A couple of great business minds but real oddballs.
I’d love to read an Unherd article about the current attempts (I’m still not sure they’re real) to apply antitrust law to the tech giants and break them up. I have a sneaking suspicion it’s mostly window dressing. The politicians know who their masters are.
Gates and Zuckerberg are nerds from the vast nerd pond who made good and/or got lucky.
Gates with his philanthropy could have really left a legacy, but his divorce has exposed some oh so humdrum shenanigans with unsavoury people.
Zuckerberg is just beyond the pale and the stench of corruption and arrogance is starting to become overpowering. I loathe him.
Lesley van Reenen
2 years ago
Fly high McAfee. I wonder about the secrets he took to his grave. As Eric Weinstein says – there are too few geniuses and heroes (rebels?) that are allowed to flourish.
the writer Antonio García Martínez wrote:
“When Apple launched the Macintosh computer in 1984, they famously ran a Super Bowl ad that featured a solitary figure flinging a sledgehammer into a Big-Brother-like face spewing propaganda at the huddled ranks of some drab dystopia. The tech titans nowadays resemble more and more the haranguing figure on the screen than the colorful rebel going against the established order.”
– ANTONIO GARCÍA MARTÍNEZ
I haven’t thought about that commercial for years, but the author is right–dazzlingly correct–the tech oligarchs have become exactly the haranguing figure on the screen.
The only statement I slightly disagree with in this article is “But in a world where tech moguls come to us as nice, calm and normal people,” Ok, they’re not as wild as McAfee but most of them are not remotely normal. Look at Gates and Zuckerberg. A couple of great business minds but real oddballs.
I’d love to read an Unherd article about the current attempts (I’m still not sure they’re real) to apply antitrust law to the tech giants and break them up. I have a sneaking suspicion it’s mostly window dressing. The politicians know who their masters are.
Gates and Zuckerberg are nerds from the vast nerd pond who made good and/or got lucky.
Gates with his philanthropy could have really left a legacy, but his divorce has exposed some oh so humdrum shenanigans with unsavoury people.
Zuckerberg is just beyond the pale and the stench of corruption and arrogance is starting to become overpowering. I loathe him.
Fly high McAfee. I wonder about the secrets he took to his grave. As Eric Weinstein says – there are too few geniuses and heroes (rebels?) that are allowed to flourish.
A kaleidoscoping personality – unusual