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let's not forget, distilling anyone into "good" or "bad" is a trait of a weak mind.

OP here. I was fascinated by the author's take on the juxtaposition of Bill Gates' malevolent legacy of old, to wit:

http://www.groklaw.net/staticpages/index.php?page=2007021720...

with the "new" Bill Gates model of what seems to be benevolence and global amity. Personally, I struggle with my sourness towards his past behaviour in light of what I see as admirable conduct in the present.

This too applies to me. I disliked his effect on the industry at large, and software licencing, and pace of development. His work outside of the computing industry has been humane, and focussed on matters often at odds with the US republican christian-right wing: women's reproductive health, contraception and vaccination. For that, I applaud him.

I agreed until you said "weak mind". It's normal and human to try to categorize people and see them as a consistent actor.

It's also something we're socialized to do (to see people as good or evil) by religion, movies, comics, the justice system, and political leaders. It's not easy to escape from all that conditioning.

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