Never mind the issue of tech worker poaching and whatever secret agreements the companies made, the real issue here is Ballmer’s terrifying spasm of violence. He ought to have been removed from the building and barred from the property, and his employment terminated. That type of outburst is never ok because it forces everyone to wonder at what point he might assault someone.

I don’t care how many billions of dollars are at stake, none of it is worth getting hurt over, and throwing chairs around demonstrates that he has lost that perspective.