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Comment by pg | Hacker News Reader

Unless you know these people personally, you don't really know what they're like. I know Mark isn't though.

I know them as much as the comment above me knows Kanye. Being an asshole is a public persona, and each of those people has been called or referred to as an asshole.

edit: and there are plenty of anecdotal "Kanye is a nice guy when you meet him" stories as well. Evel Knievel sued Kanye and described him as 'vulgar an offensive', after they met he said "I thought he was a wonderful guy and a gentleman":

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-11-27-ka...

Laughing at 'Bill Gates is an asshole.' I've heard this anecdotally about everyone on your list, but not about him. People malign Microsoft and Windows, but please show me anecdotes about Gates the person being an asshole.

You haven't been around the tech scene long have you? Gates has a well-known reputation within MS as ruthless, snarky, and yes an asshole at times. See the numerous references to his (famous if only anecdotal) refrains when unsatisfied with someone else's work.

Also read Paul Allen's book -- specifically the part where Gates tried to screw Paul by diluting his stock.

Here is Spolsky's take on what Bill Gates was like to work for:

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html

Certainly feared to some extent.

Bill Gates does not come across as an asshole at all in that article.

Throughout the netscape vs IE era, Gates was considered a ruthless businessman internationally. The situation is 10 years old and fading, but asshole was definitely a predominant take on Gates for a long time

Kanye at the next startup school, so we can rule him out too? :)

I respect you a lot and you sure have more information than most of us. But Mr. Zuckerberg called "dumb fucks" users who gave him personal information. I do not know him personally, but with that one in mind and the privacy issues of Facebook, I find it hard to see how he isn't.

He was showing off/joking. If every undergrad who has said something like that is an asshole, then pretty much everyone is.

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