Jack "The Tyrant" Tramiel is dead

[Sketcz]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/04/09/computer-legend-and-gaming-pioneer-jack-tramiel-dies-at-age-83/

Lots of forums across the internet are mourning his passing, saying it's a sad day...

This isn't sad news. This isn't even remotely sad news. Every time a tyrant, jerk or nasty bastard snuffs it (like Steve Jobs), the whole world forgets their unethical or unpleasant behaviour in order to canonise them.

Didn't Jack have a tendency to MASSIVELY over-order quantities of microchips/components from small companies, have them arrive, then refuse to pay the company so they'd go bankrupt, then afterwards when they were in administration he'd buy the company for less than he owed them, thereby then also cheaply acquiring the means to produce his own chips?

I dunno about anyone else, but that to me sounds like unethical behaviour.

Jack Tramiel was an awful, awful human being that ruined small businesses, families and people's lives.

I have personally suffered through a lot of unethical business practices, so this is a sore point for me. I'm pretty sure the owners of the small companies he took over by crooking them on orders aren't sad he's dead.

[Guts]

Well, in his defence he did spend his childhood in Auschwitz where his parents died. I guess that might affect what kind of person you turn out to be.

Still, he was just another ruthless capitalist businessman crook. He knew how to make money (unethically if needed), good for him.

[Daragon]

Well, in his defence he did spend his childhood in Auschwitz where his parents died. I guess that might affect what kind of person you turn out to be.

Still, he was just another ruthless capitalist businessman crook. He knew how to make money (unethically if needed), good for him.

Doesn't excuse it though. Plenty of criminals have troubled or difficult childhoods - they still go to prison if they break the law, and refusing to pay someone over goods sounds just that.

Sketcz is right, you shouldn't fawn over evil people just because they've died.

[dataDave]

In that aspect all business is unethical really. You can't 'make' money without taking it from someone else that's lesser off.

[cavalcade]

That's not really how Capitalism works.

[Sketcz]

In that aspect all business is unethical really. You can't 'make' money without taking it from someone else that's lesser off.

Well, he could have paid them, used the components and continued his business, which would have still made profit, and the small family run businesses would have also enjoyed profit. The problem is greed and the need to make ever more profit, and the ludicrous pursuit of exponential and indefinite growth (which I am astounded anyone believes is even possible). That and just being a mean and unethical businessman.

[wakka]

He got **** done though. And so did Steve Jobs.

[Guts]

And so did Hitler.

[ShadowDancer]

Harsh but true. (edit)

[darkangel]

Talking about ethics, I think that any argument is totally lost when mentioning Hitler. OK, maybe he did very bad things... but to compare what this man and Steve Jobs has done to Hitler who was responsible for murdering six million Jews and millions of others is totally atrocious and disgusting.

The sheer amount of ignorance and disrespect here is just astounding. Next time, THINK before you type!

[darkangel]

[QUOTE=Guts;1945784]And so did Hitler.

Hitler got **** done? What are you trying to say by that? Because I really hope that that wasn't meant as anti-Semitic!

[dataDave]

Who cares if it was 'anti-semitic' or not? I'm sure he's not a Nazi.

Hitler did get **** done anyway, whether it was good or bad **** is up for you to decide.

[darkangel]

Of course it matters if someone is anti Semitic or not. Just like it matters if someone is 'homophobic' or 'sexist'.

[yvrmikiw]

Hitler got **** done? What are you trying to say by that? Because I really hope that that wasn't meant as anti-Semitic!

its bleedin obvious what hes saying - Hitler got things done but nobody would say he was a nice guy. so you cant say that just cos this Tramiel guy got things done he deserves our respect.

did you seriously think he was trying to imply the opposite i.e Hitler deserved our respect so Tramiel does too? read the conversation, dont just look at the words

[dataDave]

You can never stop people from expressing their views though. Do that and you're no better than Hitler yourself.

It's easier just not to react to anything, unless of course people are invading your country and gassing ur dudes - that's a different matter and requires action.