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See the original image at news.cnet.com

Crossing the line on Steve Jobs' health

news.cnet.com — Apple CEO Steve Jobs' appearance at WWDC in June prompted all sorts of speculation that his cancer had returned... but is it any of our business?

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  • niccha, on 07/22/2008, -12/+73I don't care if you think that Apple is a cult ruled by Steve Jobs or if you think Apple would disintegrate if Steve Jobs wasn't there... Anybody who's ever suffered through a major illness or had close family in that situation knows that a person or family's fight with that illness is their own. There's enough personal self-doubt generated without the bandwagon of gawkers there to encourage it along.
    • Spelvin, on 07/23/2008, -4/+1Except that that bandwagon of gawkers are also the majority of people who only wish you well and want to see you return to the limelight in good health. Whether or not you believe in any faith or spirituality or even just good karma, having millions of people who like you and support you has got to count for something. If the family decides to let the "media" know what is happening it would only foster more support and well wishes for Steve with the likely outcome of generating huge awareness and donations for whatever illness he may or may not have.
      • Kypt, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3Except with people that are as much on the spotlight as Jobs, it only becomes annoying. Now people that may only wish him good will bug him every time he's seen with "are you ok" and he'll turn around to "pity" stares all around. Its his business how to deal w/ it and no one else's.
      • jrbrewin, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1steve jobs is a very public person. He chose that route, and whether you agree with it or not, by being in the limelight he opens himself up for all kinds of public, open, and frankd discussions. In exactly the same way as anyone who steps in to the spotlight does.

        Secondly, stockholders care. they don't care about the person, they care about the bottom line. Unfortunately, that's how business works, and if anything were to happen to steve it would affect the share price. That's life.

        Not that i agree with it (and people will say, do something about it then! - I'm not a stockholder, i don't invest, and I don't wish any negativity on to steve with these comments).
    • cliffr39, on 07/23/2008, -0/+8Not sure if I agree or disagree with you - yes his health is a personal issue but...
      Apple stockholders know that Steve Jobs is the only reason Apple is were it is now. Without him at the helm Apple might well crash and that is why his health is such a concern. I don't think anyone is hoping for the worst, but the opposite
    • norman619, on 07/23/2008, -0/+11When the man who seems to be responsible for the continued success of Apple appears to be in poor health it sure as hell is the business of the share holders. If he leaves the company chances aren't great that whoever will replace him will be able keep the company just as profitable. Their interest in his health is purely business not personal. This is not tabloid news this actually is business news.
    • isukeyo, on 07/23/2008, -0/+7If this was a privately held company, I'd agree with you. But Apple is a public company and the health of the CEO, who is in large part the reason for it's success over the last decade, is every shareholders business! That's the nature of opening up your company to the public - anything that affects the value of the company is the business of the people who have invested in the company. It's not about liking or disliking the Cult of Apple or personal feelings about Steve Job.
    • Charlotte_Web, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3If you want to blame anyone for this, the first person you have to blame is Steve Jobs. After all, he intentionally built the company around himself. A large chunk of the value of the stock price reflects the fact that Steve Jobs is CEO of Apple. Therefore, it's a valid concern that stockholders have, and a valid question to ask.

      Apple is a $135 billion company. Many, many people are heavily invested in Apple. Because the news could negatively impact shareholder value, Jobs has an ethical responsibility to disclose any serious illness, and the shareholders have a right to ask.
    • andrewtheart, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1Leaders like Steve, Bill Gates, and the like are rare and often irreplaceable. The company would probably go in different direction(s) if something happened to him.
    • WellnessAid, on 10/13/2008, -0/+0Anyone has the right to privacy of personal health information. And unless there is a risk of serious harm to public good that right should be preserved.

      ---
      See the Whole Picture of Health…
      http://www.WellnessAid.com
  • Fangsinmybeard, on 07/23/2008, -17/+4Something tells me that this is a plot to remove Jobs from the leadership at Apple.
    • norman619, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3Then you mean it's a plot to ruin Apple since Apple was on its last leg when Bill Gates and Steve Jobs showed up. Gates provided a much needed injection of funds and Jobbs provided much needed vision and leadership. Jobbs is the heart and soul of Apple.

      I'm actually more concerned about Pixar. I'm sure Disney is worried as well.
  • samuel514, on 07/23/2008, -21/+16"Steve Jobs has a family. He has kids. Those kids presumably have Macs in their home that connect to the Internet and allow them to read all this uninformed speculation about what is first and foremost a family matter."
    • banmaster, on 07/23/2008, -6/+7Way to dig up someone who just blindly quotes what the article ***** says. Can you people read for yourself??
      • burketo, on 07/23/2008, -4/+3What is wrong with quoting from the article? he took a couple of lines which sum up how he feels about the whole thing and repeated them to hammer home the point.

        would you have prefered if he had written the quote and then written underneath it "I agree with this quote" or do you find all quoting distasteful? is paraphrasing out too? how much original material needs to be in a comment to get the thumbs up?
    • lexbaby, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3So? Let's hope Steve is a responsible enough parent and is communicating with them and the rest of the family.

      Here's the point to all this speculation: When Steve Jobs was forced out of Apple, the company lost focus and tanked. The obvious fear is that if he leaves Apple due to health problems or worse, the same thing will happen.
  • Falldog, on 07/23/2008, -7/+14From a business perspective I could care less about whether he has cancer or not (from a business prospective). I would be less likely to invest when I know that the companies main asset is actively trying to cover up his health status. It leaves a lot of room for suspicion.
    • h3smith, on 07/23/2008, -5/+17You mean "couldn't care less" http://incompetech.com/gallimaufry/care_less.html
      • Falldog, on 07/23/2008, -5/+2Yeah yeah. It'd Digg, not a press conference.
      • Falldog, on 07/23/2008, -5/+1And by "It'd" I mean "It's". This is why I have other people proof read my articles.
      • thebaron2, on 07/23/2008, -2/+1Isn't he saying that he COULD care less, since he does care at least somewhat, if not a lot?

        It sounds like he's saying that Steve's health is a valid business concern, since he'd be less likely to invest in a company who's CEO may not be there too much longer. If he COULD NOT care less then he wouldn't care at all.
    • illt, on 07/23/2008, -0/+6from a business perspective, most people do care about his health as they see him as the reason for success at apple.
      Last time he left, apple nearly went bankrupt, and when he came back he revived it.

      Which is why the stock took a dive the other day when this rumor ciruclated.
    • dragon76, on 07/23/2008, -5/+1Steve Balmer is morbidly obese by definition as well as obviously having blood pressure issues with all that red-faced screaming (red face is a sign of increased blood pressure). I never hear anyone talk about the likelihood that Steve Balmer could stroke out on stage in all his obese, red-faced screaming and monkey-boy antics.
      • thebaron2, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2I don't think Balmer is nearly as integral to Microsoft's success as Jobs is to Apple's. Microsoft could get along with a replacement Balmer.

        Apple has already shown it has potential to nose dive without Steve.
  • h3smith, on 07/23/2008, -5/+39The investors have a right to know, that is for sure. They have a right to know who is being groomed/selected for his follow up. Jobs has been important in reviving Apple, investors care VERY MUCH how he is doing.
    • theutopian, on 07/23/2008, -3/+8But keep in mind that Steve Jobs in a employe of Apple Computer and as an employee in the United States he has privacy rights related to his health. Does anyone really think he hasn't thought about this? That there isn't a plan in place in case something happens? Many speculate the Jonathan Ive will step in since he's responsible for many of the designs that have turned Apple around. Everyone needs to calm down. Everything will be fine.
      • secrity, on 07/23/2008, -1/+7He may have privacy rights, but investors also have the right to abandon Apple stock if it appears that the key corporate executive has significant health problems. Do you have some sort of insider knowledge or fortune telling ability to claim that "Everything will be fine."?
      • theutopian, on 07/23/2008, -3/+1@Secrity - People aren't going to stop buying Macs, iPhones and iPods if he dropped dead tomorrow.
      • dragon76, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3Jonny Ive is also sexy as all hell and has a cool British accent. It's not like Apple would be worse off with him.
      • thebaron2, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1@theutopian,

        The worry isn't about tomorrow if Steve isn't around, it's about next year, and 5-10 years from now. If you think that Steve Jobs' leadership has been a critical success to Apple's recent meteoric rise from the ashes then you must concede that concerns regarding the duration of that leadership are very pertinent, and will affect share prices.
      • theutopian, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1@thebaron2

        I do agree with you. However, I doubt Steve would leave Apple without a plan or strategy for when he's gone.
    • theberlindoctor, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2I'm an investor in Apple, and I think its none of my goddamned business what health matters Jobs or anyone else has. Thats private information, regardless of his position and no one "has a right" to know his private medical information.
  • SIRBERUS, on 07/23/2008, -2/+32It's a publicly traded company... a company which is known to have been saved by Steve Jobs. So yes.
  • TheUngod, on 07/23/2008, -1/+25It isn't our business to speculate, but it is our (or at least the shareholders and potential shareholders) right to know. Love him or hate him, his personal health is very important to the financial health of Apple.
    • Mavital, on 07/23/2008, -0/+5Agreed. As a CEO, your personal health is of great importance to the stakeholders of a company. In particular, Apple's success has largely been attributed to Steve Jobs, making this news that much more important.
    • HUKI365, on 07/23/2008, -4/+3No, it is our right to speculate, it is for him (and Apple) to decide if the information should be disclosed.

      See above by "theutopian" - there is a right to privacy...and to free speech.
    • diabulos, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Wrong and right, it is not for us to speculate, that can turn into idle gossip without foundation, but it is not the right of Apple to decide if the information goes out, but the right of anyone that has Apple stock. If his health issues can hinder the business then he needs to either step down or come public and work with the company to handle the media and a succession plan. As long as his health will affect the business and he continues to act as the head of Apple, then it is public matter as a publicly traded company, if he rescinds the role of head of Apple then his health issues pose no threat to the business, just to his family and friends. With position comes responsibility and that responsibility may erode your privacy rights.
  • allnone, on 07/23/2008, -4/+30If Steve goes, Apple goes. It'll be just like the last time, except he won't be returning to save their asses.
    • fordhamwt, on 07/23/2008, -0/+11Well, not for three days...
    • kibbledbits, on 07/23/2008, -2/+1That was very original, did you make that up on your own?
  • danielrh9, on 07/23/2008, -2/+8I originally was of the school of thought that it wasn't really anyone's business. But a comment by Merlin Mann on Macbreak Weekly a few weeks ago changed my mind about the issue. Steve is a very charismatic and irreplaceable part of a very public company that a lot of investors have large shares in. Therefore, his well-doing is certainly at least their business.
  • seanmx, on 07/23/2008, -5/+17When Steve Jobs dies, he'll only become more powerful than we could have ever imagined.
  • theberlindoctor, on 07/23/2008, -15/+6The amount people pry into Job's personal life is disgusting.
    • secrity, on 07/23/2008, -2/+7The health of key upper level executives can be a legitimate factor in the value of the stock. This has been especially true in the case of Jobs' health and stock price of Apple.
      • theberlindoctor, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2I understand this. Regardless, that makes it no less disgusting.. how long before his medical records surface?
  • howdareyou, on 07/23/2008, -10/+4Jobs's.

    Jobs isn't plural for Job.
    • FeargusMcDuff, on 07/23/2008, -3/+10Ha! I love it when grammar nazi's don't even know the rules they preach so hard.
      • howdareyou, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2What? Is it Bridget Jones' Diary or Bridget Jones's Diary?

        I guess it's a British/Canadian vs. American English thing.

        Stop bastardizing the English language.
      • SRSco, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2Bastardizing English? Take a linguistics class. Language evolves (and should evolve).
      • thebaron2, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1You wrote: Jobs's

        You SHOULD have written: Jobs'

        You even used the correct grammar in your example of "Bridget Jones' Diary", just not in the original post.
    • Coffeedemon, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2It is actually Jobs'
      Plus its possessive not plural.
    • SRSco, on 07/23/2008, -1/+5howdareyou fails at grammar. Although his correction/substitution is correct (Jobs's), that which he is trying to correct is also correct (Jobs').

      They're both correct, its just a matter of style preference. (I prefer Jobs'...it's much more modern.)
    • focom, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1It's my understanding that the form used in the title (Jobs') is conventionally only used for major historical figures or characters, such as in Jesus'. So howdareyou is correct, although this rule is naturally flexible depending on whether you define Jobs as a major historical figure..
      • Coffeedemon, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2Its used for any family name ending in S. There is a variation if there is a hard Z sound. Historical has nothing to do with it.
  • xsecretfiles, on 07/23/2008, -16/+12Nah, he just has Aids
  • nbx909, on 07/23/2008, -3/+1Not our business but I mean Steve is very important to the success of apple, when he was forced out, apple tanked and when he came back they picked up.
  • speel, on 07/23/2008, -7/+2Jobs has enough money to buy cancer.
  • perlogik, on 07/23/2008, -0/+5It's my business if I own Apple stock. When a public company has a CEO that adds that much value, it is material information. If Jobs were to leave tomorrow that would hurt Apple in the short run and cost Apple shareholders millions of dollars.

    It's not ideal but that is the system we live in. If you knew he had cancer and shorted the stock right before he announced it, you would make a lot of money-of course that would be illegal.
  • Millsee, on 07/23/2008, -6/+7If he isn't very well, the saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is out of the window(s)

    www.instantrimshot.com

    sry...
  • bethebryant, on 07/23/2008, -2/+5The next generation iPhone eats cancer, so he'll be fine as soon as it hits. They were going to put it on the 3G iPhone, but opted for GPS instead.
  • whiterice0, on 07/23/2008, -4/+15His company is public. Yes, it is OUR business. Much more so than the life of some actress or actor.
    • gfunk84, on 07/23/2008, -3/+1It's our business if we own, owned, or plan to own stock in Apple (or possibly major competitors). Otherwise, it's not really our business.
  • theliamburns1, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3If its not their business talking about it, what makes it your business writing a whole article about it?
  • neilapril, on 07/23/2008, -1/+7Ok first of all I think Steve Jobs is awesome. I have nothing bad to say about the man.
    Ok second he had pancreatic Cancer. This is a death sentence.
    Here is the key point. The Five year survival rate for Pancreatic Cancer is 4%.
    He had it removed 4 years ago.
    What is another tell tell sign that cancer has returned? Unexplained massive weight loss.

    And yes I am a doctor.
  • ilistenisee, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4not really a mac fan...but hope all goes well with his illness

    support
  • darny, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Steve Jobs' health is directly related to his ability to serve as the company's CEO. His ability to serve is directly related to the company's stock price. As a stockholder I want as much information as possible regarding possible leadership changes.

    When you sign on as CEO or any high ranking position of a public corporation, the part of your life that involves the corporation becomes public. This case, while humanistic, sensitive and empathy demanding is no different.
  • Vtorch, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4If you own Apple stock...YES, it is your business.
  • JQP123, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2It would be shortsighted and irresponsible of the company and it's investors to ignore the status of his health. Yes it is a private matter ... that just happens to be of extreme significance to a public company.

    In any case, all concerned should prepare for the worst. The prognosis for anyone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is generally regarded as rather poor with less than 5% of those diagnosed still alive five years after diagnosis, and complete remission still extremely rare.
  • pudds, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4He's the CEO of the publicly traded company; one which many analyst argue is successful solely due to his inputs. Unfortunately, he's accountable to his shareholders, and letting the public know where his health is at is part of that.
    • RomeyRome, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1His right to privacy regarding personal matters trumps those of the shareholders. At the end of the day he is a US citizen with the same rights as us. Shareholder may not like it, and APPL stock may have hell to pay, but that's the way the ball bounces. I'm not sure if there is any precedent set in this matter though.
      • MacBigot, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1My wife works for a hedge fund that occasionally invests in Apple. If the SEC says I cannot buy or sell my personal Apple stock within 48 hrs. of her hedge fund trading it (like, say, when it's announced Steve's cancer has returned and the stock price begins plunging), then Steve can keep the market absolutely up to date on his health. We both sacrifice some privacy.
      • RomeyRome, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1In that case he can be a dick & step down to keep his personal matters personal (something I would do). I'm sure he'll be alright if he doesn't make another dime in his lifetime. Which would you prefer?
  • FredFredrickson, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2For investors who see Apple in danger without Jobs at the helm, sure, it's kind of their business. I don't think they should be prying at his windows or tapping into his personal health files, but if the man needs to leave Apple for whatever reason, it is the investors' right to know about it.
  • notalayperson, on 07/23/2008, -2/+0Jobs' illness or non-illness is a private matter. As far as a right to know, technically no one has a right to know- as dictated by medical confidentiality, unless he is placing someone else at risk of harm by his illness (Eg. Psychotic behaviour or HIV patient spreading the disease knowingly). It's Job's choice when he discloses, if at all, about his illness- even to his family and shareholders. And if he does so, it will be at his own time- patients like being in control of their own illness. The public has no right to demand to know about his private matters.
  • tnoy, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Even though I have a lot of distaste for Apple and Jobs, I hope him and his family the best.

    My father is going though cancer treatment right now, and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.
  • Gee1004, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1Maybe this is a stupid, wierd or dumbass comment, but Steve Jobs did wear a different color shirt that for me, altered his appearance. He normally wears black and to me it's like greenish. Makes him look different.
  • diggid3, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1Healthy or not, we shouldn't be concerned, as customers that is, personally I hope he (as anyone) will be fine. None of our business then; it's just this ridiculous personality-cult driven by fanboys which makes up stories like this.
  • Sefus, on 07/23/2008, -2/+1He dies like everyone else and Apple will still be huge.
    Honestly, who gives a *****?
  • Lou3000, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Yeah it is nice that people say that it should be between him and his family, but a lot of shareholder feel otherwise. I'm not saying its right or wrong, but he has chosen to keep himself in the spotlight. He makes millions of dollars off those same shares because of the options he gets.
  • javaroast, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Steve is in the public eye and has used that to his benefit for a long long time. In this case his prominent position with the public works against his ability to keep this an entirely private matter. Obviously there will be speculation especially since:
    Signs Symptoms cancer of the Pancreas
    Symptoms include:
    Weight loss
    All that being said, I certainly wish him the best in getting through all of this and will be pulling for him to regain full health. Whether you are an Apple fan or not Steve has done a ton for the computing industry and more.
  • MacBigot, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2As an APPL stockholder, I think Job's heath is very much my business:

    http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6170443-7.html

    Barron's: Steve Jobs is worth $20 billion
    Posted by Tom Krazit

    "Apple CEO Steve Jobs is worth more to his company than any other CEO in the world, as much as $20 billion in market capitalization, according to the annual list of influential CEOs in Barron's Magazine.

    "In real life, Jobs isn't worth quite that much money, although once you get over a billion, who cares? But were he to leave Apple (willingly or unwillingly), the fallout would cost Apple $16 billion in stock market value, the magazine estimated. In the middle of the Monday trading day, Apple's market capitalization was $82 billion.

    "The article is behind a paid-subscription wall. But in a free video (for those who don't have any billions) posted on Barron's Web site, associate editor Andrew Bary puts the figure closer to $20 billion. Either way, Jobs is going to have to leave Apple at some juncture, and that day definitely won't be a good day for Apple investors."
    • scaife7, on 07/24/2008, -0/+0As a "MacBigot" I am surprised you don't know the ticker symbol is AAPL.
  • howdareyou, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1It's actually Bridget Jones's Diary, that was my point.
  • davecor, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2"An Apple a day keeps the doctor away"

    Oops.
  • brentbloodworth, on 07/23/2008, -0/+0Two things bother me about this recent situation. The first is the timing. The illness issue was addressed at MacWorld almost two months ago. It seems highly suspicious that it was brought up again during the conference call when there had been no news related to his condition in the interim. It certainly appears to have been done to depress the stock price and make someone a boatload of money illegitimately. Second, Steve is not stupid. I haven't seen the exact figures lately but a large percentage of his wealth is tied to the stock price. If he were to suddenly die from cancer his family would be dependent upon his successor to maintain their wealth. I am sure that there is a succession plan in place that Jobs will have to approve. Given all the credit that his is given for his decision making saving Apple, shouldn't we assume that he has put the same effort into choosing his successor?
  • triPzZz, on 07/24/2008, -0/+2Absolutely nobody else's business whatsoever. Period.
  • truman48, on 07/25/2008, -0/+1Why is everyone so worried, if he does eventually die he will rise from the grave 3 days later?
  • palcal, on 07/25/2008, -0/+0since the NY Times has now reported that Jobs had surgery earlier this year, shouldn't Tom Krazit be more concerned? Has he been drinking the Apple kool-ade?
  •  

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