digg

Join DiggAbout

Steve Ballmer Egged in Hungary! watch!

gizmodo.com — Steve Ballmer joins the Bill Gates club for food targets when he gave a speech/presentation in Hungary. It's all captured on camera.

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • automate, on 05/19/2008, -16/+52that didnt hit the bullseye!!
    • jabberwolf, on 05/19/2008, -20/+19True - but what a tard.
      He probably has trouble finding the power button - and a job.
      No one is forced to use MS or Word, no one is forced to pay for it.
      Just shows how stupid some wanna be PC users are.

      Points to Balmer for not going ***** or doing an angry monkey dance.
      • Jambi, on 05/19/2008, -0/+3Points? Meh, do you know know how many of us here would pay to watch him do the angry monkey danceright after someone had egged him? He could double his net worth overnight.
        • Gir53457, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4EGGS! EGGS! EGGS! EGGS! EGGS! EGGS! EGGS! ..
      • wjbp, on 05/20/2008, -0/+26He barely hit the wall.

        It's funny how they didn't need 8 police officers to take him down, taze him, and carry him to jail.
        • diggenerate, on 05/20/2008, -6/+2not to sound like a racist or anything but he wasn't black.
      • mypetridish, on 05/20/2008, -3/+10@jabberwolf

        the hungarian government spent the tax payers' money for a site license. as a result, he is inadvertently paying for it. whether or not microsoft has an involvement in making sure the hungarian gov. signed the pro-monopoly agreement is not as important as you accusation that:

        "No one is forced to use MS or Word, no one is forced to pay for it."

        Just shows how stupid jabberwolf is.
        • dinostabOMG, on 05/20/2008, -2/+5Additionally, Microsoft is in contempt of the EU's highest courts for not paying antitrust fines, another couple of hundred billion (I think?) that they owe that guy.
        • daza, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1A couple of hundred billion? Are you serious? I know you wrote "I think?" but please think more before making such outlandish claims.
    • Thugacation, on 05/19/2008, -0/+19Ballmer's lucky the guy's throwing skill is worse than his English.
    • ScottoGato, on 05/19/2008, -0/+20 for 3. "You should have lead up to that, kinda leaves you nowhere to go."
    • GreenAlien, on 05/20/2008, -8/+3Here's a photo of the guy who threw the eggs:
      http://www.journaldumac.com/images/-2008/02/acer.j ...

      Maybe a disgrunted Vista user!
    • television, on 05/20/2008, -6/+1Actually it did, here's another angle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0
  • boldi, on 05/19/2008, -18/+343The hungarian government pays license fee for microsoft for every single computer in the academia, no matter if they don't want to use microsoft software, no matter if they already have a license. Of course this gives the stability that everyone in the academia is free to use those products and don't have to fear, but these contracts bind all the people, teachers, students etc. into a monopoly where there are no competitors and no choices.
    And because of the lack of the normal 'fees' per computer, nobody will be interested to avoid using crappy and expensive software. Thefore such contracts significantly harm the 'market', meaning both FOSS and proprietary software market.
    It is common that every government regulates procedures when they don't fit into the normal market behaviour, e.g. when the open market could harm the common wealth. In this case, the government itself helps a company to do that and it is fully the opposite what a government is used to do.
    • SuperWinner, on 05/19/2008, -34/+4Damn that mofo got the ***** egged out of him!
    • colonelbuckshot, on 05/19/2008, -7/+141He should throw eggs at his government then.
      • falafelkiosken, on 05/19/2008, -18/+11you think the government came up with on their own?
        • BOFH2, on 05/19/2008, -0/+17No but I am sure that they approved it in the end.
      • boldi, on 05/19/2008, -0/+10Check the back of the shirt on the guy "Microsoft is corrupt". That should have meant, I guess, that the Hungarian government is corrupt, 'sponsored by microsoft'. Or whatever. Who knows the truth.
        As an addition: the court trial on the 'incorrect' procurement of Microsoft software in Hungary is just delayed on the day of Ballmer's arrival, and what the heck, there is no possibility for such delay according to law...
        This is how the things go.
        • KibibyteBrain, on 05/20/2008, -0/+6I think its something along the lines of: corrupt Hungarian lawmakers sponsored by corrupt Microsoft payoffs/lobbyists sponsored by corrupt Hungarian government funds sponsored by poor Hungarian taxpayers.
        • koszt, on 05/20/2008, -0/+0exactly
    • saxmaster, on 05/19/2008, -9/+69Yeah, Microsoft just happens to be the company chosen by the Hungarian government. The government is to blame for limiting options.
      • MrXfromPlanetX, on 05/20/2008, -11/+8How much do you think Microsoft paid Hungary for that deal? I would bet you a ***** load. This is another example of a corporation buying out a government. When corporations start to take control over government, it is fascism.

        Microsoft is to powerful and a danger to democracy.
        • Mothrog, on 05/20/2008, -3/+7"The hungarian government pays license fee for microsoft for every single computer in the academia..."

          Hungary paid Microsoft, genius.
        • koszt, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1Yeah because microsoft paid not hungary, but only corrupt politicans.
      • YourMaster, on 05/20/2008, -2/+7I think Microsoft probably paid a very large negative amount.

        Listen. Companies sell products. That's where they get their money from. What you are suggesting is backwards.
        • VinceNoir, on 05/20/2008, -4/+2Companies can TRY to sell products. They should not be guaranteed sales though. Which is what contracts like this do. Frankly, companies have way too much power. They need to be controlled HARD and limited in how much they can make. The insane drive for ever increasing profits is responsible for all the evils of the world. We wouldn't be at war in Iraq if it weren't profitable. That's just one example.
    • FuzzyBunny, on 05/19/2008, -9/+51Thanks for the explanation. However, that sounds like the Hungarian government's fault, not Microsoft's. One can hardly blame a public corporation for accepting a lucrative and legal contract. Also, it doesn't really excuse that guy for egging Balmer instead of voices his problems in a legitimate and civilized way.
      • PAStheLoD, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1Issues like this have a habit of being ignored here in Hungary, especially when someone tries the civilized ways.
        • xenuxenuts, on 05/19/2008, -0/+5Hungary isn't alone in that respect.
      • GreenAlien, on 05/19/2008, -5/+15"Also, it doesn't really excuse that guy for egging Balmer instead of voices his problems in a legitimate and civilized way."

        Well no doubt there are more dignified ways of getting the message across, but can't deny the effectiveness. Made it to Digg's front page and I'm now aware of the dodgy agreement between the Hungarian government and Microsoft.

        Don't feel too sorry for Microsoft in this. They knowingly agreed to an unethical contract, regardless whether it was lucrative for them.
        • hellotyler, on 05/19/2008, -2/+6Beat me to the punch about agreeing on an unethical contract. They are a corporation, though, so it doesn't surprise me.
        • pyronik, on 05/20/2008, -3/+11how is it unethical? the elected representatives of a people signed a contract with a corporation. I fail to see how it is ..wrong. It's an OS not a food crisis.

          As for the effectiveness of it, its illegal to do that. Digg jumps on every little unethical thing that occurs unless its some retarded punk doing something to usurp the government
      • reedatschool, on 05/19/2008, -3/+8You act like they made the decision in a vacuum. The reality is they were paid to make limiting options through bribes and kickbacks.

        Is it OK for US corporations to subvert the rights of citizens in other countries through closed door negotiations?

        According to many diggtards the answer is profound yes.
        • Aharoni, on 05/20/2008, -2/+3How do you know that there were bribes and kickbacks involved?
          Maybe, just maybe, Microsoft offered better deal than the rest? and yes, installing Linux may be free but getting support for it from a dedicated support line/specialist - doesn't.
          I work for a company which sells its products, among others to government entities. There are no bribes or whatever involved in the process to make them choose us over our competitors - but they do have certain criteria and demands that aren't a factor when you're a single user using a single license.
      • HeyChinaski, on 05/20/2008, -3/+5Why can't you blame a public corporation for accepting a contract if it's unethical? Why isn't it possible to run a company ethically and make money? The Hungarian government may be at fault but Microsoft are equally culpable. You might as well make the same argument for arms traders who function in places in the world with poor weapons laws.
      • dinostabOMG, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2You have to wonder how they got that contract.
      • VinceNoir, on 05/20/2008, -3/+2You're wrong. A company should have NO freedom to make profits. As soon as they're granted that freedom, they run roughshod over anything and anyone in their tracks. Take away the profits and you take away the problems.
      • JohnZero, on 05/20/2008, -2/+2Noone is blaming Microsoft for winning a contract from the Hungarian government.

        People are blaming Microsoft because they bribed and corrupted politicians with money so the tender especially said 'only Microsoft software can win'.

        This is corruption!
    • TheAtomicMoose, on 05/19/2008, -2/+26Well that was an educated comment...

      I am going to link to a duck:http://www.valdosta.edu/~mtrejo/duck.jpeg
    • TheCash, on 05/19/2008, -4/+16So why the hell was he going after Ballmer instead of the government that signed up for such a ridiculous deal? If some jackass runs into my car on the way to work, I'm not going to blame the company that made his car.

      This guy should be going after his dad for never teaching him how to properly throw *****. My toddler niece could throw an egg better then that.
      • Hermmunster, on 05/20/2008, -6/+2Because he made the news? Because he made world wide news? Because he confronted one of the real ***** of the technology world?

        I would gather he is going to be expelled, for some time.

        I don't think he cares tho, he got his 15 minutes of fame. I don't blame him one bit. It would be nice to see more people stand up face to face with these culprits and confront them.
        • TheCash, on 05/20/2008, -2/+5He's selling software, not murdering orphan children for gods sake. How is the business practices of MS any different then Apple? I don't see Jobs giving any of his ***** away, so what the heck?

          Are you just completely anti-capitalist, or a hypocrite?
        • Hermmunster, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2I didn't say execute him. I said it was right that when something is wrong that people speak up. He did it in a way that allowed him to not only make the news but to make worldwide news. He brought attention to the fact that Microsoft has been stealing from the public and in many ways. We have anti-trust laws to ensure that the playing field is level and that everyone can compete fairly. This guy simply demonstrated his views. I can't see how missed egg shots harmed Balmer.

          If you had a clue you'd know that anti-competitive means more than just a few companies aren't making money. It means that people can't develop businesses and grow their economies that provide more jobs and feed their children.

          And the Ballmer nation is one in violation of the EU anti-trust laws and their company has been fined for non-compliance when a ruling of their highest courts say they are guilty and must pay up. So, in essence they are keeping food out of the mouths of children that in this hard world economy could be the difference between life and death.

          So, stop acting the techie bitch of Ballmer and get your head out of his ass and learn that there is a bigger picture--it has nothing to do with selling software. It has to do with harming economies. A little egg in Ballmer's face wasn't meant to be punishment for murdering children and boiling them for dinner. Sheesh.
      • diggenerate, on 05/20/2008, -3/+5I don't think he actually meant to hit him. I think it was more to prove a point.
      • JohnZero, on 05/20/2008, -3/+1Again, the problem is NOT Microsoft winning a deal.

        The problem is Microsoft bribed and corrupted to win the deal!
        • Yazilliclick, on 05/21/2008, -1/+1Bribed and corrupted? Please show they did anything actually illegal. Please offer proof and than you have a point. Until then, MS is a company like any other out to make the most money they can and the government are the ones that made a bad deal.
    • rebotfc, on 05/19/2008, -3/+10I agree this is largely the Hungarian's government's fault however be under no illusions you will have had politicians who have got very rich from this deal.
    • punkcat, on 05/19/2008, -5/+12so msoft gives away discounted computers, and its bad somehow that the government pays to for academia to be outfitted with said computers that i am guessing they could not afford on their own.

      so somehow they are mad, that sense they cant afford their own equipment, they still want more and its not given to them.

      so solution, buy your own, and reject the financial aid.






      • mciampa1214, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2Well that's communism [or former communism mentality] for you
      • JohnZero, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1There is no financial aid in the story.

        The story goes like this, USA analogy: just imagine if George W. Bush secured a deal with Microsoft, so EVERY person in the USA would get a 'free' Windows copy.

        Of course, the government would take the product price from the taxes, and pay it to Microsoft, as part of the deal.
        • punkcat, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1anything a gov does is from the peoples money.
          the government there though is not using it for scrupulous deeds but giving it to academia to try to improve the lives of people, thus in effect, financial aid.

          could the schools refuse? most likely, sure.


    • Orsenfelt, on 05/20/2008, -6/+8Oh my god, Students are getting software for free and it isn't Linux? Let's rage-out!

      You are missing one single, Vital thing here... The MS software is on the school/college provided computers, They are not forcing it on the students personal machine. MS cut them a deal and let them use their software on all machines, It's the EXACT same way every major corporation /organization does it.

      When was the last time you got a new job, Sat down at your desk.. and had to install your own operating system on the work PC? Exactly.
      • JohnZero, on 05/20/2008, -2/+3No, students are NOT getting software for free!

        Taxpayers are subsidizing Microsoft by buying Microsoft software for students, who might not even need it!
    • Leathersoup, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3When I was in Elementary and Jr High school the school board had a deal with Apple. We all learned our computer stuff on Apple II computers. It's not a big deal. It's a deal that's made in order to make things affordable.
  • mypetridish, on 05/19/2008, -8/+200how could the Hungarian government sign such a pro-monopoly contract in the first place anyway? I want to heard both sides of the story.
    • Wakuko, on 05/19/2008, -16/+51Side One: Every hungarian politician involved in IT decisions has been bribed to make deals with M$ and get huuuuuge kickbacks they wouldn't get if they went open source.

      Side Two: There is no side two.
      • XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4That's why they're egging Microsoft then and not hunting down corrupt politicians.
    • partysan, on 05/19/2008, -3/+14Simple, pockets being stuffed both ways. Like everywhere else. Hungarian officials don't have billions to spend on "military contracts", so they fudge software contracts.
    • tabion, on 05/19/2008, -11/+69***** IT, WE'LL DO IT LIVE
    • matriculated, on 05/19/2008, -5/+3Ignorance?
    • otis12, on 05/20/2008, -4/+3Linux
    • sirgolf82, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2I don't know about you, but I'd like to "hear" both sides of the story.
      • billizm, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1Yea, we all figured that out somehow.
    • Nitifor, on 05/21/2008, -1/+0Hungarians mostly don't wish to be recognized to be Hungarians, when they get the chance to be in company of admired, rich, western countries citizens. If they are not accepted by them, most turn offensive. That's a national habit accompanied by social envy and self rejection.

      Most of them think of America like: "Try to be a part of it, if they reject you, offend it." (That's why Hungary joined the EU.)
      This is a justified reaction, but with wrong actions taken. I think, the cake remains delicious even if one's been denied to get a slice of it.

      If Balmer would have stopped the "inquisition", then to force the guy to give statement of his opinions and a chance to dazzle the audience with his highly developed IT and business skills during their conversation, I guess, the guy would have licked up the yolk from Balmers' head, if he would've hit.

      This poor guy simply realized that nobody joined him, or at least boooh-ed with him at Balmer after the first egg, so he went on with the second and third to save his concept, but then he got confused. (I think he was even thankful for getting stopped. He also might have seen some scenes on Youtube and tried to sample them.) However, finally his "revolution" has been set back.

      Nonetheless the guy's been absolutely right with his opinion: the Hungarian state hasn't got the funds to buy the "unreliable" IT stuff from Microsoft, and the only reason they do is, that Microsoft tries to force the whole world, - using their shady business practices - to use their products.
      Some Hungarian businesses also suffered outrageous prosecutions of the local BSA. But this is a more complex situation than to discuss about here.

      Besides: Hungary is one of those "new" european states, who gives the most capable IT technicians, and engineers as a result of the countries excellent higher education system. LINUX developers are very talented and skilled here, and even the system itself is very popular.

      This might even be the reason of Balmers' visit (or should we rather call it "audit"?!)
  • christophski, on 05/19/2008, -22/+15Is there a "I Hate Steve Ballmer Society"?
    • Jexie, on 05/19/2008, -0/+12Yes, it's just the regular public society we all live in.
    • Nanite, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3You can try dropping by your local LUG. :)
  • Scanner771, on 05/19/2008, -22/+23finally!?!
  • lukasz007, on 05/19/2008, -20/+50He missed! I can't believe he missed his bold head.
    I love how he tried to hide behind the desk.
    • falafelkiosken, on 05/19/2008, -1/+18he should have thrown back a chair or something
    • PAStheLoD, on 05/19/2008, -0/+10He should've casted a Developers lvl 20 epic combo..
    • one1plus1one, on 05/19/2008, -2/+4Ya, it was kind of wimpy of him to run behind a desk when eggs are flying.

      It would have been cool if he threw something back.
    • ligyron, on 05/20/2008, -1/+14Yeah, what a wuss for taking cover behind the desk. He should've just stood there and let the guy egg him, then done the rest of the presentation with egg yolk running down his skin...
    • diggenerate, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3that is something his security personnel probably told him to do in a situation such as that.
    • pyro0, on 05/20/2008, -0/+5what would you have done?

      pulled out throwing stars and attacked back?
      • AzureRise, on 05/20/2008, -1/+3Doesn't everyone carry throwing knifes made in the middle east with them everywhere the go? I can't be the only one.
    • billizm, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1It wasn't apparent what was being thrown. Could have been grenades for all Balmer knew. I would have ducked, too; or possibly ran the f*k out the door.
  • Shreyasva, on 05/19/2008, -7/+69i think security personnel are gonna install egg-detectors at every place he speaks from now on
    • corvairkid, on 05/19/2008, -2/+1If that happens, we'll just have to switch to spit balls then won't we?
  • JamesMatt, on 05/19/2008, -40/+223i dont think he EGGxpected that............. muahahaha
    • riskybeats, on 05/19/2008, -6/+51Its spelled 'expecte... oh.. oh I get it.
    • Suzuka09, on 05/19/2008, -7/+10I see what you did there
    • max420, on 05/19/2008, -4/+6This comment is going to be dugg up a whole bunch, just because kevin rose digged it.

      I didn't think it was that good, to be honest.
      • GDOG5, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Nah man, it was that good!
      • bryanwebster, on 05/20/2008, -0/+5Can you see who is digging comments now?
        • daza, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2Yeah, I was about to ask "how the hell did he know that" but I realised if you have added people as "friends" it will put their name next to the comment and the comment will go green.

          Kevin, if you're listening, I totally digg the idea that you've added the friends feature, it seems like lots of others enjoy using it and I'm cool with that, but could you give me the choice to turn the module off completely? I get so many random friends requests it's a bit annoying.
    • DanJohnHarris, on 05/20/2008, -5/+1* "EGGspected", not:
      "EGGspected".

      The "eggs" takes care of the "ex" and the rest is history.
    • evilgeniuscow, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4What an eggcelent pun!
    • caruso, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3i agree, absolutely EGGstraordinary.
    • mcturdTheThird, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4Eggs.
  • ronaldmonster, on 05/19/2008, -27/+55Ballmer is the posterboy for everything that's wrong with Microsoft in a nutshell so he kinda deserved it >.>
    • estvir, on 05/20/2008, -0/+6But watch out, someone threw eggs, now everything is going to change!

      Solve world problems, throw eggs and then walk out!
    • digdug2020, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2He didn't deserve it though. It would have been funny if that guy would have ended up with a black eye from security personal. I have no love for Balmer, but no one should get egged by some juvenile student/professor/whatever. I primarily use linux and only use Windows for various work related activities and a little gaming, I still don't think I have the right to egg Balmer or anyone else.
  • Caffro, on 05/19/2008, -9/+80I love the way everyone awkwardly laughed at Steve Balmers joke when the guy left.
    • TheWorm, on 05/20/2008, -1/+6To give him credit he was pretty good natured about the whole thing. I don't know if i would have reacted as well.
    • protocolor, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4my favorite part was how awkward it was after the guy threw the egg. steve was hiding behind the desk and the guy was just standing there. 'hmm...didnt think about what id do after i threw my two eggs. well...guess i better be hittin the ol dusty trail.'
  • eminiguy, on 05/19/2008, -18/+11I am moving to Hungary!
  • 40yrOldVirgin, on 05/19/2008, -18/+395DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, OMELLETE
  • macwac, on 05/19/2008, -4/+12He missed!!! how horrible! the least he could have done was to do some target practice before hand.. or have a small squadron.
  • Djokuuskaj, on 05/19/2008, -15/+16Nem akkarjuk eszt a hujet az orszagunkban.
    Jo munkat!
    • ThEDeMoNKiNg, on 05/19/2008, -0/+29"We didn't want this stupid [person] in the country.
      Good job!"

      Hooray. A use for my Hungarian language.
    • jawagas, on 05/19/2008, -0/+5Yub Nub, echa yub nub.

      You all know you can translate this.
    • Thugacation, on 05/19/2008, -1/+10Baxter!
      You know I don't speak Spanish!
      • patapoof42, on 05/21/2008, -0/+2lol good aguas de maro/ sealab reference
  • ferrariman60, on 05/19/2008, -2/+124Wow, 0 for 3. What a bad throw. If he only had 1, I would understand the miss..... but 3? Come on, man. That's shameful. He wasn't THAT far away.
    • Gregus1032, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3thats why he isn't on the baseball team!
    • bradleyland, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3Yeah, I'm sure that went much better when he rehearsed it at his home a few hundred times.
    • vidalsasoon, on 05/20/2008, -1/+4you can assume he's a linux user.
      you can also assume he has no athletic ability.
  • Alex2, on 05/19/2008, -12/+4I wanna see the vid with the audio swapped out with the 'Boom Headshot' guy.

    "And then i was like BOOM HEADSHOT! BOOM HEADSHOT! BOOOM!! HEADSHOOOOOOOOOOOTTT!!"

  • Senn, on 05/19/2008, -17/+14I agree with what was on the back of the guys shirt.
  • Nowaiman, on 05/19/2008, -2/+117Well that kind of sucked. He was just standing there after probably expecting security to tackle him but no one really cared.
    • shutaro, on 05/19/2008, -2/+16I expected Ballmer go charging into the crowd after the guy himself... Way to hide behind the desk. =P
    • popfrogs, on 05/19/2008, -4/+19The look of terror on Ballmer's face was awesome, right when he comes out from behind the desk. OH NOES TEROR ATAK FROM EIGS!
    • linuxpenguin, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3It was an egg. . . had it been a hard object or a weapon, they might've been more quick to the punch.
      • AzureRise, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Not really, not even his security personnel care enough about him to defend him.
    • pault107, on 05/20/2008, -0/+16I was expecting him to get bum-rushed by security and tazed, but everyone just sat there looking at him. That's what made it even more hilarious. He just kind of shuffled off. Classic.
    • pbirkland, on 05/22/2008, -1/+0Ballmer = Acted like a professional, and deserves respect for such.
      Eggthrower = Acted like a child, and no one of merit cares.
      Bill Gates & his Microsoft Fortune = $29,000,000,000+ to charity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates = Winner
      Eggthrower = Retard, who will never amount to anything.
      Period.
  • quomen, on 05/19/2008, -18/+243Steve Ballmer didn't seem too Hungary.
  • VipeNess, on 05/19/2008, -9/+18It was really only a matter of time before that happened to him. To bad the eggs didn't have the Vista logo designed on them.
    • gannondork, on 05/19/2008, -3/+14Then the eggs would have taken 5 times as long to get any work done.
    • Olfster, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3"5 times as long"? Imagine if they were only Vista Capable. OMG! Ballmer could have ran around the building before an egg hit anything.
      • mithrasinvictus, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3they did, that's why he missed
    • leexy, on 05/20/2008, -2/+4You'd need rotten eggs for that. Vista stinks!
  • estate, on 05/19/2008, -4/+31That's a little insensitive. He's probably got enough cholesterol as it is...
  • shutaro, on 05/19/2008, -5/+20Funny, but that guy throwing the eggs is lucky he didn't get a chair in the face for his trouble... Seriously, do NOT taunt The Ballmer!
  • colonelbuckshot, on 05/19/2008, -5/+47What exactly did he say? He speaks English with a heavy Japanese accent
  • TheMongo, on 05/19/2008, -51/+153What the hell? It's a goddamn operating system & office suite, how are people so pissed off about this? Ballmer's a person, and no one deserves stupid ***** like that. Guess what that kid's stunt is going to change? Absolutely ***** nothing. He's going to get his ten minutes of internet fame, he's embarrassed his school and Microsoft will still go on doing whatever the hell it wants to.

    Sometimes people forget real life is not the internet.
    • rmxz, on 05/19/2008, -6/+40It's not the operating system he seems to be complaining about. He's obsessed because of the large contract that he thinks is not in the interest of his country; apparently of the opinion that the tax money could have been better spent elsewhere.
      • MagicBobert, on 05/19/2008, -3/+23Then he should complain to his government, who allocates where the taxes go.
        • wjbp, on 05/20/2008, -0/+23Maybe he already egged them.
        • Texa, on 05/20/2008, -2/+6The government officials are corrupt and were likely paid off by Microsoft. It doesn't matter who gets elected because as soon as they have a chance to be rich, they all turn corrupt. Getting rich by signing a contract is more appealing than doing the right thing. It's a ***** up country that spends tax money on stupid ***** because everyone elected wants to get rich. Microsoft is part of the problem by paying government officials off.
        • JohnZero, on 05/20/2008, -1/+4The government is corrupt and doesn't give *****.

          Politicians are just stuffing their pockets.
    • tyywebb, on 05/19/2008, -0/+6You mean there's something else out there?
    • FunkyNuts, on 05/20/2008, -2/+6Sure....but now he's famous on Digg.
      • Yazilliclick, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1No he's not, there's no such thing. The internet is all about 10 seconds of fame and than forgotten and abandoned.
    • leexy, on 05/20/2008, -4/+10It's not just about software. It's about the sleazy tactics MS uses to stifle competition. Europeans, in general, don't look kindly on such practices as illustrated by their anti-monopolistic laws and recurrent rulings in favor of consumers. MS stands for a capitalism ran amok which is killing creativity and destroying democracy.

      The guy behaved like a jerk, but it doesn't mean his heart was not in the right place.
    • slowbox, on 05/20/2008, -1/+5I could care less about the whole thing. However in any David vs Goliath situation I cheer for David. It takes balls and a bit of insanity, but sometimes that's the only way to raise awareness. And that's exactly what he has done, which is a huge victory considering he was just a doofus with some eggs. Brilliant.
  • delmar14, on 05/19/2008, -16/+92Ballmer may be an assclown but the guy throwing eggs came off as a childish retard. Shouldn't he be throwing eggs at his government officials given that it was their decision, not Ballmer's?
    • PAStheLoD, on 05/19/2008, -3/+4Already done.. no use :/
    • Texa, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2Government officials are there to make a quick buck so they take bribes to sign a contract. Once elected they all become corrupt.

      You are correct in that throwing eggs will not solve the problem, but at least people that read digg know about this. And maybe people that do have a choice will not pick Microsoft. Hungarian students DO NOT have a choice. The government buys every student a free copy of Windows + office.
  • sirbeta, on 05/19/2008, -3/+21Is it just me or did he not hit Ballmer even once with those eggs? I'd hardly say this has any comparison to Gates gettied pied.
  • AndrewDB, on 05/19/2008, -11/+40How can he miss that big fat bald head?
  • Vodd9, on 05/19/2008, -15/+8That ***** deserved it.
  • paulmer2003, on 05/19/2008, -5/+8What was the guy with the eggs saying? Couldn't understand >_>
    • damndj, on 05/19/2008, -4/+10ah durkka durkka durkaa
      • 8270369, on 05/20/2008, -0/+0Yes, and something about Bakalakadaka Street.
    • muzikkislife, on 05/20/2008, -4/+1what the guy was saying wasnt in english...hello????
    • Commodore13, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1Maybe once and a while you could actually read an article instead of just looking at the pretty moving pictures, all right chap?
  • abszint, on 05/19/2008, -5/+7and he got the 25+10 billion HUF worth of contract
    too bad we have to use crappy windows for 4 more years
  • satlan, on 05/19/2008, -10/+2It's official, Hungarian people don't have humour...
    • balazsbela, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1It's official, you draw stupid conclusions.
  • chesscat, on 05/19/2008, -5/+52Egg misses egghead.
    • zephyr42, on 05/19/2008, -0/+5HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE!?

      in fact it is UNpossible.
      • Raian, on 05/19/2008, -0/+6You missed Ballmer opening his kirby like mouth and inhaling them.
        • shutaro, on 05/19/2008, -0/+5This, then, begs the question: Why did Ballmer not inhale his assailant and steal his egg-throwing power?
    • eeevildictator, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2likenesses repel
  • fuzzlog, on 05/19/2008, -4/+13Oh man, this guys needs to invest in a new pair of glasses. He was dead center in the 4th row and managed to miss 3 shots.
    Steve B. must be used to that by now. He took it pretty well joking about the 'friendly disruption' afterward.

    That Bill G. getting pied video is still funny lol.
  • Supernova36, on 05/19/2008, -14/+5Don't taze me bro!
  • Wynner3, on 05/19/2008, -15/+6I would have grabbed that guy and egged him. Why disrupt a room full of people? Ballmer didn't murder his family or anything. Maybe Ballmer should keep eggs on him at all meetings or conferences and egg people back. Or throw copies of OSX at them.
    • jellygraph, on 05/19/2008, -2/+5I get it... until corpoation X actually murders your family, just sit down and shut up... i see.
    • linuxpenguin, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1This was his one chance to let someone at Microsoft actually know how he felt. I don't see what's wrong with that. Sure, he could've been more tactful, I agree - but if that's the way he feels, I see no reason why he shouldn't have asked Mr. Ballmer about it.
  • danielgilbert, on 05/19/2008, -7/+12Eggcellent planning
  • abszint, on 05/19/2008, -7/+20by the way the "attacker" was not a linux zealot nerd, but a far-right activist, they hate microsoft too :D
    • nephilimx, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1How can you assume that? He threw eggs over 50million dollars of tax. Far-right normally care more about racism and fascist then small time tax curruption.
  • RottNKorpse, on 05/19/2008, -1/+26the best part is he thought he would get some huge reaction when actually all that happens is everyone sees he throws like a girl
    • GreenAlien, on 05/19/2008, -0/+3The problem is nobody else was aware of what was going on. Had leaflets been distributed to the students beforehand telling them about the dodgy Microsoft deal they might of been more on the ball when the guy spoke out about why he threw the eggs.

      Heck, some of the other students might of got eggs too and it would of been a mirracle for Balmer to avoid them then. Pity.
      • RottNKorpse, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1now that would be worth diggin...
    • wjbp, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2Now come on. My 2 year old niece throws better than that.
      • RottNKorpse, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1and I'm sure no one would argue with that. :)
  • wontstoptalking, on 05/19/2008, -9/+96Ballmer was great in this: Did you see that face-melting glare he gave the egg-thrower? It made him stop, and everyone looked at him, and he awkwardly shuffled out. I respect Ballmer for not losing it like O'Reilly would have. Though I would pay a lot of money to see O'Reilly egged.
    • sgglynn, on 05/19/2008, -0/+14"Though I would pay a lot of money to see O'Reilly egged."
      Want to open up a "chip-in" account?
    • HonestAbe, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1Ask the Biotic Baking Brigade.
      • BedPost, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Not sure if you were referencing this, but I just got off a 4 hour Mass Effect binge, and I have to say a Biotic Baking Brigade would be pretty cool - bunch of dudes making cakes with their minds. Awesomeness.
    • EVogel, on 05/20/2008, -1/+4THROW ***** SUCKS!!!
    • Takuro, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I've got to admit Ballmer handled that very professionally. Not only did he command respect, but he managed to make a few lighthearted jokes and move on with his presentation briskly.
    • sodoh, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2The only reason Ballmer didn't loose it was because the university had all chairs removed from his local area before entering.

  • sysinu, on 05/19/2008, -10/+2Anyone else notice the guy holding a iBook when he had to stand up to let the eggman get out? Made me laugh a little inside.
    • tnoy, on 05/19/2008, -1/+4Did you laugh because even though he's using an iBook, he's still likely to be using Microsoft's office suite and new document format along with likely having purchased XP to run in parallels so he can run all the software that isn't on OS X?
  • CharlesDance, on 05/19/2008, -5/+44That was amazingly awkward, i love it! He makes his comment then proceeds to pick up each egg and throw them individually, then everybody stands up to let him leave and he just walks off. Ballmer hiding behind the podium is hilarious while everybody is watching this guy throw eggs oh yes!



    • mrASSMAN, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1OGC
    • EvilFerret, on 05/20/2008, -3/+1I had to watch it a couple times, trying to figure out if that was really Ballmer or just some staged, lame attempt at comedy. Seriously, the way the guy spoke out against him made him seem like he was a extremely bad actor reading from a poorly written script. Then the way he threw the eggs didn't seem like he wanted to do it, almost hesitant.

      Either way, I don't think anybody is going to ever hear or see that man again.
    • television, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Best summary yet!
  • mrtrance, on 05/19/2008, -14/+17ohh yes, this is our university :) well done guys :)
  • JosefH, on 05/19/2008, -17/+1After much research I have found out that on digg, you will be digged down, except on three occasions.

    1. You say something incredibly witty, such as using onomatopoeia.
    2. You reference Scientology or George Bush in a witty way
    3. You post a mirror

    Knowing this, I expect nearly everyone to be digged up here, except me of course.
    • XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2Chirp Chirp

      Do I get dugg up now?
  • techweenie, on 05/19/2008, -2/+3Can't wait to see the other footage, where they show him ducking and covering!
  • bluedig, on 05/19/2008, -7/+6What would happen to the guy if he was here?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bVa6jn4rpE
    • viserov, on 05/19/2008, -0/+5Don't egg me, bro!
    • HonestAbe, on 05/19/2008, -1/+3Taser Bro's fifteen minutes are up.
    • Mothrog, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2Nothing. See, when people start to strike officers as they are being escorted out for being obnoxious, disruptive asses, they tend to make things a bit worse for themselves. ***** Meyer needs to learn not to act like a spoiled child.
  • Wakuko, on 05/19/2008, -19/+17AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

    He deserves that and more!

    Hide behind the desk, you damn chicken!
    • popfrogs, on 05/19/2008, -1/+5Well at least we know which came first, now.
    • antdude, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1I thought he was going to grab a chair and throw at that guy.
  • fungke, on 05/19/2008, -1/+50Well that was uncomfortable.
  • 0gre, on 05/19/2008, -4/+22I was kind of surprised, I can't stand the guy but Ballmer handled it quite well. I guess he's gotten used to fending off hecklers and verbal attacks against Microsoft.
    • aaronroe, on 05/19/2008, -7/+2I agree. This actually makes endears me to Ballmer.
    • mithrasinvictus, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2agreed, but the guy got more attention to what a bad deal was made for the taxpayers than he would have otherwise.
  • jokeoftheday, on 05/19/2008, -4/+7I was wondering, ok, he's standing there... uncomfortable... what now??? hahaha
    • aaronroe, on 05/19/2008, -0/+7That's what always happens. After your great big protest you expect SOMETHING to happen, then when it doesn't it's kind of a let down. I think he was expecting to be tackled.
    • popfrogs, on 05/19/2008, -0/+14It would have been even better if the dude would have sat down and started blogging while everyone pretended it never happened.
  • Raian, on 05/19/2008, -1/+5That's one way to ask for a refund...
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 100 of 145 discussions
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.