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Ask HN: What's the deal with Steve Ballmer?

9 points by KeithMajhor ↗ HN
I guess I'm the last person to see all the Steve Ballmer videos on YouTube. I don't have a specific question I'm just at a loss as to why a person, especially the CEO of Microsoft, would act like that in public... repeatedly..

So, what's his deal?

10 comments

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hasenj
He's a sales guy who's trying to pretend that's he a part of the in-crowd of programmers
ugh
But even sales guys normally do not behave that way.
sp4rki
No publicity is worse than bad publicity, or so they say in the Microsoft world.
frosty
He has a lot of passion and it shows. Also, he is awesome sales man to enterprises. Personally I like guys like him.

You put 5 geeks in a room and one guy like him to motivate and keep them happy once a week and rest of the week doing sales. Great combo :)

ahi
His entire career he's been riding the success that has been Microsoft. I doubt he has ever needed to actually develop real talent or skills. Gates had enough for the both of them. There has been almost no selective pressure, refining his leadership or strategy instincts.
starpilot
Fun fact: He and Jim Cramer (Mad Money) were freshman year roommates at Harvard. And they both throw chairs.