[jmw1]

Quote

Yeah Brian. Apparently it has never occurred to Kay or yourself, or anyone else reporting this hysteria that perhaps, just maybe, Jobs and Apple have been telling us all the truth this whole time, but that his medical condition has been difficult to diagnose properly. Jobs is not a doctor anymore than you or Roger Kay or other 'analysts' so maybe he's been telling us exactly what his doctors have been telling him. Doctors are after all, only human, and can be wrong too.

Absolutely. Being a doctor myself, I can attest to the impossibility of making any diagnosis of what is going on with Jobs from afar. Even up close, it can be very hard. From what I've seen and heard, I'm pretty sure that Jobs has been telling the truth all along and that there simply was no better diagnosis available than what he shared. I'm far from convinced that they even now have a definite diagnosis and plan. That's how these things work. There's almost certainly no conspiracy of secrecy involved.

[wpwily]

What, are we really surprised that "ethical journalist" is as much of an oxymoron as "military intelligence"?

Of course not. Although I will say that the guys here at MacWorld at least appear to be trying to get things right much of the time.

[Grapho]

Jason Snell said:

Quite frankly, I don't think digging up innuendo about the personal health of Apple's CEO is our job. So we don't do it.

We don't report on rumor because rumors are incredibly unreliable, and I don't believe they serve anyone's best interests. Even the best rumor sources are often totally wrong, because Apple continually changes its plans.

We're not here to feed the next episode of a soap opera, one about Steve Jobs' health or one about what the next imaginary rumored product might be.

And this, Jason, is why a keep coming back to MacWorld.
The other day a friend of mine asked me if I believed in extra terrestrial intelligence and UFO's. I responded that the day an article exposing uncontroversial hard evidence to this matter was to be published in the National Geographic Magazine, I would start believing. As far as Mac news goes, I feel the same way about MacWorld.

Something that hasn't been commented is all these articles generate buzz, and I don't mean for Apple. We all know that as of lately, they got all the attention they need. I allude to all these sudo-journalist/blogger types that can't even check the veracity of a source, and they simply echo the opinion of others, whether it adheres to reality or not.

That Dan Lyons guy to me is among the worst. You can easily spot his disdain for Jobs. This guy has never been anybody until he became the Fake Steve Jobs, now that he has given that up, he is back to being a nobody and he does not like it too much. These types jump at the opportunity to garner attention for them selves, I find it quite pathetic.
Message was edited by: Grapho

[kakman]

Why hasn't someone called 'House' yet. He'd have him sorted out in 42 minutes (plus ads).

[WAMBO]

There is speculation everywhere, especially the media. Obviously you all feel entitled to your opinion. However, anyone can speculate, including a doctor. It's the journalist who decides what to print or exclude. How do you know what these 'doctors' said since you did not ask? They may have also gave a benign differential diagnosis that Bloomberg and other sites omitted. You are equally as guilty for not checking with these doctors, to whom you have accused of wrongdoing.
Jobs personal life should be hid own business to disclose or not, within the confines of the laws and regulations of everything involved http://HIPPA, SEC, etc.... Journalist trying to get headlines are the one with the lack of ethics. Let's finish the diagnostic possibilities by adding some benign conditions since Jobs did disclose that he had cancer in 2004 and was in need of surgery, and it seems that it makes little sense to lie now. He can easily have a benign serious or life threatening condition such as a pancreatic pseudocyst or phlegmon. There are several other sequella to his surgery that can result in his present condition, but no one knows but Jobs and his caretakers and it's none of any ones business. You all should stop publishing about it, especially since he asked or pleaded to do so. Leave him alone and reduce his stress so that he can recover and continue to help Apple make excellent products.

Peace

[kagarver]

Well said, Doctor.

I recently lost my beloved Aussie at 12 years old to an "absorption problem" that lingered for a little more than a year. One vet's immediate take when presented with his history of gradual weight loss was cancer. His partner said "not necessarily." Tests and a scope were inconclusive. His vet and I decided against exploratory surgery and no autopsy was performed. To this day, my gut tells me that it was not cancer and yes, the loss of muscle mass was striking and disturbing. Sometimes, that's how these things work. Twelve was too young to lose him. I was counting on 14.

Take care, Steve. You are loved by many - speculators and all.

[tismeinaz]

You want reality distortion? Why is it women are expected to be anorexic to look good, but when a man is thin and lean - he is gaunt and on his death bed. Maybe if we weren't all so fat and overfed, we would all look a little thinner and it would not be the 'sign' of something worse. A lot of people who have faced cancer or major heath issues, get healthy. They become vegetarians or go on macrobiotic diets or just eat healthy and exercise more.
As long as Apple has taken the same care in hiring the management team as it has in the R&D and Marketing teams, they will do just fine. In the 80's they lost the vision, now it is clear and strong.

[WAMBO]

I hear ya. Personally, I have purchased Apple products as I have needed them, and they are easy to use as well as the quality. My purchase has nothing to do with Apple management and never will. I don't listen to those keynotes, but sometimes read about them if I am in need of something that was rumored to be upcoming. I wouldn't care who was the person that debuted them. If I need them and they get a decent review, I consider buying. I don't pray to Cupertino and I doubt that the majority of Apple users do.

[auramac]

I have ulcerative colitis, like Crohn's disease, a digestive disorder and autoimmune disease. Not cancer. But in severe cases, absorbtion problems, extreme weight loss, and you look like Steve Jobs. My point- you can look at the photographs and diagnose any number of conditions the more and less you know. Only his doctors have any clue- not his photographers. You Google any pain or symptom, and cancer is always a possibility. Bob Marley had cancer in his big toe! But it's usually the rarest.

Not the media's finest hour. If I were Steve Jobs, and I felt I'd have to leave my baby, I'd make sure the succession plan included the best to carry on my vision. Competition would be no concern. I'm sure Apple knows this. If people don't trust the stock, sell it. If you don't trust the products, don't buy them. Go back to writing about Britney and Lindsay, and leave the man alone.

Understatement of the decade- "not journalism's finest hour." In some cases, I truly believe it is an attempt to bring down Apple- or at least its stock price. Some people have an agenda.

[JDW]

tismeinaz said:

Maybe if we weren't all so fat and overfed, we would all look a little thinner and it would not be the 'sign' of something worse.

Perhaps one of the single best statements made in this thread and truly the most insightful statement made anywhere in the media on this subject.

I'm an American originally from California who has lived in Japan for over 14 years. I've never been overweight myself simply because I know when to put that fork down. I've always eaten various kinds of meat, fast food, and pretty much every other type of desserts and snack food Americans normally consume. But I have to say that when I was living in the US, it was like living on a pig farm. Yes, there were normal weight people such as myself, but there were also those who were not just a little overweight, but frightfully overweight. "Fat pigs" doesn't even begin to describe many Americans today. Some people are just so fat it makes one sick to look at them. In contrast, here in Japan you are hard pressed to find anyone even a little overweight unless you turn on NHK news to watch the Sumo matches. And no, the Japanese do not have any special gene that makes them thin either. They simply eat less. Yes, the Japanese have fewer food choices than Americans do but the person using the fork makes the ultimate decision on how to feed his or her face.

All said, Jobs is about as thin now as he was on the cover of the MacWorld Premier issue. Whether he needs special medical attention or not is between Jobs and his own personal medical advisers. But in terms of weight, most of you need to lay down that fork a while before scrutinizing Mr. Jobs.

[aquaadverse]

Personally, I don't get your indignation. Apple has purposely cultivated speculation and a sense of mystery as a huge slice of it's
marketing. People call Jobs by his first name like he is going to pop in for coffee and cake. Apple cratered at his last lengthy separation.He has purposely made himself the public face of the corporation. "just one more thing" and black turtleneck is a part of Americana. Apple is coming into a down economy after a several year period of introducing game changing product in several categories. Jobs has made no real effort at public baton passing preparation. He abruptly announces a six month leave of absence with a vague statement. What is the cap value of Apple again?


You want to be Tiger Beat or 17 Magazine because of Jobs worship or take potshots and criticize others while doing no work yourselves, feel free . Running down rumors and either proving or disproving them is called journalism. Publishing reactions and words of others with no actual contact or research and only adding condescending filler is called blogging. I know the terms have become interchangeable, but they aren't.

+"We don't report on rumor
because rumors are incredibly unreliable, and I don't believe they
serve anyone's best interests. Even the best rumor sources are often
totally wrong, because Apple continually changes its plans."+

But reporting on the reporters and putting the same rumors in an article is OK? Sorry, this is like the woman who proclaims her virtue because she only sleeps with other men when her husband is out of town.

+"We're not here to feed
the next episode of a soap opera, one about Steve Jobs' health or one
about what the next imaginary rumored product might be."+

Review products and publish Apple press releases then, but you lose the right to criticize others who are trying to get a grip on what this means to a multi-billion dollar company who's only stint without him was disastrous.

[nwatts]

A little ironic for Macworld to be criticising someone else for poor writing standards...

[tiggerr129]

Alansky Not exactly how I would say it but I agree I have three comments.

1st When you work closely with someone, especially if you admire and respect that someone, you get to know what they want, and work like they do. I firmly believe that the folks taking the reins at Apple will continue on as Steve would want them to. Besides, do you really think he would keep still, no matter where he is.

2nd Have you ever played the game telephone as a kid? The first kids says something to the next and it continues around the room. By the time it gets to the last kids, it is no longer any thing like the original statement. Maybe more news reporters and columnists should play this game and realize how ridiculous they look.

3rd Probably only understood by us baby boomers ---- Paul is dead.

[petero94707]

I hope you've checked out the video where Fake Steve Jobs tells an MSNBC reporter that he got punked on the Steve Jobs health story by Apple, because the same goes for you.
The bottom line is that Apple is a publicly traded company and withholding medical information on Jobs' health is (at best) a disservice to stockholders.
Tech journalism makes the Bush White House press corps look like vintage Woodward and Bernstein.