CNBC accidentally outs Tim Cook as gay.

[jnpy!$4g3cwk]

I'd like to see a Cook be a little less political. A good example is Apple's most recent shareholders meeting where Cook got a question on only doing things where there is a clear return on investment. He got angry and told people who don't agree to get out of the stock. He easily could have explained why he believes the things Apple does are good for shareholders.

I thought it was actually a very important message that Tim Cook gave in that case. Apple was/is known for driving a hard bargain on parts and quality, and certainly their accountants know how to sharpen their pencils. But, Cook gave a very strong message that while Apple knows how to drive a hard bargain, they are not going to sacrifice "quality" in the broad sense, which includes "green" initiatives, accessibility initiatives, etc., to the bean counters. And actually, that is a very important message to both customers and shareholders that Apple is not going to make the same mistake that, e.g., Dell did. The reason that it became "political" is that certain people with an upside down climate agenda wanted to make it "political".

 

[Rogifan]

I thought it was actually a very important message that Tim Cook gave in that case. Apple was/is known for driving a hard bargain on parts and quality, and certainly their accountants know how to sharpen their pencils. But, Cook gave a very strong message that while Apple knows how to drive a hard bargain, they are not going to sacrifice "quality" in the broad sense, which includes "green" initiatives, accessibility initiatives, etc., to the bean counters. And actually, that is a very important message to both customers and shareholders that Apple is not going to make the same mistake that, e.g., Dell did. The reason that it became "political" is that certain people with an upside down climate agenda wanted to make it "political".

Cook could have explained why what Apple is doing is good for shareholders in the long run rather than telling people to get out of the stock. Of course the original question was stupid to begin with considering how much cash and profits Apple generates each quarter. But I think Cook could have answered it in a better way that didn't make it sound like he was telling people who don't agree with his politics to get out of the stock.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

His marriage to Meldinda might be a tip off, there. Until we stop assuming people are straight, they will need to come out when they're not. It's as if the gay people want to maximize the chances of finding fulfilling relationships!

Why?

 

[GoCubsGo]

Apple is so gay.

Whether written in jest, with a hint of sarcasm or just being inane, this comment is about as useful as the news article itself.

Surprised it hasn't been picked up by MR yet but the reports I've seen on the net this morning so far have Apple at Pride SF with about a 1000 staff behind the Apple banner.

Sorry Tim says it was 5000 staff, family and friends.
https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/483370052578582528/photo/1

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Apple is trying to establish itself outside the shadow of one man.
Maybe Tim Cook is trying to avoid making it about him.

I don't see why MR needs to report on anything that has to do with a personal decision to attend an event, but that is just me.

Tim Cook's sexual orientation is of no surprise to me. The media suddenly deciding that they won some intense game of Harriet the Spy and "figured out" that Cook is gay is laughable. It only compounds how incredibly ignorant the people who are feeding the public their ******** really can be.

Every employee at Apple can be gay and it would never matter, not even a little. I no longer give two ***** about someone's preference as it will never affect me one way or the other. People are people and should be treated with respect and dignity, I don't care who they love.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Tim Cook shows ‘Apple Pride’ at Gay Pride Parade http://www.cultofmac.com/285501/tim-cook-shows-apple-pride-gay-pride-parade/

 

[sixrom]

Tim Cook shows ‘Apple Pride’ at Gay Pride Parade http://www.cultofmac.com/285501/tim-cook-shows-apple-pride-gay-pride-parade/

They've ramped up the "cool" in being gay.

Why MacRumors didn't report on Gay Pride SF is very revealing.

Suddenly the open minded progressives...

 

[Shrink]

They've ramped up the "cool" in being gay.

Why MacRumors didn't report on Gay Pride SF is very revealing.

Suddenly the open minded progressives...

Just curious..what does it reveal?

I can't figure out the relevance of the SF Gay Pride Parade to this site. Information about the Apple CEO is, I suppose, defensible.

But a parade!? I don't get the relevance to this site.

 

[jeremysteele]

Not even a secret. Think most people at least suspected it. While he hasn't outright said it (which is fine, it's his business!) he has eluded to it in speeches.

Just curious..what does it reveal?

I can't figure out the relevance of the SF Gay Pride Parade to this site. Information about the Apple CEO is, I suppose, defensible.

But a parade!? I don't get the relevance to this site.

Unfortunately, That's how modern politics work in our lovely pc world.

Macrumors didn't report, so they must be anti-gay.

Just like people who didn't vote for Obama, must be racist.

Or how tech companies who have 10x as many male applicants and have a 9-1 male:female ratio MUST be sexist.

And let's not forget about people with no legs being denied roller-coaster access. That's discrimination against the disabled!

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

They've ramped up the "cool" in being gay.

Why MacRumors didn't report on Gay Pride SF is very revealing.

Suddenly the open minded progressives...

How can being gay be cool?! Two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. -- Albert Einstein

 

[AngerDanger]

Why?

to maximize the chances of finding fulfilling relationships!

Would you tell people you were straight if we lived in a culture that assumed you're gay?

 

[Apple Corps]

I can't wait until the world stops obsessing over gays. Why do we care if people are gay or not? Why do people have to come out? If Tim Cook wants to keep his private life private, that's his choice.

And if you want to go public than you invite reactions - good or bad...

 

[Shrink]

And if you want to go public than you invite reactions - good or bad...

You're absolutely right!

I'm going public...I'm straight!

(Probably warped in childhood!)

Now...is that the same thing?

 

[whooleytoo]

Unfortunately I think there will be more and more pressure for Cook to come out. I don't like it. If Cook wants to keep his private life private that should be his choice. Screw Kara Swisher and everyone else who want him out.

Yeah, I agree. FWIW, I think it would be better if more people came out, it would help normalise being gay within the broader society. But it has to be the person's own choice. "Go forth, and be a guinea-pig / trailblazer for the rest of us"? Errr... no.

 

[NewbieCanada]

...and, of what possible relevance is his affectional preference to ANYTHING!

The term is sexual orientation. It's not a preference.

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Cook is gay ?

That would have never happened if Steve was still alive.

-t

I know you're kidding, but Ronald Wayne, the co-founder of Apple (who sold out before incorporation) is gay and came out to Steve Jobs in 1974.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Wayne

 

[Shrink]

The term is sexual orientation. It's not a preference.

Actually, affectional preference does not refer to the issue (or non-issue) of "choice", it refers neutrally to the individual's direction of affection (and possibly, but not necessarily) sexual desire.

It in no way refers to the issue of whether that preference is a "choice". It is value neutral , and refers to a larger issue than simply sexual behavior. There are many heterosexuals and gays, and other variations of affectional preference for whom sexual behavior is irrelevant, but affectional feelings most certainly are relevant. There are asexual straights, gays, bi's...etc. whose feelings of affection do not necessarily involve any sexual behavior.

While your comment was, I believe, very well intended (if a bit curt), I think you'll find that those involved in the scientific study of sex (as I have been for going on 30 years) generally are more interested in the affectional component than the sexual...and the term I used is preferred.

I had a patient many years ago who asked me to tell him if he was bi-sexual. I asked him when he thought about settling down with, or marrying, someone, did he think of a man or a woman. While he engaged in sexual behavior with both genders, his affectional preference was straight, and his sexual behavior could be characterized as "any port in a storm". He was behaviorally bi-sexual, but affectionally hetero.

 

[MattInOz]

I don't see why MR needs to report on anything that has to do with a personal decision to attend an event, but that is just me.

Tim Cook's sexual orientation is of no surprise to me. The media suddenly deciding that they won some intense game of Harriet the Spy and "figured out" that Cook is gay is laughable. It only compounds how incredibly ignorant the people who are feeding the public their ******** really can be.

Every employee at Apple can be gay and it would never matter, not even a little. I no longer give two ***** about someone's preference as it will never affect me one way or the other. People are people and should be treated with respect and dignity, I don't care who they love.

This wasn't just Tim Cook at a parade it was a significant part of the company behind a Logo banner, special event logo t-shirts and company gifts they have gone all in as a brand on this. Yes Apple is a group of individuals who as a group and as individuals are part of the SF community. It was a big event for SF so Apple made it a event for them for the first time in how many decades they have been working just on the edge of the city.

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple has decided they are going to have far more presents at SF events from now on. I can think of a couple music event Apple would make a good sponsor for.

When Apple has been "Closed" in many regards and very protective of the brand this would to me be fairly news worth.

I mean WWDC would clearly be the key event marking the change in "openness" at Apple but this event is fairly big reinforcement that the change is a clear business change.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Would you tell people you were straight if we lived in a culture that assumed you're gay?

I wouldn't tell people anything as it has no bearing on my performance of my work, public life, or society.

 

[AngerDanger]

I wouldn't tell people anything as it has no bearing on my performance of my work, public life, or society.

Fair enough. I think there would be situations in which it would be advantageous to have other people aware of your sexuality—as of right now, we seem to default to assuming people are straight unless otherwise informed. You say it has no bearing on your "work, public life, or society," and I agree. However, it deeply affects your search for romantic partners and how some people think of you. In an ideal world, coming out would be unnecessary, however, we have this world.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Fair enough. I think there would be situations in which it would be advantageous to have other people aware of your sexuality—as of right now, we seem to default to assuming people are straight unless otherwise informed. You say it has no bearing on your "work, public life, or society," and I agree. However, it deeply affects your search for romantic partners and how some people think of you. In an ideal world, coming out would be unnecessary, however, we have this world.

Why do people have to be informed?

 

[AngerDanger]

Why do people have to be informed?

They don't. It's optional like everything else in life. Why should they care whether or not their coming out bothers you?

 

[phrehdd]

http://valleywag.gawker.com/cnbc-show-implodes-after-co-host-outs-tim-cook-1597097150

Hmm unsure why anyone would quote Obama. Jobs and others hire people without issue based on performance. As well, the person in question didn't make it a point of contention.

 

[VersaceX]

Personally, I just hope his second toe isn't bigger than his first. Now that is something which would deeply affect my opinion on Mr. Cook. Also, does anybody know what race(s) he is? There may be a few in there that really get my goat!

Umm. Pretty sure sure he's Caucasian.
What nationalities he has I'm not too sure.

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I wouldn't tell people anything as it has no bearing on my performance of my work, public life, or society.

Most straight people fail to realize is that they express their sexual orientation all day everyday.
Someone asks if your married, yes, well chances are your straight.
You see a hot girl you make a comment about. You've just said basically your straight.
Says things like my girlfriend and I, my wife and I etc. well you've just told us your straight.

Gay man or woman says these same things and everyone's reaction is OMG I don't need to know that. Don't tell me what goes in in your bedroom it's private.

 

[jtara]

Could he over enunciate any more? That voice is, so annoying.

Everybody at Apple speaks this way, at least in public appearances.

I'd guess that Apple has a "style guide" for speakers. Words used in presentations are very carefully selected ("amazing!") and I'd bet that speakers are also guided on enunciation and emphasis, because they all put the emphasis on the same sylables. Apple is very big on maintaining a consistent public image.

It's a bit annoying and forced.

The phone-in from Dr. Dre was especially amusing.

 

[The Doctor11]

Wow... I have honestly never connected the possibility of Tim Cook being gay. Never crossed my mind until I read this thread. Well... if it's true, it sure hasn't been a burden on his success.

Same here. Except it didn't cross my mind until I seen it on live tv! Even if he were gay it really doesn't matter. It doesn't make him any different really. It does not make anyone different

 

[SactoGuy18]

In the case of Apple, just about nobody cares if Tim Cook is homosexual. After all, the counterculture ethos that the late Steve Jobs instilled on the company means they are willing to accept a anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender or even sexual orientation just as long as that person makes the company better. And Cook's mastery of the supply chain to deliver Apple products is difficult to beat.