Gates Makes a Point
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http://www.bareoaks.ca/Bare-Oaks-Blog/Bare-Oaks_Blog/8A4729E4-23F8-4ED8-ABB7-F118A6229215_files/mosquito.jpg

Release the hounds! Actually, make that mosquitoes. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world's wealthiest people, made headlines this week when he released a cloud of mosquitos at a technology conference. The philanthropist was pointing out the dangers of malaria for the world's poor. "Malaria is spread by mosquitoes. I brought some here," he said. "There is no reason only poor people should be infected." Fortunately for the terrified attendees, the mosquitoes were malaria-free. 'Twas all a rouse. Bill Gates 1, Terrified Minions 0.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: I hate mosquitos...*shuddering*

anybody got a can of Raid!!!!!!!!

Only the filthy rich can get away with that. Anyone else would be arrested.

Only the filthy rich can get away with that. Anyone else would be arrested.
Hey, if I'd been in that room - I'd be SCREAMING for the police!! :eek: :mad:

I can't believe you guys are missing the point. He was trying to bring awareness about malaria. It's a very serious problem.
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2007/10/30/malaria.jpg
The philanthropist was pointing out the dangers of malaria for the world's poor. "Malaria is spread by mosquitoes. I brought some here," he said. "There is no reason only poor people should be infected."

I can't believe you guys are missing the point.
I'm not missing the point. I just think there are other ways to get your point across.

I'm not missing the point. I just think there are other ways to get your point across.
So do I. I think he was taking things too far.

So do I. I think he was taking things too far.
Right. Like "WOW, you mean mosquitos spread malaria?? If I wasn't picking them out of my teeth, and scratching my ass for days, I never would have known. Thanks Gates, for enlightening me." Perhaps next time, he can toss a case of HIV infected needles at the audience.

Right. Like "WOW, you mean mosquitos spread malaria?? If I wasn't picking them out of my teeth, and scratching my ass for days, I never would have known. Thanks Gates, for enlightening me." Perhaps next time, he can toss a case of HIV infected needles at the audience.
Then again, I'm insect-phobic, so what do I know?? :eek: :lol:

So do I. I think he was taking things too far.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Still, there had to be another way of getting his point across.

Still, there had to be another way of getting his point across.
That's what the Irish said when Jonathan Swift wrote his essay, "A Modest Proposal." At the time of it's writing, Ireland was going through INSANE economic downfall. (1800's).

Swift proposed that since there was no money to buy food, that we all just eat babies. "A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout."

The point is, he was creative and innovative about drawing attention to something that needs the spotlight. For Swift, it was poverty, for Gates, it's Malaria.

"Therefore I repeat, let no man talk to me of these and the like expedients, 'till he hath at least some glympse of hope, that there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into practice."

A.K.A, Unless you have a better idea, don't knock his.



(I hope I didn't sound rude)

^ No, I'm not offended. We can just agree to disagree on this.

Such hyperbole. For those in favor of Gate's rude act, I'm assuming your check is in the mail to support this issue, AKA, putting your money where your mouth is.

Such hyperbole. For those in favor of Gate's rude act, I'm assuming your check is in the mail to support this issue, AKA, putting your money where your mouth is.
In all due respect, Janice, I don't believe his act was "rude" I believe Gates was simply fustrated at the apathy people show toward their fellow man.

In all due respect, Janice, I don't believe his act was "rude" I believe Gates was simply fustrated at the apathy people show toward their fellow man.
I guess we have a different definition of rude. How does he know they were apathetic? Besides, I'm out of this debate because there really isn't one. I just read a more in-depth article, and Gates opened a small jar of mosquitoes. He didn't cloud the room with the bugs, as this article states. That didn't seem right to me, and I'm glad it's not the case. I was imagining people swatting bugs away from them, left and right.

Right. Like "WOW, you mean mosquitos spread malaria?? If I wasn't picking them out of my teeth, and scratching my ass for days, I never would have known. Thanks Gates, for enlightening me." Perhaps next time, he can toss a case of HIV infected needles at the audience.
i agree. it was very unprofessional, unethical, and uncalled for. you'd think someone like him would know how to behave at a conference.

I guess we have a different definition of rude. How does he know they were apathetic? Besides, I'm out of this debate because there really isn't one. I just read a more in-depth article, and Gates opened a small jar of mosquitoes. He didn't cloud the room with the bugs, as this article states. That didn't seem right to me, and I'm glad it's not the case. I was imagining people swatting bugs away from them, left and right.
A small jar? OK, than that's not nearly as bad. Still, I have a fear of insects, so I'd still be creeped out. :eek: :lol:

I do think he could have found a better way.

This thought just came to me. Why not show the attendees a brief film (2-5 min.) that shows the bugs being released. He could have had the film professionally made made with actors & cinematic effect, and since its acting, the bugs could have been disease-free & the actor's treated with repellants. Of course, making such a film would cost a considerable amt of $, but then, Bill Gates has LOTS and LOTS of that, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Remind me never to be in the same room as Bill Gates. inexcusable no matter what point he was trying to get across :bash:

Remind me never to be in the same room as Bill Gates. inexcusable no matter what point he was trying to get across :bash:
Ditto here. :mad:

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Yes! The Mosquito's!!:brent

Well, people are talking about it now aren't they?

Put it this way...you know those really loud, obnoxious comercials with the annoying song? We complain and complain about them, but the truth is that because they're so loud and annoying they get in our heads. Whether we want to or not, we're thinking about the comercial and possibly the product. I guess that's the point here. Am I saying I wouldn't be pissed if I were in that room? Hell no. :lol: I can't stand mosquitos. But the point is, it was a little out there so it made news and now people are talking about it and possibly thinking about malaria.

well at least he didn't get a blue screen of death when he opened the jar.

Well, people are talking about it now aren't they?

Put it this way...you know those really loud, obnoxious comercials with the annoying song? We complain and complain about them, but the truth is that because they're so loud and annoying they get in our heads. Whether we want to or not, we're thinking about the comercial and possibly the product. I guess that's the point here. Am I saying I wouldn't be pissed if I were in that room? Hell no. :lol: I can't stand mosquitos. But the point is, it was a little out there so it made news and now people are talking about it and possibly thinking about malaria.

Exactly! A few people said 'im sure he could find a better way'. Well, like what? A poster or something? No one would have cared. This way got attention. That's what he wanted.

well at least he didn't get a blue screen of death when he opened the jar.
:brent

Exactly! A few people said 'im sure he could find a better way'. Well, like what? A poster or something? No one would have cared. This way got attention. That's what he wanted.
Exactly.