Sad. Truly sad. I hope Her Majesty got a really good deal on her network software from Billy... | Printable Version of Topic
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| Celtic Radio Community > Polls > Bill Gates Knighthood? |
| Posted by: Macfive 26-Jan-2004, 11:19 AM |
| It is true, the Queen will grant Knighthood to Bill Gates. Read the article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4057742/. Thoughts, comments? |
| Posted by: reharper 26-Jan-2004, 02:24 PM |
| Another reason for Scottish independence..... All I can say is that if I had English Citizenship I would have to renounce it. (My apolagies in advance for all of the great people of England) Russ |
| Posted by: silverdragon 26-Jan-2004, 02:29 PM |
| Sad. Truly sad. I hope Her Majesty got a really good deal on her network software from Billy... |
| Posted by: oldraven 26-Jan-2004, 03:39 PM |
| Yes, he may be a humanitarian in the way he tosses loads of cash at various charities, I won't argue with that. He has made a difference, ................. but he hasn't done it any differently, if you see what I'm saying. What has he done that has set himself apart from the common world to say that he has made a contribution to society? And I mean as people, not as people connected to the net. He hasn't made people stop and think, "I should try to be more like little Billie." Nope, he doesn't deserve it. A thank you, a gift, a mail order bride, sure. But not a knighthood. Like I said elsewhere, the man's not even a Loyalist. |
| Posted by: Aaediwen 26-Jan-2004, 05:48 PM |
| He's a businessman, that's it. Shoot no, he doesn't deserve a title like that! |
| Posted by: MDF3530 26-Jan-2004, 05:53 PM |
| <-----literally biting tongue so I don't say something nasty... (I can't help it-I'm a Mac user  ! And yes, I know Microsoft owns 35% of Apple!) |
| Posted by: oldraven 26-Jan-2004, 06:09 PM |
| Why hold back? Even us PC users are appalled. |
| Posted by: maggiemahone1 26-Jan-2004, 06:19 PM |
| The only thing he deserves is Anna Nichole Smith! mm1 |
| Posted by: MacErca 26-Jan-2004, 08:44 PM |
| It seems that Knighthood is not what it used to be, I guess maybe that money seems to be able to buy into anything. |
| Posted by: Knightly Knight 26-Jan-2004, 09:15 PM |
| Mr Gates can have it. Its not my gift to give. He has given away more money than we potentially will earn in our collective lifetimes. Although he and I are alike. He gives away a million, I pay a water bill. He gives away 2 million, I pay the gas bill. so its sort of even dont you think  |
| Posted by: scottish2 27-Jan-2004, 05:21 AM |
Bill Gates should be strung up by his toes. Being the richest man in the world he's also one of teh greediest. You don't get the spot of richest in the world without being greedy.  |
| Posted by: Danann 27-Jan-2004, 01:15 PM |
| Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought knighthood was reserved for people of the United Kingdom. Billie has always been American. He's not worthy... unless the Crown has taken to knighting people who earned their status by cheating and lying. What do I mean? I'll tell ya: 1) Microsoft Windows is an exact replica of a very old Mac platform... Lisa I think. 2) I think only Bill Gates could get away with producing a product saying it was complete, then coming out a month later making the public pay for an upgrade to fix 5000 holes and bugs in the "completed" release (95 and 98). 3) Yes, let's knight the man that made it possible for a global virus to take out most of the world's systems in one fail swoop because he doesn't know a thing about internet security. If you can't tell... I'm a LINUX user. |
| Posted by: Catriona 27-Jan-2004, 05:09 PM |
| Bill Gates will be granted an HONORARY Knighthood. This means as a foreigner, he cannot call himself 'Sir' William...... The Govt recommends names to HM The Queen to grant awards, including Knighthoods, for various reasons: service to charity etc. (In effect, this 'recommendation' is always put into effect)... The Labour Party has made some strange bedfellows, look at Sean Connery... - as well as, for instance, the way your President has managed to persuade my country (via Tony BLIAR) to go to war on very flimsy evidence.... Why shouldn't they recommend Bill Gates? After all, in my opinion, it's about par for the course for a corrupt political party  |
| Posted by: Aon_Daonna 27-Jan-2004, 05:18 PM |
| I think I couldn't care less if he gets one or not.. I dread the 24th when the Princess Royal is visiting my college.... |
| Posted by: scottish2 28-Jan-2004, 08:00 AM |
I still say we should petition the UK Government to reverse this dicision. I mean their honoring greed.  |
| Posted by: birddog20002001 28-Jan-2004, 09:35 AM |
| I am of the opinion that the title should be bestowed only on the military caste as it was originally intended in order to show the solder as an example. By giving it to people outside of the primary intent of the award (recognition for experience valor and fealty to a leader) you cheapen the decoration, I feel that a separate order should have been created for those fulfilling social functions on society. This is similar to the US civil war when familys with money were able to purchase officer ranks primarily Col. or Cpt. this then actually created a corps of (civilian) soldiers that were able to affect policy creating a bueaurocracy and inefficiency. |
| Posted by: andylucy 29-Jan-2004, 01:24 AM | ||
While originally true of knighthood in the middle ages, honorary knighthoods in the modern (post-1500) era have been handed out like 'ludes at a Grateful Dead concert.  The Order of the British Empire was created in 1917 to reward civilians. See this http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/honours/britemp.html for further information on the order.I guess it should really only be awarded to ham radio operators as we are about the only real "solders" left!  And for the record, no, I don't think that Gates deserves a knighthood, any more than any of the earlier robber-barons did. Of course, some of them got awards as well. Just my tuppence. Andy |
| Posted by: Annabelle 29-Jan-2004, 07:36 AM |
| Bill Gates deserves nothing that he doesn't pay hard cold cash for. He's had a monopoly going for years and it hasn't stopped. As for The Knighthood, why should an American accept a "Honorary Degree" from an country that he's not from? Is his family English, Scottish or Irish? If so and the Queen wants to give it to him then it's her call. If she gives it to him I can assure you he'll call himself "Sir" whether he has permission or no. It would suit his ego. Now as far as the America's evidence goes to ask Tony Blair to commit the British forces to help in Iraq that comment is not necessary to post in here and should be kept in the political Forum where it is welcome. But I do believe This war is not just America's war so don't pin it on America. We are not the rest of the world's escape goat. I'm proud of the close ties America and The British World have stood proudly together to battle many wars side by side. So if you'd like a discussion about the Iraq war keep it to the Political Forum please. Annabelle |
| Posted by: Catriona 29-Jan-2004, 08:50 AM |
| Oh, c'mon Annabelle - the words 'pot, kettle and black' come to mind when you post such sanctimonious comments. You mean YOU have never steered a thread off topic......? |
| Posted by: oldraven 29-Jan-2004, 09:21 AM | ||
Annabelle, you just stated your entire opinion on something completely off topic and then told everyone else not to.  |
| Posted by: Macfive 29-Jan-2004, 11:44 AM | ||
In life you will often be called upon to back-up your statements with facts. At times, it is necessary to provide examples to validate your opinion. I do not consider Cat?s comments off-topic. I may not agree with them, but they are certainly not off topic because the are used in support of her on-topic comments. In fact, I think this board is very liberal in dealing with off-topic subjects. Sometimes I get off-topic myself, but I like to think that it is more important to have discussion than to worry about staying strictly on topic. Let?s try not to point out off-topic items when you do not agree with someone, instead, base it on substance. If you think something is off-topic and does not belong in that topic, contact one of the mods or myself. Thanks! |
| Posted by: scottish2 29-Jan-2004, 11:47 AM |
Well said Paul!!!   |
| Posted by: RavenWing 29-Jan-2004, 01:21 PM | ||
I see nothing wrong with being greedy. I am greedy myself! |
| Posted by: scottish2 29-Jan-2004, 01:37 PM |
| There's greedy though and then there's GREEEEEDY and Bill is in the second class. |
| Posted by: RavenWing 29-Jan-2004, 02:03 PM |
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| Posted by: Dreamer1 30-Jan-2004, 07:57 PM | ||
They're not only honoring greed, but also vicious contempt towards everyone else, cold-hearted calculating deliberate and continuous dishonesty, arrogance, pride, conceit, hypocrisy, ----need I go on?? They should be deeply ashamed for even considering such an Honor to someone like him. Anyone with this Title should feel deeply mortified to see it dragged down to this extreme. I certainly would. Dreamer1 |
| Posted by: Dreamer1 30-Jan-2004, 08:09 PM | ||
Catriona, I'm sorry that you don't agree with your government's decision to go to war. I know that there are people on both sides of the "Pond" who agree with you. You're entitled to that opinion, but I don't feel that this is the right forum for this comment, either. Also, I can't imagine that anyone in your government would take too kindly to the notion that the U.S. Government had managed to pull the wool over their eyes and trick them into something (anything). I'm sorry. Please, let's go back to bashing the whole idea of Bill getting awarded Knighthood, and not look for opportunities to bash each other. That's not why we're here. Dreamer1 |
| Posted by: scottish2 30-Jan-2004, 08:23 PM | ||
| Dreamer 1 If you read above Paul has already approved of Cat's political comments in this thread stating
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| Posted by: Dreamer1 30-Jan-2004, 09:03 PM |
Oh, I see. Okay, I agree to disagree on the political front.  Let's keep the  aimed at Bill - he deserves it!!Dreamer1 |
| Posted by: Aaediwen 30-Jan-2004, 09:32 PM |
AMEN!  Let's head for Seattle! I want dibs on the computers (which would soon get reinstalled, of course) |
| Posted by: Angel Whitefang (Rider) 30-Jan-2004, 11:34 PM |
| *sighs* I have no comment ie...it's safer to keep my mouth shut on this. |
| Posted by: Roisin-Teagan 30-Jan-2004, 11:51 PM |
| I personally believe that Knighthood should only be reserved for British/UK citizens who have risen to the occassion of extraordinary human behavior or heroism. Fr. Mayor Gullianni of N.Y. N.Y. is also being given Knighthood (from what I've heard) and he deserves it over Mr. Gates, but I don't think even he should be allowed to become Sir. Rudolph Gullianni! The only exception I can see is if the person in some way put his/her life on the line for Britain or saved British citizens from being killed or harmed. Just my three pence worth. Roisin |
| Posted by: morton 31-Jan-2004, 01:29 PM |
| nighthood....?hold on ,i thought knighthood was reserved for the u.k. ? I hope the queen got a bargin on her softwear ? morton,from canada. |
| Posted by: scottish2 31-Jan-2004, 01:37 PM |
| If Gates get knighted I don't even want the dishonor of knighthood. |
| Posted by: Aon_Daonna 31-Jan-2004, 03:21 PM |
| I think knighthood is reserved for UK citizens. It's an honorary knighthood they can get and as honorary knight you're not allowed to call yourself sir. |
| Posted by: scottish2 31-Jan-2004, 03:54 PM |
Either way if Gates gets it the honor is no longer an honor in my view. To me it would be a dishonor to be in with the likes of Gates.  |
| Posted by: Aon_Daonna 31-Jan-2004, 05:38 PM |
| well, I don't really care about monarchy, so knighthoods don't really matter in my eyes, honorary or not. *grins* I think medals are nicer, you can pin them to a wall at least... |
| Posted by: scottish2 31-Jan-2004, 08:20 PM |
| Well I wouldn't mind it if Gates wasn't in the same league. He's the last person who deserves it. If anyone deserves it it's the innocent children of the world caught in the crossfire of war. |
| Posted by: Aon_Daonna 01-Feb-2004, 08:40 AM |
| well I'm more for the little people that do alot of good. Not just those who stand in the lime light anyway. |
| Posted by: scottish2 01-Feb-2004, 08:44 AM |
| Agreed! |
| Posted by: RICH 08-Feb-2004, 09:22 PM |
| I voted NO! Bill Gates is a good man and does a lot of great things; but, the GUI was invented by a think tank at Xerox (not Bill Gates) and wasn't copyrighted so that it could be used by anyone to allow the furtherment of the art/science of computing. I say give him Knighthood when he has solved ALL the problems that WINDOWS has caused............ That's my thoughts and I'm sticking to them.... Yours Aye, RICH  |
| Posted by: shamalama 11-Feb-2004, 07:06 AM |
| I thought a Knight was someone that slayed the Dragon, not created one. |
| Posted by: peckery 11-Feb-2004, 08:24 AM |
| Why not? The Beatles are knighted, even Ringo Bill Gates' company created something that touches the lives of EVERYONE in one way or another. It is like he invented air. I really don't care one way or the other, but ,really, why the hell not??? Doesn't change our lives any, and he will get a 10% discount at Denny's. |
| Posted by: Aon_Daonna 11-Feb-2004, 01:45 PM |
| ummh.. but so did Alexander Graham Bell (touching all our lives) who is known as the inventor of the telephone... and many more |
| Posted by: Raven 11-Feb-2004, 02:00 PM |
| I Alexander Graham Bell a Knight? As usual I find myself on the short end of the poll  If the Queen thinks he deserves to be a knight (pronounced Ka -nite) then I reckon he deserves it. Who am I to second guess royalty? |
| Posted by: Catriona 11-Feb-2004, 05:11 PM |
| I keep trying to explain............... There are two 'Honours' lists - one at the time of the Queen's Official Birthday (June) and the New Year's Honours list... (self explanatory) BUT..... It isn't the Queen who decides .... Names are put forward by the Government - the Queen really only acts as a 'rubber stamp' to their suggestions.... Ergo... political favours are repaid by certain levels of rewards - lifetime knighthoods (ie their families will not be considerd as 'titled' after the death of the awardee), and others....... the honorary knighthood status - which a number of US people have been awarded (including Colin Powell and ex-Mayor Guilliani of NY) is purely that ..... ie honorary.... they cannot use the title abroad - especially if they are a citizen of a republic... Really, it is just an acknowledgement of charity work or fund-raising of some description! One of the Gettys - Sir Paul, I think .... WAS entitled to use his knighthood, ie call himself 'Sir' because he renounced his US citizenshipand became a British citizen... He gave many millions to charities and to the Arts in the UK.... What it will get you (probably) is a better table in a restaurant - but that's probably the full extent of what it will 'buy'... 'Sir' Bob Geldof, as an Irishman (from the South) was awarded only an honorary knighthood - simply because, although he lives and works in London - he is a citizen of the Republic of Ireland. Bob G was recognised because of the amazing charity work he has done with the BandAid charity. |
| Posted by: mingkee 11-Feb-2004, 10:03 PM |
| he sounds more like tyrant let's see why netscape gets destroyed he's not deserved to have knighthood |
| Posted by: mingkee 11-Feb-2004, 10:05 PM | ||
oh please, don't kill me just kidding just a fantasy wish to be a human shaped dragon (dragoon) |
| Posted by: mingkee 11-Feb-2004, 10:08 PM | ||
and, he wants to slay freeware (aka open source software) and penguins (linux) |
| Posted by: peckery 11-Feb-2004, 11:11 PM | ||
You have to be living. Oh my God, is bill dead??? |
| Posted by: DraconisMajore 15-Feb-2004, 10:04 PM |
| A Knighthood has always MEANT something.............maybe not a lot in recent times , but still.........giving one to Microsoftie Billy boy totally, absolutely, cheapens the whoe IDEAL of knighthood! I'd rather see Monty Python knighted ! Draconis <shaking his head sadly> |
| Posted by: peckery 17-Feb-2004, 05:03 PM | ||
The Royals are all a bunch of freaks.  |
| Posted by: Arianrhod 23-Feb-2004, 09:46 AM |
| Rave .. Is that followed by Ka nigget ? In Service to the Dream, Paula |
| Posted by: rock_serenade 01-Mar-2004, 05:46 PM |
| certainly bill gates contributed to anyone with a computer, us for example, i'd much prefer the new scottish parliament to come up with a similar award, knight of scone or something.. now that i would object bill gates being awarded.. just out of pettiness i suppose. |
| Posted by: Catriona 02-Mar-2004, 04:22 PM |
| I'm afraid the new Scottish Parliament cannot award Knighthoods.... they are in the 'gift' of the Queen of Great Britain - and she usually only 'rubber stamps' the selections made by the Govt of the day - whether Labour or Conservative. The powers of the new Scottish parliament are strictly limited, mostly to Education, law and the NHS in Scotland - also local Govt... All other matters are still governed from Whitehall. |
| Posted by: RobertH 11-Mar-2004, 10:26 PM |
| Right. Let's grant honors to a guy that has created software with more security holes than Swiss Cheese. Have a software problem? Just call tech support. Then let them tell you (after you waited on hold for 45 minutes) that they'll help you if you fork over $250 for the pleasure of their call. Sorry Bill - take some of your money and develop better software. |
| Posted by: TMolinari 17-Mar-2004, 01:08 PM |
I am from America and I do not know very much about the knighting process. But if all it takes is to make billions of dollars by screwing over your business partners, stealing their ideas,releasing products that are so sub par compared to competitors and somehow getting them to be the most widely used, then yes I guess Bill Gates does deserve to be knighted. Just because you are really rich and start a charity doesnt make you a great guy. Of course thanks to his terrible software he has created hundreds of thousands of tech support jobs, if you consider that a plus.  |
| Posted by: RobertH 17-Mar-2004, 08:21 PM |
| I guess that would be a good side to it, if the tech support jobs were in the US. |
| Posted by: pockets 20-Mar-2004, 07:46 PM |
| good for him I say. You don't get anywhere in business without standing on people's toes or stealing their secrets. as is the obvious nature of the man, but..... I think there are a lot more derserving people out there that go unrecognised for their humanitarian efforts. They give what they can whether it be $10 or $100, it is a fortune to those people and they give of their time. |
| Posted by: faolin 02-May-2004, 08:13 PM |
But what on earth has he done to deserve knighthood? Just think about what he has done in respect to how much he's worth. Let's say for exaple say Joe is worth $175,000, and he donates a total of 3% of this over a year to charity or community programs. That's about $5,250. Bill Gates is currently worth $29.73 billion. If he donates the same percentage as our friend Joe, Bill would give $891,900,000 to charity. It's all in your perspective. Just because a guy is fabulously wealthy but gives the same proportion of his savings as everyone else is no reason to knight him. I mean, what are you going to do with $27.73 billion anyways? (sorry if that sounded to much like a math question - I'm working on calculus right now  ) |
