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

[KeithMajhor]

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?

[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 :)

[mcantelon → frosty]

He's certainly "passionate".

http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/23386/

[mahmud → mcantelon]

It says right below the video that it's a comedy sketch.

"his video is a teaser for our new comedy screenplay about what it means to be a little guy in the land of giants. This is our Christmas gift to the working class."

[hasenj]

He's a sales guy who's trying to pretend that's he a part of the in-crowd of programmers

[ugh → hasenj]

But even sales guys normally do not behave that way.

[brudgers → ugh]

Sales managers do.

[starpilot]

Fun fact: He and Jim Cramer (Mad Money) were freshman year roommates at Harvard. And they both throw chairs.

[gaelian]

Stimulants?

[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.

[sp4rki]

No publicity is worse than bad publicity, or so they say in the Microsoft world.