New York Times Column Critical of Steve Jobs Prompts Twitter Backlash

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Times DealBook editor Andrew Ross Sorkin's story questioning the ailing Apple visionary's lack of public philanthropy sparks online criticism of the writer.

Steve Jobs, former Apple CEO and resident visionary, may be in poor health these days, but that didn't stop New York Times DealBook blog editor Andrew Ross Sorkin from writing a column in Tuesday's Times questioning Jobs' lack of public philanthropy.

Surprisingly, reaction on Twitter has been more critical of Sorkin than it has been of Jobs.

Canadian journalist and author Andrew Potter tweeted that Sorkin's column "needs a lot more debate."

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Brooklyn writer and book critic Jacob Silverman tweeted "It's remarkable how many hoops Sorkin jumps through to justify Steve Jobs' (& Apple's) lack of philanthropy.

In a follow-up tweet, he wrote, "The unquestioning worship of Jobs is the ultimate convergence of Americans' most venerated classes: celebrities and businessmen."

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Another tweeter, @georgelazenby, poked fun at the heights Sorkin raised Jobs up to. Quoting Sorkin, he wrote, "'And [I] consider [Steve Jobs] the da Vinci of our time.' -Andrew Ross Sorkin (Oxygen itself should refuse to participate with these people)"

Stock trader DennisM responded directly to Sorkin on Twitter, simultaneously criticizing him and praising him. In one tweet he writes, "when has Jobs ever done anything publicly. You are walking on thin ice with your theory. U admit u don't have all the facts." Then follows up with "bit you point out Apple does no charitable giving and that is certainly a sad thing. You are right to bring it up."