My policy on interviews/comments about Apple and Steve

It looks like everyone has decided to write books about Apple and/or Steve Jobs, and I seem to be getting about one request a month to be interviewed by someone or other (or just “talk to”) about Apple or Steve or both. The rate of these requests seems to be accelerating, so in the name of saving me the hassle of answering this question repeatedly, here’s my policy on being intereviewed about Apple and Steve.

Short answer: thank you, but no.

Not quite so short answer: I’m honored. I’m amazed anyone actually CARES what I think. I really am. Heck, I’m actually amazed anyone remembers I used to work for the big fruit company.

However, today I work for a direct competitor, and I plan on working there for a while, because I’m having fun and surrounded by lots of fun and interesting people. I feel it’s inappropriate for me to make comments about or do analysis of a company my employer is competing with — ethics are a bitch some day, but I sleep well at night — and therefore, when I took my current position, I decided to keep my big mouth shut for the duration. I do not regret that. The potential issues of a conflict of interest (real or perceived) just make this kind of discussion difficult at best and an absolute disaster a real possibility, and I just don’t feel comfortable risking that, so I choose not to.

Believe it or not, my not talking about Apple has not caused the sun to go nova, has not solved the middle east crisis, nobody has grown a third eye and to the best of my knowledge, it had no bearing on BP’s decision to poke a hole in the earth and attempt to let it bleed to death (we need a bigger band-aid here!). So I don’t feel like the universe is missing much here. The sun still comes up in the east every morning somehow.

This policy will stay in place until I stop working for a competitor of Apple, or until nobody gives a damn any more what I think, or until I change my mind and decide to write my own book about Apple, or until the sun does in fact go nova. In case of the latter, I’ll be available for interviews somewhere in the third circle.

I appreciate your understanding in my wish to actually not talk about something. I realize it’s a rare thing for me… But we all need to sacrifice for the greater good.

Thanks,

Chuq

p.s. This is not my employer’s policy, this is mine. It will not change July 1 when my employer magically changes, because they didn’t set it. (in reality, my policy is more restrictive than theirs, since they wanted me to clear requests through them. They were, though, happy to hear I’d chosen to turn them all down for the duration).

p.p.s. Yes, I did just slyly admit that I am in fact staying with Palm after the merger with HP. I have the paperwork and anything, and to be honest, I’m looking forward to it.

p.p.p.s. Shh. Don’t tell anyone I told you that, okay?

p.p.p.p.s. Since about half the time the next question is “will you talk off the record?” let me answer that, too. No, I don’t talk off the record, either. I am not a fan of anonymous sources because they lead to stupid and lazy journalism, so I won’t be one.

p.p.p.p.p.s You’re welcome, Steve. I’ll buy the coffees next time.

p.p.p.p.p.p.s You’re still reading? Slow news day, isn’t it… Go outside and play already…

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