Zuckerberg Pledges 99% of Facebook Wealth "to Advance Humanity"

[Barrister]

From what I understand, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been doing some pretty good things with the Microsoft billions. If Zuckerberg ends up in that range, then that's a pretty good thing IMO.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is fantastic.  But it is also a registered charity, and it's goals are somewhat more mainstream and easy to quantify (like its efforts to eradicate malaria and fight HIV).

[Berkut]

From what I understand, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been doing some pretty good things with the Microsoft billions. If Zuckerberg ends up in that range, then that's a pretty good thing IMO.

Indeed.

I think there is a systemic problem in America that is resulted in a gross concentration of wealth in the mega-wealthy. The solution is not to take it away from them, but I cannot help but appreciate when some fraction of them recognize that the best thing they can do with the bulk of it is stuff like this...

[Martinus]

Wow Marty, you sure are working mighty hard to avoid giving any credit to the guy at all.

Of course he is smart - duh, we know that. And being smart, he is going to dedicate his money to the causes that he cares about in a smart manner. Again, duh.

But fundamentally, this is a very great thing. The guy is going to see his ridiculous wealth is used for a purpose that he finds noble, and will hopefully have a tangible effect on humanity.

He can do that in good faith, while at the same time doing so in a manner that protects the assets from simply going to the US government. Again...duh.

That is why I said I reserve my credit until I see what he does with that. My point is not that he is a crook, but that your praises are premature.

[Valmy]

From what I understand, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been doing some pretty good things with the Microsoft billions. If Zuckerberg ends up in that range, then that's a pretty good thing IMO.

This is a little different though. Zuckerberg is trying to fund technology that changes the world rather than charitable work. It is a little different than the usual philanthropy stuff.

[Valmy]

That is why I said I reserve my credit until I see what he does with that. My point is not that he is a crook, but that your praises are premature.

He has a grand vision he is funding. It may go nowhere. He is not giving food to starving children or anything. It is a little different than the usual 'billionaire gives away all his money' trope. I think his motivation is sincere.

I am just stunned Siege is not for this but instead wishes it was all being spent buying up skyscrapers in Manhattan or buying stocks or whatever. I thought he was for the singularity 

[Jacob]

This is a little different though. Zuckerberg is trying to fund technology that changes the world rather than charitable work. It is a little different than the usual philanthropy stuff.

I guess we'll see how it pans out.