Woz business card sells for $560 on eBay

Congrats, Laurie. You just lost a loyal reader. Your comments regarding how Jon spends his money were annoying in the original post, but now you've made a complete idiot out of yourself by arguing the point in the comments. I know that TUAW is a for-profit site, and I sincerely hope that your actions today are reviewed by Weblogs, Inc and action is taken. Good day.

who's woz?

Well, I designed those cards, and I have known Woz for many years. Those who do know him personally understand the vast quantiies of money he has given away to charities. The numbers are staggering. If you guys really don't know your history, as an example, look up the "The Woz Plan" that he created for those early Apple employees he felt got cheated out of the Apple stock plan.

Also, when you give that much money away, and you have a gaggle of ex wives (I think the proper word is gaggle), your personal fortune doesn't necessarily stay at the top.

Lastly, Woz doesn't just hang out with rich people. In reality, he perfers the average Joe of good character. He always has. So I wouldn't assume the guy who sold the card is rich. So maybe Woz signed the card to help the guy out.

Overall it's a fun thing. I don't think you will ever see Jobs interact with "real" people like Woz does. But then, there's only one Woz.

Laurie, is starting an argument good for your blog? I'm not gonna fight with you.

You don't know me, but I guess you have the right to be bothered by whatever you choose... Ok, so be bothered.

Peace girl.

Indeed, the internet is full of people like me. And the Internet is a better place because of it. Awfully defensive comment, Jon, from someone claiming to posses no moral superiority, don't you think? I didn't tell you to do anything. I expressed surprise that you weren't doing something - or at the very least, stating your intentions to do something. An act that the man whose business card you sold (which you had every right to do) would be an advocate of, for sure. I never claimed you set out to make a profit nor did I claim you had any nefarious intentions with the money. I never claimed you were greedy or anything of the sort. If what I said bothers you so much you might want to check with your own conscience. I'm sure if you asked Woz if he'd /rather/ be taken to lunch or have a couple of underprivileged kids taken to lunch with the proceeds from his "notoriety"... well, you know damn well what the answer would be. Not that he'd begrudge you a little fun - nor would I - it's just that it's not unusual for people to think of those in need before they think of themselves. If you're close to Woz I suspect you truly are that way, which is why your reaction is all the more surprising.

Thanks Stacey, nf, Jim, and Don.

I didn't sell the card to make a big profit. I thought it was a goof, and so did Woz. I figured it would sell for 10 bucks, and I'd be out 50 for lunch with Woz!

The internet is full of people like Laurie. Some people want to claim some kind of moral superiority and tell others what to do.

I'll donate my money where I want, to whom I want, in the size I want -- and I do, thanks very much.

- Jon

Seems like a steal of a good deal for the buyer to me. The connection to Woz, one of the world's wealthiest men is well worth the 560 US Dollars.

Laurie, it's not Woz's money. Simple as that.

"Bothered that he didn't give his earnings to some organization simply because he's wealthy?" No - bothered because Woz himself is a huge proponent of charitable giving and I am surprised that he didn't ask Jon (the guy who actually sold Woz's business card) to skip the lunch tab and donate the money.

I've got plenty of greedy, selfish, capitalist in me, don't you worry about that. Money motivates me every day in many ways. I'm more surprised than anything since that's just Woz's nature and I'd have thought he would say "Jon - I think this is a cool and interesting experiment to see just how much it'll fetch and I'm thrilled to participate, but how about we take whatever money comes in and buy a few meals for some kids who maybe don't get to eat regularly instead of feeding our own faces with it?"

That's all I'm saying.

He's worse than Jesse Jackson.