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Gates is Knighted

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by house

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I think I just heard that right?

Queen Elizabeth II has just knighted Bill Gates. Because he is not English though, he cannot use the 'sir' in front of his name.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3428673.stm

http://tinyurl.com/3u3vg

William Gates - Knight Commander of the British Empire

Do we care? I certainly don't... well, enough to start this thread I guess. This could be the early Friday yuk.

The man deserves recognition, but is this too much? Has the Knighthood been stretched too thin or is this an appropriate gesture?

discuss...

58 replies

by oz_media

It's like England's own pulitzer prize these days. Just look at the lyrics and anti government slams the Rolling Stones sung about for so many years, then Mick gets knighted.

Bob Geldof was knighted, David Gilmour was knighted, Elton John was knighted.

I guess Michael Jackson is next, once he buys his way out of another kiddie diddler wrap.

Lets just be glad that knigts are no longer the defenders of the British Empire! What a bunch THEY'D be! You'd have one group of guys singing peace songs to stop attackers, while another parades around the castle like a jester in flamboyant attire and now a guy that runs across to the other side to steal their ideas.
B.Gates KBE, whatever, yes it is spread to thin this guy's no Lancelot, or even Alec Guinness for that matter.

by house

Now this guy could be a commander... Anthony Hopkins was a good choice, but it is still a novelty title nowadays.

by oz_media

Even though the title means less now, it would still be pretty cool I think. Perhaps just because I'm British but even then, I would love to be a 'knight' for any country's King or Queen, that's just cool!

I'd go out a buy a suit of armour for the hallway and wear the helmet around in public.

You could stand on the doorstep and wait for the mailman in your suit of armour.

"HALT! WHO GOES THERE?"

"Here's your mail,uh...sir."

"NONE SHALL PASS!"

"Wot, I said, this is YOUR mail....sir."

"NONE SHALL PASS!"

A what a riot ! Yeah, I'd take being knighted and run with it alright.....just another one of ten million reasons I am not knighted I suppose. Damn, now if I had only listened to my mum and ate all my greens.

by tony hopkinson

Somebody is probably hoping for a campaign contribution.
If he's being recognised for his charitable work then I'm OK with it. If we need help defending the empire (what empire ?), then he could get some mercenary contacts off Mark Thatcher.

by tomsal

The irony of the times, today knighthood is passed around like you are mailing someone a birthday card (but only if they are very rich..lol). Its a "cute thing" that is good for the "knighted" to talk about at parties and to brag to folks as one of their "accomplishments" in life. "yeah well I own 98 companies, have my own island, own 6 houses and just recently I was knighted".

All the while hundreds of years ago, it was blood, honor, sweat and nobility that made knighthood a most sacred and honored brotherhood. It was highly cherished and thoroughly respected.

by jamesrl

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given billions of dollars in an effort to attack child poverty, AIDS and other issues around the world.

If that is why he is being knighted, then I can understand.

We in Canada have the Order of Canada - same deal, different levels etc. But we had one citizen who was also knighted, and since Canada doesn't recognize the title, can't use it here. He tried to have the law changed but the Prime Minister laughed at him. His name - Conrad Black.

James

by tony hopkinson

a lot of them were ruthless gits, who'd chop you into dog food as soon as you got in their way. So not much different at least in figurative terms to now.

by house

Rob from the poor... and simply get rich... don't even give to the rich, charge them more. ;)

by tomsal

First let me be upfront by saying I have nothing against Brits, but come on you are kidding yourself if you don't see how this knighthood stuff is just thrown around anymore.

To me, now that I understand how often and how seemingly easy it is for someone to be knighted (anc consequently one of the standards seems to be you have to be very wealthy) -- knighthood is a gimmick. Its a vanity kind of thing and really means nothing at all. Wow the Queen of England dubbed me a knight...ooooooooh. I'm so important now. ;)

(And yet when I read this over on zdnet's boards you should of seen the amount of hatred people spewed over Bill Gates getting this novelty "honor").

by Member 25348569

Personally, like a large number of "Brits", I couldn't give a rats arse about the honours dished out by the Queen. We know what they mean, who decides who gets them and most of the reasons why they're given. What I can't understand is why YOU'RE getting so excited.

by tomsal

Man, what is it today with folks you can't even throw a thought or opinion out there with some "personality" attached to it without someone jumping on your back. Chill out. Its called conversation. Trust me (or don't I care) I really REEEEEEEEAAAAAAAALY could give two shits myself. Sorry if I'm trying to have a little fun with a discussion topic, aside from someone getting from my post that I think the Queen is a joke, I don't recall any insult to any Brit or using any bad language.

Now with that all said I should know better because its you...and I should expect such a reply with I see your name as the poster.

loosen up!

by tomsal

Man, what is it today with folks you can even throw a thought or opinion out there with some "personality" attached to it without someone jumping on your back. Chill out. Its called conversation. Trust me (or don't I care) I really REEEEEEEEAAAAAAAALY could give two shits myself. Sorry if I'm trying to have a little fun with a discussion topic, aside from someone getting from my post that I think the Queen is a joke, I don't recall any insult to any Brit or using any bad language.

by bfilmfan

I was kinda hoping for an "Order of the Garter" myself, but only if a cuter royal ladies is presenting it. Say like on her leg and suggesting I get it off with my teeth!

by jellimonsta

If wonder if it came with a pair of those little plastic wings like they give to kids on Airplanes? :)
I am a Brit resident in the US, and while I agree that knighthood is pretty much a joke now, the monarchy brings in so much money in tourism it is worth the small burden on tax payers. IMHO.

by Member 25348569

I don't think I did anything to deserve THAT.

I was just trying to point out - to emphasise YOUR post - that we get the most ridiculous people getting knighthoods and the rest of it twice a year - every year.

Insult the Queen? Be my guest with Brenda and her whole family of useless hangers-on. Me, as I've said in other posts, I'm a republican (small r) and I want shot of the whole lot of them and before the next royal wedding or death screws up the TV programming, please.

"and I should expect such a reply with I see your name as the poster."

Yeah! You got me bang to rights, guvnor.

I would take you to task over your comment about "knighthood was a truly noble and honorable brotherhood", though. That really never was even close outside of fiction.

I also reckon that Bill Gates is probably more deserving than most despite me being a NetWare man at heart.

by tomsal

..that the queen is a waste of space.

As for the comment about knighthood, I honestly don't have the resources to post anything right at this time as the material is at home. I may have over-emphasized the nobility and honor of the knighthood. But I did read about their "valiant bravery" and that they operated as a brotherhood.

If I mis-interpreted the goal of your original post...my apologies, but my first understanding was that you were basically implying that I was going over the top.

by Member 25348569

People keep beating me up so I must be posting badly. I tend to use fairly correct English even when not being serious and maybe it gets misinterpreted. For the record, I take NOTHING in Miscellaneous even half-serious. Maybe I should post Oz-style with a few typos.

Anyway - back to the plot - Brenda's a nice old lady but when she dies it's time to stop. As for the knights of old, it would be nice to think that they were chivalrous and all a bit Errol Flynn but being of peasant stock I probably have a different viewpoint - cringing and saying "Yes, M'Lord".

by oz_media

Well as neil has pointed out before, the queen is more of a figure head than leader these days.

I just like the old history of monarchy, the dark ages AFTER the Romans had pretty much left England, when knights actually fought and conquered land, defended castles etc.

The whole terrortorial and moreso religious battles in England from the early 400's onward through the Anglo Saxons I find fascinating.

My family name is rooted in the Vikings (Norsemen)that invaded through North Eastern England, the battles and raids were very bloody and brutal, compared to when the Saxons had fought to secure settlements in Britain.

The Vikings burned down a ood portion of England, pillaged and looted and even settled themselves.

It took King Alfred (non fictional and well documented) and his armies to stop the Vikings 'unstoppable' army form destroying ALL of England, though this conquereor was not quite as famous as the last who had defeated the Saxons in the late 400's, who by legend was King Aruthur.

It's just a lot of really cool history, I least I think so.

So when I see the modern Queen and monarchy, I don't PRAISE the Queen as much as I marvel at the history it reminds me of. That's why I'd like to be knighted, I would strut around in my armour with a big double handed sword, eating giant turkey legs and drinking wine. :)

Maybe lop the head off a few tourists for photo's and stuff too. It would just be cool I think but it doesn't really hold any MODERN governance or status, it's the history that I like.

Like I've ALWAYS said, most countries don't take insults against their leaders, government, monarchs etc. as a personal attack, it's just not offensive. Unless of course you are misunderstood and actually imply people DO care, lol! Nice one neil!

by jaqui

sata/ball/mephistophilese...
for all the souls sent to hell.
it's in the m$ tos that by using m$ software you are going to hell when you die.

by jaqui

sinning by using m$ is not a forgivable offense.
no way out of it, by accepting the terms once you condem yourself to eternity in hell.
( I know, I helped the devil write the terms ;) )

by notsochiguy

I expect to see this in an upcoming issue of The Onion....

Upon knighting Bill Gates, and making him a defender of the British Empire, Queen Liz II informed Bill that she had read all of the study guides for the MCSE 2003 certification; as she was having a tad trouble sleeping as of late.

After the Queen made a nominal donation of $125 a pop for each individual test, Bill Gates bestowed upon her the title of MCSE: Salesman of the Microsoft Empire. The Queen promptly renounced the thrown, and got a higher paying job as Virgin Atlantic's Network Admin.

by tony hopkinson

Queen returns to the orginal job as the badge Bill insisted she wore, clashed terribly with her cardigan, and scared off her corgis it did. On top of that Big Phil, said she looked like a bloody colonial when she was wearing it.

by salamander

I'd agree that the title of "Knight" is quite cool...for men.

The equivalent, I believe for women, is "Dame." That conjures up images of a steel-haired old lady munching crumpets and working on her needlepoint. No swashbuckling going on there. Not cool.

by oz_media

How about a WENCH!

Skanky bags good for two things, fetching your beer and s****** your balls.

by salamander

And to think that Margaret Thatcher has the title of "Dame," if I recall correctly...

Did not want to visualize Thatcher as a beer wench...or doing anything of the sort. Shudder.

by house

:O

It's a good thing that the women here on TR know who you are and understand your sense of humour.

by maecuff

Dame sucks. I'm giving myself a new title. IT Empress. You are all invited to my coronation, however, please refrain from looking directly at me, and only speak to me if I speak to you first.

by salamander

Would Her Imperial Highness maecuff be so indulgent as to confer titles to the subjects of TR?

If Her Imperial Highness is taking requests, I would very much like to be sainted, in exchange for the amount of user crap I've fielded this week. "Saint Salamander" would look so much better on my business cards than "Dame."

I don't know if Empresses can confer sainthood, but thought it was worth a shot. :)

by oz_media

How you been? I was just wondering where you'd been lately.

I figured you'd just blown up or something. :)

by jaqui

jesus was the other party writing the eula.

guess again.
christianity is also a guarantee for going to hell.
after all, YahWeh made the entire world, and it's only those deluded fools called christian in the entire planet that think forgiveness is real.
no creature on the planet other than christians think of forgiveness.
all animals have no forgiveness.
no living creature is forgiving by nature.
so christain forgiveness is a trick of the devil's
see ya in hell

by oz_media

Watch you don't cross the line here dude.

Inacceptance of religion and someone's faith is extremely personal and offensive. TR really frowns on that stuff.

THat's REALLY thin ice to walk on in a ppublic forum, next thing you know we'll have people preaching their fath, which I am sre you wouldn't enjoy too much either.

by oz_media

That means I'LL be the frekin Wizard again!! Damn stereotypes!

Can I just be an autonomous collective? Wallowing in the muck and finding the good stuff for building castles?

by hockeyist

...but I reckon the real reason was so that she can complain about all the bluescreens she's been getting. What better solution than to get the root cause to look at the problem..."While you're here please have a look at my PC."

by house

How often Gate's friends ask him to check out their computers.

...and we thought we had it tough. I can just imagine.

by jellimonsta

Presuming Gates has any friends, and he is good to his Friends. He will not let them use Windows :P

by oz_media

His order in life is now trumped by his accpetance to protect the queen from attack. I assume this would include all the attacks due to HIS software too.

by hockeyist

...I checked out knighthoods on the web. Apparently the word knight was derived from the Old English word cntht (I would have guessed some other well known word came from this, which would be equally descriptive of Bill).

by hockeyist

...Congress.
The U.S. Constitution
Section 9.
Clause 8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
I wonder if he got the consent of the congress?

by oz_media

It helps build the UK and US alliance.

What kind of CONSENT would you require to accept honour from another country that is an ally to your own? That would be reason enough for me to move, my country says that I cannot receive you honors, we are a free nation and don't accept praise from others.

Obviously he wasn't made president of Iraq so I don't think it's TOO much of an issue, though I am sur ethe US would have no problem dictating the president of Iraq. Many Iraqi's already say the candidates were hand picked by the US and have no idea what's really going on in Iraq as they haven't been there to see it first hand.

by bfilmfan

See what praying to the Dark Old Ones does for you? Your product becomes wildly successful. You are rich beyond your wildest dreams. Hot female geek worshippers rush the stage to rip your clothes from you and demand to have your children. You get to live in a big house. People call you sir. And you get all the toys ya want.

This sure sounds a lot better than that stuff the Army recruiter told me when I was a teenager...

by tomsal

Bill is my hero! Viva La Geeks!!

;)

Pretty strange our society is, folks think its cool to be a movie star because they are famous and very rich. Mean while Billy boy gets blasted for being a geek, yet he is more famous than most movie stars and about as rich as the top TEN movie stars today COMBINED.

Hmmm...I'd like to ask Billy Gates does he prefer $50 dollar bills or $100 dollar bills as his toilet paper of choice?

by oz_media

Tyey soon figure it out.

Or get all pissy like that girl who claimed every comment by every male member was purely sexist. Man now THERE's some issues to be dealt with! LOL

P.S. We are talkign about women during the dark ages too, not actual living and breathing contributors to modern society.

by jellimonsta

This is a forum for free speech, and that being said, I am perfectly able to accept Jaqui's personal beliefs (even if mine differ).

by maecuff

Haven't blown up. I was out of town for a while, had the flu, busy at work, blah blah blah. How have I been? I've been better. You?

by maecuff

an Empress can confer sainthood. An empress can do anything. Consider it done. You should start creating miracles at anytime. Hopefully it will be something more pleasant than crying blood or something of the sort.

by salamander

[Much bowing and scraping]

I wonder what my first miracle shall be...perhaps convincing my recalcitrant software vendor to do some work? Oh, I think that the bloody tears are scaring them...most excellent!

This is going to be fun. Praise the Empress!

by jaqui

not trying to be obnoxious, just pushing a button.
every living creature other than man, and of man those not christian, have no forgiveness without punishment.
animals will literally rip offenders to shreds, if they survive it's over with.
it's only the christian faith that has the attitude of "I'm sorry" and all is forgiven.

with the foundation beleif dead set against everything else in nature, I have to question the validity of forgiveness without punishment.
or, more accurately, I can't beleive in it.
( that's why I follow the ancient beliefs for my heritage..druidism. an eye for an eye, life for life, tooth for tooth. fits with the rest of the universe's function. )

by hockeyist

Wouldn't that make a good headline. If Bill was serious about fitting his house out with the best most reliable gear...

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