Let's restrict ourselves to businessmen, for now, and assume that I don't have power to censure tantrum-throwing tycoons. My mild unease at reports of Jobs' ah, infelicities, is really neither here nor there. What do we have here - Is it a John McEnroe? Is it a Russell Crowe? A Steve Ballmer? A David Brent (God forbid)?

I think we would need a full blown jury trial and expert psychiatric witnesses to unravel the whole cause-and-effect at play here. But I still question: Is not civility of the moment more important, in the end, than celebrity immunity. One would more expect philosophical equanimity than outburst from a man with oft-cited Eastern leanings - his penurious meals with the Hare Krishnas - his tasteful penchant for India. I doubt Bill Gates could even spell "Zen". Perhaps all I can do is wring my hands at it and wish that Jobs had been "a nicer person". Certainly, if you're the guy or girl on the receiving end of some kind of workplace savagery, the "genius" begins to look like a very small man indeed; and the only rational reaction is to commandeer a lifeboat and abandon ship.

To reduce your point ad absurdum, just to annoy: Why should nicer mean stupider?