'Leave Gates alone, he does a lot of work for charity'

Earlier this week silicon.com criticised the UK government's decision to award Bill Gates an honorary Knighthood.

Our issue with the award had nothing to do with Gates himself but everything to do with the timing of the announcement, which coincided with his visit to the UK to discuss NHS software licences and to meet with Chancellor Gordon Brown.

We also question the messages being sent out by the UK government in awarding its highest honour at a time when the recipient's business is being investigated by the EU, sparking one reader to raise the question of spin and "sleaze".

We never questioned Gates' excellent work for charity or his contribution to the UK jobs market but many of you didn't care about that - as far as some readers were concerned this was more unnecessary Gates-bashing.

Smithy, a student of hyperbole from New York, wrote: "You had to go and show just how small-minded and mean-spirited you are didn't you? The 'Hate Microsoft' brigade keep showing the whole world how really nasty and vicious you are, and how all encompassing the hatred of Microsoft has totally taken over all your mental faculties."

Another reader, who chose to remain anonymous, wrote: "Small-minded, petty jealousy. Frankly I'm bored with reading this stuff. There isn't a CEO alive who is deserving of recognition on the basis of your wayward logic. His contribution to business has been immense. Personally I couldn't care less what he does with his money but to sneer at him for giving money to charity is unworthy of you."

The fact no "sneering" at Gates' philanthropy had actually taken place in either of our articles inspired another reader to write: "Let's all put our toys back in the pram and read what was actually written in the article."

We couldn't have put it better ourselves.

Other readers, who had actually read the article, still disagree with our views and put forward some interesting arguments. Some were keen to point out that the activities of Microsoft and its co-founder, chairman and chief software architect are not inextricably linked and therefore it is possible to reward Gates without endorsing his business.

"Let's separate man from Company," wrote David from Hampshire. "It's the man who is receiving the gong not the Company."

Gerard Chadwick wrote: "It is well documented the donations Gates gives to charity, and this alone is deserving of recognition in some form, especially if UK charities are receiving aid. It is Bill Gates getting the award not Microsoft."

Another reader wrote: "While I applaud Bill Gates philanthropic endeavours, they can't be regarded in isolation. The fact he presides over a corporation that runs roughshod over the laws of most Western nations, with an outstanding investigation under way in Europe, should have at least delayed any decision regarding such an award."

While another reader wrote: "Not only is it right to question the award of a gong to Gates, it is our duty as loyal subjects and sentient beings. His company is under investigation and the government would not come up smelling of roses if Microsoft were found guilty of anticompetitive practice. At the very least this would appear to be a case of bad timing - but it could also be construed as rallying around a beleaguered chum."

And finally, Dominic Tristram, a programmer from Bath, wrote: "I'm glad that people are seriously questioning this award. By all means reward Gates for his charity work - I don't think anybody could argue that this is a bad thing. However, Microsoft harms the British economy far more than it might help it. Just how many employees do they have here? It's a token amount considering the revenues generated.

"If the government spent a third of the money it pays Microsoft for its substandard software on paying British companies to write open-source alternatives, not only would the government have to spend a lot less but thousands more would be employed and the whole world would benefit. Who can present a rational argument against that?"

Now that sounds like a challenge Dominic. Keep the feedback coming in by registering a Reader Comment below.