Why isn't the tech world supporting the Woz?

It might just be another weekend for you, but it is another 48 hours toward the quickstep of his life for Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Those who have become intimately entwined (and there's not enough of you--more on that in a short while) with the Woz's quixotic quest for glory on "Dancing with the Stars" will know that he has experienced a week sent by Satan.

The judges on the show poo-pooed his cha-cha. Then he discovered that his foot had given way to the pressure and fractured.

Still, you will be delighted to hear that the Woz may have bent a little, but he is not broken. In the latest missive published on his Facebook Support Group page, the Woz reveals that there has been sweating (a lot of sweating, if last week's show is anything to go by) but no Segwaying.

The Woz said: "I'm avoiding Segways somewhat." Which may be good for both his foot and his image. More importantly, he is rehearsing his quickstep beyond the drying ability of any antiperspirant.

"Basically, my foot is getting better each day. I didn't need a single stop to ice the foot the last 2 days and I only stop practice to dry off and rest my body," he wrote. The pain is on the inside of the foot, rather than the bottom, which is, apparently, extremely good news.

It seems the Woz has become wirelessly connected to his artistic side: "My attitude is changing. I'm trying less to look at my steps from inside me, and more from how I look to someone on the outside. It's a major shift in how I visualize what I'm doing. It helps me smile at the audience more."

Karina Smirnoff and Steve Wozniak--who could resist?

(Credit: ABC)

He is also hobnobbing with the stars. Denise Richards (whose did a fine interpretation of a prey-less praying mantis last week) has become a friend. He's even had dinner with Melissa SomethingOrOther, the former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader who was dumped by the Bachelor. (Yes, "Dancing with the Stars" is her third reality show.)

Finally, the Woz reveals that he will be walking his professional partner, Karina Smirnoff, down the aisle at her forthcoming wedding to Denise Richards' professional partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Now here's the thing. With all of this wild excitement, with all of this journeying into vast unchartered and uncha-cha'd territory, how is it that the tech world seems not be participating in the Woz's journey? His Facebook Support Group numbers barely 2,000.

This compares rather unfavorably with, for example, the Nameless Group against All Offensive Groups--which numbers 74,165. Or even Melissa SomethingOrOther's No. 1 Official Fan Club, which enjoys 3,560 devotees.

It is also but a speck in the firmament compared to the 1,428,142 who have committed themselves to "I Don't Care How Comfortable Crocs Are, You Look Like A Dumbass."

How is it that the tech world is so singularly failing to socially network with the Woz's blood, sweat and, um, sweat? His second appearance will air on Monday night. Voting occurs immediately after the show. The Woz is counting on you to be there for him.

This is the time for you to take quick steps toward proving that there is nothing in the world as vital as tech support.

[rplat]

It's not the Woz . . . he's a legend but that idiotic show is rally hard to watch.

[lkrupp]

I hear Steve Jobs will make an appearance on the show and announce the new Apple netbook. Maybe that will get Woz some extra votes.

It could happen.

[ChrisMatyszczyk]

@lkrupp,

You are wise. There is simply no telling the future of selling.

Thank you for opening our eyes a little.

Chris

[Jon N.]

If society hadn't killed all dancing by dissing disco, there wouldn't be this backlash against the show. We also, would have a lot fewer fatties out there (fatties - you know who you are.) Those who are overweight (PC=weight-challenged), have lost it by doing this, and have made there bodies a better place to live in, because of it. The Woz is trying hard to do it, and he needs our encouragement, not a G.Q. review of his perspiration count! getting cleaned up is only a shower away, but a heart attack due to being overweight is "End of line".

[ChrisMatyszczyk]

@Jon N,

Yes, you are right. The dissing of disco. There really should have been more attention paid to that. Society rarely gets its priorities right.

Chris

[t8]

Dis Disco and suffer the consequences.
Problem is that the word disco has dis in it.

[johnwbaxter--2008]

Well, I don't watch the show, and I fail to see why having used Apple equipment since my Apple ][ (motherboard serial 537) purchased in October 1977 should lead me to "vote" in a silly contest. From this corner of the world, Woz is on his own in this matter.

Oh, and I'm not on Facebook, and won't be any time soon.

[SlimGem]

I have to agree with you John. I wish Woz all the best, but I'm not going to watch that crap for anyone. And Facebook? Never!

[codynews]

*** does how many facebook friends/supporters have anything to do with anything? And calling this guy "the woz" is about as dumb as it gets.

[aMUSICsite]

Yer, I think it proves that Facebook, especially Facebook Groups are for silly waste of time ideas and the 'tech world' does not take it seriously. Also calling Steve Wozniak 'the Woz' is like calling Steve Jobs 'Jobsy'.

[rotorguy]

Chris;

Im assuming this piece is written somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but in the unlikely event it IS serious, one must ask "are YOU serious?"

First, most folks who are intimately involved in tech see these superficial shows for what they are, and even if they might wile away some time WATCHING the show, they likely wouldn't throw good time after bad by following "the woz" and his daily dancing minutia.

-avi

[ChrisMatyszczyk]

@rotorguy,

Superficial? Superficial? When it brought Joey Fatone back to the nation's hearts? Not to mention Jerry Springer, Jerry Rice, Cloris Leachman and Mel B....

No, no. It is you who can surely not be serious...

Chris

[jeffmalec]

I'm confused. What are these shows for? We throw good time after bad replying to posts about minutia...

[jkaufman101]

I'm surprised that 2,000 people even give a crap about Woz. Why is this number so high?

[Seaspray0]

For the same reason people turn out to watch a gay pride parade. It's hard not to watch someone put so much effort into making themselves look like something they are not.

[jbcahill]

Because, frankly, techies don't watch crap like "Dancing with the Stars", or the myriad of other "reality" tv shows. While we do recognize The Woz for his legendary (and continuing) genius we are not that interested in his trek of personal insight and enlightenment. But we do wish him luck with it just the same.

[SeizeCTRL]

I would rather watch a 5 hour special on the dung beetle and it's eating habits than watch 5 mins of that lame ass show.

[loose_screw]

I agree. DWTS is stupid. What happened to "Circus With The Stars?" At least that show had some entertainment value.

[VoteWoz]

Check out twitter.com/votewoz and votewoz.com. We are behind Woz. Follow hashtag #votewoz or search for it at seach.twitter.com.

Go Woz!

[MacSmiley]

C'mon guys! Try being a bit more positive about this.

The cool thing about Steve Wozniak is not *just* what he's done in the past, but how he demonstrates that there's more to life than the machines some of us tie ourselves to. He's doing it despite a broken foot, and with a smile on his face.

I'm a techie, and I never watch reality TV either. But for Woz, I'll make an exception. I find him endearing.

Besides, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE WATCH THE PROGRAM TO VOTE for Steve.

I'm just learning the ropes myself. So correct me if I'm in any way inaccurate:

1. You may vote any time during the show plus within 1/2 hour after the program ends. Check your local listings for the time the show will air in your location.


2. You can vote online at

http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars/index?pn=index

Click on VOTE > Vote Now (after registration/login)

by phone (cell AND landline, if you have one) at

800-VOTE4-10 (800-868-3410)

and SMS TEXT if you're an AT&T customer at

3410


3. Here's the weird part. There are 13 couples, so you can VOTE up to THIRTEEN TIMES (VOTE 13 TIMES). You just keep voting, calling, texting until you're told you're out of votes. This does not take a whole lot of time to do.


4. Vote from as many sources as you have available, from as many registrations as you have email accounts for and from as many phones you have at your disposal.


Remember, there's a chunk of tech biggies down in Austin right now who are tweeting about problems on with wireless data connections using their laptops, cellphones, and wireless devices. They might not be able to vote or to do any cheerleading. So Steve is depending on us geeks on the home front to come through for him.

If you're on Twitter, click the Follow button at the @votewoz page for last minute updates and reminders.

This doesn't take a huge commitment, guys. Just a positive attitude.

[Seaspray0]

OMG! You're the president of the dancing woz fanclub, aren't you?

[AICAP Group]

He is a giant fat man who is rich, does no work and made his reputation on an object long obsolete. he does nothing. there is nothing there to care about. why is that difficult to perceive?

[mbenedict]

Woz is currently the Chief Scientist at Fusion-io. He is also busy as board member of several companies and non-profits (such as Vision Literacy, an organization helping adults learn to read and write.) In his spare time he does philanthropic work for local schools.

What do you do?

[Seaspray0]

mbenedict. Yes, he's a fine upstanding geek with honors. No, he still can't dance.

[carlac17081980]

I can relate to this article as I know from first hand experience just how hard it is to lose weight, and to maintain it. I wrote a book which has recently been published, and it is about an overweight woman who subconsciously put on the weight to protect herself from being hurt by love. She struggles with her weight issues, and in the end she manages to overcome them, but not before she learns some important lessons about herself and life.

[CNET editors' note: Prohibited content deleted.]

[ledhead1962]

Of all the things there are to worry about in the world I personally couldn't care if Wozniak spontaneously combusts. Nothing personal, but talk about stupid!

[baisa]

Couldn't they have picked a tech geek who was a little more... fit and attractive?

[Seaspray0]

Isn't it a prerequisite that you are not fit and attractive to be a real geek?

[BtmnHatesRbn]

Facebook isn't the tech world. All the TV stations and computer/video games companies I've worked at for the past 30 years, Woz is still talked about everyday.

[sting7k]

Because no one in the tech world cares about this crime against TV audiences.

I don't give a rat's @$$ about dancing & I hate reality shows. I'm not watching that show, but I voted 12 times for Woz last week and I'll be voting for him again this week.