Pop Vox - Surveying the Jobsless

As you know by now, Steve Jobs, the psychedelics enthusiast, tech innovator, and turtleneck-wearer succumbed to cancer two days ago. As news spread across social media and emails signed “sent from my iPhone” flew back and forth, a bunch of Apple fans descended on the company’s Fifth Avenue flagship store to pay tribute to their favorite billionaire.

The alien-looking glass cube of a retail outlet, which is coincidentally veiled in white for a remodeling project, is now home to an impromptu shrine of grief. Pilgrims have left behind white roses, those ubiquitous white headphone buds, what looked like a well-worn Apple Lisa keyboard, sticky note epitaphs, an iPhone (seriously), as well as a bunch of actual apples as tribute to jobs. We headed down there this afternoon to see how everyone was holding up.

VICE: How do you feel about Steve Jobs’ death?
Sean: It’s the loss of a true visionary and technological genius. He showed a true passion for the company and the people who worked there. He created a whole new culture of the retail environment. So very sad. Very, very sad.

Where were you when you heard the bad news?
I was having dinner, and within ten seconds I got three text messages about his passing. My whole life changed. I used to work for Apple, and it was so nice to be working for someone who created such a wonderful company. Now that he’s gone, his memory will live on. He made a true mark on history. There are standards that different business people set. He created an entirely new standard.

If Steve Jobs were here right now, what would you say to him.
I’d probably say, “You have changed the world in one specific way. You’ve enriched my life by introducing such wonderful products. Thank you. All of our love goes out to you and your family.”

Where were you when you heard Jobs had kicked the bucket?
Ben: I was in a hotel room in Portland, Maine, on Facebook.

How did you react to the news?
My wife and I talked about it, and it was weird because it was the first celebrity figure’s death where we felt a loss.

So you think the loss of Jobs will have a big impact on the world?
Yeah. I think it will have a big impact on a lot of us entrepreneurs and people wanting to do new things. I think he was someone we could really follow.

What would you say to him if he were standing right here?
I would have nothing to say. I would just listen. And I think that’s the thing, we can’t really watch or listen anymore.

What did you think when you found out Steve Jobs died?
Byron: I didn’t know he was so sick. It was just a shock.

Did Jobs inspire you?
I heard a story about how he was put up for adoption and he wasn’t in contact with his natural family. I guess they feel bad about putting them up for adoption. He kind of reminded me of myself the way he was able to turn nothing into something.

Where were you when you heard that Steve Jobs had died?
Keenan: We were both right here.

I see you’re camped out. How long have you been here?
Keenan: We’ve been here for 11 days so far, and when we heard about it we saw that people were checking their phones and whispering. Everybody was really depressed all morning and nobody would smile. It was pretty surreal.

Did things get crazy out here when word got out that he was dead?
Jessica: Ten minutes after I got a text that said he died, this place was flooded with people. Reporters were everywhere, asking us questions, and people started to break down as they brought stuff for the memorial. It was really beautiful how people added their contributions and worked together to create a fitting tribute to Steve Jobs. He was very inspiring as a person. It’s really sad that he had to deal with cancer. No matter how rich or powerful you are you go through the same pain as anyone else when you have to deal with something like that.

So where were you when you heard that Steve Jobs died?
Remy: At work. I’m interning at a PR firm.

And what was your reaction to that news?
I didn’t know his name so I had to look him up and then I was like, “Oh, that guy!”

Would you say that the world’s suffered a dramatic loss?
I don’t know. What do you call a dramatic loss? I’d say he was an innovator.

If Steve Jobs were here now would you have a parting message for him?
Haha, no.