I guess they're trying to be objective, "Boston Bombers" Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev are on the list.

Person (previously "Man") of the year has never been a moral judgment. Hitler was "man of the year" in 1936. It's a question of who had the most impact -- for good or ill.

> Person (previously "Man") of the year has never been a moral judgment. Hitler was "man of the year" in 1936.

Well, originally. But now? No, absolutely not. See recent persons of the year (of the past few decades): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Person_of_the_Year#Persons...

There's a connotation of greatness in the phrase 'person of the year', that's there whether you like it or not, and Time magazine is certainly not going to get itself in rough waters by nominating a controversial figure and then substantiating a pick by the reason you cite -- that it's a person who had the most impact. If that really were true, Guiliani wouldn't have been picked as the POY, Osama would have, Zuck wouldn't have been picked, Assange would have.

But all of this aside, what I want to say most is that Time magazine is just a terrible tabloid at this point that's only been getting more terrible with each passing year. It's designed to appeal to the LCD audience, it's filled with FUD full up their necks. See this recent cover for example: http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2013/1310/360_cover_1111.j...

I really hope we all start ignoring Time soon.

There was a streak of like 5 or 6 in a row where I was dumbfounded at the choices. I feel like they're being way too objective here and including people who are absolutely terrible.

Hitler and Stalin were each a Times Person of the Year. They're selecting important people, not benevolent ones. At least, in theory.

Important in a historical context. In the grand scheme of things giving Zuckerberg the award was like giving President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize; Maybe OK later, but a little early.

I thought Hitler was Time's POTY when he was still propelling Germany out of abject poverty, and before he, you know, started a war. Is my timing off here?

1936 was pre-Kristallnacht and Poland wasn't getting invaded yet, though conscription in Germany began in 1936. The Night of the Long Knives had already established Hitler and the Nazis as rather unpleasant people.

i guess, just his fans votes for him. They do this every time