*Twitch*

[jducoeur]

An interesting entry on Henry Jenkins' blog, about the latest Boy Scouts badge. Apparently, the MPAA has talked them into creating a new "Respect Copyrights" badge. Needless to say, it takes a rather slanted view of the issue, teaching singleminded respect for intellectual property but not teaching any other aspects of the matter.

Ick. There's something very clever, very cynical and really rather deep-down disturbing about this sort of manipulation. The memetic war over intellectual property continues to brew...

Comments

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

There's something very clever, very cynical and really rather deep-down disturbing about this sort of manipulation.

Only if someone actually teaches the merit badge. I can think of rather a few leaders who won't touch this kind of thing. Boyscouts does a fair amount of this sort of manipulation. It's so obvious leaders get pretty good at ignoring it and getting on with camping trips, etc.

[jimpage363.livejournal.com]

Ick. There's something very clever, very cynical and really rather deep-down disturbing about this sort of manipulation. The memetic war over intellectual property continues to brew...

Clarify, please. Disturbing on the part of Scouts of America or on Mr. Jenkins' part?

As a slasher myself, I tend to be a listtle faster and looser with the concept of intellectual property, myself. I figure, as long as no one is making any money of of an original idea (i.e. writing fan fiction), no harm, no foul.

But I am always open to other opinions. What's yours?

[jducoeur]

Disturbing on the part of the MPAA, who I don't care for very much. I regard the whole thing as an attempt to warp young and impressionable minds, by manipulating the Scouts.

I'm semi-strict about intellectual property myself, albeit a bit iconoclastic: my rule is that, if I can reasonably manage to pay for something, then I ought to pay for it. If getting a legal copy is not plausible -- either because it is unreasonably out of reach price-wise or because it's just not *available* -- then I don't feel bad about making a copy. I do try to be strict about obtaining a legal copy when and if one does become available, though.

That said, though, I think that IP absolutists are basically a boil upon the skin of the earth. These people are trying to erode the concept of fair use, and remove a number of common-sense reuse rights that have been assumed for many years. I have very little sympathy for fanatics of any sort, and these types no more than any others...

[umbran.livejournal.com]

I regard the whole thing as an attempt to warp young and impressionable minds, by manipulating the Scouts.

Yes, well, as a long-time Scout, I should mention that making an impression on young minds is the major mission of the BSA.

Normally, it is a good thing - it's a kind of tribe of second-fathers, in good position to help teach boys how to grow into good people and good citizens. All we have here is a bit of a disagreement on what that means. Hardly new to the Scouts.