Copyright? Copywrong!: Outrage In Zeroes and Ones
Why are so many people spending so much time discussing the story of a woman seeking restitution from a publication that infringed upon her copyright and then the publication rebuked the original writer for her demands?
This story has stirred the masses with a sense of fury and righteous indignation. Comments are posted on websites and blogs are posted (including this one) and tweets are tweeted and other forms of communication occur from behind keyboards across then world.
I suppose as a professional writer, I’m pleased to hear that the internet is on my side: the little guy fighting the good fight who stirs the masses into some kind of action where some resolution may emerge.
When I first heard about this, I didn’t believe it. The response I’ve read, allegedly from Cook Source’s Managing Editor Judith Griggs, seemed almost impossible to believe. There is a level of chutzpah to it that makes it seem like an urban legend. The truth be told, I still don’t believe it, but some mainstream news sources seem to be picking it up and running with it, so I’ll give it some credit.
But I still don’t understand why this moves people. Why did the Chilean Mining Crisis move people? I think I have an idea. It goes back to all the ways people are expressing their outrage over the internet.
Instead of taking to the streets to protest injustice or sitting around dinner tables debating the merits of issues, an awful lot of people are firing off snack-size musings to whomever is out there and will read their thoughts. It’s the only way many people can feel connected to the rest of the world. They talk to the ether.
Instead of actually communicating with another human being. Communicating by looking that person directly in the eye and listening to what that person says and responding with reasoned dialogue. Most importantly, being confident knowing that their opinion might be different, but still being alright with that.
Your homework assignment is to turn your computer off and go talk to someone about anything. Go ahead … it’s not as scary as it sounds.
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