I've Become a Jerk

I guess we're supposed to scoff at Afghanis' lack of moral center as the US media describes their rapidly shifting alliances. But, of course, Americans are no different. Many who adopt a new technology are ready to join the groups they previously shunned.



I used to hate people who drove while using a cell phone. Last month I got a cell phone, and it didn't take long to start using it while driving. Last night, when "A Beautiful Mind" was sold out at the local theatre, I drove up the highway shouting "Next!" into my cell phone as the "Tell Me" movie listing service tried haplessly to keep up. Never mind that my wife was in the passenger seat. She doesn't understand voice-driven interfaces!



Here's a story from my childhood. They used to run public service announcements with hemophiliacs asking you to donate blood so that they could collect the platelets they needed to live (plus a kicker about it being very expensive). As an indignant eight-year-old (with a dirty mouth) I was outraged. I thought, "Why don't the bastards with the platelets simply give them to the poor hemophiliacs!?" Then I found out that my dad was a director at a blood bank and was, therefore, one of the bastards. Knowing which side my bread was buttered on, I changed my mantra to, "Why don't the nice people with the platelets settle for a reasonable economic return selling them to the poor hemophiliacs."



Of course Microsoft is the master of the co-opt and corrupt strategy. When Microsoft was threatened with breakup, they took to lobbying the American public. Microsoft is one of the most widely held stocks and you better believe that stockholders thought the Justice Dept. was being overzealous. And if they happened to call their local congress(wo)man, isn't that what grass roots activism is all about?



The same phenomena will hold true for P2P networks and e-books. The best way to fight overreaching by interests in favor of stronger (i.e. one-sided) copyright laws is to make sure all your relatives have downloaded an MP3 for their personal use. Massive public support can quickly change a politician's mind about what is a reasonable balance between copyrights and fair use.



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Tell me your own tale of joining the dark side.