A round of applause for Scribd

I want the world to be a nicer place. Most of us do.

Of course, you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs, and sometimes, I have to make some people desperately unhappy in my drive toward a happier world.

LIke antivaxers and their supporters.

They get rather annoyed with me and, of course, with all the other part-time internet superheroes that oppose their nonsense. They act as though we're making their lives unpleasant.

Yep, we are.

Frankly, if I can help in some small way to prevent more deaths, more illnesses, more economic impact and more general misery from vaccine-preventable diseases, then a little misery for an antivaxer is a small price to pay. It would in fact be unethical not to play the card.

Now, it may seem, from this, that I'm some kind of strict utilitiarian, willing to do anything if it means the sum total of happiness rises. That, of course, would be a caricature and a strawman. There are lengths to which I would definitely not go.

I would not commit an illegal act in order to stop an antivaxer. I would not assault, injure, kill, rob, defraud or otherwise place myself into an ethically undesirable situation. Neither will I lie.

Many antivaxers, however, don't feel the ethical pull. They are willing to lie, cheat, defraud and more, in pursuit of their agenda, or in pursuit of financial gain in connection with their agenda.

For instance, Meryl Dorey, whose illegal pursuit of copyright claims on material whose copyright does not subsist in her or her organisation is now legendary. Not content with being villified for selling other people's material, Dorey has pursued an aggressive agenda of frivolous copyright claims against #StopAVN, including claiming copyright over Commonwealth government documents, news reports and photographs from the ABC, nonse of which she has rights to.

A number of content providers have caved, notably Facebook, whose lack of spine is startling.

However.

Stand up, Scribd. Scribd, uniquely so far among service providers, has had the balls to follow through on copyright obligations, and has reinstated content removed as a result of frivolous copyright claims by one Meryl Dorey of Bangalow, NSW. Good for them.

And so the scales tip back toward the light side, and away from Dorey's cesspool of lies and deceit. Scribd, you deserve a standing round of applause.

Of course, this does not mean anyone can relax. Until Dorey is powerless to inflict harm, none of us can sit back. But it's nice to know that there are content hosts out there who meet their responsiblities.

Thank you.

posted @ Sunday, May 15, 2011 12:58 AM

 
 
 

Comments on this entry:

# re: A round of applause for Scribd

Left by BlackhawkNZ at 5/15/2011 1:32 AM
Gravatar
Here here.

It shouldn't matter if we offend these people, if all we are doing is asking them for proof of their claims. Especially if they choose not to provide; and act as though they have proof, but deem us as somehow "unworthy" of the evidence they supposedly hold.

If they do this, and carry on with crazy conspiracy theory, then they should be mocked. And loudly so.

# re: A round of applause for Scribd

Left by Coran at 5/15/2011 7:59 AM
Gravatar
Well said Jason. I for one am never happy causing upset or offence and generally go out of my way to avoid conflict, but I have seen the way that anti-vaxxers influence good people to avoid vaccination and place their trust in disproven alternatives.

# re: A round of applause for Scribd

Left by BlackhawkNZ at 5/15/2011 12:31 PM
Gravatar
I used to not want to rub people the wrong way when debating with them, as that generally shuts them off from listening to what I say.

Over the last few days however, I have met some of the most insane (and possibly dangerous) people I have ever had the misfortune to meet. They seem to relish their own lack of understanding, not just of vaccinations but of reality.

So I let loose on them. Their level of ignorance and obvious delusions make them a health hazard, and I let them know this.

There have been a couple that have listened, with them I take it easy and it seems to be having an effect.

In essence, because their ideas are just so dangerous, they deserve the ire and mockery of people that question them.

# re: A round of applause for Scribd

Left by Alden Clarke at 5/16/2011 10:19 AM
Gravatar
Well done Scribd, and awesome work Jason. Please keep the great work.

# re: A round of applause for Scribd

Left by reasonablehank at 5/16/2011 6:42 PM
Gravatar
Alden. You accidentally "up".

And thank you Scribd, for doing your job, a job made more difficult by the deceit of Meryl Dorey. There are many of our documents that can never again be reported by Dorey, as she did not respond to the counter-DMCA notices. But, we knew she wouldn't: she knows about "fair use".
Comments have been closed on this topic.
«March»
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
252627282912
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31123456
 
Vaccination Saves Lives: Stop The Australian Vaccination Network
 
 
Say NO to the National School Chaplaincy Program