There's a reason why incest is illegal in every single US state and the District of Columbia. It drives its evolutionary course straight towards disaster. Genetic diseases caused by incest are plentiful and deleterious. But most of all, incest represents the bygone age during which royalties attempted to keep the "pure blood" within a closed group. But this blood soon spoiled with the ravage of disease.
Though scientific research may not immediately call to mind sexual relations between family members, the fundamental principles do not differ. Bedchamber doors have been replaced with payment pages and royal secrecy with registration requirements. And similarly to the royalty of antiquity, assumptions of superiority are a powerful driving force behind the institution.
Public outrage or participant opposition alone are not able to bring about an end to the practice. Instead, a combination of these forces is required. Through cooperation and careful application of strength, we can fling wide these stubborn doors hiding the abominable practice of intellectual incest.
Nathan
Monday, March 2, 2009
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Closed content can only "mate" with other closed content through marriages arranged by content-owners. Only those with money can pay to play.. and so we come to the new incest.
ReplyDeleteI think this is an interesting metaphor to play with. Incest leads to diseases and weakness because of the lack of diversity in the gene pool, so "cross-pollination" is needed to break out of this pattern.
I think the key is to get people to think of their scientific research (and their ideas in general) as their children. Content-creators get to arrange the marriages if they want... but that kind of behavior is looked down upon. Once people see ideas as children instead of property, they see that it would be immoral to lock them into incest.
And all the connotations about the incestuous bloodlines preserving anti-democratic power come into play too. Incest is a major taboo.. it may be seen as too strong for the intellectual property debate, but I think it is appropriate. Our ideas and our children are are the main inheritance we leave to the human race.