You probably haven't heard anything about it, and you may not care, but about a month ago, Livejournal shut down a blog known as scans_daily for violating the site's terms of use. It's since come back on a different site, because it is some sort of Hydra.
What's scans_daily, you ask? Well, basically it was a place where people scanned and posted large portions of relatively new comic books and proceeded to discuss what various characters' legs looked like or complain about how writers and companies weren't writing their own characters correctly.
So what's the big deal? Well, there really isn't one, but some of the people who used to do the aforementioned complaining took the whole thing with Livejournal very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that some went to the point of blaming a popular comics creator for the shutdown, coming up with strained arguments as for how the scans actually sold more comics and calling critics of the site misogynist racists.
Also, many seem to be greatly concerned about a Twitter account calling the site out for their scanning practices. As of this post, that account has about 80 followers and has yet to destroy any lives, though I'm sure the mystery Twitterer has high hopes.
But let's focus for now on the whole idea of using someone else's content and claiming that that use is good for the original creator. I mean, hey, it lets people know if they want to read the full work, right? Oh, wait.
So, let's get this straight. You, scans_daily advocate, tell comics writer Peter David to die in a fire because he may have complained that his work was being given to people for free and without his consent.
But if someone takes a post from your blog, which, by all indications is a free blog hosted by Blogger which you pay nothing to operate and which is free for any reader to access, oh, shit's on, then!
You're getting all up in their Google ads and looking up their WHOIS and blaming the people who make the content management system for the problem. (But, of course, them wanting to verify your identity, you know, to make sure it's a valid complaint, that's the hassle to end all hassles.) You feel violated and you want this theft resolved.
So, to recap: Someone copies other people's work, that's just helping spread the word about that particular thing. But someone copies your work, and it's time to get out the pitchforks.
There's a word for that kind of logic, but we can't think of it right now. Maybe it'll come to us later.
In the meantime, we await confirmation of our bigotry and sexism. We are, after all, supervillains.
Got an idea for something the ISS ought to take on? Let us know in the comments or e-mail us.
Comments
so, i'm lady. ok, that stated, this chick is creepy and wrong. i guess i'm a misogynist, too.
Posted by: Prof. Francesca Caccini | March 24, 2009 7:11 PM
Our dear friend Kevin is a misogynist and a racist. He's also an asshole and frankly the world will be a better place when he dies.
I get a good laugh out of him thinking he is an important author and that his opinions are in anyway valid, though.
Posted by: HMf | March 24, 2009 7:49 PM
You know, ISS, you could get some good lessons in petty, stupid spitefulness from this bunch. I mean, sure Doom's scar based anti RICHHARRRDDDSSSS rants are based on a minor grevience, and Luthor's hair based hatred of Superman is impressively pointless,, but I think, with a tad more effort, these fine scumbags will be on their way to the big leagues.
Bless their shriveled lumps they call souls
Posted by: Baron Robokill Von Wernheim | March 24, 2009 8:16 PM
These former scans_daily members seem like a well intentioned bunch. They managers to crawl over to another site and keep up with their villainy.
They just need a leader. Someone to show them the true way of scanning!
Join me scanners, and no TOS will hold us!
Posted by: Dr Scanner | March 24, 2009 8:32 PM
HMF - I met Kevin Church and he was really nice. I am not black or a woman though - maybe things would have been different if I were.
(come to think of it, he did call my missus a c**t...)
Posted by: Dan McDaid | March 25, 2009 12:16 AM
I told you that it's a standard American greeting, McDaid.
Now I have to go back to writing some very important comic strips.
Posted by: Kevin Church | March 25, 2009 12:32 AM
I'm pretty sure the word you're looking for there is 'stupid'. As in the oxymoron 'stupid logic'. Surprisingly enough, such an oxymoron actually exists in reality. Look at Cobra. He wants to be tough, so what's his battle cry? "La la la!"
Yeah. 'Nuff said.
Posted by: The Evil Giggler | October 9, 2009 5:40 PM