Background is this song because it was something often spinning in my CD player as a young guy.
While I understood the sentiment, even with my rather-limited relationship status at the time, I disagreed with it.
I was looking for the written-version of this, but the audio version is fascinating.
No one owes you anything.
I’m carrying on listening to the podcaster’s analysis of the article. I don’t have any kids (and I can say that was near-absolute certainty), but I do understand where he’s coming from. But my interactions are almost entirely with adults. No, I’d say that all of my interactions are with adults.
How I Found Freedom In An Unfree World has been at the back of mind for me for a long time.
One of the things that’s been bouncing about my scarred brain lately has been one of the things that Browne wrote about with the rights trap. In one of the PF discussion sessions last week, there was impassioned discussion of using the state to protect intellectual property.
Another article talking about the rights trap.
Much of my thinking about it is flavored by some of the sentiments in the Free Software movement. I can’t recall, and can’t find, the phrase that used to pervade, “I don’t believe in imaginary property.” Flavored by things like this.
I get bound up thinking about when is it okay to use the force of the state to compel others to respect your rights?
I’m in the camp, that for the most part, it’s never permissible.
One of the things that was drilled into my head in school is that there are three separate elements of “intellectual property” — patents, copywrites, trademarks, and trade secrets.
Patents provide you, a creator, exclusive opportunity to manufacture, license, or sell a particular invention for a fixed amount of time.
Copywrites have similar limitations.
Trademarks are essentially perpetual, but you have to spend energy to protect them.
Trade secrets you have to keep secret forever. Think about Colonel Sanders’s herbs and spices, or the recipe for Coca-Cola.
So. When is it appropriate to force others to respect your rights?
To me, the answer on that is never.
Do what you do, and you’ll be rewarded for it. No one owes you anything.
You do owe others to avoid aggressing against them.