Your Opinion of Harlan Ellison's Rant???

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   Sophia Angeliqueposted 12 years ago

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

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   knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

   I suppose right-on if you work in the money world.

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   KeithTaxposted 12 years ago

   Writers get paid to write. Harlan has been vocal for a long time in the SF community on writer's rights. Let me say it bluntly, like Harlan Ellison does. Who makes more money from your work, you or HP? Answer: HP doesn't have a site without writers willing to work for free, but writers are still writers if they publish elsewhere. HP gets 40% of the impressions, but selects the premium locations. You didn't believe the 40% was choosen at random? Did you? Why do you think HP is reducing visability with their ad program? To make you money? Or them? I've met Harlan in the past and he is an excitable character. I don't agree with all he says, but he does make salient points.

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      Sophia Angeliqueposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Keith, I totally agree with Harlan on this one. He is quite right that the majority of wannabes are the reason that professionals don't get paid. Why would anyone pay someone else if they could get something for nothing. Why would I pay someone to wash my car if somebody was willing to do it for nothing? Why would I be willing to pay someone to cure me of toothache if I could get it for nothing?
      
      Unfortunately, there's this myth going round that if one gets 'exposure' then one day someone will be willing to pay you.
      
      I'm just curious as to exactly why some people seem to have reservations about Harlan Ellison. He has ever right to get excited about not being paid. I'm excitable as well.

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         KeithTaxposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Sophia, I agree with Harlan on writer's rights he speaks about in the You Tube video listed above. If you ever get a chance to meet him you will know from the first words he speaks that he has cast iron balls. He doesn't mince words on a variety of issues. I like the guy. If more writers thought the way he did, we would all make more.
         
         About a month back HP sent an email asking hubbers to call thier Congressman. HP asked that we speak out against a bill working its way though Congress where websites could be shut down for as little as one plagarized piece of material. Harlan disagrees. They steal his work, shut them down. Period.
         
         If you agree with Harlan, you don't agree with HP. He has spoken out against practices on the internet a number of times.

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            Sophia Angeliqueposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Keith, that's an interesting perspective.  You see, if there were stiffer rules in writers signing up, reference checks, etc., then the plagiarism wouldn't be a danger. Websites could also run pieces through a check (as hub pages does now) to see if the piece is duplicated.
            
            There are, of course, several fears.
            
            1) The first is that the act will be used to shut down people like Occupy and Anonymous when their stuff is circulated.
            
            2) Websites would have much higher running costs.
            
            Over the past year, I cannot tell you how many of  my books and articles have been 'stolen' by others. It peeves me no end.
            
            If I could be certain that freedom of expression wouldn't be harmed by the act, I would very definitely support it.

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