Intellectual property, faulty systems, and appropriation 

Intellectual property, faulty systems, and appropriation 

by | Oct 18, 2021 | Blog

Where did you hear that? This belief that you hold—you must have heard it from somewhere, right? Can you cite the source or point out the original creator? It’s important to give credit where credit is due, but what if you’re not sure where you learned something? I’ve seen people get called out over situations like this on social media so I thought I’d explore this topic a bit.

When do you give credit for an idea?

Much of what we know and have today is built off of something—even if just a little—created by someone else. When information is taken word-by-word from another source we know to use quotation marks and reference the author. The same could be said for ideas, too, if they are shared in a way that, again, resembles the original source. 

Where things get dicey is if you learn something and then make it your own. You might even learn bits and pieces of things from multiple sources and then make that your own. The more information you take in, the more confusing it can be to remember who said what. It may be that one source has a certain belief, but you can mull it over and create your own belief system through that—a belief system that may hold almost no discernable ties to the original material.  You could then cite a reference of “I learned this from so-and-so” but is that really necessary? 

In academia and research, it may be. For the common person, well…you’ve got to decide for yourself.

I’ve seen people blatantly steal intellectual property from other creators and pose it as their own without a single reference to the original source. Other times, we can hear something through the grapevine and not really know who the original creator was.

When someone utilizes a practice that is derived from another culture, religion, or a specific group of people, is that cultural appropriation? What if they did not have knowledge of the origins? I think intention is important to note here and I like to give the benefit of the doubt that most people do not mean to intentionally cause harm. However, many people may not understand how an action they engage in, which seems so far removed, could impact anyone. 

I see us as all being part of a huge melting pot of cultures, beliefs, viewpoints, backgrounds, and more. Sharing an array of ideas from all of these different places and systems is what helps us develop who we are. There is no one way to learn. You don’t have to dedicate your life to studying ancient scriptures to be able to work with their principles now.

What about when the original source is faulty?

The fact is that many of the beliefs we hold or systems we engage in have some flaws that could cause harm. If we learn from a person who does not cite their sources or who fails to teach their audience about the cultural origins of a practice, are we now misinformed? 

For efficiency’s sake, sometimes I don’t want to hear the whole history of whatever whatever. I don’t think the intentional stealing or repurposing of others’ original ideas is fair, but I also don’t expect everyone to be an educator. It’s not like we don’t have access to Google anyway.

Sure, it is important to know what you are getting into before getting involved with something or someone, but sometimes we simply do not have all of the information. Often, we (only want to) know what we need to know right now. Information is constantly unfolding so it is unfair to expect to know everything, have all your bases covered, and be a flawless human being all of the time. So that shouldn’t be expected from the people we learn from—educators or not.

Holding room for possibility.

We often experience cognitive dissonance when there is any blight in a system we are involved with. It can be easier to play ignorant or disengage completely. Yet, how can we see that someone or something is faulty and simultaneously holds value? How can we allow two possibilities to exist at once and make an informed decision for ourselves?

In our current state of the world, I think nuance and context are really key here. In my eyes, you can take what you hear, read, or learn and establish your own beliefs. Not everything will directly tie to the original source so you’ve got to use your reasonable discernment. It’s up to each of us to find what is correct for us.

 

Looking for what to read next? How about: How You Do Something Versus Why You Do Something and the Mental Traps That Creates

How to Socialize and Communicate Outside of the Internet

How to Socialize and Communicate Outside of the Internet

by | Jan 20, 2018 | Health, Home, Wellness

The idea for this post came when I started working at my recent office job.  I quickly realized that my style of communication amongst friends was a little different than the ways coworkers at my office tend to communicate.  I can be sociable but the hard part is always starting because, hey, talking to new people is scary.

Also, it might sound inherently obvious that things are and should be different online than in real life.  You can’t go around using internet lingo like, “YAS GIRL!” when you agree with someone else.  Nor is it appropriate to introduce yourself to others using photos instead of actual words.  So, for someone who got used to communicating primarily through internet / social media (i.e. Instagram + My Blog) I had to up my social skills so that I didn’t seem like the girl who lived under a rock.

Here are some things that I discovered make for easier in-person communication:

Know who you are. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked what I do/did before working at my office.  I disagree with defining oneself solely by jobs so feel free to throw in hobbies or activities that also describe a bit about you. (In such a situation, I might say, “Oh, well, after I graduated with my Psych degree in 2016 I’ve been doing some volunteering at local organizations but I’ve also used the time to explore my own interests, like cooking.”)

parks and rec gif

Ask people about 1) what they do or 2) themselves.

This tip will rarely fail you because people like talking about themselves.  If someone lets on that they’re passionate about their work, go ahead and ask about it.  This is especially useful within a work environment so that you can get an idea of people’s roles and the teamwork aspect.  If outside of a workplace, try to AVOID asking about work.  I know this sounds contradictory but there is a time and a place for everything.  Unless your conversation partner brings it up, its best to stick with lighter topics because, surprise-surprise, not everyone likes what they do.

Common knowledge is only common knowledge amongst your peer or familial group.

It basically goes out the window when interacting with a mixed age group or even people of varying backgrounds/cultures.  Someone else might not know the latest street slang, that ubiquitous Top 40 song, or even what you’d consider BASIC information in your field of interest.

new girl gifFor a personal example, I’m a foodie (definition: a person who enjoys all things food –there I go with the subculture reference :p ) and enjoy hearing about nutrition-related advancements and plant-based culture.  Though, most people are not in my same boat and I can’t expect them to want to taste something green when that is unfamiliar to them.  Some people are proud of themselves for having just given up drinking soda a few months back.  Whenever I’ve heard this I used to think: what?!  Who still drinks soda? Don’t you know how bad it is for you?  Instead, I’ve become better at reframing my thinking to one of less judgment and of acceptance that everyone is at a different place in their life.

It is not ignorance to be unaware; rather, it is ignorance for those who don’t want to listen to what they hear.

To bounce off what I said in the last section, sometimes people aren’t going to be open to what you have to say or offer.  Heck, they might never be ready but that’s okay, too.  We are all individuals with our own free will.  That is not to say that there is some elite group of people who are “more open”, either.  We cannot possibly carry the worldly perspective on every subject because that only comes from experience and shared knowledge.  It is likely that most all of us have blocks on our openness that just haven’t been pushed or explored yet.  Which brings me to…

Listen to learn, listen to grow, listen to communicate and be a better you. 

When developing a friendship, acquaintanceship, or any sort of relationship with another person, I value listening above all else.  For myself, I get to hear about the other person and feel them out to see what we may have in common.  I can also soak up stories about their unique experiences.  My downfall is that I can listen to much, but that’s another story.  Additionally, if someone extends that same courtesy to you, and is interested in hearing about you, then they’re a keeper.  Personally, I feel like this is an indication of how much the other person cares or is invested in what the both of you talk about.  People who are only interested in talking about themselves may have some interesting stories to tell but they aren’t going to consider you the way you deserve.

hannah montana friends gif

There are all sorts of people in this world and we can’t and won’t get to know them all.  Though, I would like to think that the people that we cross paths with are valuable for that, in the very least.  Maybe it is just a 5 minute conversation while waiting in line for your latte at the coffee shop.  Or, maybe you hit it off with a coworker and something special develops between the two of you.  Who knows?  That’s how friends or relationships are made.  That’s how you develop as an individual.  It all starts somewhere.  It starts with you putting yourself out there.

Thanks for being here! ♥

Interested in more reading on articles of similar topic?

Labels, Fitting in, and Being True to Yourself

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Why Everyone Can Benefit from Having Friends of All Ages