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This is not a hoot, but a serious comment on a subject that (obviously) is close to my heart. For some time I have been bothered by advertising in general; its effect on young people; and the image of libraries and librarians. This rant comes from a listserv I monitor and I have Mr. Jim Walsh's (the author's) permission to forward it. Please read and reflect. Context: yet another commercial depicting librarians as tight-butted control freaks: >What really alarms me is the subtext of these commercials. Who cares if >people think we are stodgy or anal obsessive? The underlying scary message >is the same one delivered by nearly every advertisment around. "Only you >count, sharing (e.g. books)is for losers who like to wait in long lines, >whatever you desire should be yours immediately without delay, anyone who >inhibits your immediate gratification is an oppressor, only buying the right >products gurantees your happiness and freedom." The entire advertising >culture is designed (deliberately) to foster infantile dependency on a >handful of mega-suppliers of supposedly gratifying products, while >cultivating the widespread delusion of choice and freedom. Read "No Logo" by >Naomi Klein to see how some people are fighting back. > No wonder the >advertisers so often portray librarians negatively. We stand for everything >that opposes their greedy dreams: self-knowledge, real autonomy, resource >sharing vs. resource selling, and true liberation. They must fear us >terribly to mount some of the vicious attacks I have seen recently. I forget >which computer or Internet company recently protrayed the library as a vast, >grey, prison overseen by a Big Brother-like character bent on limiting and >controlling the information supplicants. Only buying the advertisers product >(again I forget which)could liberate the oppressed. See the agenda? Whatever >your sins, they can be projected on a demonized enemy, who is then vilified >and cast out. In this case, the library becomes the scapegoat. It is the >corporate sector that now calls the shots and limits both freedom and >choice, yet here the humble library is portrayed as the enemy of freedom. >Wow! Who knew we had such evil power? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=