LM_NET 06/10/00: No Subject

[Mark Williams <mark_williams@EEE.ORG>]

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?

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