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Microsoft Patent Deems Comic Books Shameful
theodp writes "A newly-surfaced Microsoft patent application describes methods of secretly matching up individuals whose shared 'fringe interests' might be 'a source of shame or embarrassment' to them should they become known to society-at-large. No, not sexual preferences. A much bigger taboo. Comic books. 'For example,' explains Microsoft in its filing, 'an ambitious professional is not likely to divulge that he likes, say, comic books, even though quite true. Appreciably, certain affinities especially those relating to fringe interests, eccentricities, or topics about which there is a common misconception or very little mainstream familiarity or understanding are generally omitted rather than included in conventional descriptions. Typically, this is so because these affinities might be a source of shame or embarrassment or incur undue explanation.'"
Well, are you sure would really want to tell right away to some girl you meet that you read comic books or watch anime? Things like can make people think about you wrongly. And for example, when I'm visiting Thailand I like the ladyboys there, but it's not something I'd say to anyone when I first meet them.
And I deem patents shameful.
Circumcision is child abuse.
The title of this article is pretty sensational, and hides the true idea behind the patent.
The patent isn't saying comic books (and other fringe interests) are "shameful", it's saying that if you are putting yourself out there in some way, like a resume or a dating site, fringe interests aren't going to be the first things you list.
For example I used to do a college radio show on Japanese noise rock, it's cool, but if I tell most people about right off the bat, I get a blank look.
I used to have a big interest in the paranormal... I would never have listed it in a dating profile, but would have been interested in other people who were also into it. Now, not sure I like the label of "shameful"... but it was something I didn't want to just blurt out.
I get the humorous Microsoft-bashing potential of this, but... I think they're actually thinking along the right lines here. It's not news anymore that any sort of public profile on the internet can land you in trouble with an employer. Certain categories of online services (e.g. dating services) depend on a person being willing to divulge potentially embarrassing information about themselves. People will continue to want to take advantage of these services, but given the opportunity to avoid embarrassing yourself in front of potential employers / friends / etc., I think one would choose the option of having this sort of information kept secret.
But haha, yes, comic books are taboo. Scott McCloud would have some choice words.
The patent doesn't seem particularly terrible on comparison with a lot of the ones we've seen. The example given is clearly chosen to be as inoffensive as possible whilst still being something that someone might plausibly want to keep to themselves.
So, I guess the story is "Microsoft is evil, patents are also evil, here's something that's potentially mildly offensive to easily offended comic book fans so this proves they're evil"
By day he's mild-mannered executive Steve Balmer, but at night he dons his monkey suit and becomes CHAIR MAN! Promising to "f--ing bury that guy" (he's done it before), he guards the streets of Redmond from free software.
Lawyer: "So why did we originally create this feature?"
Engineer: "Porn. Mostly the kinky stuff. Tranvestites, golden showers, that sort of thing."
Lawyer: "We can't use 'defense of transvestite porn' in a patent,"
Engineer: "Why not? It's why we made it."
Lawyer: "Yeah, but every patent is also a public document, which means it's a potential PR nightmare. Do you want to see 'Patent Protects Porn' on Slashdot?"
Engineer: "Actually..."
Lawyer: "Forget it. Just come up with something normal people would find both a harmless interest and somehow secretly shameful. Mainstream fringe."
Engineer: "...."
Lawyer: "Never mind, we'll think of something."
I can't imagine that they'd say in a patent application "people who are interested in alternate sexuality", or "people who were abused as children", or "people who belong to a religion other than Christian who live in the Bible Belt (aka the Christian terrorist homeland)"
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