| | Dear Professor Moglen,
I am writing this letter because I think you provide a vital voice to the Columbia Law School community, and because the time you devote to students in office hours and the work you do on the wiki is more than commendable and should be more common. However, though you are one of the most engaging and dedicated professors I have encountered at CLS thus far, its not all just peachy.
In class today, we had a brief exchange about Apple computers. There is more to the story, and perhaps you remember our conversation last time I came to your office hours, but that isn't important here. | |
<
< | In compliance with Global Reporting Initiative's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, Apple presents evidence to substantiate its claim that it is "years ahead of anyone in the industry," when it comes to the environmental impact of it computers. This is an amorphous statement that probably isn't true, but bear with me.
The reports claim that the 2008 15" Mac Book Pro uses 26% as much energy (measured in average US power grid CO2e emissions per hour of product use) as a 60 watt lightbulb. Apple claims in its GRI reports that it is the industry leader in removing lead, BFR, PVC, mercury, arsenic, and other harmful substances from its products. It claims its policy is to design smaller, thinner products that use less material, and to use materials such as aluminum which are more desirable for recyclers. It claims it has gone beyond existing legislation in both Europe and the U.S. in minimizing the environmental impact of its products.
Whether any of this is enough (it isn't) and whether greater strides can and should be made (they can and should) isn't the point. The point is also not to build up or promote or praise Apple, Apple products, Steve Jobs, Apple users etc. in any way. | >
> | Whether any of what Apple does environmentally is enough (it isn't) and whether greater strides can and should be made (they can and should) isn't the point. The point is also not to build up or promote or praise Apple, Apple products, Steve Jobs, Apple users etc. in any way. | | | The point is that you hide behind tenure and an aura of genius (no one disputes you are smart Eben, but your point today applies to you as well: there are things in this world you don't know.) to disparage all of us every time you make sweeping comments such as those today, and other comments that vastly oversimplify and polarize complex issues. | | | Is it the name-calling, or is it the EATING ego? Yeah, it sucks to believe in something and have it be exposed or for someone to call it a lie or a fraud. I have beenthere. Eben has been paid to program computers since he was 14, so I would tend to defer to his judgment. I think one part of being a good lawyer is knowing what you know, but at least as important is knowing what you don't know. While not privy to your office hours conversation, this is what I gleamed from your in-class conversation with Eben.
-- JohnAlbanese - 07 Apr 2010 | |
>
> |
Usually, I laugh when Eben does these things, or I chalk it up to his method and move on. Yesterday I happened to write the above.
@ Jessica, I'm sorry if my use of Eben's metaphor offends you, but I think its obvious to everyone that is why he uses such parlances. They offend. This has a certain power and he wields it. For some, this apparently makes him a "lion." Whatever. And I didn't say he was doing it to me, I said he was doing it to all of us.
I'd like to reiterate that there are a lot of things I really like about this class, and its professor. We discuss topics we never could in any other class, and learn quite a bit in the process. I also agree that most of the time, most people should just roll their eyes if they don't like what Eben is saying and pay attention to what he says next b/c it might be something really good. But that's not a free pass. Not for me at least.
I want a license because I have seen the kind of disrespect that people direct at one another. Open your conlaw book and you can see plenty of examples of it if you want. Most of our greatest crimes against humanity boil down to a lack of respect: for people, for life, freedom, thought. Respect is something you demand, and apparently we're not. If you think you like being called a "moron" then good luck to you. As for me, I have seen loved ones disrespected by slurs and actions worse than that, and I understand the long-term harm to entire communities that such disrespect can foster. I may not yet have my license, but I can certainly call them as I see them. Fortunately, this is just a class, and I'll soon have more important things to worry about. But while I'm here, and until I have my license and bigger fish to fry, I'll demand the same respect for myself and others today that I expect to fight for with my license tomorrow.
-- ArtCavazosJr - 08 Apr 2010 | | | |
|