Essay Time!

[Trey & Melissa Burns]

Just thought I would pass this along in case you have not seen it yet and
have an interest in doing it.

Bill Burke has an essay contest going on for motorized recreation
and the concerns of the environment.

The details can be found on his site.
http://www.bb4wa.com/contest.html


Melissa B.

 

[Kyle]

 

[craig]

I'm OK with the topic, but the fact that BB4WA will own the work when it is finished is completely lame. Sounds to me like Bill is too lazy or incapable of doing his own work.

He should collaborate with scientists at the USFS/BLM that actually know something about the subject (and who love to offroad) and do something legitimate.

Good idea, bad implementation.

--Craig

 

[syoung]

Actually- it's standard practice to assume ownership of submitted works. His web site is part of his business and he wouldn't want to have someone shake him down for payment in exchange to post their essay or violate copyright. Absolutely standard... ever enter ANY contest? I never will again- Mobil has the image rights to a photo shoot done of my MG and although I get a little free oil now and then, it wasn't worth losing the ownership of my car's image.

 

[Kyle]

Well lets see.... If we think of people as a cancer (which really is somewhat of a fact) then I just think its very ironic that someone who introdices this cancer into areas that will be destroyed by it , and gets paid to do so , is asking for essays on it .............

Yes , I know it will get fired back that its being treated "Properly" and the proper "Ethics" are being taught... But lets face it , people have issues.... The more that go , the faster it will go to shit..... SO why not enable the guy that would have never ventured into those places ?

 

[nickb857]

I am going to write an essay, i would like to win some free shit, and i have some spare time. I knew there was a reason i majored in geology, it just might come in handy.

 

[Kyle]

Oh yeah , thats the goal , free shit..........

 

[nickb857]

Oh yeah , thats the goal , free shit..........

Haha i was just messing around with that, but actually i do have some good ideas, i was thinking about it the other day.

 

[craig]

Actually- it's standard practice to assume ownership of submitted works. His web site is part of his business and he wouldn't want to have someone shake him down for payment in exchange to post their essay or violate copyright. Absolutely standard... ever enter ANY contest? I never will again- Mobil has the image rights to a photo shoot done of my MG and although I get a little free oil now and then, it wasn't worth losing the ownership of my car's image.

Nope, I haven't entered a contest. And I won't enter this contest either.

The point I am trying to make is that the whole contest is a bad idea. Instead of this lame-ass contest approach to obtaining intellectual property, maybe BB4WA should work with the Forest Service and BLM scientists to get some good, CREDIBLE, information. All government documents are in the public domain so there aren't any copyright issues to be concerned with at all.

The idea to acquire and disseminate information about how to wheel in an environmentally sound way is a good one. The implementation of this idea as a contest is very poor.

I have total respect for what Bill is trying to do, just not the manner in which he is doing it.
--Craig

 

[syoung]

I'm not so sure that it's nothing more than a way to generate some material for a web site- but then again you could be right, I dunno, but I doubt it.

The first paragraph of Kyle's post almost made me spit my Mt. Dew on the monitor tho.

 

[nickb857]

The idea to acquire and disseminate information about how to wheel in an environmentally sound way is a good one. The implementation of this idea as a contest is very poor.

I agree with this and i was thinking the samething about it myself. It really isnt the sort of thing to make into a contest. Just asking for ideas or suggestions on how to improve things might be another way to do this. But this way there will be many more responces and ideas, although some might be bull shit attempts just to win but others might be good. I am going to write a letter because i think i have some good ideas, i dont really give a shit about the prizes i dont know what they are.

 

[Trey & Melissa Burns]

Nope, I haven't entered a contest. And I won't enter this contest either.

The point I am trying to make is that the whole contest is a bad idea. Instead of this lame-ass contest approach to obtaining intellectual property, maybe BB4WA should work with the Forest Service and BLM scientists to get some good, CREDIBLE, information. All government documents are in the public domain so there aren't any copyright issues to be concerned with at all.

The idea to acquire and disseminate information about how to wheel in an environmentally sound way is a good one. The implementation of this idea as a contest is very poor.

I have total respect for what Bill is trying to do, just not the manner in which he is doing it.
--Craig

Craig, in response to your last line, many people have the same feelings as you in regards to the essay contest and his letter he wrote about EJS. They think his manner in which he went about it was wrong.

I do applaud him for trying to make a difference. It pisses me off more those that bitch and whine about losing places but sit back and do NOTHING.

I too did not understand why he had to turn it into a contest bc./ many other forums are just asking for people to submit ideas, thoughts, etc. (If you care enough, know the info., and have the time - I would think one would just do it).
However, I would assume he did it so more people would participate. Also, many people do not really pay attention to the ecological factors involved in off roading so maybe winning the 'big prize' would push them in the direction to think on it. OR reward those that do know about land issues and off roading and want to spend the time to contribute.

I'm not sure though, I was just the messenger.

Melissa B.