tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489583182385276767.post4110950599591474790..comments2023-10-31T10:26:34.348-06:00Comments on Evolving English Teacher: Kidnapping the #Bookaday Brainchild: Shame on @HarperCollins and @BoroughPressGlenda Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07020745976555044975noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489583182385276767.post-45860687200950316422014-06-23T16:25:55.290-06:002014-06-23T16:25:55.290-06:00BP's use of #bookaday usurps the intent of #bo...BP's use of #bookaday usurps the intent of #bookaday as Donalynn envisioned it, which is educators sharing and recommending books. Many of the books recommended by those who began using #bookaday years ago are picture books and/or YA novels. It's an opportunity to promote the books of authors who visit schools, who support teachers, etc. <br /><br />You seem to think BP's marketing gurus aren't very savvy but are rather naive. Seriously, I find it nearly impossible to think someone didn't check the hashtag. To suggest no one did is to suggest a level of naïveté I can't imagine in a successful business. It seems such an easy thing to do; it's certainly something I would do if I were creating a hashtag, and I'm not a heavy Twitter uses. <br /><br />Calling someone trying to protect something she created and began using years ago a bully is pretty strong language. It took quite a lot of pressure to get BP to change its hashtag. Wouldn't it have been simpler for BP to have simply changed the hashtag once it realized the overlap than to have pushed aside concerns as it did? <br /><br />Regarding my post's title: The language is figurative and meant to elicit attention and traffic for the post. Originality of ideas isn't the same as copyright ownership, which I suspect you know. So while Donalyn can't literally own the hashtag, being a good sport on the Twitter playground doesn't mean the big kid takes the ball from the little one, especially when there are more toys available.<br /><br />You ask why the hashtag can't be shared. The issue isn't that it can't but that to do so undermines the purpose and muddles the audience. I'm not interested in book recommendations from certain segments of the population, for example. When I search #bookaday, I'm specifically looking for teacher and librarian book recommendations. I don't want that clouded. <br /><br />As you know, hashtags direct Twitter users attention to specific conversations. When an entity ignores the established decorum, they put all hashtags on a slippery slope that threatens the effective use of the social network. <br /><br />I'm not Donalyn's spokesperson, but I fully understand her anxiety and her position. Of course teachers and librarians are interested in promoting reading among all people, but our primary responsibility is to encourage reading among our students and colleagues. We are not responsible for the reading lives of the general population and to imply that we are is simply ridiculous. Aren't publishers suppose to be interested in not alienating a segment of the population that works tirelessly w/ out remuneration to promote books and that spends lots of money on books? <br /><br />Teachers have tried to coexist and have been passive about many things over the years. I suspect many of my virtual colleagues are like me in that we're not willing to sit idly by and be pushed around anymore. Glenda Funkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07020745976555044975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489583182385276767.post-24993516642740098082014-06-17T09:11:47.990-06:002014-06-17T09:11:47.990-06:00"Twitter says it isn't possible to own or..."Twitter says it isn't possible to own or copyright a hashtag."<br /><br />This statement undermines your entire argument for "kidnapping." Hashtags are universal descriptors that nobody owns. <br /><br />In this case, the phrase is a logical, if uncommon one. Borough Press points to #recordaday as inspiration. I don't find it hard to believe a publishing house employee saw that tag and said "let's do it with books!"<br /><br />I hope you'd agree nobody would try to claim ownership of #appleaday, #Iraq, #thinklikeamantoo, or #butts?<br /><br />And yet, from what I've seen (firsthand since I received a tweet) Donalyn and others who feel ownership of #bookaday have been the only bullies. Borough Press switched to #bookadayuk pretty quick, despite legions of Twitter users asking what the deal was and if they could still participate in the US.<br /><br />I received a terse message from Donalyn telling me how I was in the wrong and my "community" had moved over to #bookadayuk to honor the prior users of #bookaday. I replied that I didn't mind, wasn't trying to honor anyone (this being Twitter for chris'sakes), and would continue to use the hashtag as I saw fit. She replied again saying my tweets won't get read.<br /><br />I feel like that was harsher than anything I've seen from BP!<br /><br />Why can't we all coexist? Does others' use of #bookaday ruin yours? You may feel it's inauthentic, but they're still pictures of books. Aren't teachers and librarians interested in promoting EVERYONE's reading and sharing of books?<br /><br />I guess if we can't all set a good example, maybe next time y'all could do #bookaday2015 or #bookaday7, and Borough Press could do #bpbookaday. <br /><br />But I hope both parties can just chill out and share #bookaday.Kevin Oleksyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07321415537888813103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489583182385276767.post-64401769639349149942014-06-17T09:10:49.560-06:002014-06-17T09:10:49.560-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kevin Oleksyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07321415537888813103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489583182385276767.post-41263483998273380702014-06-09T12:25:17.616-06:002014-06-09T12:25:17.616-06:00seriously knickers and twist spring to mind. seriously knickers and twist spring to mind. Scouting Mummyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02272960409681867933noreply@blogger.com