Ghostbusters Containment Unit Shutdown: Putts Law in Action

Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage and those who manage what they do not understand.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putt%27s_Law_and_the_Successful_Technocrat

In the film the EPA wants to shut down the laser containment unit because it is in violation. The Ghostbusters try to tell them it is a bad idea but they do not listen. When it is shut down all of the ghosts escape into the city and everyone is worse off. When Walter Peck sees the results he blames the Ghostbusters and asks that the cops arrest them.

You can almost see each one of the characters as an analogy for the various characters. Walter Peck, the EPA rep is the lobbyist. The cop is the Judicial System. The electricians are like the ISPs. And the Vankman and Egon are the technology specialists, EFF, and law professors warning of the coming unintended consequences.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• technology policy
• Archibald Putt
• Putt's Law
• unintended consequences
• lawmakers
• EFF
• sopa
• pipa

[dokkles]

Pretty sure this is how the MegaUpload takedown went down.

[nsputnik]

@dokkles Yes, Peck is the government, Venkman is the users who know how the internet works, and the ghosts are Anons.

[raptorjesus11]

@nsputnik That or peck is the New Zealand anti-terrorist unit and Venkman is the guy with the equally badass last name

[nsputnik]

@raptorjesus11 There are so many things you can apply it to. It's a timeless lesson.

[IncredableDrE]

Your mother! ( epic fight followed)

[DaStayPuftFluff]

1:17 KA BOOM

[DaStayPuftFluff]

i always loved the way egon snapped (Your mother!) it shows that underneath all of that sciencey braniac stuff, he is just as normal as the rest of us.

[Anime9100]

YOUR MOTHER XD LOL

I -3 GHOSTBUSTERS!!!!

[pete1210able]

Walter Peck is a tool

[TheEBL100]

Lesson: Never trust the EPA!

[TheEBL100]

Lesson from this, Never trust the EPA!