Too far? AMP Before You Score Pepsi App

I write this post with some hesitance. I say that for two reasons. One, because I find the new AMP Before You Score Pepsi App rather distasteful and offensive. Two, because SERIOUSLY!? Just watch this video.



Just the name of the application is disgusting! Before You Score!? Stereotyping women is pretty sleezy, but then keeping track of them on your "Brag List" is even sleezier. Ew.

Here's a quote from the different stereotypes and an explanation of the application. Jezebel's Post on the iPhone app.

Here's how it works:

1. Identify Her Type
Got your eye on a girl, and aren't sure how to get started? Pick out her profile, flip the card, and study up quick with a cheatsheet on the stuff she's into, with lists, links and some surefire opening lines. (Surefire to what, we won't say.)

2. Keep a List
Get lucky? Add her to your Brag List. You can include a name, date and whatever details you remember.

3. Brag
You got it? Flaunt it. Keep your buddies in the loop on email, Facebook or Twitter.***

Here's who you get:
Artist
Aspiring Actress
Athlete
Bookworm
Businesswoman
Celebrity
Cougar
Dancer
Foreign Exchange Student
Goth Girl
Indie Rock Girl
Married
Military Girl
Nerd
Out-Of-Your-League Girl
Political Girl
Princess
Punk Rock Girl
Rebound Girl
Sorority Girl
Treehugger
Trouble
Twins
Women's Studies Major

*** It's not clear from my experience with the application that it actually lets you post anything to Facebook or twitter. This could be a feature maybe integrated later? Which then could have very real and possible legal consequences.

I downloaded the application, because I don't believe in ranting about something unless you've used it. So here is my review:

• The graphics are cool.
• The application is smooth and easy to understand. (Small learning curve for small minded men.)
  
• The information on the flip side of each stereotype is creative. Ex: Business News on the flip side of the Business Woman Stereotype and Wikipedia Page describing Picasso and his work on the flip side of the Artist Stereotype. There's also a map feature to look up venues where the stereotyped woman and you might hang out. (I guess that's useful for date ideas)
• But my question is: Why are you dating someone you have nothing in common with in the first place?

The wisest of men would know and realize that no woman is so easily categorized. In fact, men who actually are the "cool guys" don't use applications like these to decode the female gender. They know that common interests mean more than reiterating random facts on Picasso's life found on Wikipedia page.

How pathetic are the men who download and use this application? Do you really an iPhone application to help you get a date? Is it really so difficult to find a woman who likes you for you? Is it so difficult that you have to try to illy stereotype every woman you meet and look up random facts just so you can hold a conversation with her? How sad is it that you have to hijack the interests of the girl you're hitting on and pretend your interests are the same as hers?

I guess there's no real legal harm in an application like this - it's just offensive and pretty pathetic. It's kind of disheartening. I've been racking my brain all night trying to think of a cause of action, but the only thing I can think of is if that Brag List became public. Even then, the only cause of action I can think of would be Libel/Slander or Defamation. However, the Brag List would have to be spread to the public (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, word of mouth, etc.)

As I noted above, my application doesn't have any functionality for syncing with Twitter or Facebook as suggested in the quoted material. So I can't see any legal claims if the names of individuals is stored in a list format on a phone and used solely for personal use. Any ideas for other legal claims I might have missed?

Needless to say, this application makes me seriously question the quality of men out there. If men have to resort to such low techniques to start up a conversation with a woman, then there really is no hope.

2L Day 2

Embarked on my second day of law school today and to my surprise it all went pretty smoothly. I was able to sleep in and enjoy the comforts of 2L life without any hiccups. Made it to class, avoided getting called on and then headed to Borders for a copy of Lawrence Lessig's Free Culture and Remix (both of which are available for free to download on his website). Lawrence Lessig is the creator of Creative Commons and an interesting read for any student of Copyright and Trademark law. He makes some interesting arguments surrounding the life of a copyright, free access vs. creator rights argument.

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You're probably wondering why I am switching blog sites again. Well, to be honest, I really was getting annoyed with some of the features of Blogger and couldn't stand that I couldn't update my blog from anywhere with iWeb - so I am going to try out WordPress - which doesn't mean I won't just switch back in a few months. Don't hate me. I try to be consistent, but curiosity often gets the best of me.

On that note, I love blogging and I want to be able to do it from anywhere (my iPhone, the library, a friend's computer, etc.) The idea of having to wait until I am sitting at my Macbook just frustrates me and the idea of posting on Blogger frustrates me even more. Don't misunderstand me, I love many of the features of Blogger, but I have the photo posting formatting. I'm a stickler for formatting - as you'd know if you've ever borrowed notes from me or seen me mapping out a flow chart.

Did I ever mention I was a flow chart addict? I think flow charts are a great way to visualize the big pictures without having to know all the details. My greatest recommendation to any incoming law student is to know what your strengths are and to stick with them. My greatest strength is "big picture" flow charts. I'll post some of my favorite charts that I learned the most from later.

Additionally, I also find the CALI lessons extremely helpful for broad knowledge, not so much in depth knowledge. I like to take the CALI quizzes after outlining a section to see what I've learned from outlining. By the way, an outline is exactly that - an outline of the entire course that law students make before finals to study all the rules, cases, etc. of a subject. Ok, at this point I'm realizing this post lacks a lot of focus. It's a little bit too late to be writing. I'll focus my thoughts and save them for another post. Needless to say, I had a great day 2 of my 2L career!