On Cultural Appropriation

I was reminded recently of the silly notion called cultural appropriation. It’s silly for two reasons: 1) every culture on Earth is a result of the mixing of previous cultures, and 2) cultural practices are ideas, and ideas cannot be owned. These are also the same reasons why “intellectual property” is a silly notion: 1) every idea on Earth is a remix of previous ideas, and 2) ideas cannot be owned. Accepting intellectual property means you must accept the lamentations against cultural appropriation, and vice versa, for they are the very same silly thing. Fortunately for me I don’t accept intellectual property and I don’t lament cultural appropriation. In fact I practice and celebrate the appropriation of ideas from other people and other cultures shamelessly. And that’s today’s two cents.