Antipiracy bill gains new ally

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Dilute and induce: [For anyone who doesn't recognize the title, it's a shortened statement of how to deal with ingestion of some toxic substances. A more complete version is dilute with water and induce vomiting.]

Because Courts use the every day meanings of words in laws and because English has many subtle distinctions among similar words, let's use a set of synonyms from the dictionary to define "induce":

Synonyms: persuade, induce, prevail, convince
These verbs mean to succeed in causing a person to do or consent to something. Persuade means to win someone over, as by reasoning or personal forcefulness: Nothing could persuade her to change her mind. To induce is to lead, as to a course of action, by means of influence or persuasion: ?Pray what could induce him to commit so rash an action?? (Oliver Goldsmith). One prevails on somebody who resists: ?He had prevailed upon the king to spare them? (Daniel Defoe). To convince is to persuade by the use of argument or evidence: The sales clerk convinced me that the car was worth the price.

Notice that some sort of direct action with intent is necessary for every one of these verbs but one. (That is, I'm advocating when I persuade; I have a conclusion and I want you to share it.)
The one exception is induce, which does include persuade, but also includes "influence". I can be influenced toward an action by someone who had no intent for me to undertake that specific action. The influence can be unknowing and at a distance.

I wonder if, applied in a different area, the principle in this law would justify a suit against a band playing music listened to by an individual before committing suicide. Influence is a broadly applicable concept.

If enacted, this language might have a malign influence well beyond its stated purpose.; Posted by: Anton Philidor Posted on: 07/21/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use