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Usually what happens in these stories is that a kid makes something that is a pale imitation of current standards, and the parents use their industry connection
by Johnny555 9y ago
Usually what happens in these stories is that a kid makes something that is a pale imitation of current standards, and the parents use their industry connections to get a PR blast about their awesome kid, that gets the kid a leg up in college or getting a job, and the 'invention' is forgotten.
Sure, but what's wrong with that? It's a little unrealistic to expect an 11 year old girl to productize an invention and bring it to market -- she'd have to team up with a schoolmate who is a budding patent attorney to have any hope of doing so without outside funding.
The nice thing about stories like this is that it helps gives inspiration to other young budding scientists.
- thowarray 9y ago> Sure, but what's wrong with that? Everything! * You teach the child dishonesty (taking credit for someone elses work can terminate your academic career). * In this particular case, the child becomes the face of a marketing campaign (that's her actual contribution: selling a product). * Stories like this one put pressure on other children because their parents buy it hook line and sinker and want the same for their children.
- Johnny555 9y agoYou're making a big assumption that she plagiarized uncredited work. Have you seen her presentation? Did she not credit her sources?