Anti-SOPA Blackout?

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jedimuppet
Homeless
LordFa9

[Antigoth]

We're a Canadian site, but would be affected by SOPA.

I'm thinking of joining in on the January 18th SOPA Blackout.

Thoughts, feelings?

[CreedP]

So we don't get to use the site in some form of protest that won't affect Congress enough to persuade them out of it?

I'll pass... lol

CREED

[BigPimpin]

Details?  Link?  Did this SOPA horror-show pass Congress?

EDIT: Based on this do we really need a SOPA protest day?  Or maybe a PROTECT IP (PIPA) blackout day, as that looks like it will make it through Congress.

[ZSlash]

I've written both my reps in the house and the senate informing them of my disapproval of both bills. Granted I know this is an international site (not every member that would be effected has a rep to write), but perhaps a similar approach would be more effective than blacking out our site/shooting ourselves in the foot. If indeed the intention behind a blackout is to encourage people to object to the legislation, maybe it would be more beneficial to specifically/directly encourage that instead?

Just my 2 cents for what its worth.

[Turd Ferguson]

It's thing like this that make me feel like having a bunch of old people in charge of the country is a terrible idea. They are so out of touch with the reality of the internet that they don't even understand what it is they are supporting other than that their big time donors support it.

[Antigoth]

I'll pass... lol

CREED

So effectively you are choosing to allow yourself to be censored and silenced?

When SOPA, Protect IP, or future legislation that covers the same ground eventually passes, (and mark my words, there are those who are determined to make this type of legislation a reality) it will be too late to do anything.

Part of the idea behind the blackout is to help people who are sitting on their hands understand what sitting on their hands is going to cost them.

Details?  Link?  Did this SOPA horror-show pass Congress?

EDIT: Based on this do we really need a SOPA protest day?  Or maybe a PROTECT IP (PIPA) blackout day, as that looks like it will make it through Congress.

While SOPA currently appears doomed to failure, sadly I suspect that there will be followup legislation that will do the same things. While you have the powerful MPAA and RIAA lobbies in place, the internet as we know it will constantly be under attack.

I agree that the blackout could be as much about ProtectIP.
Here's Wikipedia's stance on the issues:
http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/English_Wikipedia_anti-SOPA_blackout

From a Canadian prospective our Conservative government is posed to ram legislation down our throats aimed at "stopping piracy" despite the previous three bills all dying on the floor. (Stupid voters giving them a majority government)

Oh... under insteresting news stories on SOPA:
http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/11/2700420/comcast-confused-about-dns-rerouting-dnssec-sopa

And here's a little more reading about the upcoming blackouts:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2398969,00.asp

I've written both my reps in the house and the senate informing them of my disapproval of both bills. Granted I know this is an international site (not every member that would be effected has a rep to write), but perhaps a similar approach would be more effective than blacking out our site/shooting ourselves in the foot. If indeed the intention behind a blackout is to encourage people to object to the legislation, maybe it would be more beneficial to specifically/directly encourage that instead?

Just my 2 cents for what its worth.

First and foremost, thank you for your action.

I agree with you regarding a call to action.
My question is what's the most effective path to issue that call?

Will taking away what people take for granted spur them into action? Or will a simple request be enough?

The fact that people have read and responded, and a discussion is starting is warming to my heart.

However I also wonder if our friends in Chile understand how something like this could affect them.

[CreedP]

I'll pass... lol

So effectively you are choosing to allow yourself to be censored and silenced?

I'll skip the nasty reply, but let's assume I'm intelligent enough to understand what's going on and bypass the pretense that I need to be condescended to, buddy..

My issue isn't with 'doing something about it', my issue is that taking down TCO for a day - on its own - won't change anything.  What, Senator Kelly is going to say 'DAMMIT, what was I thinking?!  Now I can't post on TCO! We must cancel that PIPA bill!'  

It's like that hippie episode of South Park.  They have a big music festival because 'corporations are evil' and Stan lampshades the whole by saying 'So when do we fight the big corporations?'  While the music is nice and all, it does nothing to subvert the capitalistic system of business, lol

Wikipedia going dark is neat, raises awareness, cool.

TCO going dark - after this thread already exists to heighten awareness - will just piss off the people loyal to the site.  And as for me, its not going to change what I will or won't do regarding PIPA, its only going to cut out my access to the development & playtesting private forums, thus postponing work on Revolution 6 for a day.

Basically, taking a political stance and encouraging activism is great.  Taking the choice out of my hands, however, and shutting down all access to this site... does that make you any better than the government you're protesting?  

CREED

[MediumSexy]

I'm throwing in a vote to shut 'er down for a day. TCO survived a several month intermission. Anyone who wants to leave permanently over it wasn't family to begin with.

Let's give all of our users a chance to see what SOPA and other similar nonsense could do to websites we frequent.

[Theren]

As someone that has taken classes on DNS server creation and filtering, the sheer scope of that bill is mind-boggling. And while I'm all about being active alot of times, lets be honest, if this thing isn't going to be stopped by Google and Twitter executives going to bat against it, TCO blacking out for a day isn't going to do anything at all to whether or not it passes.

[Niki Heber]

As much as I am in support of an anti-SOPA blackout, I think more good will come if a post was written on ways that individual members could contact their elected representative and nudge them to do so.

Also, I think informing people about what the SOPA bill and the PIPA Bill will do to their internet life.  I think a lot of this has to do with people not understanding what the implications of these bills and the slippery slopes that they will cause.

[Daeva]

I am inclined to agree with Niki. I think that this thread is doing a better job of informing people about the dangers of SOPA and PIPA than a blackout would. I like the concept of informing people about how awful these bills are, but the execution smacks of cramming a square peg into a round hole.

[CreedP]

FYI Google has a 'censored' logo, and Wikipedia has gone dark.  If that doesn't wake people up, not much else will,lol

CREED

[BigPimpin]

Mildly annoyed that the Wiki page is not BB compatible.  But I have my Congressmen's contact information and I will be E-mailing them today on these issues.

I suspect that a well-worded response on the front page would be the best course of action.  Or a link in the "News" that normally rotates between the trade access and the spambot thing.  If we rotate in informative SOPA/PIPA information, even if its an editorial on this site, it may be something worth calling attention to.

Sadly the only hard information I have on the subject is the effect it will have on DNS, as I work for a company that offers secure DNS services and would be severely affected by this law.

[Antigoth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p-TV4jaCMk

http://theoatmeal.com/sopa

[BigPimpin]

Thanks Goth...keep feeding links if you find them, as I'm reposting on a NJ-based politically aware forum in the hopes of at least getting one state to stand in the way of this.

[Jypsy]

Glad to see that we didn't go dark here.

Personally I am not a fan of the whole "going dark" thing, I think google did it just right. Black out the logo, keep the site functional. It makes people go "Why is google censored?" and follow through on their own choice rather than have a decision made for them like Wikipedia and similar sites.

I have contacted my representatives as well, and am encouraging everyone that asks to do the same. To me, that is much more effective than shutting down sites.

Just my opinion is all.

[ZSlash]

Found this has a pretty informative FAQ for anyone interested

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57329001-281/how-sopa-would-affect-you-faq/

[CreedP]

You know... a few years back, I dated a gal who came from money.  She said her brother had left the U.S. because he didn't like the country anymore, moved to Australia and refuses to come back.  At the time I didn't understand that at all.

Between this SOPA/PIPA B.S. and the recently-passed bill that allows anyone suspected of terrorism to be taken by the military ON U.S. SOIL without due process and held indefinitely (its not supposed to apply to American citizens, but experts say the wording is vague enough that they can find loopholes in it)... I'm beginning to understand why.

One of the guys who works for me is heavy into conspiracy theory and sees all of this as a new Orwellian direction for the U.S. over the next couple decades.  I'm having a hard time arguing his points these days.

CREED

[ZSlash]

For anyone interested in reading the actual legislation.

http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112hr3261

http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112s968

[Mitch!]

Check this site out:
http://www.demonoid.me/
They blacked out their front page is a really cool fashion in protest of SOPA

[CreedP]

Geez.  This is truly sad:  https://twitter.com/herpderpedia

Some people just don't get it.  

And the movie Idiocracy takes place... HOW many years in the future?  lol

CREED

[dilbert505]

And the movie Idiocracy takes place... HOW many years in the future?  lol

Next Tuesday.

Thanks for that, though. Now I have blood shooting out of my eyes from the stupid. 

 

[Antigoth]

Reddit's explanation of the whole thing:

http://blog.reddit.com/2012/01/technical-examination-of-sopa-and.html

[Commissioner D2]

Between this SOPA/PIPA B.S. and the recently-passed bill that allows anyone suspected of terrorism to be taken by the military ON U.S. SOIL without due process and held indefinitely (its not supposed to apply to American citizens, but experts say the wording is vague enough that they can find loopholes in it)... I'm beginning to understand why.


CREED

It states that the military "is not required" to pick up US citizens.  Now, "is not required" and "is not allowed" are two TOTALLY different things.

Also, this is the same bill that allows soldiers to be exempt from the laws preventing the sodomy of animals.

Yes...I'm being serious here.

[Homeless]

Also, this is the same bill that allows soldiers to be exempt from the laws preventing the sodomy of animals.

Yes...I'm being serious here.

finally. a reason to join the military. nsfw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCNYK_9hKDk

The more people I meet, the more I like my dog.