Protesting against SOPA

[ThatOneDude]

I won't be disappointed if this isn't approved, but I would like this website to go down tomorrow for either some of the day or the whole day to protest against SOPA like a lot of other websites are doing (Including minecraft.net.) The reason I want this is because I'm super pissed about SOPA and I know a ton of you guys probably are too. I'm actually not going to be going on the internet at all tomorrow- Just thought I'd share

Thanks for reading
Cheers

[walker_boh_65]

It is not a bad idea, but thats up to sarg.

[gftweek]

The problem with these protestations is that they are international websites protesting a US policy change. Yes it makes sense since most of them are based in the US, but international people don't get any say in the policy one way or the other (even if it would have a negative worldwide effect).

[Camerinthus]

The english version of wikipedia is going down, as well.

[ThatOneDude]

So is Google D:

[morvelaira]

The reason these big websites and internet companies are choosing to go black for a day in protest as opposed to other methods, is that they're trying to demonstrate what would happen to their content under SOPAA. Sites such as Google and Wikipedia could easily be blocked/taken down under the statute because of the way the law is written (which is badly, imho). Other, random, websites going down at the same time - while lending support - largely accomplishes nothing but inconvenience, especially for a site like our forum's.

[Kwilt]

I have to problems with this. I won't go into the complex details, but I'm most definitely a strong supporter of anti-SOPA activities.

But ultimately, it's Sarg and FC's call.

[FlowerChild]

No, don't be silly. While I support the protest, as Morv points out, taking this site down would be an insignificant drop in the bucket that would only inconvenience us while lending no appreciable support to the cause.

Taking sites like Wikipedia down makes the general public aware of the issue because they are frequented enough by the masses that they'll naturally wonder what's up when they go there and it suddenly doesn't work. This is a great way to get people asking questions they might not otherwise.

Taking this site down on the other hand would be masturbatory at best.

[Sajuuk]

News is SOPA was dropped. The fight isn't over with PIPA, but it's prospects do not look good.

For me it just became the 18th. I tried to use a wikia. I was blasted with a "STOP SOPA" thing and made this face.


but I don't want to be seen as complaining. It's inconvenient to me, and perhaps it's not too late to protest something which has or will shortly die, but it's also kinda funny how things happened.

[BigShinyToys]

News is SOPA was dropped. The fight isn't over with PIPA, but it's prospects do not look good.

For me it just became the 18th. I tried to use a wikia. I was blasted with a "STOP SOPA" thing and made this face.

but I don't want to be seen as complaining. It's inconvenient to me, and perhaps it's not too late to protest something which has or will shortly die, but it's also kinda funny how things happened.

simple work around. just press the stop page loading when it is showing the info you want and it will not Block you. ( but I'm against any kinda web government control I just like )

[Sajuuk]

simple work around. just press the stop page loading when it is showing the info you want and it will not Block you. ( but I'm against any kinda web government control I just like )

Oh, when I said it's "inconvenient" I meant only that. A little troublesome and a little amusing, but I'm not worried.

[Syruse]

>Image Redacted<
>MFW< when wikipedia went down.

[Kwilt]

Oh, how I kinda wanna troll by posting a link to the SOPA Wikipedia page.

But in all seriousness, SOPA hasn't been dropped yet. The official word won't come until the 24rd. But by now, when Republican aides are saying that SOPA is a dirty word on Capitol Hill, I'm sure we all know the outcome.

Either way, off to fight PIPA and stand for a repeal/amending of the NDAA soon. But really, I'm not going to drag this into a political session, so let's all just stick to hating SOPA.

[morvelaira]

My one comment on the legislation itself -

It's good that the Congress is seeing this is not what their constituents want. I think the outrage over this bill was handled by the public rather well, overall. Hopefully the congressmen and women will take probably the wisest course available, and either withdraw the bill, or let it die quietly in committee.

[Slev]

Forums shutting down is practically a pro-SOPA action in my opinion. The point of forums is to discuss things, like why SOPA is a bad idea. Sites like wikipedia aren't discussion areas, they are reference sites, site for information.

My favorite anti-SOPA protest is on a sight featuring, "images and information of a questionable content." All the images have STOP SOPA in repeating text covering all the images.

[Camerinthus]

Actually, SOPA isn't dead. It was shelved, but some random politician said they're bringing it back in February. So we still have to worry about it, not just PIPA.

[Sky_Som]

News is SOPA was dropped. The fight isn't over with PIPA, but it's prospects do not look good.

For me it just became the 18th. I tried to use a wikia. I was blasted with a "STOP SOPA" thing and made this face.

but I don't want to be seen as complaining. It's inconvenient to me, and perhaps it's not too late to protest something which has or will shortly die, but it's also kinda funny how things happened.

simple work around. just press the stop page loading when it is showing the info you want and it will not Block you. ( but I'm against any kinda web government control I just like )

Just disable Scripting in Internet options. Then use it like normal. It's a good idea given arguements against SOPA and PIPA (It will stop those with little computer knowledge, but for anyone with a little bit of computer knowledge, you can get around almost as easy as before.)

[Mac]

Here's a very informative video I found on the subject matter.
I think it explains it in a very concrete and rational manner,
for those who might not yet are familiar with it, and of course even for those
who are.
Please take some time to watch it.
Thank you.

[redrew89]

Here's a very informative video I found on the subject matter.
I think it explains it in a very concrete and rational manner,
for those who might not yet are familiar with it, and of course even for those
who are.
Please take some time to watch it.
Thank you.

My man, TotalBiscuit. I came for the StarCraft2, I stayed for the Terraria Let's Play he does with OMFGCata. And, I was very glad to see him take the time to stand up against Internet censorship.

[Pseudosavior]

Here's a very informative video I found on the subject matter.
I think it explains it in a very concrete and rational manner,
for those who might not yet are familiar with it, and of course even for those
who are.
Please take some time to watch it.
Thank you.

I've always had a place in my heart for the Cynical Brit, ever since my WoW days. That video actually was my first experience with SOPA, and he does an amazing job explaining it without going CRAZY. I was about to share that video too, until I saw your post.

[Sajuuk]

There was also a TED talk discussing the concepts in play, posted tuesday.

[Haidaes]

There was also a TED talk discussing the concepts in play, posted tuesday.

Spoiler

Show

A good presentation of the whole mess, especially linking it back to previous attempts was quite informative, because as a non US citizen I wasn't aware how long this has been going on.