SOPA Pro-IP and related issues

[Ravin' Ray]

I attempted to read a Wikipedia article, and was diverted to this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Right now, 9:58 PM Manila time, +8 GMT or 8:58 AM EDT, it's blacked out. The logos for Facebook, Google+ and Twitter are depicted, apparently encouraging visitors to discuss SOPA there as well.

Edit: Here's Wikipedia's SOPA and PIPA awareness page.

[Jim Thompson]

Here's the actual pending legislation: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3261:

[RolandJP]

I personally would like to thank all the people that voted for the GOP in the last Congressional and House elections.

You voted your conscience now deal with the repercussions.

[Jim Thompson]

I personally would like to thank all the people that voted for the GOP in the last Congressional and House elections.

You voted your conscience now deal with the repercussions.

Lot o' dems are supporting this as well...and control of the internet is something routinely sought by the government. President Obama has makes regular attempts to get it.

This is more about the oligarchy trying to get more control, I think, than it is about one party or the other.

[Tommy]

This is more about the oligarchy trying to get more control, I think, than it is about one party or the other.

Yes. This. The "OMG! PIRACY! WE HAVE TO STOP THE PIRACY!" hysterics are pretty much just a faint for the real purposes of these bills which is to seize control over the internet.

[Jim Thompson]

Yes. This. The "OMG! PIRACY! WE HAVE TO STOP THE PIRACY!" hysterics are pretty much just a faint for the real purposes of these bills which is to seize control over the internet.

Yeah, but it's effective. People against this bill are easily painted as supporting thievery, which they often do little to nothing to counter.

[Arizona]

Here is a list of all the politicians you can call and protest this foolishness.
http://lifeaftersopa.cheezburger.com/

Honestly they may as well be trying to herd cats, trying to censor the internet and herding cats are two things you can truly never do.

[Tommy]

Yeah, but it's effective. People against this bill are easily painted as supporting thievery, which they often do little to nothing to counter.

That's because the MPAA, which is little more than an insidious cancer, and the RIAA, a monopoly hell bent on protecting itself, have a lot of money to throw around. Between the two of them they have decades of lobbying experience and contacts, and have spent millions on anti-piracy PR campaigns in order to control the debate. When the media companies themselves are creating propaganda for you, taking authoritarian control is remarkably easy.

The only one with any money on the other side is Google, which is not inconsiderable but still not enough.

[Jim Thompson]

That's because the MPAA, which is little more than an insidious cancer, and the RIAA, a monopoly hell bent on protecting itself, have a lot of money to throw around. Between the two of them they have decades of lobbying experience and contacts, and have spent millions on anti-piracy PR campaigns in order to control the debate. When the media companies themselves are creating propaganda for you, taking authoritarian control is remarkably easy.

That certainly comes into play, but people themselves also often make it very easy to be characterized in a particular way, in this case those folks being people who want access to the fruits of someone else's labor on the net without having to compensate them for their work/idea. And there is more than enough of that going on to give some weight to the idea they are forwarding.

The only one with any money on the other side is Google, which is not inconsiderable but still not enough.

Aren't the Facebook people also opposed to this?

[Ramage]

Here is a list of all the politicians you can call and protest this foolishness.
http://lifeaftersopa.cheezburger.com/

Honestly they may as well be trying to herd cats, trying to censor the internet and herding cats are two things you can truly never do.

China does it somehow.

[Archamedes]

Welcome to the World Wide Web of America... Where we control what you say, what you post, what you think, what you can download, what you are allowed to see online & what we think you can write on facebook.

Not an american Citizen you say? Don't worry, we have control of your rights too, even if your countries rights are controlled differently to ours. If you are online you ARE on American soil.

To Hans in Germany we had to delete your facebook post about calling your mother a ****** **** of ***** suck ***** because it is hurtful to other peoples feelings.

To mr Chan In Burhma we could not allow your email to arrive to your intended sender as you claimed you are living in a poor state of affairs with war happening in your country and saying America should come and liberate you is not your right to say online. America decides who it goes to war with and your comments breach the World Wide Web of Americas policy of censorship.

[KurtW95]

Congress is turning America into China.

[Jim Thompson]

Congress is turning America into China.

You get the government you deserve, I've heard.

[Werehunter]

Yeah, but it's effective. People against this bill are easily painted as supporting thievery, which they often do little to nothing to counter.

To be fair, there are sites out there that make money from letting other people upload and view copyrighted materials and then wash their hands of it by saying it's up to the other companies to police the website for stolen material.

These bills are extremely bad and hurtful bills. But there is an underlying problem that needs to be addressed in some way. If you tube and other sites did a better job of policing themselves, then bills like this would never see the light of day.

[Archamedes]

but its not about the piracy or the copyrighted material. They are just using that as a front to win their arguement. Then if someone comes back with a good answer about dealing with piracy, they will then use the old "oh well then, its about national security as well then."