tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139769202527811820.post4283522850582383330..comments2024-01-01T23:38:43.414-08:00Comments on The Oncoming Hope: Website Blackouts As Social Protest Toolstheoncominghopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03471519506797609837noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139769202527811820.post-26348209635116516092012-01-25T02:33:20.675-08:002012-01-25T02:33:20.675-08:00Hello .. I have never seen a smart articles that y...Hello .. I have never seen a smart articles that you<br />created. It really helped me to get back my ideas for writing. I will save this<br />post, for I learn more <br /> Instant Insurancenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139769202527811820.post-10873191834753908472012-01-24T02:12:54.138-08:002012-01-24T02:12:54.138-08:00Well it's not really "evil Americans,&quo...Well it's not really "evil Americans," is it. I'd go so far as to say that the actions and tactics of the MPAA and RIAA are directly anti-American, as they are anti-capitalist, anti-free market and ask for special considerations from the government that no other business (apart from agriculture) would dare ask for.<br /><br />As Peter said, the point is that the laws on the books are very similar to laws already in place in Europe and Asia. So it's about awareness of your own local laws as much as anything else. Make no mistake. The UK and EU already have a version of these vile laws.theoncominghopenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139769202527811820.post-86217868713346046342012-01-24T02:10:49.588-08:002012-01-24T02:10:49.588-08:00I see your point about issues unrelated to the web...I see your point about issues unrelated to the web, but the whole point of protest is to frustrate users and to compel them to put pressure on lawmakers/businesses. Certainly, wikipedia led to the absolute flooding of congressional offices with phone calls.<br /><br />One can no longer deny that businesses are political actors, I'm just surprised to see them engaging with tools traditionally associated with the political left.theoncominghopenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139769202527811820.post-21363612032454797232012-01-22T08:19:15.320-08:002012-01-22T08:19:15.320-08:00Tom G, as I understand it, other countries worldwi...Tom G, as I understand it, other countries worldwide have considered (and if not will at some point) similar laws on their books. If only to show them that the people who live in the world, the same ones who use this global internet, are not ready to take such laws lying down it is good that they spread these protests further. You may not be able to directly call a congressman in the US with your complaints, but you have your own leadership to talk to, to make sure the same idea isn't propagated there, as well.<br /><br />That's the reason the English Language Wikipedia community voted to shut down that section of the site, to make a statement to American lawmakers and ones in other English speaking countries.Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139769202527811820.post-63039204609219812202012-01-19T14:32:46.997-08:002012-01-19T14:32:46.997-08:00As a non-US citizen, I have a 'Stop SOPA' ...As a non-US citizen, I have a 'Stop SOPA' badge on my blog. I can't call a congressman, but can raise awareness for anyone visiting my blog who has that capability.<br /><br />As for websites going dark, the feeling seems to be that this action is being taken because these bills could fundamentally change the way the internet operates, effectively outlawing linking: by going dark, the sites in question are raising awareness by showing visitors what could happen if SOPA/PIPA succeed. Certainly that was why Flixist - and every site on the Modern Method network - chose to go dark yesterday, anyway. I think sites blacking out for issues unrelated to the web would be seen as needlessly frustrating users for the sake of the site's politics and rapidly compromise any credibility their cause might have.<br /><br />http://xandermarkham.blogspot.com/Xander Markhamhttp://xandermarkham.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139769202527811820.post-21555285183590451982012-01-18T03:26:40.097-08:002012-01-18T03:26:40.097-08:00Question: what are all of us without US citizenshi...Question: what are all of us without US citizenship supposed to do about this? Write a strongly worded letter to the president? I guess maybe it's technically impossible to block only US people and politically probably a good idea to remind people in all countries of the problems of internet censorship, but does it just stir up anti-american sentiment (e.g. 'oh look, wikipedia just told me that the evil americans are once again ruining everything and we are powerless to stop them') without actually gaining anything useful?<br /><br />Possibly actually international embarrassment is a more powerful tool to persuade a government than strongly worded letters, no matter their number, so probably on balance it IS a good idea to block it for everyone after all. Hmm.Tom Gnoreply@blogger.com