Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA • Hacker News Board

Re: Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA

#71

Post by tonio09 » Mon, Jan 16, 2012, 8:03 PM UTC

16s wrote: post #35

lpolovets wrote: post #3

I know there's a lot of cynicism about whether SOPA law is really being abandoned, or whether it's just being temporarily shelved, but I'm really excited about how opponents have banded together, and how organizations like Reddit and Wikipedia have been willing to sacrifice page views and revenue to show their support and to increase public awareness. In the future, when someone advocates opposing an unjust law and s…

The politicians will claim it is dead, then name it something else or not name it anything at all and just tack it onto the end of some other legislation and pass it when no one is watching. In the USA, they're bought and paid for.

This is how the Lisbon treaty was ratified in the EU after the Constitution was shot down by voters. The two documents overlap 99%.

Question: Do people oppose the bill so fiercely because they are worried about censorship, or because they don't want to pay for stuff?

Re: Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA

#72

Post by waldr » Mon, Jan 16, 2012, 8:12 PM UTC

I wonder if SOPA will help unite some of the web big guns, obviously they are teaming up to call out SOPA but maybe this will help develop further relationships and we'll see some partnership projects grow. SOPA could end up doing more good than it does harm, assuming this backlash see's it off.

Re: Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA

#73

Post by tonio09 » Mon, Jan 16, 2012, 8:12 PM UTC

bad_user wrote: post #62

16s wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't care. They honor those who buy the lobster dinners and give them 30 dollar cigars. When you vote them out, they'll have several six or seven figure cushy job offers to pick from. --- From wikipedia: In February 2011, despite "repeatedly and categorically insisting that he would not work as a lobbyist,"[22][23] [senator Chris] Dodd was identified by The New York Times as the likely replacement for Dan Glick…

The individuals may end up with six/seven figure cushy jobs, but the party may still suffer long-term consequences. When you're in politics, money is only good for one thing: buying votes. However, if a force stronger than free t-shirts and pens makes itself noticed, like mass-media reminding people how they got screwed, then interesting things can happen. I think the main issue here with these people is that the Int…

The internet might not be as tightly controlled but think of the Great Firewall of China. In addition, it's an excellent tool for surveillance.

People periodically realize that they are being screwed over, yet most of the time after the initial outrage nothing happens. There may be some scandals but wait 6 months and it's all forgotten.

Re: Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA

#74

Post by CraigRood » Mon, Jan 16, 2012, 8:13 PM UTC

leeoniya wrote: post #9

well, it appears that i'm out a $1.00 :D EDIT: downvoted for pledging $1 to wiki for blackout? interesting.

You have probably been downvoted for not adding anything to the conversation, this is not Reddit.

Re: Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA

#75

Post by joejohnson » Mon, Jan 16, 2012, 8:16 PM UTC

Does this apply to all wikipedias, or just the english-language wikipedia?

Re: Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA

#76

Post by outworlder » Mon, Jan 16, 2012, 8:18 PM UTC

pjama wrote: post #43

Couldn't they just redirect traffic coming from the US? Leave it accessible to the rest of the world!

No, because even if the law is something US-specific, its effects (should it pass) are not.

Re: Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA

#77

Post by stonemetal » Mon, Jan 16, 2012, 8:19 PM UTC

bad_user wrote: post #62

16s wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't care. They honor those who buy the lobster dinners and give them 30 dollar cigars. When you vote them out, they'll have several six or seven figure cushy job offers to pick from. --- From wikipedia: In February 2011, despite "repeatedly and categorically insisting that he would not work as a lobbyist,"[22][23] [senator Chris] Dodd was identified by The New York Times as the likely replacement for Dan Glick…

The individuals may end up with six/seven figure cushy jobs, but the party may still suffer long-term consequences. When you're in politics, money is only good for one thing: buying votes. However, if a force stronger than free t-shirts and pens makes itself noticed, like mass-media reminding people how they got screwed, then interesting things can happen. I think the main issue here with these people is that the Int…

the party may still suffer long-term consequences

Two party system, long term is only long enough for the other side to screw up, so 4 or 8 years tops.

Re: Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA

#78

Post by plainOldText » Mon, Jan 16, 2012, 8:34 PM UTC

I've pledged I'll donate if they protest SOPA and I'll keep my promise. I hope everyone else who has pledged will do the same.

Re: Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA

#79

Post by notatoad » Mon, Jan 16, 2012, 8:38 PM UTC

badclient wrote: post #30

So, what happens when I call my Congressman after learning about this on wikipedia and his office says "oh SOPA, that bill has been put on hold already since last week"? Won't many people get pissed at wikipedia? Edit: I actually think they should call it off at the last moment . Save the nuclear option for another time.

"[congressperson], i'm relieved that you and your colleagues agree with me that SOPA is not in americans best interests. I'd like to thank your for listening to the opinions of your constituents instead of bowing to pressure from lobbyists. I know that hollywood will continue to push for more legislation like this in the future, and i'm grateful to have a representative in congress that will continue to fight for my rights." blah blah blah...

call your congressperson, let them know that you we've won (even if we really haven't) and that we're still watching, we aren't going to forget, and that they can't pass this when we're not looking. This is a big win for us, because everybody likes friendly phone calls more than they do angry yelling. SOPA being shelved allows us to continue to push our message, but from a friendlier perspective that makes us easier to listen to.

the shutdowns still need to happen. people need to be know what kind of legislation the entertainment industry is trying to pass and we need to be ready to fight against it next time it comes up. if wikipedia shuts down tomorrow, it sets a precedent so that next time this issue comes up people already know the consequences.

Re: Wikipedia to Shut Down on Wednesday to Protest SOPA

#80

Post by jarek » Mon, Jan 16, 2012, 8:39 PM UTC

joell wrote: post #37

lambada wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks, so en.wiki will be gone for the whole world. Not sure how I feel about that as there is nothing non-US citizens can do.

They can complain on Twitter and Facebook which will raise awareness to their American friends who can do something about it.

If all non-US citizens that use the English Wikipedia had US citizen friends they could engage politically, US politics would look vastly different already.