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EFF, Reddit, Mozilla, others launch Internet Defense League and Cat Signal

internetdefenseleague.org

21–30 of 146 posts

Re: EFF, Reddit, Mozilla, others launch Internet Defense League and Cat Signal

#21
post #4

Well it embodies the best and the worst of internet movements. While the foundations are good: protecting the web from bad laws, restrictions etc... the execution is really ridiculous. Imagine you're an old style Senator or representative and you see that website with a weird ass looking cat... Do you really think it's going to make them think you're anything but a joke? I find that the words used are equally ridicul…

I'll second this. That stupid-looking cat tells me nothing about the goal of the movement, what it's fighting against, or the character of its supporters, other than they probably also like nyancat or hello kitty. If you want a serious symbol, use the liberty cap that Congress couldn't bring themselves to use on their statue of Columbia.

Re: EFF, Reddit, Mozilla, others launch Internet Defense League and Cat Signal

#23
post #19
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How else do you propose they get the word out without Facebook/Twitter etc. buttons?

I'm not against using these buttons, the harmful/annoying thing is that they're used to set tracking cookies. The most simple solution would be to put them on an extra page or only enable them when the user clicks some button. But I'm sure if smart people think about it they find much more solutions. Obviously the designers of this site didnt, and thats what I dont like- being against "bad monopolies" and giving FB m…

use a browser that blocks third party cookies by default. safari does, opera does and google has an option buried somewhere 9 clicks away in the settings.

Re: EFF, Reddit, Mozilla, others launch Internet Defense League and Cat Signal

#24
post #4

Well it embodies the best and the worst of internet movements. While the foundations are good: protecting the web from bad laws, restrictions etc... the execution is really ridiculous. Imagine you're an old style Senator or representative and you see that website with a weird ass looking cat... Do you really think it's going to make them think you're anything but a joke? I find that the words used are equally ridicul…

I totally agree that the cat/league/etc. is ridiculous.

The problem is not with old style senators. The problem is with the 95% of the general population that is confused or turned off by it. You're trying to convince the general electorate, which then determines who gets elected.

It does feel like a little club of geeks, which is not effective as a movement that aims to convince/beyond that circle.

Re: EFF, Reddit, Mozilla, others launch Internet Defense League and Cat Signal

#25
post #19
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How else do you propose they get the word out without Facebook/Twitter etc. buttons?

I'm not against using these buttons, the harmful/annoying thing is that they're used to set tracking cookies. The most simple solution would be to put them on an extra page or only enable them when the user clicks some button. But I'm sure if smart people think about it they find much more solutions. Obviously the designers of this site didnt, and thats what I dont like- being against "bad monopolies" and giving FB m…

You could just, you know, choose not be logged in with facebook. Im not.

And as for tracking cookies: every website has them to some extend. And every browser lets you pick the policy you prefer.

But if you care some much.. Go help them out!

Re: EFF, Reddit, Mozilla, others launch Internet Defense League and Cat Signal

#26

It seems a little strange that they want their users to put hosted JavaScript on their sites. Just doesn't feel like "freedom" to me. Couldn't they control a lot of sites or steal information by changing that script to something malicious?

Do you have g+ / tweet / like buttons on your site? Google Analytics? Disqus? jQuery CDN?

Re: EFF, Reddit, Mozilla, others launch Internet Defense League and Cat Signal

#28
post #23
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not against using these buttons, the harmful/annoying thing is that they're used to set tracking cookies. The most simple solution would be to put them on an extra page or only enable them when the user clicks some button. But I'm sure if smart people think about it they find much more solutions. Obviously the designers of this site didnt, and thats what I dont like- being against "bad monopolies" and giving FB m…

use a browser that blocks third party cookies by default. safari does, opera does and google has an option buried somewhere 9 clicks away in the settings.

I think the poster has a legitimate point. As an end user you can protect yourself, but as an organization that cares about Internet freedom it's a legitimate concern to consider: "Are we enabling tracking through the use of our advocacy, and if so can we avoid that."

Although, I wouldn't go so far as to say that I can't take them seriously because they decided to use the buttons.

Re: EFF, Reddit, Mozilla, others launch Internet Defense League and Cat Signal

#29
This part makes me uncomfortable:

> Our organization and network helped to defeat SOPA/PIPA [..] The Internet Defense League continues this work. But it depends on its members' donations

It then goes on to ask for a donation to support staff who 'work behind the scenes'.

I think to people who are unfamiliar with what happen around the community action with SOPA and PIPA this section can be interpreted as the Internet Defense League taking credit for the defeat of the bills.

It also suggests that without financial contributions from members that this work wouldn't happen and SOPA/PIPA/what-comes-next may just succeed next time, even though this organization wasn't even around during the SOPA debate.

There is also no transparency around how this money that is raised will be spent. Who will be hired? What will they do? What will be volunteer roles and what will be hired roles? Weren't SOPA and PIPA defeated by volunteers in ad hoc communities and not paid salarymen working for a quasi online charity? Why is this not structured as a charitable organization? Why is my donation not tax deductible? Who are the people behind this? Where are they based? Why is this so United States centric? Who is backing this financially so far? Where is the about page? Is this a scam?

There should be a lot more details on that page before you ask people for money.

I would have preferred that donations were directed to the EFF, and that the online organization is done by volunteers - as, you know, it has worked just fine in the past.

Re: EFF, Reddit, Mozilla, others launch Internet Defense League and Cat Signal

#30
post #4

Well it embodies the best and the worst of internet movements. While the foundations are good: protecting the web from bad laws, restrictions etc... the execution is really ridiculous. Imagine you're an old style Senator or representative and you see that website with a weird ass looking cat... Do you really think it's going to make them think you're anything but a joke? I find that the words used are equally ridicul…

What? This is an awesome design and approach which will appeal to most people. Everyone's seen Batman, watched cartoons and comedies. This hooks into popular culture and uses it to deliver a message. I don't see references to memes here - can you point any out?

Besides, just what the hell is wrong with cats? Maybe you're a dog person but a lot of us are not. Elitist.

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