Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

internetdefenseleague.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 146 posts

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

#71

Post by chez17 »

victork2 wrote: 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's important is that you've found a way to feel morally superior and do nothing about the problems we face today. A true internet warrior.

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

#73

Post by sukuriant »

crazygringo wrote: post #24
victork2 wrote: 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.

Honestly, the 95% of the general population is the percent that still throws around cat pictures as though they're the newest and greatest things. My mother is often sending me cute animal pictures that were popular in the 90's and early 2000's.

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

#74

Post by jff »

chez17 wrote: post #71
victork2 wrote: 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's important is that you've found a way to feel morally superior and do nothing about the problems we face today. A true internet warrior.

Wait, are you talking about the GP, or the "Internet Defense League"?

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

#75

Post by fleitz »

victork2 wrote: 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…

No but old style senators still like good old fashioned vote buying, vote early, vote often my friends.

If shitty internet legislation costs them popularity or makes them look out of touch then they'll stop doing it.

The key is that this is going to be put in place on many sites so that the power can be readily abused to bring the kinds of legislative changes we want to see.

If it works within a few years you should start seeing earmarks for whoever controls the switch.

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

#76

Post by humblepie »

victork2 wrote: 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 agree with your premise. But I think when it gets momentum and gets picked up by the news media, there will be lots of 'explainers' on TV and the web.

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

#77

Post by dredmorbius »

WiseWeasel wrote: post #12
whichdan wrote: post #2

Really? A giant cat?

Yeah, I can't take them seriously unless they embed a video; maybe Piano Cat playing a slow, ominous melody, or a call-to-arms. Piano cat plays Prepare for battle soldier Evil is afoot

s/call-to-arms/call-to-paws/

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

#78

Post by Produce »

doc4t wrote: post #35
Produce wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

The easiest position to take when disagreeing with someone is to stick a label on the opposition as if this justifies that you should not take their argument seriously. I for one think he has a point and if you don't please come up with something better than name calling.

That last sentence was meant as a joke. I sincerely hope that HTML6 gets those tags.

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

#79

Post by MSM »

chez17 wrote: post #71
victork2 wrote: 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's important is that you've found a way to feel morally superior and do nothing about the problems we face today. A true internet warrior.

Whoa whoa whoa... Don't act like signing up on a website is equivalent to doing something.

It's literally the absolute least you could do.

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

#80

Post by chez17 »

MSM wrote: post #79
chez17 wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's important is that you've found a way to feel morally superior and do nothing about the problems we face today. A true internet warrior.

Whoa whoa whoa... Don't act like signing up on a website is equivalent to doing something. It's literally the absolute least you could do.

No, the least you could do is make snarky comments about the people who are actually trying to do something. This isn't about 'signing up' for a website. This is about trying to mobilize a group of people that often times is not that involved with politics. The idea is that when you sign up, you'll take action on the items that the site informs you about. There is literally nothing like this on the internet for this demographic and the OP gets the most upvoted comment complaining that they used the term 'cat signal'? Politics and protesting can be fun and inviting. This has zero effect on anything except for grump old people who think that they know better. We stopped SOPA with a few days of action and a few big names stepping up. This is simply an attempt to harness that power and dedication. People who are already shitting on this, on day one, while typical is still extremely sad.
Post reply on HN