The internet is boring without reddit and wikipedia.

[Alaris]

Is congress really so easily swayed by candies and fear? I'd think that if anything, these old men know exactly what they are doing and are simply not always working in the best interest of the population they represent.

[Jono Mozza]

Can't help but feel the Illuminati are behind this mess. I fully expect them to cause a war between US and Iran/or force Israel to attack Iran. That'll distract most people enough so that they can slip a new version in, get it passed and control the last free source of information in the world. We need to keep fighting this to stop the NWO coming into fruition.

Also, people can't read: https://twitter.com/#!/herpderpedia

[Soulstorm]

Is congress really so easily swayed by candies and fear? I'd think that if anything, these old men know exactly what they are doing and are simply not always working in the best interest of the population they represent.

I don't think it would magically make US lawgivers see past what corporate lobbyists feed them and discover reason and proper statesmanship, either.

But it's a part of the issue. Calling copyright infringement/copying without consent/download without permission/whatever "Piracy" is just wildly out of proportions to me.
Calling it "theft" is more arguable -as in, I'll listen to anyone's arguments on that-, but presented without argument (like that terrible PIRACY IS THEFT thing they did with the DVDs...) it's just as dishonest, really.

[RD]

Is congress really so easily swayed by candies and fear?

Just money.

I'd think that if anything, these old men know exactly what they are doing and are simply not always working in the best interest of the population they represent.

Some do, I'm sure, and some are just completely clueless.

Also, people can't read: https://twitter.com/#!/herpderpedia

I want to strongly caution everyone to avoid clicking that link on account of the overwhelming retardation. I think my brain is bleeding.

Soul makes a good point: The bill is allegedly trying to stop piracy, but it's very clearly aimed at copyright infringement, which is its own offense. Hosting and streaming TV shows isn't piracy.

[Alaris]

lol @ bunch of tweens upset at wiki being down because they can't do their homework now hahah #firstworldproblems

There's a really cool interview about using colorful words in the media at the Daily Show, for the 16th I think. It's someone working for reducing exaggeration in the news media, but who also used the word "economic terrorism" to describe what happened with Wall Street. Irony. But those are just words, and I hope people know what's what despite the bad use of words.

[The Praetorian]

lol @ bunch of tweens upset at wiki being down because they can't do their homework now hahah #firstworldproblems

Maybe their Esc-button is not working.

[Alaris]

Now that I think about it, my very own game idea would be under real threat from stuff like SOPA. Dammit.

I don't get the esc-button joke.

[Giggles]

Also, people can't read: https://twitter.com/#!/herpderpedia

that. is. amazing.

[RD]

Couple of entertaining trends on twitter: #thingsbetterthansopa ("Anal bleeding," "a magikarp," "Chris Brown's relationship skills," "Will Smith's rapping career") #FactsWithoutWikipedia ("Pizza is a vegetable," "The WNBA is a sport," "Kittens are poisonous if you lick them").

[Kael Valeran]

What is going to stop people from abandoning the old internet and creating a new version of internet with free open source tools? You practically need to handcuff every human being for the SOPA to actually work, its silly. I do not agree with piracy, and a lot of software will not work without propriety investment of huge sums of money, look at guild wars for example.

However, SOPA will only be justified if 1) patents stop trolling, 2) there are 0 accessibility issues that will make one look at illegal means (eg. coordinating release dates), 3) media must be available in all languages, subs being minumum requirement in all nations in a sales server that does not shut down, 4) free trials must be made available for all programs(you cannot sell a peach and claim its an apple), 5) companies must look at other business models that worked such as humble indie, which essentially removes the need for piracy.