Stand Together: The Gaming Community VS SOPA & PIPA

[Deku]

Video

Does anyone NOT know what SOPA and PIPA are? I'm wondering how his whole mess will turn out...

[Mysterious F.]

I am at least 60% sure that neither bill will pass, considering the massive unpopularity they have with the public.

[MagmarFire]

I'm not really worried about it, either; rather, I'm quite excited to see so many people on the Internet coming together for a common purpose. Besides, if they do pass, we all know there's going to be hell to pay and the legislators who allow it to pass will be out of a job faster than you can say, "lolwut."

Of course, the ESA, who, in a sense, represents the gaming community, is supporting SOPA. Revered gaming sites all over the Web are suggesting we boycott E3 to protest. As much as it pains me to sacrifice the time of year that's perhaps the most-looked-forward-to for me...I think I agree.

[Deku]

I'm not really worried about it, either; rather, I'm quite excited to see so many people on the Internet coming together for a common purpose.

It excites me too :)
I always figured my generation to be too lazy or high to actually be a part of a revolution. But take something like the internet, and plunge all we know of it into uncertainty, and you can be darn well sure these kids will say something about it. I feel like our freedom of speech is being impeded upon here, and I have to say that out of all my rights as a US citizen, that's one of the biggies.

[MagmarFire]

Darn straight! And it looks like they're listening. It's not over yet, but the bills are currently shelved for "study" time.

Quick, everyone! We need to elect representatives that actually know about the Internet. Jon, if you could explain for me, please.

[Hi no Seijin]

Quick, everyone! We need to elect representatives that actually know about the Internet.

Or representatives that don't want to step all over free speech.

Apparently, the Obama Adminstration opposes SOPA, so even if Congress is stupid and passes the act, Obama can still veto it.  And really, how often does Congress override the President's veto?  If I remember correctly, it's a rare occurence.

[Mysterious F.]

Quick, everyone! We need to elect representatives that actually know about the Internet.

Or representatives that don't want to step all over free speech.

Apparently, the Obama Adminstration opposes SOPA, so even if Congress is stupid and passes the act, Obama can still veto it.  And really, how often does Congress override the President's veto?  If I remember correctly, it's a rare occurence.

Very rare, actually. Only 110 presidential vetoes have been overriden by Congress in our nation's history.

[Darth Wyndisis]

Apparently, the Obama Adminstration opposes SOPA, so even if Congress is stupid and passes the act, Obama can still veto it.  And really, how often does Congress override the President's veto?  If I remember correctly, it's a rare occurence.

Makes sense.  Supporting SOPA could severely impede his chances of being reelected.

[Keaton]

I don't believe SOPA will pass.  90% of everything nowadays is all about the internet.  And this bill will affect people on a global scale, so it would probably start an international incident.  There are seven billion people out there, and a few harmless flakes working together can unleash an avalanche of destruction.

[MagmarFire]

But a lot of our representatives are clearly too shortsighted to realize that. I think I have an idea of what's partially at work here, aside from ignorance...

[Mysterious F.]

But a lot of our representatives are clearly too shortsighted to realize that. I think I have an idea of what's partially at work here, aside from ignorance...

How sad is it that this actually seems to be true?

[Deku]

The scariest part is that they don't need ANY kind of permittance or clearance to be able to take down a website. There are no checks and balances here- if they want a site taken down, they don't need to consult anyone, they can just do it. This means that if someone has one crazy bone in their body, they can take down the entire internet. THAT kind of freaks me out a little bit. I mean I'm sure nobody would do that, but should the bill pass, the possibility is there.

[MagmarFire]

No, I doubt anyone would take down the entire Internet (partially due to the fact that there are simply way too many sites for that; you'd be bound to miss at least a few), but I can tell you with almost 100% confidence that it would take down the parts of the Internet that we care about the most, which might as well be the same thing.

TDC wouldn't be immune, either.

[Keaton]

Indeed, fansites would be the first sites to die.

[MagmarFire]

But fortunately, the bill was pulled today (I think). We may rest easy for a while.