4 ms·

So protests and black outs in protest of a bad bill are an abuse of power but funneling millions of dollars to create a bill that censors the Internet isn't? I

So protests and black outs in protest of a bad bill are an abuse of power but funneling millions of dollars to create a bill that censors the Internet isn't? I don't think I could detest the MPAA more than I do at this very moment.

electromagnetic 15y ago
There's an easy way to protest the MPAA. Tell your friends and neighbours; they're called Torrents.
- jmduke 15y ago
  If you want to rationalize your piracy, awesome, but torrenting isn't going to compare to actual protest of an issue. If you're passionate about SOPA, tell people; write a blog post; write to a congressman. Slacktivism needs to go away.
  - ColdAsIce 15y ago
    If you really hate MPAA, do not do any business with them. No more "going to watch the movies". But thats more further most people can go.
    - jmduke 15y ago
      I completely agree -- I'm just saying civic engagement is always possible, if not easy.
notJim 15y ago
No, they actually both are. Just because one of the abuses of power is in our favor in this instance doesn't mean it isn't an abuse of power.
- wwweston 15y ago
  What exactly makes it an abuse for Google, Wikipedia, and Reddit to tell the people who use their site the likely consequences of a given piece of legislation and to ask them to engage their legislators on the issue? As far as I can tell, these sites are distributing correct information, they're not asking for any special status under the law, and they're not asking people to do anything illegal.
- pyre 15y ago
  In a world where corporations are people and 'donating' to politicians is part of their free speech rights, why would be an 'abuse of power' to a corporation to protest a law that threatens it?
- fourspace 15y ago
  How is a company exercising its freedom to deliver whatever product it wants to deliver an abuse of power? Any power that Google or Reddit has is the outcome of providing value to their customers, and in return their customers providing dollars or time. Any such "power" is not the result of legislation and enforcement at the point of a gun. No legislation forces you to use Google. On the other hand, the MPAA/RIAA paying millions of dollars to buy off politicians and write legislation is very obviously an abuse of power, power that was never voluntarily granted to them in the first place. If this law passes, you will absolutely be forced at gunpoint to conform to the will of the MPAA.

electromagnetic 15y ago

There's an easy way to protest the MPAA. Tell your friends and neighbours; they're called Torrents.

jmduke 15y ago
If you want to rationalize your piracy, awesome, but torrenting isn't going to compare to actual protest of an issue. If you're passionate about SOPA, tell people; write a blog post; write to a congressman. Slacktivism needs to go away.
- ColdAsIce 15y ago
  If you really hate MPAA, do not do any business with them. No more "going to watch the movies". But thats more further most people can go.
  - jmduke 15y ago
    I completely agree -- I'm just saying civic engagement is always possible, if not easy.

notJim 15y ago

No, they actually both are. Just because one of the abuses of power is in our favor in this instance doesn't mean it isn't an abuse of power.

wwweston 15y ago
What exactly makes it an abuse for Google, Wikipedia, and Reddit to tell the people who use their site the likely consequences of a given piece of legislation and to ask them to engage their legislators on the issue? As far as I can tell, these sites are distributing correct information, they're not asking for any special status under the law, and they're not asking people to do anything illegal.
pyre 15y ago
In a world where corporations are people and 'donating' to politicians is part of their free speech rights, why would be an 'abuse of power' to a corporation to protest a law that threatens it?
fourspace 15y ago
How is a company exercising its freedom to deliver whatever product it wants to deliver an abuse of power? Any power that Google or Reddit has is the outcome of providing value to their customers, and in return their customers providing dollars or time. Any such "power" is not the result of legislation and enforcement at the point of a gun. No legislation forces you to use Google. On the other hand, the MPAA/RIAA paying millions of dollars to buy off politicians and write legislation is very obviously an abuse of power, power that was never voluntarily granted to them in the first place. If this law passes, you will absolutely be forced at gunpoint to conform to the will of the MPAA.