SOPA, Censorship and Why Aren't We Rioting Yet?

[thessalian]

I've been thinking on and off about SOPA lately. I think most of you are aware of the "Stop Online Piracy Act" by this point, though why I'm assuming that I'm not entirely sure. I still haven't seen a single f'ing mention of it in any major news outlet - not the BBC, not the Guardian, certainly not the Metro, and I don't think it's that different

Comments

[phoenixblaze]

Admittedly I haven't been following this as much as I should be, but you're absolutely right. Youtube will be gone immediately and there goes our harmless fanfiction addictions.

[thessalian]

*chuckle* Well, that too, though I think our harmless fanfiction addictions (which will be the first to go, given people like George RR Martin and other authors who get so unilaterally pissed off about people writing fanfic of their work - I imagine that LJ will be the first site to get shut down because someone like Martin screamed about copyright infringement on valyrian_forged) are probably the least of our worries. While that's bad, the idea that someplace like Daily Kos or even just LJ, where a lot of people get the news that Fox or CNN won't release, could get shut down at politically convenient times to keep the populace ignorant is even scarier to me.

[phoenixblaze]

I can understand the concern, but historically speaking, there are always people willing to risk their lives even to get facts out. In the free speaking countries we have had this right for so long, I think even if a law like this is passed, the passing of information will still exist. People find ways. They always have.

[phoenixblaze]

I absolutely loved that quote. I consider myself to be somewhat of a revolutionist. I believe in the power people have over their government, that was the whole fucking point of our founding in the United States, but people are so fucking lazy they don't pay attention and let the government do whatever it wants. They shrug and say we can't fix it. OF COURSE WE CAN FIX IT! We elect every single person aside from the Supreme Court and Cabinet members. If the common person got together and said we won't stand for being trampled on, it wouldn't matter how much money a Republican or Democrat threw around. We would be saying we can't be bought.

I'm uh, I've always been just a little passionate about this. When I was younger I wanted to get into politics. Now I'd rather be someone behind the scenes who actually does things, I just don't know how.

[thessalian]

*nod* Probably. I hope so. I guess I just don't want to be complacent about it. I'd rather be concerned and voice that concern even if it does prove unfounded than shrug it off with a "people find ways", if only because I get the impression that it's the only way to make the people who are backing this law without thinking what it could mean (and aren't in the pocket of the Big Six media conglomerates) actually listen when we say, "No, we are not just a bunch of good-for-nothing thieves who want to keep stealing copyrighted content or fanfic authors having a whinge; this law has the potential to violate a constitutional amendment, so pay attention".

I know I'm preaching to the choir, but I guess I'd rather do that than not preach at all. *g*

[phoenixblaze]

So many of my RL friends don't care about things like this and I get so upset because I don't undestand how they can't. So it makes me feel better when I connect with people around the world who feel just as outraged.

I actually have an idea for a novel I've been kicking around for years where isolated people who before might have been complacent meet other people like them online and build an intellectual revolution. Word spreads and across the world where people vote their leaders in, new blood makes it's way in that refuses to be swayed by lobbyists. We decide we're finally fed up with quick jumps to military action, and that corporate greed is unacceptable. The free market operated for years without it, it could again and run better if people knew they weren't at risk for losing their jobs just because they worked to the top and were making "too much money."

Uh oh, now I'M preaching to the choir. *g*