The Great and Powerful Trixie refuses to update the blog today until all anti internet bills are sent to the moon.
Seth is tied up.
Click here for why.
More Links from Xyro:
SOPA Bill Text
PROTECT-IP Bill Text
Contact your representative or senator
Black out your website!
Change your Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ icons to black out SOPA
Read up on these bills and how it impacts everyone - Techdirt
A short video I put up about the direct impact on this fandom.
Ghost being awesome
Sopa Pony Game
~The Great and Powerful Trixie
459 comments:
@Rekiara
ReplyDeleteOh the humanity! I have to disable java to look at Wikipedia for one day! Oh the agony! I'll have to wait one more day for EQD to post part 72,974 of Upheaval! Oh the pain! Internet, why must you inconvenience me so?
@Dr_Vulpine
but.....I thought it "had no chance of passing" so we shouldn't worry about it? (because ignoring problems always makes them go away, amirite?)
How can the government have the nerve to tick off this many people?!
ReplyDelete@Octavia
ReplyDeleteOh there's been WORSE legislation proposed. Fritz Holling's insane idea to mandate hardware chips in every PC that would prevent you from running "unauthorized" programs, for example. (shudder, google "Fritz Chip")
But none of those other bills came as frighteningly close to passing as SOPA has. Different year, different Congress.
@Makkon
Word.
SOPA is one thing we cannot love or tolerate.
ReplyDeleteI just created a new email account for my letters to my congressman and senator. I also censored all my social network avatars. It's time to metaphorically role up a newspaper and smack Congress and Senate like a bad puppy.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're participating in the blackout, Seth. I came on here just to see if you were. Ever since I heard about this bill, I've been having a massive panic attack. Not that the internet is my bread and butter, but I do have some business dealings in the internet that, from my understanding, would be completely jeopardized by the SOPA and PIPA bill. We're in the age of the internet - people are now making their living online. Some people only have a business BECAUSE of the internet! And SOPA has a potential to take a sledgehammer to all the hard work people have worked towards.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I'm sure not posting must be hard for you, considering how you were posting even on CHRISTMAS, but it's all for the greater good.
Ah damn no EQD and other sites for the day, this gives me a chance to finish off the last chapters of FO:E though!
ReplyDeleteBut does this mean......Seth, you can actually sleep now!
@Ten
ReplyDeleteI wish! 70% of EQD is the email box though! that doesn't take a break.
@ZeroGI don't understand your post, because the problem with SOPA is that relatively few people who aren't internet savvy actually know about the bill. Keep them in the dark and this thing's gonna pass due to lack of public protest.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, one of the companies backing the bill happens to be News Corp, which is in charge of a large portion of our news stations. They are deliberately not reporting on SOPA because of the massive wave of protest it would receive.
And unfortunately, the guys debating this are too misinformed to actually know what this bill COULD do to the economy or their political future.
I dont know how many of you are gamers planing on attending E3 but I just want to spread the word.
ReplyDeleteE3 is hosted by ESA and they are curently suporting SOPA and by going to E3 you are finacialy suporting ESA and by extension SOPA.
If you want a little moar information on the matter: http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/stand-together-the-gaming-community-vs-sopa-and-pipa
I was wondering if EqD would do a blackout for SOPA. Thank you Seth !
ReplyDeleteThis action kinda reminds me of PonyArchive. I choose to believe that blowing them off was a lesson, which contributed to this action.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, aren't elections the best time to deal with such issues in general? I can't imagine a government in my country being able to survive for another term after something like this.
@Thar
ReplyDeleteThe DMCA passed, you know.
Thanks for posting my game link! (even though it was HaxMega that sent it to ya)
ReplyDeleteFor all Americans reading this, there really is no debate. You have a voice and you need to use it. We each are one person, but here's the thing--we are not in isolation. Each of us has our own social circle we can influence. Each person we can influence has their own circle, and so on. We each have the power to influence many, many people to take action.
ReplyDeleteIf you and all your friends spoke up, and all their friends, and all their friends, and all their friends spoke up, it's not hard to see how far-reaching this can be.
You honestly have no reason not to fight this. There are many websites set up that will contact your congressmen on your behalf if only you fill out a form.
I'd rather know a bill is 100% dead than simply hope it will die. Pay attention to your congressmen's actions. If they work with you, write them and thank them. If they do not listen to you, write them back and spank them. Let them know in no uncertain terms that you will not be voting for them, and you will do your hardest to convince all of your friends not to vote for them either when re-elections come up. It's amazing what that can help accomplish. :)
Get angry! Anything worth having is worth fighting for. I'm willing to fight against this. Are you?
http://blog.demandprogress.org/campaigns/
http://www.dontcensorthenet.com/
http://voteforthenet.com/
Does Hasbro realise that only the rich people in the UK that can afford Sky can actually see MLP FiM and that they are not likely to buy the toys as they are rich enough to have real ponies to play with. Even then the episodes are Series 1. If SOPA is passed and this fandom gets hit, then the bottom will fall out of the market for Hasbro MLP FiM in the UK and probably Europe, because if it wasn't for the fandom, the memes, the artwork and the you tube stuff we wouldn't have known MLP FiM existed over here and I am sure their sales have improved because of the adult fans on the internet in this case.
ReplyDeleteTrying to sum up my thoughts here...
ReplyDeleteSOPA and PIPA can not pass! That is very clear and certain. There is many reasons in my mind for this. The fandom will essentually die or just be fragmented around the internet. This in essence will make the internet a less kind place since there isn't episodes up on the net to spread around and make everypony happy.
I am a gamer and I first heard about the SOPA bill from Let's players on youtube and then I from this site here and nothing really else until some of the game companies pulled their support. It is being underreported. This Bill can affect a lot of things.
In closing I am going to do my part and inform everyone I know about this and not back down until SOPA and PIPA are stopped for good!
@Sethisto I'm sorry! I wish there were some way you could get some more sleep. If not, you could try the next best thing: http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/candy/
ReplyDeleteSome of our Representatives are getting a LOT of money from the MPAA and RIAA in regard to these two bills. They aren't going to let it go easily.
ReplyDeletePersonally I have started to boycott any RIAA or MPAA affiliated companies. The sooner they die off the better.
GAHHHHHH I NEED ROUNDUP. GOING MAD. GRAMMAR FAILING. PONI PONI ANYPONY PLEASE!
ReplyDeleteTo quote a certain space-faring pony: "Yes! I absolutely agree, whole heartedly!" Send those bills to the moon!
ReplyDeletePower to you EQD!
DEATH2SOPA
ReplyDeleteand PIPA too.
ReplyDeleteIf this passes and it's as bad as everyone says it is, I'm going to hate myself for valuing my education as more important than my freedom.
ReplyDelete@Mike
ReplyDelete...and yet... I return to my homework...
There was a neat link on the downed English wiki to what seems to be a very comprehensive article:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/01/how-pipa-and-sopa-violate-white-house-principles-supporting-free-speech
@Sethisto
ReplyDeleteI so wanted Trixie to be in season 2... But I fear for her survival at the hooves of the hoards of bronies in pony withdrawal.
Trixie... You might want to go into hiding till the end of the blackout... For your safety!
@richfiles
ReplyDelete*Woad warpaint, pitchfork and torches, kilt in the Wallace colours*
TRRRRRIIIIIXXXXIIIIEEEEEE!
*Charges*
I'm not getting enough pony!
ReplyDeleteNooo!!
Down with SOPA! Bronies unite!
ReplyDelete...Anyway, since this site won't be updating, maybe today I can actually get some schoolwork done. :p
Just another reason to hate Trixie.
ReplyDelete... But I guess it does drive a certain point home. Good thing I'm on mobile! Wikipedia can't stop me!
@Octavia
ReplyDeleteTypically I have agreed with most of what I've seen you say, but this is fairly short sighted. This isn't the first, it won't be the last. but each time we have come to the brink, it hasn't just gone away by itself. It has taken a fight, and that is what this is. McCarthyism did not just go away, it was defeated, and destroyed, just as this must be defeated, and destroyed. Bad bills have never just Gone Away. There has always been a fight, and there always will.
Con found PIPA/SOPA, they drive me to think December 21, 2012 could actually be the end of the world. (I've GOT to stop watching the history channel; it's not like it's supposed to be educational or anything)
ReplyDeleteSeth your getting a well deserved break (even if that break is spent tied up in Trixie's carriage.) and your doing it for a good cause, thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhelp, I know I"ll take to the streets if SOPA passes.
ReplyDeleteWithout the Internet, I may as well go on a rage-induced camping trip at my local metropolis to pass the time.
The internet is chaos, a very beautiful chaos filled with as much creation as there is destruction. The blackout is equally in protest as it is in raising awareness on these bills that were moving under the radar. No chance or not, it's an attack regardless.
ReplyDeleteI'm from Australia, and we've been fighting for our entertainment for years (R18 debate) against government folks not wanting to give a good look at what really makes things tick.
Fight on Trixie!
Never thought I would see a good Ghost Clip here. Are we working together now?
ReplyDeleteIn a completely unrelated note- All hail The Great and Powerful Trixie!
ReplyDeleteFor once, I completely agree with Ghost. Thanks for linking the video!
ReplyDeleteThis bill is old as hell as it is...so I don't see the point of protesting at this point...but whatever my EqD overlords say, goes.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the lauren faust pony with a censor bar across her makes me extremely sad.
ReplyDeleteIf this passes, the Internet is fucked. The bill states that any site linking to copyrighted content, and any sites linking to sites linking to copyrighted content will be shut down. For example, google will be gone first because that links to everything. Then, any site linking to google or linking to a site that links to google will be shut off. Which means no more Internet.
ReplyDeleteWhy will EQD stop for a day? SOPA awareness is for people who aren't aware of SOPA... I'm pretty sure that most Bronies who visit this site are well educated on the internet, and probably know's what SOPA is. If anything I think Seth just wants a day off :P.
ReplyDelete@Sethisto Aww dude :/ send some my way, got a week off so can help the load.
ReplyDeleteGhost actually had a point that I agree with 200% . This bill needs to be completely destroyed, then what ever remains of SOPA needs to be banished to the moon then locked in a dungeon.
ReplyDelete@Ten Lighten the load*
ReplyDeleteI want SOPA dead as much as you all want. I truly do. Pinkie swear, cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. I want SOPA dead.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm powerless. I'm spanish, I'm not from the US. So, while I understand wikipedia and some other sites closing their american-focused services, why can't I access the spanish part of it? It's a little frustrating, if you ask me.
Something like this happened here some time ago with the Sinde law. There wasn't even half this movement. Just because there were no big companies opossing the bill here, and, most of them were, in fact, backing it up. It got passed, but has been suspended many times. I hope it gets rebuked (is that the word? I mean, taken out or something).
Anyway, good luck.
Damn it, I know that EQD won't be updated today, but still my natural instincts make it so I keep coming to this site every 30 minutes... :((((. Burn SOPA, PIPA, and who ever proposed it / agrees with it banish them to the moon.
ReplyDeleteGoing to go to school wearing a pony Tshirt, going to put Duct Tape over the face of the pony, and write STOP SOPA!!! :D So perfect.
ReplyDeleteI'm... Not sure I understand how some of the internet going on strike for a day will affect the bills.
ReplyDeleteSOPA sucks, end of story!
ReplyDelete@Sethisto
ReplyDeleteTrixie lets you write to your community when tied up? I think you softened her up
at least some of us will be able to get things done
ReplyDeleteThe best thing against SOPA and PIPA is to spread the word everywhere. I can only support all the protests in the internet against it. If these bills are not completely pulled back, even with the most harmful parts removed, i see a big risk for the Internet still. What i find so extremely sad is that they know exactly what bad it does.. and thats why they wanna slip it nearly unseen behind the backs of the people.. The only reaction is hammering their heads until they get it that no one wants these bills.
ReplyDeleteDAMN YOU SOPA! YOU BE TAKIN MY PONIES!
ReplyDeleteI made a video showing what they discuss at the markup of SOPA in congress.
ReplyDeleteI compiled together some of the most important moments for people who aren’t closely following it. I made three versions of the video. The full video. The shortened version. And the serious version with some clips removed and no music.
SOPA Toppa Freedom Fighters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivg-itpixR4
SOPA Toppa (Shortened): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0nSe8m8BYo
SOPA – Completely Serious Edition (Music and such removed): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Gyw_zutvQ
SETH YOU ARE AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteas angry as I am about sopa/pipa, I am even angrier about HR 1540.
ReplyDeleteAwwwww lil goatsie got featured on EQD! He'll love this
ReplyDeleteWhy has no one made an OC named SOPA with a censor bar as a cutie mark?
ReplyDeleteGod bless you all and your efforts to voice the elimination of these hellish bills.
ReplyDeleteI knew Ghost was a pretty well-informed guy, but dayum. He hit the nail square on the head in that video.
ReplyDeleteOk, I have to go to school in 30min. I have an accumulative 4 hours of break, in that time I will make a kick-ass RemiX of Ghost! or maybe not I have a lot of work.... Anyway Ghost is right, they are taking our freedom! we need to do some thing, I need to do something, for all of ponykinds FREEDOM!
ReplyDeleteSOPA will die. Even if I have to burn the document,myself
ReplyDeleteThank you Equestria Daily for joining the anti-SOPA blackout and raising awareness on the issue. One day of no updates is a small price to pay to reach out to all the fans of the show. Let's hope that this bill is dropped once and for all!
ReplyDeleteI think Seth likes SOPA a bit more, after all, it keeps him from having to work XD
ReplyDeleteThank you for doing this Seth et al. This is an important moment in the history of free information access, and the more people and more sites participating, the better.
ReplyDeleteAnd to those complaining about EQD joining the blackout or the irrelevance of a My Little Pony fansite, keep in mind SOPA and PIPA would greatly impact our fandom. You think YouTube's policies are bad now? Wait until every website, search engine, advertiser, and webhost is threatened with a felony if they host intellectual property and content. Try sharing a video, song, piece of fanart, comic, or fanfic in a post SOPA world.
This shameful legislation affects us all. All my love and appreciation to Equestria Daily for standing up against it, My Little Pony site or otherwise.
What if Ghost ran for president?
ReplyDeleteVincent Supreme stood no chance, but Ghost has potential.......
Wait, what effect will this have on the artist training ground event?
ReplyDelete[We're sorry, this message has been removed under jurisdiction of SOPA/PIPA]
ReplyDeleteRather than focusing on SOPA and PIPA, Congress should just pass the TIBP Act. Declaring Trixie to be best pony, and putting an end to all the nonstop bickering. Now THAT'S legislation!
ReplyDeleteSo, if the site is down today in protest, does that mean I shouldn't send anything in?
You guys see the link up there that says "Contact the representative or senator"?
ReplyDeleteThat's the important one.
I'm glad to see you all are taking part in the blackout. I'm more than willing to go a day without ponies (or any of my other interests) if it means getting the word out about SPOA and PIPA.
ReplyDeleteI love Ghost :)
ReplyDeleteDon't know if any-one's tried to give the "Oh it'll never get passed" comment on here (too many comments. TL;DR ) But to any-one with that mindframe I say this:
ReplyDeleteIt worked in China.
I am not American, but I support the internet being open and free and for every-one.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@Sjosten
ReplyDeleteNo, Sjosten. This is something that "loving and tolerating" will just not solve.
We cannot sit idly by and let this bill pass in any way, shape, or form.
Got another way we can help kill this - My senator (Ron Wyden) had pledged to read all the names of those who oppose the bill in the Sentate if it ever comes up for a vote.
ReplyDeleteAdd your name to his list: http://stopcensorship.org/
My congressmen have been opposed to it from the beginning. I've had very little I could actually do to oppose SOPA. Granted, I will be voting to re-elect my reps... They rep me pretty well.
ReplyDeleteF*ck SOPA, vote for IRMA (Imprison Rupert Murdoch and Associated).
ReplyDeletebeing the owner of the Midnight Run livestream we have to take stuff like this seriously so we have joined the blackout movement and we have dedicated our stream to educating people on its dangers. We even have tech experts like Leo Laporte on it as well. twitch.tv/midnightrun11
ReplyDeleteBe strong, Seth. It must be difficult not posting. You have my support here and my support in stopping these bills!
ReplyDeletereddit down, ED down, nothing new on DA....
ReplyDeleteWHERE THE HAY DO I GET MY LOAD OF PONIES FROM????
Giving up ponies for a day in protest? I can handle that.
ReplyDeleteBeing Canadian means i have no Congressmen or Senators I can write to to protest the bill, but that doesn't stop me.
ReplyDeleteI blacked-out my profile image on Facebook with STOP SOPA on it. And i sent out a big letter to everyone i know, asking them to do the same and to educate themselves on SOPA and why it hurts their Internet usage. I petitioned the HELL outta this Bill, sending my message to Congress that we up here in the frozen north do NOT agree with this bill.
Send SOPA/PIPA and all who conceived it TO THE MOOOOOOOOOON!!!!!!!
These bills are stupidly ridiculous and should not be passed.
ReplyDeleteMan, I've never been so proud of the internet.
ReplyDeleteWhen both DailyKos (Dirty Commies!) and FreeRepublic (Fascist Pigs!) are ripping a piece of legislation to shreds for the same reason, you KNOW it must be bad.
@mycutiemarkisagun
ReplyDeleteIndeed it's a dangerous game, after all, DMCA got passed in 1998 and nobody protested, "it didn't matter anyway" back then nobody was a linux user trying to watch DVDs they legally purchased, sigh...
It's like that Martin Niemöller quote:
"When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out."
To the people who are wondering what the purpose of many sites going down when we already get the point: The purpose here is not only to raise awareness, but also to show what will happen if bills like this pass. These bills are entry drugs so to speak, With these bills being passed, it will even easier for more restricting bills to be passed. The BIlls as they stand right now will not do anything to stop online piracy, it will only serve to make sites who host content responsible for what the users post. This means that if copyrighted content is posted on youtube, youtube is responsible to take down the content or face internet erasure... Thats in in a nutshell, do your duty as an American Citizen (if you are one...) and contact your elected reps and make sure that you represent the opinion of the majority and ensure that officials that vote on these bills will not be re-elected.
ReplyDeleteEQD forever,
AnOddRadish
Don't forget the third bill, which hasn't gotten as much press: OPEN (Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act)
ReplyDeleteArs Technica has a piece on it, and you can still Google it.
Apparently using the word SOPA is copyright infri-
ReplyDeleteThis whole Censorship Governmental policy needs to die an' rot in a hole - Kill it with FIRE!
ReplyDelete@Ryanlauph
ReplyDeleteApparently SOPA is the new Candlejack.
Wow ghost and i agree on something 100%.
ReplyDeleteI think i can go 24 hours with out EQD. i got enough pony on my PC to last me.
Down with SOPA!
ReplyDelete(That said - its crazy scary how much more productive I am today with my pony sources on the web in blackout)
FUCK THE POLICE COMING' STRAIGHT FROM THE UNDERGROUND
ReplyDeleteYOUNG NIGGA GOT IT BAD 'CAUSE I'M BROWN
AND NOT OTHA COLLAS CUZ POLICE THINK
THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO KILL A MINORITY
FUCK THAT SHIT 'CAUSE I AIN'T THE ONE
EVERY DUMB MUTHAFUCKA WIT A BADGE AND A GUN
GET BEATEN ON AND THROWN IN JAIL
WE CAN GO TOE TO TOE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CELL
FUCKIN WITH ME CAUSE IM A TEENAGER
WIT A LITTLE BIT A GOLD AND A PAGER
SEARCHING MY CAR LOOKIN FOR THE PRODUCT
THINKING EVERY NIGGA IS SELLIN NARCOTICS
From Spain you also have support guys, SOPA and PIPA are plain retarded. I already did my part, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteGod speed!
I find it funny that we are actually supporting Ghost on something.
ReplyDelete@Tora
ReplyDeleteOPEN isn't so much a third bill as it is an alternative to these two.
With the caveat that I don't know the legal issues well enough to be completely confident in this... I think we should support OPEN.
This is a situation where some time soon, something is going to pass. Our best option is to get something we can live with and get it through quickly: if we don't, we run a substantial risk that the old media wins the next round.
Thank you Seth, Phoe, and Cereal, this is why I love you guys!
ReplyDelete@Brony Alex
ReplyDeleteAnd that's exactly why it won't end up passing. They can't pretend like they don't know that'll happen.
I think [THIS COMMENT IS CENSORED BY SOPA FOR YOUR SAFETY]
ReplyDeleteWhen the world is... sickened... at your actions,
ReplyDeleteIt's time to fucking stop.
Not to think.
Not to consider.
To end whatever the hell you are doing,
and toss it into a place that Satan himself fears.
@LowRyder
ReplyDeleteIt's never safe to assume that they understand the consequences.
Good job Seth! I was hoping this would be censored in protest! (even tho I'm sad it is). So, uh, when are we gonna start our campaign for world domination?
ReplyDelete@ShadowsPony
ReplyDeleteIt's to raise awareness that otherwise may not have been there. It's to inspire people to write to their congressmen, so that they may lend their opposition to the bill.
SOPA means "garbage" in Swedish. I guess that summarises it pretty well.
ReplyDelete@Mysecsha
ReplyDeleteTruth. As one who works in IT--and I don't mean this with any sort of ill will--one really should never underestimate how ignorant people can be, sometimes. Patience is indeed a virtue in this field. :)
It doesn't help that we homo sapiens tend to be relatively short-sighted more often than not.
This is why it's best not to assume anything and let our voices be heard. Communication will accomplish far, far more than remaining silent. :)
ok this is just STUPID...now tell me where the logic is?
ReplyDeleteyou have bills that "might" force places like this to shut down...
so in protest they shut down willingly?!?!?!?
that just proves how we can live without them and that the bill wont hurt
now im not saying its right or wrong but it seems like some seriously flawed logic
I really don't understand this support for SOPA. I mean, I get it that these politicians and lobbyists believe that the're engaging in a noble cause by trying to combat piracy and return funds to the copyright holders, but haven't they learned that this is not the solution? If you want to combat piracy, you don't sue your potential customers. If you want to maximize revenue, you don't try to shut down half the internet (aka. the greatest content delivery device ever created). If you want people to buy your product, you don't declare war on them.
ReplyDeleteThese SOPA promoters need to have a good long talk with Gabe Newell. His model virtually solved the piracy problem. If millions of people are stealing your product, that means that your business model needs reformation. It means that you need to innovate and change your strategy. Look at what Steam did for the computer gaming industry. The whole industry was on the decline. It was slowly falling apart and the ubiquity of piracy played a major role in that. I can't tell you how many people I knew who pirated ALL their software and never spent a dime on any PC games. Thanks to Steam, however, I do not personally know of a single PC game pirate any more. Not one. Every single person I knew who used to rip all their games now buys them legally on Steam.
Valve saw a problem and instead of desperately trying to attack anyone and everyone around them in a blind rage, they chose to band together with the rest of their industry and find a way to deliver a product to customers that satisfied the customers' needs. Customers have two primary needs with regards to purchasing creative content - ease of access and a proper pricing model. Steam solved both those issues and as a result, countless individuals transformed themselves from software pirates into paying customers. Other industries could learn a lot from this.
W00t!!!!1111 Crush SOPA and PIPA!!!!!!!111111
ReplyDelete@marioandsonic
ReplyDeleteThe MPAA and RIAA are so fucking stupid. They still don't get it. The technological world has passed them by and instead of trying to keep up with it and instead of making use of new technologies and new consumer trends as a means to profit, they've spent the past decade kicking and screaming about how the world is changing. They refused to acknowledge the market's pricing concerns (who the hell wanted to pay $18.99 for a cd?) and they fought tooth and nail against the digital revolution. That's why their industries (especially music) began collapsing. The RIAA, in particular, has been so opposed to meeting customers' needs that the entire organization has been dramatically moving towards irrelevancy. They should thank the gods that iTunes came around when it did to dramatically lessen the blow.
When the music industry started to face problems a decade ago, its first reaction was to sue everyone and their grandmother (literally, as can be seen by all the cases involving technologically illiterate grandmothers being sued by the RIAA). Everyone knew that this strategy was destined to fail and after the RIAA employed it for years with absolutely no success whatsoever, they've now decided to switch things up to employ an even more idiotic strategy. Now they're trying to tear apart the fabric of the internet itself. First they went after the users; now the're going after the infrastructure itself. Not once did the RIAA or MPAA ever stop to think "Hey, maybe we should modernize ourselves and start to acquaint ourselves with the consumer culture around us". They tried the stick and when that failed miserably, instead of trying the carrot, they decided to grab a bigger stick.
So with all that said, let's all hope that SOPA, PIPA, and any other acronyms that come along are torn up. They are not a solution to the problem and only serve to extend the RIAA and MPAA's scorched earth policy. If your company feels that piracy is a problem, then do something to lure the pirates into becoming paying customers. Valve proved that that is very much possible and that it can be extremely profitable, so it's time for the music and film industries to follow suit and think with their heads for once.
/rant
I've spent the past half hour going around and signing petitions, I changed all my profile pics to Stop Sopa (except this one), and now its time to wait.
ReplyDeleteAllright, as an anthropologist with a background in studying politics, allow me to clear the air and inform some people so they're better able to understand the situation.
ReplyDeleteEssentially, the main backers of this bill are the entertainment industry, and they are doing so because they can't compete with Netflix or other sites in movies, tv and other popular media. Therefore, they seek to maintain their monopoly through legislative action. The problem is they've grown old and entrenched in old ways of thinking, and when they see their source of money and power is failing they lash out, crying to Big Daddy Government to save them as have so many other big corporations due to the mess the economy's become thanks to tax loopholes and irresponsible banking legislation.
In addition, more government control over the internet means more bureaucrats, more government spending and more power which is quite attractive to our bloated, corrupt government. When you petition government to solve all your problems you become a slave to it, and whoever promises the most goodies is the one who gets elected. This is why lobbyists have such sway in Washington: Government can change the playing field of business so completely for anyone who is willing to pony up campaign money.
Therefore, it is not the fault of conservatives that this bill is being pushed. We hate this bill too as we detest government overreach, and frankly I don't appreciate you bashing us for this when it was a LIBERAL SENATOR of the DEMOCRATIC PARTY who introduced the bill in the first place. Just because someone's got an R after their name doesn't mean they're a bad guy. It does mean they can be stupid though. So why don't you lay off the bashing so we can work together to stop this bill, hm?
@Andrew
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've read, both support and opposition to SOPA is split pretty evenly among both parties.
Thank you, SOPA! I may hate you, but at least you shut Trixie up!
ReplyDeleteSOPA and PIPA are trying to destroy the internet? THIS MEANS WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWait a second! They're shutting the blog down for a while?! I take back what I said!
ReplyDelete@Woof Hooves
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with you. The supporters of SOPA and PIPA and generally all pro-increased-police-powers laws would have us believe that it doesn't matter how vague the language is or how broad the powers granted are: only the worst of the worst offenders will ever be targeted. The typical net user won't even notice a difference after the law comes into effect, because they don't go to those bad places.
This protest is designed to show people what life with SOPA could be like. It is different and even if it's only an inconvenience, it's an inconvenience that doesn't have to happen.
That said, I think Boing Boing did the best today: their landing page is a 503 error, which is a much more stark and evocative message than just a lectury landing page.
@marioandsonic
ReplyDeleteThat's my point. Why just attack conservatives when there are stupid people on BOTH sides pushing this bill?
However, our best hope if it gets past Congress, God help us, is President Obama. Given his already incredibly low polling numbers, if he signed this bill into law his chances of being re-elected would vanished. Hence, we have to count on his desire to stay in office, and given that's what most politicians want I think it's a safe bet.
Sitting through the hideous withdrawal symptoms of not getting my pony fix is entire worth opposing these acts.
ReplyDeleteThis is the rallying point of the internet!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think I might do bad things if this passes.
ReplyDeleteSomething tells me in a few days, riots are gonna break loose ._.
ReplyDeleteGO OUTSIDE AND PLAY DAMMIT, ITS NICE OUT ಠ_à²
ReplyDeleteI think it's time we really built the Orbital Friendship Cannon and MAYBE see if we "convince" Congress not to pass SOPA.
ReplyDeleteI'm serious.
COME AT ME BRO!
ReplyDeleteCOME AT ME BRO!
GOD DAM-
*cans.wav*
@Mysecsha
ReplyDeleteNah, yo. Regretsy.com wins because they used one of the real "This domain name has been seized by ICE - Homeland Security Investigations" messages that has already been posted on shuttered torrent sites in the past. And those things are creepy. "Pinkie Pie is Watching You...FOREVER!!!"
@mycutiemarkisagun
ReplyDeleteUmmm, it's -30 up here man. i ain't going nowhere. lol
even porn hub is doing the anti sopa act
ReplyDeleteIm bored
ReplyDeleteTestier than a grizzly with a canker sore; a legion of bronies with the shakes because they can't get thier pony fix. Bronies who suddently have alot of free time on thier hooves.
ReplyDelete@DE Fluttershy
ReplyDeleteI really didn't need to know what, bro....
@Sethisto
ReplyDeleteI could put you to work pre-reading my fic's next chapter if you want
XD
Regardless we will be defending the internet, even if the bill passes. Which it won't, we will make sure of it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@Sethisto
ReplyDeletePlay some Skyrim, man. Its what I'm doin. :D
@Sethisto
ReplyDeleteYeah, this is a good thing for the internet to do. But all the random distractions I use to get through the day are GONE! Of all the things that could happen, this is THE! WORST! POSSIBLE! THING! </DRAMA>
@netbard
ReplyDeleteIt really is the worst possible thing!
Seth told me he wasn't going to change eqd's daily routine today. Good to see that it is in fact taking a stand.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@Sethisto
ReplyDeleteLol you should try that sleeping thing. I've heard it's kinda wonderful.
I would say watch some ponies, but my videos are down for the same reasons. :P
Pity this whole "Blacking out our website in protest" thing accomplishes nothing. The proper response would be to slap up a banner to the effect of "Fuck you, SOPA!" and just continue on as if nothing had happened.
ReplyDeletebut think how easy it would be to draw ponies if SOPA does happen. you only need to draw a black square and then your done!
ReplyDelete@DE Fluttershy
ReplyDeleteThat infringes on my long-running webcomic, the adventures of black box and larger black box.
Ghost is never awesome.
ReplyDeleteGhost is a maroon.
@Mysecsha
ReplyDeleteYeah, well, I'm suing you. My comic deals with the trial and misadventures of an entire family of black boxes.
@SuperGiantRobot
ReplyDeleteYour black box comic is clearly an infringement on my patent of the process of drawing a two-dimensional line. To the moon with you!
Also, just watched that Ghost video... it's amazing!
ReplyDelete@netbard
ReplyDeleteBAH! I've been drawing and publishing pictures of black boxes since you parents had just reached second base!
@Torch621
ReplyDeleteHe sounded Caucasian to me. Not brownish crimson.
If EITHER SOPA or PIPA pass, the WORLD is screwed. It's as simple as that. The senator in my area is already voting no, so that's the best I can do. CONTACT YOUR SENATORS/REPRESENTATIVES FELLOW AMERICANS! WE CAN NOT ALLOW THIS TO PASS!
ReplyDelete@SuperGiantRobot
ReplyDeleteTough noogie, kid, I purchased the patent from your grandparents! My business model of doing absolutely nothing that brings anything of value to anything wins again! </ducks>
@The Troll
ReplyDeleteIf one of them passes one house, things aren't too bad yet. The two houses ultimately have to pass the same thing, so the process is only half-over.
@Netbard
ReplyDeleteYour two drawing's of dimensional lines is undoubtedly an infringement
on my two dots on this napkin.
I know sopa would never get passed due to several reasons.Personally im more worried about the approved NDAA bill..
ReplyDelete@netbard
ReplyDelete*slaps your face with glove* I demand satisfaction, sir! Choose your weapon.
@Andrew
ReplyDeleteYou seem nice for a conservative, so Imma keep the gloves on here, in the interest of Love & Tolerance ^_^
You're kidding yourself about several things:
#1 - that this is about Netflix. lulz. This is about Pirate Bay. This is about 1080p movie torrents downloading in the time it used to take to download a 20mb RealPlayer porn vid on a 28k modem.
#2 - that President Obama (born in Hawaii; sorry - i promised i'd nice didn't i?) wouldn't sign it. He's consistently shown that he could give two fucks about what horrifies Glenn Greenwald. If SOPA had stayed under the radar and quietly reached his desk, he would've signed it. Bet that. He still might sign a further watered down version. If he were to kill the bill *now*, it'd be purely as a Barackavelli move to rally the base. (It's fucked, but that's why I heart homie: his veins pump ice cold pragmatism. He'd let the Kobayashi Maru explode. Far as I'm concerned, he's President SteelHooves. So I can't help but laugh when people call him a pussy.) And I'm sorry but this whole "sopa would *DESTROY* the politicians if it passes!" line ya'll keep repeating is bullshit. Wishful thinking. Its a real stretch to call Obama's poll numbers "incredibly low" btw.
#3 - that the Conservative Movement has any credibility left on Civil Liberties. C'mon, we remember the "Post 9/11 World" years, ya'll couldn't clap loud enough for The PATRIOT Act and that Terry Schiavo sham legislation. Contrast with Progressives raking Obama's balls over the fire from Day One for bailing on just about every libertarian promise he ever made.
#4 - that Mitt Romney has a chance in hell. I know you didn't actually say this, but you implied it lol. C'mon, nobody loves this guy. I've never seen a Presidential Nominee so openly reviled by his own party's base.
To anyone who doesn't know what the SOPA and PROTECT IP bills do, here's a short page from wikipedia that explains:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:SOPA_initiative/Learn_more
I know we're getting beat over the head with this issue, and pony-withdrawal symptoms are high, but it's not something that can be left to chance. Don't assume that everyone else will tackle the issue; if our first thought is "It'll take care of itself" then that will probably be the same thing everyone else thinks. Take a few minutes to get to know the problem and work towards putting an end to it now. If not, we will all reap the consequences later.
@Azkhare I was on the Spanish part of Wikipedia like...2 minutes ago. They only took down the english part of the site.
ReplyDelete@mycutiemarkisagun
ReplyDeleteI dont want to go outside! :O
There are no ponies there!
@SuperGiantRobot
ReplyDeleteLuckily I have a glove as well!
...
Ah. So this is what Pony withdrawal looks like.
@netbard Shall we say miniguns at ten feet?
ReplyDeleteSuperGiantRobot, Netbard:
ReplyDeletea true gentlemen chooses throwing tomahawks.
@SuperGiantRobot
ReplyDeleteIn a vague attempt to avoid being mod-banned for being wildly off-topic, I recommend Fluttershys at 15. First one to die of cute loses.
@Sethisto
ReplyDeleteSeth's realizing how empty his life truly is today ;_;
@DE Fluttershy
>even porn hub is doing the anti sopa act
Really?
...
So they are.
..
I'll be right back.
@Woof Hooves @SuperGiantRobot
ReplyDeleteYes, shutting down the site alone does not do anything.
You may have noticed that all the sites that have blacked out also accompany a plea for action. The people visiting the site may or may not be aware of said bills.
The whole idea is to get others to act! We need as as many Americans as possible to write their congressmen. And once you've done something, tell your friends.
I don't know if international condemnation of the bill will help, but it certainly couldn't hurt.
Also, best Youtube video ever to summarize how I feel about this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4UfAL9f74I&t=7s
@mycutiemarkisagun
ReplyDeleteAgain. Really didn't need to hear about that...
I was bored today so I started to play some old games. Why is Crono Trigger still awesome?
ReplyDelete@Kelvin
ReplyDeleteBecause it just is.
But that gives me an idea. I've got the old GBA Fire Emblem downloaded on emulator. Think i might play that till i gotta go to work. :P
@ZeroHero
ReplyDeletePost piracy in anti-anti-piracy post.
IRONY.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStep by step guide to taking down any website.
ReplyDeleteFor ass holes.
Step 1: Record a song
Step 2: Copyright said song
Step 3: Have foreign friend create torrent of song, over seas
Step 4: get Magnet link
Step 5: Go target website's comment section, post "I forbid anyone from using the following magnet link to a torrent"
Step 6: Post magnet link
Step 7: SOPA!
Step 8:???
Step 9: Site taken down.
If this bill passes, "Anonymous" will launch "operation Blackout". If that happens the government is going to get F@#$ed over big time.
ReplyDeleteSpitfire's SOPA/PIPA commentary.
ReplyDelete@SYLOH
ReplyDeleteThis won't work. Companies that support SOPA will not be affected. Congress has already broken their own rules of the bill before it even gets considered to be signed. And they will still not be affected.
@mycutiemarkisagun but its like -40 where I live.
ReplyDeleteSOPA should go fuck itself with a lead pipe
ReplyDelete@ZeroHero I'm just curious but do you live in Alaska or Canada? Just wondering since you said it was -30 by you.
ReplyDeleteSeth, I sure hope you get at least some cuddles out of Trixie if you had to deal with being tied up!
ReplyDeleteInformational video about the repercussions of SOPA/PIPA, both in the United States and elsewhere. It also explains why these bills are even being considered: some powerful lobbyists in the entertainment industry are pushing for it.
ReplyDeleteWe're doing things the pony way. If the bills or one of them pass then we will have a world that Discord would be proud of.
ReplyDeleteImagine the bullets flying, the window breaking and the buildings burning.
if SOPA ill pass i think the 3rd World War ill beginn, fear the power of 5 million bronies unitet in friendship... muahahaha were i left my sword?
ReplyDeletemay iam a little crazy just a bit :3
i never thought that some guys have some ideas like that, they are simeliear with hitler!! u know what i mean give me a star, take my clothes, and kill me with gas... (no offense)
If SOPA actually passes, I reccommend everybody protest by downloading completely free and legal music online, from sites such as newgrounds, 8bitpeoples and the music uploaded to youtube.
ReplyDeleteDang, Ghost voiced everyone's opinion of these bills very nicely!
ReplyDeleteCOME AT ME BRO!!!!!
Guys, I vote that we, as a community, call him and thank him for fighting for the Internet. Seriously, we've given him so much grief with our prank calls and yet he goes to bat for the Internet (and indirectly, the Brony community), in a major way! Let's thank him, folks!
P.S. Youtube and Twitter need to blackout now. Seriously, these bills are gonna hit those two especially hard.
@Raefire
ReplyDeleteI too am from Oregon, and proud to say that the man I voted for has been a steadfast and staunch opponent of this type of legislation right from the get-go.
To all of you who are international fans of the site, and opponents of censorship: Contact your government's State Department, Foreign Office or applicable analogue (the branch of government that handles international relations). Tell them that you want your country on record as against this pending legislation in the USA, because it will have a negative impact on the world, not just the USA. It may not be as direct an action as a US citizen contacting his congressional representative, but it's still something you can do!
Ugh...I appreciate what is going on, but my body's clockwork demands that I check this site hourly! Trixie is awesome but even her charm begins to fade after the fifth time!
ReplyDeleteIf Princess Celestia were our ruler, stuff like SOPA wouldn't happen. She'd be like.. "TO THE MOON WITH YOU!!!" and we'd go on with our lives :)
ReplyDeleteCongressman and Senator contacted in my districts, sent them impassionate e-mails calling for their opposition to the SOPA/PIPA bills!
ReplyDeleteDOWN WITH SOPA/PIPA!
Twice as much blog entries tomorrow? @_@
ReplyDeleteSeth, have a big and relaxing sleep. You'll need it!
I need mah poniez!Why SOPA/PIPA?WHY ARE YOU SO SHORTSIGHTED AND EVIL?-forever tears-
ReplyDelete@zorinlynx Now that would be quite the fireworks show. But unfortunately, that's not the way things work. If we want to get rid of SOPA, WE GOTTA SPEAK UP! This is no time to stay on the sidelines. If we don't say something and it comes to pass, then we only have ourselves to blame for not speaking up.
ReplyDeletethis bills won't work
ReplyDelete1. 99% of the torrent site are in Sweden or The Netherlands
2. The is a high probability that normal sites will go down if you bill's get a ok stamp
3. And the torrent sites cen easy hide them self behind a proxy or so way els
so and the end this bills wont work
Luna dutch brony
corrupt government is the exception to the love and tolerate rule
ReplyDeleteHey wait, the Artist Training Grounds were supposed to start up again today. Well played Phoe.
ReplyDeleteI just watched a CNN report on the whole deal. Even they are saying at least SOPA is on its last legs. Also i think today was the first time the general media has commented on the issue. Looks like this may be the end for at least half our current problems. Still not sure how PIPA is doing.
ReplyDelete@Guarddogjr
ReplyDeleteI'm Canadian. And it's cold up here. Lol It's been around -30 for the past few days. :(
And i just realized what i had said when i mentioned the emulator...irony indeed. I'm terrible...
I already signed the petition. Twice.
ReplyDeleteTHE VOTES HAVE BEEN DOUBLED!
So, seriously, we're doing this all day?
ReplyDeleteYay, down with SOPA and PIPA.
ReplyDeleteAnd Trixie, I hope you tied up Phoe as well while you were tying up Seth. She'd be so dissappointed if you didn't.
CELESTIA DANM IT! I NEED MY PONIES! FUCK YOU SOPA, PONY WITHDRAWAL IS A BITCH!
ReplyDelete