Hello there! How are you? Are you good? I hope so, because I’d hate to think you were doing bad. I’m dedicating this blog post to you. Don’t bother looking around to see if I mean someone else, you’re exactly who I want to address tonight.
Do you like the internet? Do you use it to look at silly cat pictures, watch random viral videos, or research things? Do you use it for work, for play, or for pretty much everything in your life (like me)? You probably do, because you’re reading my blog which is on the internet and I just know people use my blog to research important topics, and that’s why today’s blog post is especially for you. I have some important news for you, good news and bad news. I’ll give you the bad news first.
There’s this thing people are talking about right now called SOPA/PIPA.
NO!!!! DON’T RUN AWAY!
If you’re anything like me, you don’t pay attention to politics like ever unless it’s time for the Presidential election (which this is totally not about, btw). Maybe you avoid all things politics, and that’s okay. I usually do, too. But this is different. This isn’t just politics. I’m going to dumb it down so that you can understand it, without all the political mumbo-jumbo.
Congress wants to pass a bill that will censor the internet and allow the entertainment industry and other corporations to sue the owners of websites to take down material or even block a web or IP address FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. Imagine a country where YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter are practically outlawed and your personal website is constantly under threat of being shut down. *shudder* The bill proposes that it will protect the entertainment industry, but what it will really end up doing is taking away a huge creative outlet and social medium for billions of people. The internet as we know it will cease to exist and will morph into something entirely different.
Watch this video and see why I’m participating in a blackout on January 18, 2012 along with many other sites like Wikipedia, WordPress, reddit and Google. (( Here’s a large list of sites participating in the blackout on Wednesday. ))
I know the future of the internet looks bleak, but remember how I said I was going to give you some good news? Here it is:
You can do something about SOPA/PIPA.
If you haven’t yet, you can send an email to your state representative. (( I’ve already sent mine. )) There needs to be at least 40 senators opposing the bill come Tuesday, January 24, 2012. At the last count there were only six. SIX SENATORS SAYING NO. Remember that your senators speak for you, and you can tell them how you feel and what you want.
Find out who to contact and how to contact them here: Directory of Representatives. It’s all alphabetical by state and so super easy that a monkey could do it in his sleep with his toes. (( Read: I did it. ))
Good luck to you, and to everyone you know. This is important to you, because you use the internet.
{ 4 comments }
Man, this is a thing that makes me nervous.
I’m sure you’ve seen this already, but if not: http://theoatmeal.com/. BRILLIANCE.
The Oatmeal is pretty much always brilliant, isn’t it? It’s one of the things I would miss the most if the bills get passed. It makes me wicked nervous, too.
I’m not as worried, anymore. They’re losing a TON of support, even from organizations that wanted the bills in the first place.
I was still surprised to see how many people had no idea what SOPA or PIPA were yesterday during the blackouts. People really need to get educated and be aware of what is going on in their gov’t. :/
Indeed they do.
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