So I’ve been re-watching old episodes of The I.T. Crowd via Netflix. I remember when this episode first aired, thinking that at least the Anti-Piracy measures weren’t as OTT as in the clip…
Funny how times change aint it.
It’s not that they did it - fair play to them, plenty of other sites should have also done so.
Nor the idiots whining about how they can’t access it, and not knowing why [there’ll always be idiots.]
It’s the people posting up “Hurp de durp, fuck Wikipedia, here’s the workaround to access Wikipedia” posts.
I can’t help but think they’re missing the point. Yes, you can still access wikipedia pretty easily [pressing one damn key is pretty easy] - it’s more of a symbolic gesture than an actual blackout / shut down.
I’m not sure what’s worse sometime - ignorance or indifference.
[And I promise, this is the last SOPA / PIPA post. At least for a while]
Yay!
Don’t get me wrong - I like browsing Reddit - get past the meme and in-joke filled frontpage, and into the specific reddits - /r/kindle | /r/books | /r/sci_fi_books etc, etc, and you can find some interesting discussions - but it’s hardly the biggest, most influential site on t’internet. In short, ask 100 regular people who use the internet, what Reddit is, and most of ‘em won’t have a clue.
Now go ask them about Wikipedia. I’d be willing to bet, more people know about it. Which is why the decision to effectively “shut it down” on Wednesday, in response to SOPA / PIPA, is a big, big deal.
Even though SOPA looks like a damaged bill, following changes to the draft proposal, and the announcement the Whitehouse would be prepared to veto, if required, PIPA still enjoys a lot of support across both sides of the political spectrum, and, like SOPA, is a poorly drafted piece of legislation.
Hence the protest.
Now - to the people on tumblr who’re complaining - specifically asking what the fuck is going on? There’s a nice button that says “Learn more”.
How about clicking it, rather than asking “WTF Man, what’s all this about”. I mean, one assumes you’re on Wikipedia to learn something, right - now’s the ideal opportunity to do so!
It’s a start, but it needs more [Info]. Reddit is a huge site in terms of ‘net traffic, but it’s hardly that well known outside the community.
Are all unlikely to do anything, but they should. But how about one that has shown some initiative on the issue in the past, namely tumblr.
Shut it down for a day. Sure you’ll piss off the tweens who can’t be bothered to read a few paragraphs about why this act threatens their “right” to post Sherlock / Doctor Who / The Hunger Games animated Gifs, but it’d be worth it.
This woman don’t take no shit from anyone! On behalf of the United Kingdom, can she please come over here, and sort out Parliament?
I know most of these people are idiots, but this lady right here takes it to a whole different level.
Experts? Nerds? Hell to the no, damn it Jim I’m a politician, I don’t need to expert to tell me how the internet works!
Edit: BTW, this was posted on reddit. I couldn’t save the image properly, so I print screened it, cropped the pic, and uploaded it. Under SOPA, that would be enough to have tumblr shut down.
Watching the SOPA coverage online. Appropriate pic is appropriate for most of these idiots.
And if I hear one more of these idiots say “I’m not a nerd but…”
STFU. Please. STFU.
Over on The Kindle Monologues a few months ago, someone sent me a message to the affect that it was pointless trying to engage in a half-decent / thought out conversation / dialogue with some of the people posting the “Like, eKindles are like soooo bad, ‘cause like, books should like, you know, be read and shit, and not be put onto screens, ‘cause like they’ll soooo damage your eyes and stuff” posts, because most of them were still kids.
Posts like the one in the screen cap? I’m beginning to agree with that message. Hows about rather than just quickly getting your dashboard back to “normal”, after your lil mini freak out, you actually take 30 seconds to read up on what Tumblr were trying to say.
About Bits 'n' Bobs.
Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom - Teaser Trailer.
The walk and talk is back!
It is rather embarrassing to admit, especially since I like to write, that it has been over a year since I have read a book. That’s not to say I do...
Made with Paper
I just rewatched all of Black Books. It had been too long since I last saw it. I’d pass on the drinking and smoking, but if I could sit around...
and so it started…
