HEY GUYS what this person is basically doing is called FEAR MONGERING. 

Do you really think even major corporations would have the means to sue 25% of the internet base?? 

(Source: lol-thats-so-hipster)

I hate people that say that they’re only going to sign the petition for SOPA or PIPA because their representatives are a ‘lost cause’ anywho. 

That kind of attitude is not going to change things, people. I don’t care who you are, who your representatives are, or their stances. That attitude when you’re displeased with their stance on politics? It’s not going to change, thanks to you.

SOPA is dead.

Not to be a downer, but SOPA isn’t exactly dead, it’s just shelved. It could still come back later in the year when we have forgotten about it, with a different name, or only a couple things changed. 

Support Net Neutrality, guys. Still get in contact with your Senators and Representatives. It’s great that it’s ‘dead’, but in politics, things like this don’t stay dead forever.

(Source: flamboyantgentleman)

Please contact your Representative and Senator!

I’m in support of the Tumblr blackout on January 18th, as I find it to be a worthwhile cause—but the goal of the blackout is to spread awareness, and to have you, the users of tumblr, act. 

Even though Obama has publicly stated he does not support SOPA or Protect IP, through the American government system, there is still a possibility a veto could be overruled by enough votes in the House and Senate.

I suggest you find your representative and senator and tell them how you feel about SOPA and Protect IP. I don’t care if you’re underage now, you are a vote for these people in the future. Talk about how the internet has impacted your life, the friends you have made, the world knowledge you have earned, anything. I don’t care if it’s an email or a phone call, though phone calls are vastly more home hitting—think about it. An email is impersonal, its distant, its hard to place the person’s emotions. Even if it is an intern on the other line, they’ll be able to hear your passion and concerns. There will be a voice, an identity put to the words you say.

If you’re not sure what to say, he’s a script you can use. However, try and use it just as a starting point. Discuss tumblr. Discuss the online forums you are on, like I said, anything.

If you have an issue with talking on the phone, like I do—call after hours. Representatives and Senators do have answering machines.

Most importantly, however, be polite. Being rude will not get your point across, but being polite will. I understand that there’s a lot of frustration in the American government at the moment, but if a politician is unaware of how the internet works or what an immense impact the internet has had on the younger generations, they’re not going to know. It’s our responsibility to let them know. 

Thanks!

A commentary on SOPA and Protect IP by one of my favorite video game commentators. He may be British, but he cares in general about what could happen to the internet on a worldwide scale, as the United States has been a lead in internet and innovation. 

SOPA Update

staff:

This weekend, we hosted a meeting at Tumblr HQ with top technology companies, politicians and advocacy groups to coordinate our effort to reform or prevent the well-intentioned but deeply flawed Stop Online Piracy Act from becoming law. You guys have already made a huge impact in Washington, but the legislation still poses a threat.

This week is crucial for action as the bill may be finalized and put to a vote by Friday. We’ll be making a serious push this week to make sure Congress hears our concerns.

We’ll keep you updated on how you can join in the effort. Please stay tuned!

Dear Ms Hutchison,

I am an 18-year-old registered voter within Texas that professes concern over your proposed bill concerning the suggested abolishing of net neutrality and ignoring the status of Report and Order FCC 10–201. I understand the desire, and in fact need, to stop the spread of internet pirating—especially that of music, film, video games, and various other media. However, you seem to be unaware—or maybe willing to ignore?—the idea that your bill as it currently stands would make many popular internet websites responsible for their users actions, a userbase that can hardly be monitored responsibly by a human being. And, unreliably, by any sort of electronic machine. These websites include facebook, youtube, twitter and various offshoots of google. Taking a quick look on your online activity, after realizing you, as with most politicians, have a website, you also own a facebook page where you talk current issues with your voters. While I find this commendable, I did not see one mention of your internet bills on your facebook page made by you, and I went through the last week of posts. You discussed issues that are certainly important—social security, healthcare, the economy, but you ignored the issue that you yourself seem to be pioneering: an internet in which Hollywood will not be losing their prospective profits.

I have to admit I am wondering if you are hoping this will go unnoticed by the general population. Unfortunately, as you may not realize, there is one issue that many young people hold priority on. While they may not show up to vote for healthcare or tax cuts, when you threaten their internet, our internet, we will become angry. The current generation holds relationships where a world is becoming smaller: my best friend lives in Korea, and sometimes the only way to communicate with her is through facebook and a popular blogging site. Facebook and this blogging site are popular media in which movie trailers are shared, music is shared by their own artists, and various TV shows are introduced. Under your bill, this would be the grounds for blocking both sites. I would be unable to speak to my best friend who I have known for over five years, and various other friendships I have formed in places such as England, Italy, Australia, Japan and Egypt. Beyond worldwide, however, many people hold friends within this country. I would hope that your intent would not be to cut this important line of connection between the young generation. In fact, I doubt this was your intention at all. You may comment on snail mail and phone calls, but that simply isn’t how today’s generation works. We’re an instant generation. We are thriving under the improvements of technology, of an increased understanding of the world around us, and isn’t that important?

I suggest that you heavily look over the wording in your bill and various other bills your support concerning changes to the future internet. Facebook, twitter, google, and my preferred blogging platform, Tumblr, have all offered to aide the US government in coming up with a bill that can help stop the spread of illegally obtained media while not threatening their websites. I would hope that maybe you are unaware of the effect the internet has the lives on many people such as myself, Ms. Hutchison, who has moved several times throughout her childhood and sometimes her internet friends were the only comfort she could have. I can’t imagine where I would be now if the internet had been censored years ago, and I want to be sure children like myself today, and in the future, will have a similar outlet.

Please note that people will be angry, this is a special issue to them. I admit, I do have some frustration over this bill, various others you support, and what they entail. The youth feels misunderstood in this situation, as a Free Internet is very important to us. While we may not be involved in politics as much as we should be, I think it is commendable that young people are latching onto an issue in a number of many. I hope that you are willing to listen to their voices on an issue that they hold dearly, that effects them now, and will effect them tomorrow. Healthcare, social security, taxes and the war on terrorism seem like far off issues to us. The internet hits a bit closer to home, as it has left an impression on our lives.

Respectfully,
Ashton Davis

Letter sent to Kay Bailey Hutchison, one of my Senators in Congress, and supporter of Senate Journal Resolution 6. —