Topicless thread

[Paul]

Bah, SOPA :/ *shudder*

[Nichi]

@Kari: I'll tell my sister that

[Chocofreak13]

the hardest ones to boycott will be walmart and 3m, but i'm willing to make a commitment to it.

i'm also going to have to find out what brand my mother's makeup is. if it's not on the list, she'll likely be alot more receptive to this.

[Bella]

Soooooo, basically all the companies? Disturbing how many photographic associations are on the list, but professional photographers have long been infamous for their extreme views on copyright law, so it's not really shocking.

Related: there need to be a bumper stickers like this:

"PROTEST THE MPAA - PIRATE MOVIES!"

or

"PROTEST THE RIAA - PIRATE MUSIC!"

I'd totally buy and display those stickers with pride. ~w~

[Nichi]

For me, the hardest one to boycott is Nintendo. Dammit; I want Super Mario 3D Land, and given that I'm like one of 5 people in this town with a 3DS, the chances of a used copy turning up is nonexistent >_<

[Chocofreak13]

it's gonna be tricky. we do A LOT of shopping at walmart (also, that's where my pharmacy is). we were thinking of switching our comcast service anyway (or just opening a new account under someone else's name), so that might be easier, but there are a bunch that are too intergrated to boycott. that said, i'm going to send letters to them anyway. (i'd like to not support viacom, but given that they run half the networks on tv, that's not possible. ><;; )

@bella: it's also disturbing how many graphic arts organizations are on the list. i guess if any of them come to my school, i'll have a nice big "screw you" waiting for them. :\

[Bella]

Unfortunately, if I wanted to boycott my cable company, I'd have to go without cable...

[Chocofreak13]

they don't offer other services in the area? :\

(don't feel bad. we can't boycott them either, or visa.)

[IanDanKilmaster]

Well, I think I should go ahead and point out that I highly doubt that every company that supports SOPA is fully aware of the ramifications of the bill.  In fact, I would surmise that a large majority of the companies supporting it just want to put an end to site squatters, which honestly is something I, myself, could get behind.  Of course, this doesn't justify being so willfully ignorant as to throw one's support behind such an intrusive and destructive piece of legislation.  I really hope the OPEN Act gets more promotion before it gets presented to Congress formally.  It's far from perfect, but at least this time we, the American people, are getting a chance to get a look at and criticize the bill before it's voted on.

For those that don't know, the OPEN Act (Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act) is a proposed alternative to SOPA that more directly addresses the issues SOPA is meant to "fix".  That might sound like a bad thing, but despite the name, SOPA was meant to deal with more than just piracy.  There are certain intellectual protections that would ultimately help consumers (namely, knockoff websites that deceive consumers), and that's part of what the OPEN Act hopes to achieve.  The main issue with SOPA has been the dubiousness of the language of the bill, this alternative would introduce more specific language that should ultimately keep the web free for everyone.

they don't offer other services in the area? :\

(don't feel bad. we can't boycott them either, or visa.)

Not likely.  Cable companies intentionally avoid competing with one another - it's a cartel.  Cable companies refuse to operate in areas that another cable company is already operating in.  They instead compete against the various satellite companies and other telecoms.

[Chocofreak13]

i can get behind that. ^^

[Nichi]

The OPEN act sounds like a much better idea. I'd gladly support it

[Chocofreak13]

as long as i'm not going to be censored or sued (or 'escorted' like with green dam), i'm golden. -w-

[Bella]

I'm an internet anarchist, but hell, ANYTHING would be better than SOPA at this point. 'w'

[Chocofreak13]

yep. :3

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

guys, i love alots. they're so cute. ^^

[Bella]

Alots are too adorable, I want one. >w<

Also, this post simultaneously made me laugh AND moved me to tears. It's like to the story of my life, dude. ;v;

I just hope I can someday get to the point where I break through to the other side of my depression and can wear it like a fear-proof exoskeleton... ;_;