Write your papers now; Wikipedia Blackout is go!

[Lagmonster]

You don't have to feel too awesome if you get past it; Wikipedia explains how to get around the blackout, on their own page describing the purpose of the blackout. They aren't trying to cut Wikipedia off, just try to make people get the message.

[CaptainChewbacca]

My brother pointed this NYT article to me, but it seems like every hour the number of senators dropping their SOPA support is increasing.

Senator Rubio was one of the first, and he sponsored the damn thing.

[TimothyC]

I spent a half an hour on the phone with Sen. Brown's office, I hung up and dug up the number for his Cincinnati office. I got through, but I got a rather frazzled staffer who admitted that he had been getting PIPA calls all day, and all had been against the bill. Sen. Portman's office was much easier to get a hold of, and seemed downright chipper about the entire thing.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Yeah, the phone rang a LONG time at Boxer's office before someone picked up, and the guy was clearly frazzled.

[Simon_Jester]

I got quick responses out of my congressman and senators.

My congressman is Steny Hoyer, so I'm hoping he gets convinced by the calls. That would actually do some good.

[Dominus Atheos]

My senior Senator is actually leading the filibuster on PROTECT IP Act, my junior senator has come out against it, and my Representative has actually blacked out his website today with the message "This site blacked out in solidarity with internet freedom" on it.

[Dalton]

Or by pressing ESC before the page fully loads and the black shit comes out.

God damn it Shroom. I just discovered that and you retro-stole my thunder.

But seriously, this is such a big deal that even the mainstream media is taking a break from politics to cover it. Someone I know made a great point, though: the Internet banded together to protest SOPA and PIPA...but what about the NDAA?

[Flagg]

Doesn't effect their bottom line.

[Simon_Jester]

There is a widespread belief that NDAA isn't going to get used on the classes of people we'd actually fear it being used on- i.e. domestic dissidents. That may be true, it may be false, I don't know. But it's there. There is also a lack of outspoken people who specifically fear the consequences of the law being brought to bear on them.

Whereas with SOPA/PIPA, the people who object to it directly because it hurts them personally are fairly numerous, and have been good at getting word out to explain to people why this bill is in place- how it harms them without corresponding benefit. That's been making a difference.

[Rogue 9]

Also, the symbolism of this method of protest is important - the NDAA wouldn't directly affect Wikipedia's presence on the Internet. PIPA and SOPA would. That's why the blackout method was chosen, and why Wikipedia is now violating their long-held neutrality stance that prevents them from taking anything resembling editorial slant on important and stark issues up to and including genocide.

[Alyeska]

I am going to call my senators and representative tomorrow. Is there any particular way to go about this? Give them an idea of who I am to show why I disagree with this?

[CaptainChewbacca]

I've talked to the offices of my congressman and senator, here's what I did;

*Identify yourself as a constituent.
*Say you want to talk about SOPA. Either they'll tell you 'Here is our position' or they'll more probably give you a minute to say your peace.
*Be polite, state your case.
*If they ask for your information, give it. Some offices put ANYONE who calls on a mailing list because they're 'politically motivated'.

For example, told my senator as a teacher I am against SOPA because I sometimes use copyrighted images (superheroes, pop culture) in my lectures and slide shows to hold my students attention, and that SOPA will limit my ability to use the internet as a learning tool. Connect it to a buzzword like business, education, freedom, etc, and it'll carry more weight.

[Alyeska]

I've talked to the offices of my congressman and senator, here's what I did;

*Identify yourself as a constituent.
*Say you want to talk about SOPA. Either they'll tell you 'Here is our position' or they'll more probably give you a minute to say your peace.
*Be polite, state your case.
*If they ask for your information, give it. Some offices put ANYONE who calls on a mailing list because they're 'politically motivated'.

For example, told my senator as a teacher I am against SOPA because I sometimes use copyrighted images (superheroes, pop culture) in my lectures and slide shows to hold my students attention, and that SOPA will limit my ability to use the internet as a learning tool. Connect it to a buzzword like business, education, freedom, etc, and it'll carry more weight.

Like the fact that I work for good sized bank in my state. A bank that makes Montana its very home and we staff 99% of the corporation in Montana.

[Rogue 9]

Unless you're an executive, they probably won't care overly much about that. Which is not to say they won't listen, but I doubt it would give you more weight than any other constituent.

[Thanas]

locked, see sticky thread.