InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "That's not school; that's scho"

Amber's CDJ (eckcooties) wrote in rp_tutorials,
@ 2011-11-16 11:49:00

Stop Internet Censorship!!
This isn't really a post about tutorials. But it is something that everyone that RP's or uses the internet should be aware of. In the short version there is a bill that is trying to pass through congress today (Nov 16) that will censor the internet.

HR 3261 (SOPA) is an addendum to the Pro Ip act of 2008 that's currently being viewed by congress to basically allow private corporations to sensor the internet by allowing the government to block websites from mass consumption through the use of DNS blocking (DNS blocking is also implimented in countries like China, Iran, and Syria.) Meaning this bill makes third-party websites responsible for what people post. If they don't sensor what their members are posting that could potentially infringe upon copyright laws....they'll be censored by the government and shut down. This of course means that in the long run a lot of social media sites (youtube, facebook, tumblr, etc) could face legal action and be shut down and/or forced to sensor individuals.

THIS MEANS that should it ever come down to it journal role-playing can potentially be destroyed!!! It means that eventually screencapping for icons/digital art/gifs/etc without the express permission of copyright holders of the image will be illegal and you could face jail time. It also means that we can all just forget about fandom roleplaying all together.

This is a serious issue that everyone should protest.

Educate yourself:
wfc2.wiredforchange.com
http://americancensorship.org/
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/show
http://www.mozilla.org/sopa
publicknowledge.org
many more.

(Post a new comment)

	poptard 2011-11-16 07:51 pm UTC (link)
	Ah, America. Cockblocking its own freedom. This is some shit up with which we will not put >\| (Reply to this)

	advertisemyrp 2011-11-16 08:49 pm UTC (link)
	...I seriously just tried to like and/or +1 this post. facepalm (Reply to this)

	forsythia 2011-11-16 09:59 pm UTC (link)
	Dear country of mine, please stop shitting upon the freedom you so proudly claim to offer. twitch This is one of those issues I've known about peripherally for a while but never thought would actually go anywhere because I was silly enough to think it was too ludicrous to make it as far as it has. =/ Ridiculous and infuriating! (Not to mention scary. So very scary.) (Reply to this)

erin
2011-11-17 12:23 am UTC (link)

I never thought of making a post sbout this, but I'm actually really glad you did. I also didn't think far enough ahead to what it would mean for us here, but you're absolutely right to think that it could easily be applied to LJ/IJ/etc and rping. I can't even put into words how much that upsets me, since like a lot of people, rp is my happy place when I need a distraction or to unwind.

The unfortunate thing is that we're not really being given a voice about this either. I've been keeping tabs on the issue through Demand Progress, and opponents to the bill weren't allowed to speak at the hearing in Congress today, just however is behind it. They delivered signatures from a petition today though, which anyone can still sign, located here at Demand Progress.

(Reply to this)

	snobbish 2011-11-17 12:46 am UTC (link)
	And unfortunately it isn't just America that has been talking/thinking of doing this. I know Australia has been talking about black listing sites for YEARS now.... (Reply to this)

	storybookending 2011-11-17 01:02 am UTC (link)
	It's taking away our rights as American citizens. However, a friend of mind linked me to this website in which it states Obama will veto the bill should it pass. (Reply to this)

	(Anonymous) 2011-11-17 12:50 pm UTC (link)
	censor, not sensor. I'd rather not get groped by these people either however... (Reply to this) (Thread)

	eckcooties 2011-11-17 04:38 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks anonymous toolbox. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ex_vedder673 2011-11-18 01:00 am UTC (link)
	signing petitions on the internet does absolutely nothing, sadly. not knocking you for trying at all or being a toolbag, i promise. i'm just saying, usually this shit goes nowhere. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	eckcooties 2011-11-19 03:44 am UTC (link)
	I agree, petitioning online for a bill against online freedom....is counterproductive on some level. But, I honestly think making phone calls, writing letters, and actual physical demonstrations against the bill to state representatives and state capitols at least proves a particular effort as opposed to sitting at home and going, "Eh, that sucks...." (Reply to this) (Parent)

bee_charmer
2011-12-21 06:33 am UTC (link)

Signing online petitions may do nothing, but it at least stimulates awareness among the community. If these people are pushed hard enough, they will eventually do something about it - like call their congressman, write a letter, etc. So, it's with that spirit in mind that I do sign online petitions and urge others to do so as well because, if you truly care about the issue at hand, you'll want to know more about it.

With that said, I was wondering if anyone (yourself?) could fashion a bit of code that would allow journal users to tack a "stop censorship" button to the top corners of their journal? In lieu of special coding, I posted the image repeatedly in a row across the first sticky post in my journal until something better could be made available to everyone.

(Reply to this)