How SOPA (as written) might kill ATS and free speech online (UPDATED)

Back In Block

Originally posted by Jessica6
Is there anything planned for ATS tomorrow as part of the mass blackout?

Well, that scary "WEBSITE BLOCKED" graphic is back.

It didn't freak me out quite as much this time as it did the first time, but considering all visitors to ATS are going to see it today, I'd say that's a pretty strong statement.

And without the hassle of not being able to actually log in, which has been known to cause painful withdrawal symptoms -- something I really don't need today.

1984 is here ██████censorship ██ ████ is██ here████ ██████ ██

Hi, I am new here, so first of all I'd like to thanks all of the people in this community for providing the society with what they are, (all the knowledge, news, politics and all the issues ats is for).
Well, I am really sorry that I haven't read whole 23 pages before this, but I did read the first few posts, and I knew I had to post this message, (this is indeed my very first message here, actually I just registered here a couple of days ago)
So, actually I don't really know what to say here, but all I can say for the time being is that I also support all of you, and I did send messages on

act.fightforthefuture.org...

fightforthefuture.org...

(sorry I am new, I don't know how to post links) even though I am not a US citizen, still I can see the impact, and can actually contribute to the cause to my best.

Best Regards.
Mac187

All this is way too terrible and beyond rudness and ruthlessness.... as is bombing children out width the USA for their .... good...



sad....

Do you know what the word SOPA means in Greek ?

You will be surprised.....

It means stop speaking....

So SOPA = SHUT IT !!!!

Damn....

As for the freedom of speech within ATS i will decorate it with a star.... freedom* of speech.

A couple of my last threads were derailed by mods though demands of changing their expression as to the message i was conveying as if i had/have to express in their way of thought... Am i a moderator clone?
Every person has unique thought and expression and as long as it is not aggressive and insultive by language it should be fine in a free speaking environment.
Last thread was just completely deleted, although i was expressing a genuine question about a web page...
The reason given to me for the thread deletion was a bunch of ATS rules that will take the best part of the remaining month to read.......... without the necessity of finally understanding why the thread was deleted.

Was only threatened that i might get banned if that uccurs again. (??????)

For posting a question about a website? (that was not of adult (xxx) or drug content) ?

Damn.... there goes the *star to the freedomof speech...

I might as well get banned for even bringing that on herein....

So .... freedom of speech... terrible to lose and way too terrible to manipulate people,
companies and the web by...

Brothers and sisters i urge you:

Freedom is a most precious good. DON 'T lose it !
Moreover don 't deny the freedom of people outside the US, because some US politicians have plotted so for US interest.

They need their freedom too. Not bombing their children for their own good....

Maybe my last or one of my last posts?
Who knows... could come from at least two directions...

PEACE & LOVE to all.

GEORGE

SOPA Opera

Originally posted by GEORGETHEGREEK
A couple of my last threads were derailed by mods though demands of changing their expression as to the message i was conveying as if i had/have to express in their way of thought... Am i a moderator clone?
Every person has unique thought and expression and as long as it is not aggressive and insultive by language it should be fine in a free speaking environment.
Last thread was just completely deleted, although i was expressing a genuine question about a web page...
The reason given to me for the thread deletion was a bunch of ATS rules that will take the best part of the remaining month to read.......... without the necessity of finally understanding why the thread was deleted.

If you disagree with a moderator action or have any sort of complaint, question or concern about about the AboveTopSecret.com Terms And Conditions Of Use, you are quite welcome to contact the mod in question or otherwise let us know. We do make mistakes, try to correct them whenever we can and although misunderstandings are always possible, they are usually avoidable if members and staff pay attention to each other.

For ATS issues of more general interest to the membership, there's Board Business & Questions, although that's not a place for specific complaints.

But in any case, bringing up stuff like that in a thread about SOPA isn't the way to go. ATS is a privately-owned discussion board which is entitled to set its own rules for membership, while SOPA is proposed legislation that would impose its rules on the entire Internet.

In this thread, let's please focus on SOPA and leave complaints/comments about ATS policies for their proper place.

Thanks.

Duhhh

i forgot to sa what PIPA means in Greek...

PIPA in Greek means smoking pipe or the act of fellatio...

PIPA = blow the establishment ?

SOPA & PIPA

Shut and blow....

This is no good whichever way you see it...

Regards,
Your 20 000 miles away indigo.

I posted this on another thread.. but because of the urgency I figure it's okay to post

Companies supporting intnernet censorship

How you can help

google.com/takeaction

reply to post by Majic


Agreed.
However i did that paragraph in the post not for me. ( i tried what you said untill recently where i was just dismissed)

I fact i am giving a tiny view of what the world wide web will look like with SOPA & PIPA...

I am pretty sure you and my fellow ATSers see the parallel between the two.

So in fact i am on topic. (maybe by venting a bit too i guess...)

Respectfully,
George.

First I apologize if someone posted this, but I didn't want to spend the next few hours reading all 23 pages of this thread and I didn't want to start a new thread just to share a link...

Not just US Citizens can sign the petition against SOPA.

There is one addressed to the US State Department that anyone can sign: americancensorship.org...

Please share this link with your Non-American friends

ATS also does a fine job of killing free speech without any outside help. I admit to a need for a certain amount of censorship, but some moderators go too far when it comes to deleting entire posts. There is no consistency, and what gets censored by one mod, may be perfectly alright by another. I think much of this depends on the maturity of each individual, and whether or they get off on power tripping.

Belaboring The Point

reply to post by Bkrmn

Again, as explained above, there's nothing wrong with criticizing ATS policies, giving feedback or questioning staff actions, as long as you do so in a manner that is not off-topic or otherwise inappropriate, as it is in this case.

Doing that does put us in a position where removing posts becomes necessary, so let's please stick to the topic and avoid the need for that.

Thanks.

I think you should have joined the other sites in the total black out.

I wish you would have, JMHO.

Peace

Originally posted by DrNotforhire
I posted this on another thread.. but because of the urgency I figure it's okay to post

Companies supporting intnernet censorship

How you can help

google.com/takeaction

I think that is a pretty important piece of information you posted, thanks.

reply to post by diakrite

let loose, just to see if people would roll-over to authoritarian rule.

That would be my guess,

They say oh it isn't exactly what you think it is , you are overreacting, and you misunderstand, then you find out it was worse than you thought it was, or could have possibly imagined, plus more,

oops, to late, as the regulation pile on.

reply to post by ALOSTSOUL


Some websites are helping too stop sopa by blacking out and giving constant popups of it to be stopped, One example is the English Wikipedia, as soon as you enter it pops up as blacking out for 24 hours to help raise awareness about sopa

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Communism anyone?

I think the system is scared of us. More and more people are aware of the corruption in governments around the world and they want to crack down on us sharing information openly...

because we won't listen to the dinosaur corporate-whore media.



Also:

" 3. SOPA and PIPA wouldn’t stop piracy

To make matters worse, SOPA and PIPA won’t even work. The censorship regulations written into these bills won’t shut down pirate sites. These sites will just change their addresses and continue their criminal activities, while law-abiding companies will suffer high penalties for breaches they can’t possibly control.

There are effective ways to combat foreign “rogue” websites dedicated to copyright infringement and trademark counterfeiting, while preserving the innovation and dynamism that have made the Internet such an important driver of American economic growth and job creation. Congress should consider alternatives like the OPEN Act, which takes targeted and focused steps to cut off the money supply from foreign pirate sites without making US companies censor the Web. "

- www.google.com...

Originally posted by Hessiana
reply to post by ALOSTSOUL

 

Some websites are helping too stop sopa by blacking out and giving constant popups of it to be stopped, One example is the English Wikipedia, as soon as you enter it pops up as blacking out for 24 hours to help raise awareness about sopa

I was surprised by how many, doing just a few web search I encounterd four out of the few I visited today and two I have never visited before.

www.examiner.com...

"If Americans were ever to rebel, we would find ourselves outmaneuvered, outgunned, and overpowered within mere hours, as the government's power has gotten so great that it easily goes beyond the wildest dreams of anything endorsed by the Nazi-Marxist-Militarist axis.

And the sad truth is, most Americans will remain oblivious to the facts while the government endlessly consolidates its totalitarian control over their lives. "

That's why everything the government does to take away rights and destroy the constitution is done incrementally, slowly, in steps. They're not going to wake up one day and say: Fellow American citizens, you are now living in 1984... Bow down to your masters and lick our boots.

Nope, they are going to censor a little internet here, pass a Patriot Act there, sprinkle a little NDAA, some military on the streets in a few months... etc.

Remember, the frog doesn't jump out of the slowly boiling pot of water, it stays in it until it is cooked.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


S & F

I couldn't agree more.

I have personally called and e-mailed my Congressional Rep and have gotten my husband, three sons, six girl friends and four family members to do like wise.

Now, that being said.

Let's see how this comes out.

Read my location, I did not choose it lightly.



We, all of us had better start paying close attention and contacting our reps.

In my e-mail and phone conversation with his assistant, I told her that I would be keeping very close track of how he votes on this issue.

I e-mail back and forth with my rep, he is a Republican and in my humble opinion, most Republicans appear to be even more pro corporations than the Democrats with the exception of the Southern Democrats which are really Republicans wearing Democrat hats..........again everyone has their own opinion, that is mine and I watch the Senate and Congressional Channel and keep tabs on how my reps vote.

Both my Senator and Congressman have e-mailed me that they were impressed how closely I monitor them.

We must monitor them...........they are like a bunch of souless greedy sharks (most of them).