Are the SOPA Blackouts a Study in Irony?

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I get confused about irony.  I think I call some things “ironic” when they are actually just funny.

Today, the world has gone black.  Wikipedia shut down it’s American site, Reddit and Craigslist have too.  In other words, the world right now greatly resembles the world of 1986, or 1996.  Wait, or even 2006!

Why?  Well, in a half-baked nutshell, this protest is against legislation that would censor freedom of speech on websites.  Sort of.  I don’t know, read it for yourself. I’m seriously opposed to censorship.  In fact, I’m one of those wackadoos who thinks that drugs and prostitution should be legalized.  “Government intervention” is like being babysat by your schizophrenic uncle for the weekend.  Rules are arbitrary, loopholes are easily discovered, and there are FAR too many voices with FAR too many conflicting agendas wanting to be heard when the someone’s head catches on fire.  Also, people with facial hair should not try to smoke tumbleweeds.

So, you know, I just have some thoughts about the blackouts today.

  • We are urged to contact our congressman.  In keeping with the protests, should we send them a blank email?
  • OMG!  This reminds me a lot of 2004, when half of the blacked-out sites didn’t exist!
  • You can’t oppress me!  I shall protest with SILENCE!
  • Couldn’t you all have just occupied something?
  • Shouldn’t this be on www.passiveaggressivenotes.com?
  • Great, now to get information I have to go to sites that probably pirated all of their content from the blacked out sites.
  • Is blackout the new occupy?
  • Thousands of school kids with research papers due will have to find new websites to plagiarize!

Anyway, I gotta go.  The voices said so.

I’m not on strike, but if you click here, you can fill out a form and submit a letter stating your opposition to SOPA/PIPA.

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7 thoughts on “Are the SOPA Blackouts a Study in Irony?”

  1. I’m with you, I didn’t “black out” because I thought it was more important to spread the information and actually state my opinion. Blacking out my site would be the same as saying nothing, for me. I’m just a tiny little corner after all. But at least now my friends will know that SOPA is not Pipa’s cousin or something.
    Melinda recently posted..Today’s Post Brought To You By CongressMy Profile

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    • What a great post, Melinda! I think there is a lot more power in educating the masses and providing a way for them to act rather than going off to the corner and glaring at the world, which is what I think of when I see blacked out sites. I love your mash-up!

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  2. Hi Teresa, I must agree, I don’t fully understand here, and as a Canadian I try to stay out of American politics. I also must agree with legalizing drugs and prostitution. Stop wasting all that money on policing, entrapment, and prisons, as well as court time. Spend the money on rehab and counselling, more services for the victims.
    Prudence MacLeod recently posted..ROW80 Check-in #4My Profile

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  3. Honestly, I am just scared I won’t be able to google dirty websites anymore.

    and HAH! at the kids with research papers due statement. When I was in high school, 2006, teachers would specifically write DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA. THAT IS NOT AN ACCURATE SOURCE. But we’d all do it anyway.

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  4. I am obviously against SOPA as well, but that infographic had me smiling because some of those graphs are obviously made to scare the living daylights out of people. Not very factual, but speculation of the end of internet as we know it.
    Shirley Blue recently posted..career organizingMy Profile

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