SOPA and a strike, Jimbo requests comments Options

[HRIP7]

Jimbo has asked for comments on whether Wikipedia should reserve the right to go on strike to prevent the Stop Online Piracy Act from passing.

Views?

[Herschelkrustofsky]

What do you suppose Jimbo's angle is here; that the bill is a threat to plagiarists?

[Kelly Martin]

What do you suppose Jimbo's angle is here; that the bill is a threat to plagiarists?

No, to copyright infringers, which Commons is chock full of. It's a virtual certainty that Commons would be shut down by a SOPA complaint within weeks of the bill becoming law, and Wikipedia itself not long after that. Wikipedia has long relied on the safe harbor provisions of the DMCA and copyright practice generally, and SOPA eradicates those almost entirely.

[lilburne]

Wikipedia has long relied on the safe harbor provisions of the DMCA and copyright practice generally, and SOPA eradicates those almost entirely.

How so? My understanding is that it is targeted at sites whose primary purpose is to enable infringement.

“is primarily designed or operated for the purpose of, has only limited purpose or use other than, or is marketed by its operator or another acting in concert with that operator for use in, offering goods or services in a manner that engages in, enables, or facilitates” copyright infringement.
http://www.copyhype.com/2011/11/sopa-new-r...+%28Copyhype%29

[powercorrupts]

He's showing his contempt for government again. The man's a fool, and he'll be compromised and universally exposed eventually. He's having an easy time of it in the UK at the moment, but it surely won't last. It's a relatively quiet time for the press at the moment (in terms of being tough on individuals, and in taking risks) and he could be benefiting a little. His Wikipidiots, though loyal enough, are not clever enough to support him properly when things are less rosey.

If Wikipedia opens a crack (and it will do to some degree every time he opens his mouth - and he can't seem to shut it lately) it has to be worked at before it fully closes again.

[Fusion]

I'd be strongly in favor of a strike. It would show two things. Firstly, that people can survive without Wikipedia. Secondly, that if they're that frightened of SOPA, Wikipedia must be full of copyright infringement.

Would blanking the site do much good? In the short term, you could presumably use Google cache. Also, most articles show up on a mirror site (or several).

[SB_Johnny]

How so? My understanding is that it is targeted at sites whose primary purpose is to enable infringement.

I hope I'm misunderstanding you here, because up until now I've been under the impression that you're not stupid.

[TungstenCarbide]

He's showing his contempt for government again. The man's a fool, and he'll be compromised and universally exposed eventually...

No, protesting this law is a popular cause, and Jimbo wants to be popular. The Italian Wikipedia strike showed him how.

[radek]

I'd be strongly in favor of a strike.

They shouldn't be wimpy about it though. Either they're serious or they're just playing. Make the strike a permanent one!

This post has been edited by radek:

[Ottava]

Anyone else think that if Jimbo really cared about people's opinions he would put it in an area that isn't his user talk page?

Echo chamber chamber chamber chamber chamber....




By the way, anyone else get the feeling that there is a reason why the people defending all the porn pictures at Commons happen to be the ones who are most vocal to get the WMF to oppose this law? I wonder what it could be.

This post has been edited by Ottava:

[Eppur si muove]

Anyone else think that if Jimbo really cared about people's opinions he would put it in an area that isn't his user talk page?

That is a rhetorical question isn't it? It was certainly the first thing I thought. At least he's established that the yes-men still say yes.

[Michaeldsuarez]

Has humanity forgotten how to write to their representatives in Congress? Have they forgotten about their right to create petitions? Jimbo is a speaker. Why doesn't Jimbo try talking to Congress?

[powercorrupts]

He's showing his contempt for government again. The man's a fool, and he'll be compromised and universally exposed eventually...

No, protesting this law is a popular cause, and Jimbo wants to be popular. The Italian Wikipedia strike showed him how.

Haven't you noticed his disregard for governments in general? In his manner, comments and language he shows an oddly-casual kind of contept that goes beyond any particular cause or policy, or his own need for popularity. It always strikes me because it doesn't seem to be based on the kind of real anger that most people who express similar feelings clearly have as a basis for it. It's mainly to do with his oddball nature and strange ego I think.

[TungstenCarbide]

He's showing his contempt for government again. The man's a fool, and he'll be compromised and universally exposed eventually...

No, protesting this law is a popular cause, and Jimbo wants to be popular. The Italian Wikipedia strike showed him how.

Haven't you noticed his disregard for governments in general? In his manner, comments and language he shows an oddly-casual kind of contept that goes beyond any particular cause or policy, or his own need for popularity. It always strikes me because it doesn't seem to be based on the kind of real anger that most people who express similar feelings clearly have as a basis for it. It's mainly to do with his oddball nature and strange ego I think.

No, I haven't noticed that, but I'm easily distracted so may have missed it. Mostly I notice the character flaws, like when he used to call people trolls for asking important questions.

[Malik Shabazz]

I'd be strongly in favor of a strike.

They shouldn't be wimpy about it though. Either they're serious or they're just playing. Make the strike a permanent one!

Bravo!

[thekohser]

He's showing his contempt for government again.

I didn't see Jimbo show much contempt for government when he was asked to sit in the spotlight in front of Joe Lieberman's committee hearing; nor did I see any contempt for government at all when Jimbo was taking out the catamarans with Tony Blair down in the British Virgin Islands with Branson.

[EricBarbour]

I didn't see Jimbo show much contempt for government when he was asked to sit in the spotlight in front of Joe Lieberman's committee hearing; nor did I see any contempt for government at all when Jimbo was taking out the catamarans with Tony Blair down in the British Virgin Islands with Branson.

Ah, but that was soooo 3 years ago.

Why isn't anyone calling for a strike against Jimmy Wales??

[Zoloft]

I didn't see Jimbo show much contempt for government when he was asked to sit in the spotlight in front of Joe Lieberman's committee hearing; nor did I see any contempt for government at all when Jimbo was taking out the catamarans with Tony Blair down in the British Virgin Islands with Branson.

Ah, but that was soooo 3 years ago.

Why isn't anyone calling for a strike against Jimmy Wales??

Occupy Wikipedia?

I'm in.

[mydog]

(Temporarily)

See the RFC on his talk page.

I think it's bad precedent for Wikipedia to get into politics. I think it makes a mockery of NPOV (not that there current articles don't already, but...). I dunno. It would sure get news, which would be interesting.

[radek]

(Temporarily)

See the RFC on his talk page.

I think it's bad precedent for Wikipedia to get into politics. I think it makes a mockery of NPOV (not that there current articles don't already, but...). I dunno. It would sure get news, which would be interesting.

I must say, I quote enjoyed that - but yeah, it's a "beat head against a wall" kind of endeavor. The wall don't listen.