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?

[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.

[The Joy]

(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.

A few months ago, the Italian Wikipedia community made a decision to blank all of Italian Wikipedia for a short period in order to protest a law which would infringe on their editorial independence. The Italian Parliament backed down immediately. As Wikipedians may or may not be aware, a much worse law going under the misleading title of "Stop Online Piracy Act' is working its way through Congress on a bit of a fast track. I may be attending a meeting at the White House on Monday (pending confirmation on a couple of fronts) along with executives from many other top Internet firms, and I thought this would be a good time to take a quick reading of the community feeling on this issue. My own view is that a community strike was very powerful and successful in Italy and could be even more powerful in this case. There are obviously many questions about whether the strike should be geotargetted (US-only), etc. (One possible view is that because the law would seriously impact the functioning of Wikipedia for everyone, a global strike of at least the English Wikipedia would put the maximum pressure on the US government.) At the same time, it's of course a very very big deal to do something like this, it is unprecedented for English Wikipedia.

So, this is a straw poll. Please !vote either 'support' or 'oppose' with a reason, and try to keep wide-ranging discussion to the section below the poll.

To be clear, this is NOT a vote on whether or not to have a strike. This is merely a straw poll to indicate overall interest. If this poll is firmly 'opposed' then I'll know that now. But even if this poll is firmly in 'support' we'd obviously go through a much longer process to get some kind of consensus around parameters, triggers, and timing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...oldid=465086832

Jimbo is really stretching it by saying that the Italian Wikipedia's strike had any effect on the Italian law being struck down. I thought that pressure from journalists and free press groups was the main reason for its downfall?

Jimbo really believes that a Wikipedia strike can bend Congress to its will? Sure, it would gain a lot of press, but I do not believe Wikipedia has the power he thinks it has. Jimbo comes off very egotistical and arrogant with this claim. There was a world before Wikipedia, and there still will be a world after Wikipedia. Good gravy, he even admits that the "straw poll is NOT a vote" and is just to see if anyone is interested. In other words, if he thinks the strike should happen, it IS going to happen. Am I reading that right?!?

What exactly is he and other Wikipedians concerned about with SOPA?

[TungstenCarbide]

Jimbo really believes that a Wikipedia strike can bend Congress to its will? Sure, it would gain a lot of press, but I do not believe Wikipedia has the power he thinks it has. Jimbo comes off very egotistical and arrogant with this claim. There was a world before Wikipedia, and there still will be a world after Wikipedia. Good gravy, he even admits that the "straw poll is NOT a vote" and is just to see if anyone is interested. In other words, if he thinks the strike should happen, it IS going to happen. Am I reading that right?!?

What exactly is he and other Wikipedians concerned about with SOPA?

If there is a strike, Jimbo is sure to be interviewed by every major news outlet, his speaking career will be rejuvenated and chicks will throw themselves at his feet. It's a win-win-win.

This post has been edited by TungstenCarbide: Sun 11th December 2011, 9:43am

[SB_Johnny]

Jimbo really believes that a Wikipedia strike can bend Congress to its will? Sure, it would gain a lot of press, but I do not believe Wikipedia has the power he thinks it has. Jimbo comes off very egotistical and arrogant with this claim. There was a world before Wikipedia, and there still will be a world after Wikipedia. Good gravy, he even admits that the "straw poll is NOT a vote" and is just to see if anyone is interested. In other words, if he thinks the strike should happen, it IS going to happen. Am I reading that right?!?

What exactly is he and other Wikipedians concerned about with SOPA?

If there is a strike, Jimbo is sure to be interviewed by every major news outlet, his speaking career will be rejuvenated and chicks will throw themselves at his feet. It's a win-win-win.

I also wonder if he isn't also revving up the drama for "domestic consumption" (nothing sells like drama on WP). He got far less wikiluv in that little exchange with Cla than he would have gotten a year or two ago, and he's already pissed off most of the non en.wp communities, so he can't let his god status decline on his last remaining front.