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?

[Ottava]

I can tell you this - a change.org petition wont influence anyone.

And if the WMF does get a lobbyist, seeing their track record of hiring they wont get someone who can have any influence.

[SB_Johnny]

And if the WMF does get a lobbyist, seeing their track record of hiring they wont get someone who can have any influence.

Actually, Jimbo implies that they already have paid lobbyists, which I wasn't aware of. Is that a new development?

[TungstenCarbide]

And if the WMF does get a lobbyist, seeing their track record of hiring they wont get someone who can have any influence

Actually, Jimbo implies that they already have paid lobbyists, which I wasn't aware of. Is that a new development?

that's not implied - he flat out states that the foundation has paid lobbyists (plural) - not that Jimbo's word has a reputation of being accurate.

This post has been edited by TungstenCarbide: Sun 11th December 2011, 10:36pm

[Ottava]

that's not implied - he flat out states that the foundation has paid lobbyists (plural) - not that Jimbo's word has a reputation of being accurate.

Lobbyists are public record. All lobbyists are registered (unless they literally make no money or spend almost no time lobbying, which would not make them a real lobbyist). I checked the public database on lobbyist and I do not see anyone registered that is affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation. I was not surprised.

This post has been edited by Ottava: Sun 11th December 2011, 10:49pm

[SB_Johnny]

that's not implied - he flat out states that the foundation has paid lobbyists (plural) - not that Jimbo's word has a reputation of being accurate.

Lobbyists are public record. All lobbyists are registered (unless they literally make no money or spend almost no time lobbying, which would not make them a real lobbyist). I checked the public database on lobbyist and I do not see anyone registered that is affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation. I was not surprised.

IOW, we just got Jimmy on record this morning talking out of his ass? Nice catch!

Taking Wikipedia down even for an hour would prove beyond any doubt the danger of concentrating information in one website, where politics can easily get in the way of the user experience.

Particularly when it's the "politics" of a flaky megalomaniac.

[Cla68]

that's not implied - he flat out states that the foundation has paid lobbyists (plural) - not that Jimbo's word has a reputation of being accurate.

Lobbyists are public record. All lobbyists are registered (unless they literally make no money or spend almost no time lobbying, which would not make them a real lobbyist). I checked the public database on lobbyist and I do not see anyone registered that is affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation. I was not surprised.

IOW, we just got Jimmy on record this morning talking out of his ass? Nice catch!

I asked for more information.

[thekohser]

I asked for more information.

Jimbo answers, but not before scolding Cla68 for asking such a "hostile" and "bad faith" question!

Dow Lohnes is not registered with the U.S. Senate as representing the Wikimedia Foundation. Neither is Dow Lohnes so registered with the U.S. House.

Sounds to me like Jimbo remembered the name of the firm that Godwin told them they should work with, but that the WMF hasn't actually hired them yet, but Jimbo wanted to sound like the Big Man on Capitol Hill, so he started dropping phrases like "our paid lobbyists" when he really meant to say "that lobbying firm that Godwin mentioned we ought to consider working with", because "our paid lobbyists" sounds so much more mature.

No Wikipedia article about Dow Lohnes. Must be an insignificant, non-notable firm without any substantial accomplishments. After all, there's a Wikipedia article about Ponyta and Rapidash, and they never successfully lobbied a single case for their clients!

Or, it's possible that the WMF only hired Dow Lohnes in the past 44 days:

(1) General rule
No later than 45 days after a lobbyist first makes a lobbying
contact or is employed or retained to make a lobbying contact,
whichever is earlier, or on the first business day after such
45th day if the 45th day is not a business day, such lobbyist
(or, as provided under paragraph (2), the organization employing
such lobbyist), shall register with the Secretary of the Senate
and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

This post has been edited by thekohser: Mon 12th December 2011, 12:36pm

[TungstenCarbide]

I asked for more information.

Jimbo answers, but not before scolding Cla68 for asking such a "hostile" and "bad faith" question!

Jimbo views wikipedia editors as subordinates. He thinks they work for him.

[Tarc]

I asked for more information.

Jimbo answers, but not before scolding Cla68 for asking such a "hostile" and "bad faith" question!

Jimbo views wikipedia editors as subordinates. He thinks they work for him.

The question itself was a valid one, but we all know that Cla68 was there posing the question in an accusatory "what are you hiding?" manner. As scurrilous as Jimbo may be, don't pretend that much of the WR regulars are any better.