SOPA, which side of the line are you on?
- Thread starter Epona
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*Deep Breath*Crono1973 said:
I don't hate pirates!
What you can't do is support pirates on this site. Different animal.
But seriously, I don't hate pirates, I just don't particularly like them, either. It's really not that ridiculous a notion that you should pay for playing, viewing, listening to, etc. a commercial product if yuo want to use it.
And yet, if I'm forced to choose in a black and white world, I will side with the pirates because they're not the ones trying to make me into a criminal. They're not the ones making a power grab for new rights. They're not the ones threatening to break the internet. I will side with them under the protest that in this black and white world, the only choices are two sides I don't support, and I must pick the lesser of two "evils."
Honestly, I wish both sides would just get off my internet entirely, but since that won't happen....
SOPA is the end of the internet as we know it and the beginning of more powerful corporate rights. It means no appeal for people impacted by accusations of piracy and felonies for people who previously had fair use protection.
And you know, I bet Mojang and Bungie aren't really pro-pirate. I bet they like money. I'm betting they really just hate SOPA.
There is a huge difference between supporting piracy, and supporting SOPA.FelixG said:
Although I don't think I've seen/heard their official stance.
How many people do you think never look at the forums?Bruenin said:
How many people do you think come here for ZP alone?
Given the traffic on Wednesdays, I think it's safe to assume there are a LOT of people who may not know.
I'd suggest that there are also a great deal of people that know of SOPA, but have no idea just what it means.
Middle of the road, as in i don't give a shit.
Really i would say no to anything like SOPA and oppose the hollywood companies who back it so there is your answer.
But it pisses me off when sites like this or TGWTG has banners or something opposing sopa just so they can protect their jobs.
I doesn't effect anyone that makes under 2000 for video so most people on youtube are safe.
As long as it doesn't take down pirate bay or megavideo i can live with it.
Really i would say no to anything like SOPA and oppose the hollywood companies who back it so there is your answer.
But it pisses me off when sites like this or TGWTG has banners or something opposing sopa just so they can protect their jobs.
I doesn't effect anyone that makes under 2000 for video so most people on youtube are safe.
As long as it doesn't take down pirate bay or megavideo i can live with it.
I actually really hope so. A lot of non-Escapists still flock to the site for Zero Punctuation every Wednesday, and they might not be as aware of the bill as we regulars are.kebab4you said:
So please, admins and mods[footnote]I guess this would kind of fall under Kross's jurisdiction?[/footnote], if you can, do something this Wednesday to raise awareness of the bill.
Do you even know what the bill does? Its not just a choice of whether or not you want to stop piracy, it complete violation our constitutional rights. I'm not trying to be mean but this is a pretty stupid thread.
You seriously just won best analogy ever, have a pizza trophy.Vrach said:
OT: It is impossible to stop piracy short of shutting down the internet period. SOPA is using the justification of stopping piracy to give corporations the ability to police the internet. Essentially it is the NDAA of the internet but the government is big business instead (like it ever wasn't) and terrorism is replaced with piracy.
So you are asking people who are on a website that will likely get shut down, if they are against a law that will destroy the internet... hmmm what do you think?
OP - Yes of course im against it, im also against American laws affecting the rest of the world
OP - Yes of course im against it, im also against American laws affecting the rest of the world
It's a problem inherent in American poltical rhetoric.poiumty said:
FTR: Against SOPA, against piracy.
One problem SOPA brings in is that it starts to impede on contracts signed in foreign countries. If SOPA cuts off funding in the states, but an agreement is made in Canada (as an example) then the company involved can still be sued for their legal obligations in that other country.
When you consider that most piracy is internationally hosted, this introduces a huge problem for any company that does advertising business internationally.
Which is to say, all of them.
Pirates are going to be one of the few people who SOPA won't touch.
Despite the idea that it's going to implode the first time they try and use it.
Despite the idea that it's going to implode the first time they try and use it.
Like most people on here I am also afains Pirating and SOPA! I beleive in paying honestly for my Games, and supporting the companies that made them so they make more! I also am against the internet police stopping harmless fun that WASN'T an act of Piracy!
SOPA isn't just about stopping piracy. It is about stopping every site like this reporting of game news showing content along with reviews and "Let's Play" videos. Anyone who likes gaming is most likely against this. Anyone who is for free speech should be against this. Anyone who likes the internet should be against this.Crono1973 said:
Pirates do cost companies some money, but not every pirated copy is a lost sale. SOPA on the other hand can cost the game publishers and developers a lot of money because gamers lose their sources for game knowledge. This will be especially bad for indie developers who depend on alternative forms of advertisement.
I agree with you on the point of warnings on particular groups. It is inconsistent.FelixG said:
I think the reason for that, is that those groups that it seems more ok to attack are not "groups that may visit the site."
I may be wrong, but I personally haven't seen many, if any law enforcement (I'll get to piracy) members active here, which makes the potential for fighting within the forums less of a worry to mods.
Both religions and political parties do however have quite a large population in the active members.
You only need to look at some of the flame wars that start out between theists and anti-theists to see why the mods want to keep it from reaching that stage.
No. It isn't fair, but I do understand why they think it is required. This is the internet after all, and people will want to start fights.
As for piracy...
I'm not 100% certain, but I believe that under current US law, the Escapist can get in trouble if piracy sites are linked, methods of piracy discussed etc, on their site.
There needs to be a line. If people could follow rules, there is no reason why that line shouldn't be right up to discussing methods/linking.
But once again, this is the internet, and it is full of humans.
Once again, I agree that they are too strict, but I can sort of understand why.
Escapist staff are actually considering joining in on the blackout, but given certain circumstances, this may not be possible.
I'd suggest they most certainly do not support SOPA. It would mean the end of them.
Just because they haven't come right out and said they don't support it yet, doesn't mean they are hiding.
Nvidia and Valve only yesterday officially said they were against it. Mojang only the day before.
There are plenty of opposers who still haven't announced their stance, for various reasons.
But time is definitely running out.