I think it's a good idea ... good excuse to go hiking

Anything to stop the craziness!

This is getting out of hand, SOPA is being pushed by the very same guys who wanted to ban VCRs and MP3 players.

I'm against piracy for obvious reasons, but this is no way to solve the issue - the potential for abuse and mayhem is GIGANTIC. Worse, it would not be a question of IF but WHEN it would be abused.

just waiting for the 1st amendment challenge that should come if this passes because you KNOW this is in violation of free speech.  These bills would in theory create a "Great Firewall of the United States" and be the 1st steps on a VERY slippery slope into facism.  IMHO if this passes, EVER yay vote should be forced to resign and honest politicatians take their place.  The next day we could be hearing word of angry mobs with pitchforks in front of the Capital demanding the bills be rescinded.  The only this this would prevent is what happenned in Egypt and other places-a revolution.

SOPA is the anal retentive's answer.

Absolutely. I once asked folks about an "Off" switch to the Internet. SOPA has the real potential for destabilizing DNS, and destroying a large part of our economy.

I obviously stand with you on piracy issues.

How about legislators sitting down and (actually having listened to experts) debate the issues and ways to solve them without their party politics as usual "You say day -I say night".

Only this time, since the idiots can't comprehend the Internet maybe doing their usual nothing is preferable to doing something really damaging. 

Try again. Broken.

I'm against SOPA

just so you all know godaddy.com is for it.. and now they say they are not .. only because of there bottom line was being hit by a LOT of people jumping to other providers.

so if you're not for SOPA and you have account(s) with Godaddy move them .. ye they say it that they are not for SOPA now but who knows they just wont state it publicly that they are still for SOPA...

I largely agree with the points here, however I have to point out that the sentiment expressed in the quoted line is not only wrong, it's counterproductive.  

It trivializes the complexity of the issues involved.  Of course many of the legislators involved understand the internet and its relation to our economy.  They may be pushing the wrong solutions because their understanding is incomplete (as is all of ours), but simply writing them off as idiots who know nothing is asinine.  It is unbecoming to your larger, correct point and when that sentiment bubbles up from us unwashed masses to media outlets, press offices, and actual dialog it makes sitting down and solving the problem that much more difficult.  

Certainly not.

They intended to ram it through without even listening to experts... just before Xmas. 

Since they did not know the destabilizing effect it would have on DNS, they couldn't predict the effect on the economy.

Therefore, they were ready to act and continue to be (even now knowing that effect).

And keep it non-personal, please. While you're replying from Elemental, the OP is on WinCustomize and personal stuff isn't well received here.

Question(s)

is Stardock and/or it's sister sites and winstep.net going to join in on the nuclear option' to protest SOPA, PIPA January 18th?

just curious. 

would be cool if you do.

 you could use that time to do site maintenance just a thought 

SOPA, PIPA is not the way to fix it.

So their is a class system in place based on the forum you post from or...?  I don't get the point about WinCustomize vis-a-vis Elemental. 

Besides, there was nothing personal in my post.  Saying that someone's point is wrong (or asinine) is in no way attacking that person.  It's disagreeing with their point.  I'm sorry if that wasn't clear.  

If you can't disagree with each other's points why waste time on a discussion board?

Anyway, I'll go back to my slum and participate in discussions there.  Enjoy.

They may understand. Those that do, I am willing to bet, are the minority. No matter who understands what, there is the economy of the lobbyists. I doubt a significant number of the 36 million users of Reddit called their congressman demanding they do something about piracy.

Elections are coming. Unless the voices of the masses are louder than the jingling of money from those lobbyists, it will happen, IMHO.

Even if it doen't happen now, it will happen later. It will be our own fault. It will be a combination of the complacent and the abusers that will allow it to happen.

 I would support this site or any site joining the blackout. I think right now, everyone is holding their breathe to see who will follow Reddits lead and if they will completely blackout or find some excuse to just blackout one or two small portions of what they offer. If Reddit goes it alone, that will be sad. Sadder is that the only repercussion they fear is the monetary loss they would take hit on for those 12 hours.

A lot of major companies, even major game companies, are saying they support the "idea" of SOPA, but Not the bill in it's current form. The problem is they aren't going far enough to stand against it. If it's passed in it's current iteration it'll be a BAD day for internet users everywhere. I urge anyone to call their local congressman's office and to voice your concerns over this bill. You'd really be surprised by how much their offices respond to a wave of public outrage and backlash. The other main problem being most people are too lazy and stupid to care to try to do anything to stop it.

I got your point. NP

It's just hard to know how it's meant when you are reading and not hearing someone make it and they refer to something you said as asinine. 

Perhaps a poor choice of wording we can agree to disagree on or whatever it takes to keep things friendly.

Occupy Congress...yes.