Tell Congress! Please Don’t Censor The Web!

/ Katybeth

Call your elected officials.

Tell them you are their constituent, and you oppose SOPA and PIPA.

Why?

From Wikipedia: SOPA and PIPA cripple the free and open internet. They put the onus on website owners to police user-contributed material and call for the blocking of entire sites, even if the links are not to infringing material. Small sites will not have the sufficient resources to mount a legal challenge. Without opposition, large media companies may seek to cut off funding sources for small competing foreign sites, even if big media are wrong. Foreign sites will be blacklisted, which means they won’t show up in major search engines.

In a post SOPA/PIPA world, Wikipedia –and many other useful informational sites– cannot survive in a world where politicians regulate the Internet based on the influence of big money in Washington. It represents a framework for future restrictions and suppression. Congress says it’s trying to protect the rights of copyright owners, but the “cure” that SOPA and PIPA represent is much more destructive than the disease they are trying to fix.

If you’d like to learn even more about SOPA/PIPA, click here.

*Thank you Google and Wikpedia for using your power to inform!

73 thoughts on “Tell Congress! Please Don’t Censor The Web!”

  1. How soon we’ve come to depend on the web as our source of information, entertainment and connection. Still, it’s a place that doesn’t need government intervention.

    • This is dumb. If they do this it will takes away our freedom as people we also won’t be able to look up certain thing any more! I’m never voting for Another democratic again we need people that care about our freedom and this dumb act that the government is putting on is against the PEOPLE’S bill of rights!!!! Why don’t we Censor the congress if they want to censor the web!!!!!

      • you are wrong, as is everyone else. pornography and other sites should be censored. it is unhealthy and thier are certain things (things has an s on the end by the way) that should not be looked up at all. stop whining. it is not taking away your rights to try to get people to be decent.

        • Marie, it is because of people like you, with your head in the sand, that our country has gone to Hell in a handbasket. Wake up….

        • Marie, first of all you are promoting the government censoring our internet- this is ridiculous. If you don’t want to see it- don’t go to the site. If you do want to see it, you at least have that right.

          Oh, and by the way- “thier” should have been spelled “there”. I just thought I would point that out since you pointed out that someone left an “s” off “thing” on a previous post.

    • We should be aloud to do what ever we wont on the web. So what if people look up porn . they have the right to do that. we pay hundreds a year to have the internet. we should have the right to do what ever we want. except hack people,and get illegal things. but we have freedom of rights and freedom of speech. so congress please do not censor the internet (web).

    • I know its about piracy.. but its also about privacy we are supposing ly the most free country in the world and have more rules and regulations than anyone….. say no to sopa… let us live! 👿

    • Why censor the web? That is one of the best tools we have to communicate with family in friends. That is the way we communicate with jobs, schooling, family and friends. How will we get our online education, how will we get information about
      our family’s. If you censor the web that will be wrong, what happened to our FREEDOM. PLEASE DON’T CENSOR THE WEB. THANK YOU.

  2. Bad idea. The next thing you know we won’t be able to post blogs because they refer to source material that is copywrited by the cell phone companies media sites.

  3. It’s really ridiculous that they are even contemplating censoring the web…they censor public radio but don’t censor sirius or xm because we pay for it….well guess what? We pay for internet too a** holes! If this is all because children aren’t supposed to hear it then maybe you should prosecute the idiot parents not putting blocks and passwords on their computers and just letting their kids do whatever the F they want…this whole thing is dumb, pretty soon congress will want to make it illegal to swear.

  4. Please don’t shut down websites for us. Its all the the marines have over here in Afganistan and other places /

    Keep our wesites uncensored!

    Respectfully Submitted
    Dustin Mirandy
    USMC

  10. I’m with you, Katybeth. My blog has gone black for the day and a banner against censorship will remain there until the vote on the 24th!

  11. SOPA ans PIPA will destroy the Internet as we know it. It will take away the very fundamentals that the internet was founded upon, and will wreck havoc to many small businesses, personal profiting websites, and partner sites nationwide. Me, and thousands of other programmers alike have put countless hours into devoloping code, and providing support for those who need it. There are other ways to end illegal torrenting, but the proposed act will ensure none of your re-elections to office. This nation is going to hell, and its the hardworking middle class at gunpoint. Ill die for my freedom, you congress, wont spend your own dollar for own. You call us criminals, we are not. “You may stop this individual, but you will never stop us all. After all, we’re all alike”

    • Actually your right- The bill was launched by Lamar Smith (R-Texas) but it is has also been supported by a number of democrats–http://projects.propublica.org/sopa/ but more important than blaming one party or another is focusing on keeping bad bills (this one and other’s ) from passing by being informed.
      Thanks for contributing!

  18. The worst idea ever! There is nothing better then Google! Being able to look up numbers for places, or words you need to know! Sorry for my French but fu congress for making such a bad idea!

  19. This is a bad idea this politics don’t even know what stupid laws to make anymore this is the land of the free and u polititians are acting like china 👿

  23. Alex, im republican and i do not want either of these to pass, dont think its just republicans, i can assure you it is Liberal’s as well.

  25. This is an example of big money in government. The only way to keep if from happening is for the masses to contact their elected reps. Make your voice heard.

  28. I am a marine and we depend on the internet alot overseas and in the states. We fight for everyone to have there freedom this goes against what we do.

    • To V you are exactly right why fight for freedom if its going be taken away. How will soldiers or people overseas contact family and what about people who have online classes,or need to find a family member. Google has been my best friend I can find watever I need,I order most of my clothes shoes and furniture. Its hard for me to get transportation right now to pay bills so I pay online. The government is invading our privacy. Get a life Obama I thought you were for real!

  29. Even if this happens, i’m sure someone will think of a way to uncensor it yet again.

    But still, don’t censor it. I signed a contract with a internet company a few days ago and i dont want it crappy and censored.

  30. Oh please. Why don’t you all read the laws and feel for the people who have intellectual property that is being ripped off by torrent websites and the like. Just a bunch of freeloaders and babies crying that they can’t download porno at the drop of a hat. If any one of you read the law (and I mean read it), you would see that the fear being spread is uncalled for.

    • Sorry, you are incorrect. This isn’t about porn. I don’t think you read the Bill or you would be better informed as to why this is very bad Bill, as written and too far reaching….no due process, etc.

  31. Just nothing but money hungry greedy and corrupt politicians who are acting against the Bill of Rights to take away our priviledges on the web sites we go to on a normal daily basis. The internet is part of every hard working middle class citizen in the nation’s jobs and it could cost job loss for millions of American, plus it could reach to total disaster. Its kinda sad to see this country is on a verge of self destruction and all we are doing is just hurting and destroying each other. That’s why we all need to stand up and be together to tell congress that what they are doing is wrong. Illegal piracy is a crime but browsing the internet is not.

  32. Were all gathered together to prevent the government from censoring the web… they know that they also use the web to search for their information too… its so stupid and pointless that they want to do this

  36. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo………………..

  37. In the usa I don’t think freedom is really freedom.
    If we are free we deserve access to our websites.
    If this law is passed I will shut off my internet and so will others.
    The internet should not be controlled by government.

    • Ok if any of you knew anything and read the actual propsition, you would know that it cracks down on piracy and downloading music and movies illegally. All of the liberals and companies that obviously condone the practice of illegal downloading out there expect everything for free, I’ve got news, that’s not how it works, sorry!

  38. This is the most stupiest thing i have ever heard. People of the congress please work on something more important rather of this. We are in a free country and have freedom of speech. We also pay internet this is outrageous.

  40. Thats all we need the government in our face even more! They have took enough of our rights away. I have told all constituents in Texas to Vote No on SOPA and PIPA;-]
    I did my part its your turn;-] Have a great free day World!

  42. Why are we taking away liberties from the American people? when will government acknowledge that they are in power because of the people and that we should do not have to aceept what ever it is they want to do to us

  43. Just another step closer to Communism. WTF? Let’s just change are countries name shall we! Where and what do these people come from? Where they abused growing up? Where they not allowed to do things growing up? Kept in isolation growing up? Must have been something. I’m confused?!?! Why not focus on the real problems in the world? Come on people! Think of what this concerns and get a F*#%ing life and stay out of others!!! Let’s keep the U.S.A. “Free”dom alive!!!

  45. Some who support this Bill seem not to have read it or done any research on it. What the face value intent is vs what it will really able the government to do – that is the problem.

  48. I LOVE THE INTERNET!

    DO YOU REALIZE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS NO MORE GOOGLE? GOOGLE is my HERO! Taking away google is like taking away OUR FREEDOM.

    WE SHALL HAVE FREEDOM!
    😮

  49. Reading a lot of these comments. I do understand what problems are being faced against industries. I do understand that both right and left wing politicians support this bill. However, if there is nothing else we can do to change the fate of this bill. They could at least change the context to truely follow, catch, and prosecute the “pirates”. I love the freedom the internet gives the individual, thus so, we must also have laws to abide by, as would be a responsibility of ANY civilized nation. But these acts go too far. Punish the pirates, not the population.

  50. It seems we have a Hitler in the White House and his German army is trying to control the people by this very act. How about using all of this time to figure out how to get out of debt and fix social security for the next generations coming up??? That would be more productive, don’t you think? In doing this….what will be next? Taking away our right to go to church, or buy a house? Stop this foolishness and leave the American people alone. We are not idiots that need your help to live our lives.

    • Well Carol…Let’s see….You know I am not a fan of President Obama and I bet you feel like the buck stops with the President…and I agree but in this case he does not support this bill. It was actually launched by Lamar Smith (R-Texas)–GASP. The senator has retreated some. I do think these kind of poorly thought out bills distract us (to quote your wise daughter–must get it from her mama) from truly important issues and focusing on those issues would be a better use of time.
      I could not agree more about censorship..this bill does not address the problem they are trying to solve which is to make sure that-entertainers, authors, musicians are fairly compensated for their work. Unfortunately too many of our elected officials (D/R) are proud they are not technically savvy and then they jump into the internet like they know what they are doing–they don’t and need to ask a lot of questions…Copyright issues will be challenged and over time rewritten with the internet in mind..and that I hope will be a good thing!

  51. 😐 well, if you think about it more, Wiki actually shut themselves down. why? because of piracy and a whole bunch of other stuff. the reason why the government is involved is because they’re trying to pass a law saying people can’t steal written words from others and claim it as their own, but it happens a lot everyday in music, papers, collage stuff, just everything. this stuff is more easier to understand than it is to explain, but its not to much to worry about in my opinion. but who cares about my opinion? I’m only 13. and i know that people say its taking away one of our rights, but that right is being abused. and don’t you think you’d be mad if you worked a lifetime on a documentary and submitted it, and somebody else took it claiming as their own? why would we want something like that to keep happening? and come on its just Wikipedia.. and it was only a day. if you want information look for an encyclopedia or go to a library. everything nowadays is digital, some day, MARK MY WORD, someday libraries and books wont exist. we’re loosing it. everything. why do we even have our rights? they were fought for, and for those of you who are mad for wiki being blocked for a WHOLE DAY, because of our rights, don’t be mad at the government, be mad at the people who are abusing the right. its our country, and people do what they do to get money. i could go on and on and just keep lecturing about THAT, but i wont, i can fight from either side, and honestly I’m not a republican or democrat. i just like to state facts that are sometimes hard to see.

    • The government didn’t block Wikipedia for one day. Wikipedia was protesting showing everyone what it would be like forever if SOPA and PIPA passed.

      • Correct the government did not block out Wikipedia. I think most people understood that fact. The censorship had to do with the bills the government was trying to gain support for and sign into law.

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