Thanks Anonymous! You just single-handedly provided that last little bit of "justification" for NET NEUTRALITY LAWS.
This is what pisses me off about Anonymous. On one hand I kinda sorta admired what they were claiming they wanted accomplish. Unfortunately, like any extremist element (and yes Anonymous are extremists, whether the term is palatable or not), they've allowed misguided notions of grandeur to spill over into reckless, poorly considered actions against an authority that until now has allowed them to operate relatively under the radar as a childish annoyance.
But their quest for recognition has repercussions they won't expect nor anticipated. Being a target of the United States Government is not a fun place to be. Oh, I'm sure there are some die-hard revolutionaries in their ranks, but I have a sneaking suspicion many of them are just 14 to 16 year old kids who think their being kickass, fighting for some sort of cause without even a full understanding of that which they think they are fighting for. Attacking mastercard for doing what ANY business would do when faced with the situation they were in? Mastercard was a business and they have the right NOT to do business with anyone they choose. Especially if that someone may not be supported by a large majority of customers. Want to boycott? Fine. Attacking them for distancing themselves from a controversial group like wikileaks? What next, is someone going to attack Gatorade for cutting ties with Tiger Woods?
And now, you want to go up against the FBI?! The FREAKING FBI, who brought down the KKK, who busted the mob, who has unlimited resources, mind, and manpower at their disposal, and is backed by legislators who already think the internet is "dangerous" and technology should be regulated because of potential danger in the hands of "children?"
Well good luck. It'll be interesting to watch. But remember:
"You reap what you sow."
This is what pisses me off about Anonymous. On one hand I kinda sorta admired what they were claiming they wanted accomplish. Unfortunately, like any extremist element (and yes Anonymous are extremists, whether the term is palatable or not), they've allowed misguided notions of grandeur to spill over into reckless, poorly considered actions against an authority that until now has allowed them to operate relatively under the radar as a childish annoyance.
But their quest for recognition has repercussions they won't expect nor anticipated. Being a target of the United States Government is not a fun place to be. Oh, I'm sure there are some die-hard revolutionaries in their ranks, but I have a sneaking suspicion many of them are just 14 to 16 year old kids who think their being kickass, fighting for some sort of cause without even a full understanding of that which they think they are fighting for. Attacking mastercard for doing what ANY business would do when faced with the situation they were in? Mastercard was a business and they have the right NOT to do business with anyone they choose. Especially if that someone may not be supported by a large majority of customers. Want to boycott? Fine. Attacking them for distancing themselves from a controversial group like wikileaks? What next, is someone going to attack Gatorade for cutting ties with Tiger Woods?
And now, you want to go up against the FBI?! The FREAKING FBI, who brought down the KKK, who busted the mob, who has unlimited resources, mind, and manpower at their disposal, and is backed by legislators who already think the internet is "dangerous" and technology should be regulated because of potential danger in the hands of "children?"
Well good luck. It'll be interesting to watch. But remember:
"You reap what you sow."
