Farewell internet, thanks for all the memories

[Firerush]

Well the SOPA vote is tomorrow and it doesn't look like anything can stop it now. I had a mind vent on people who didn't do enough to stop it from happening but I realize that would just be pouring salt in this already massive wound so instead I'm just going to say that we should all remember the good times and things the Internet brought us and as the information age dies we move forwards.

I'm sorry I never really participated more in the online communities and never was able to make a lasting impression on anyone, it's probably the biggest regret I have. I'll always remember the internet fondly as I move forwards with my life. I guess it's time that all of us will have to move on.

I know I'm overreacting, but at least I'm not yelling at people. I wish I could have done something more to stop this, but I couldn't and I'll carry this shame of failure with me.
I know we'll always remember the sites we loved so much, the videos that evoked laughter and tears from us.

Say I'm silly, I'm being overdramatic, I don't care. I'm just bearing my heart and soul here so at least what little impression I can make on the internet is a good one.

I'll leave with this song from Earthbound that I feel expresses how I really feel about this, even the title tells how I feel at the moment: Smiles and Tears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaD4E4d2KSI&feature=related

Oh lord, I'm crying as I finish typing this up...

 

[rayen020]

oh don't give up yet. it still has to be signed into law by our liberal anti-censorship president and then make it through the judicial process, which just by a quick cursory glance at the first amendment means this thing is unconstitutional. if it really bothers you go back to school get a law degree become an activist and get this thing repealed.

also this [http://keepthewebopen.com/open]

 

[Devil's Due]

Internet? Going down?

Quickly, I must download any and all porn that might even interest me in the future! There's no time to be picky now!

But in all seriousness, I highly doubt it's the end of the 'net like you're saying. It's unlikely the bill will pass, and should it happen, I am sure not a lot will actually happen or be enforced at first. Once it does start to happen, you can imagine how the Government will feel seeing the Occupy styled movement, except a much more pissed off, riot, violent type most likely will occur. They're idiots, but they're not that stupid.

(We hope)

 

[everythingbeeps]

You know, the more people yell doom and gloom, the more convinced I am that we won't notice a damn thing if this bill passes except maybe more videos being taken off youtube.

 

[Doclector]

Internet? Going down?

Quickly, I must download any and all porn that might even interest me in the future! There's no time to be picky now!

But in all seriousness, I highly doubt it's the end of the 'net like you're saying. It's unlikely the bill will pass, and should it happen, I am sure not a lot will actually happen or be enforced at first. Once it does start to happen, you can imagine how the Government will feel seeing the Occupy styled movement, except a much more pissed off, riot, violent type most likely will occur. They're idiots, but they're not that stupid.

(We hope)

Yeah, after a couple of weeks or so of highly regulated internet commerce, they'll realise that no matter how angry and ignorant they are, they can't deny they need the free internet, especially in this economy.

 

[repeating integers]

I smell sarcasm.

Anyway, it's not like the internet is magically going to be disconnected across the entire globe if this passes. There might be changes (assuming the Supreme Court doesn't get involved) but IIRC won't this basically only affect videos?

 

[Firerush]

Sorry, but I can't be so hopefully optimisic anymore, the fact that no one's brought up the first amendment yet and that Obama said he won't veto it makes it depressingly clear that no one cares about nor really can try to stop it. I need to go to work now.

 

[Lightning Delight]

I'm just wondering, what are the actual chances of this passing? So far, no one has told me without putting some form of exaggeration on it, whether they are saying it will or won't pass. From an unbiased, un-exaggerated opinion, how likely is it that this thing will pass?

 

[DeadlyYellow]

You know, the more people yell doom and gloom, the more convinced I am that we won't notice a damn thing if this bill passes except maybe more videos being taken off youtube.

Or maybe no Youtube at all! OOOOOOOOOOooooooOOOOOOOOOOoooooo. Though at the very least, I'd expect more terrible policy changes in the spirit of their DMCA nonsense.

Can't say I've really been following the SOPA stuff. Though my handled irony of the Stop Censorship banner still tickles me. I can't talk about it here, as it violates forum rules.

 

[Gmans uncle]

OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.333793-SOPA-why-it-will-not-pass <---- READ IT
This thing isn't going to pass THE HOUSE, and even if it does it'll lose some momentum when it gets to the senate, and if it gets passed through THAT, Obama has already said he would veto it, so to become law the bill will need a 2/3 majority of the house and it's not getting that. Also the ACLU apposes it, so if it get's passed Obama desk it'll get shown to the supreme court, at which point it will be found unconstitutional and the precedent WILL BE SET, no one will be able to get a bill like SOPA taken seriously again, we're safe guys, don't worry.

The American legal system is comparable to a snail/ turtle hybrid. It's slow. VERY SLOW. There's still time to fight it, there's still time to stop it.

Honestly, I get this feeling that no one on these forums actually understands how the judiciary system works.

 

[itsausernamewhatofit]

OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.333793-SOPA-why-it-will-not-pass <---- READ IT
This thing isn't going to pass THE HOUSE, and even if it does it'll lose some momentum when it gets to the senate, and if it gets passed through THAT, Obama has already said he would veto it, so to become law the bill will need a 2/3 majority of the house and it's not getting that. Also the ACLU apposes it, so if it get's passed Obama desk it'll get shown to the supreme court, at which point it will be found unconstitutional and the precedent WILL BE SET, no one will be able to get a bill like SOPA taken seriously again, we're safe guys, don't worry.

The American legal system is comparable to a snail/ turtle hybrid. It's slow. VERY SLOW. There's still time to fight it, there's still time to stop it.

Honestly, I get this feeling that no one on these forums actually understands how the judiciary system works.

Thanks, all of the knee jerk reactions in this forum were driving me crazy. Glad to see not everyone thinks the sky is falling.

 

[Stephen Wo]

Uh, it's not tomorrow. It's been suspended until the end of the winter recess, buddy.
Besides, it's taken SO much flak recently. I wrote three emails and called my congressman. I seriously doubt it will pass.

But if it does, and I'm not saying it will... GOD HELP US ALL.

 

[Worgen]

OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.333793-SOPA-why-it-will-not-pass <---- READ IT
This thing isn't going to pass THE HOUSE, and even if it does it'll lose some momentum when it gets to the senate, and if it gets passed through THAT, Obama has already said he would veto it, so to become law the bill will need a 2/3 majority of the house and it's not getting that. Also the ACLU apposes it, so if it get's passed Obama desk it'll get shown to the supreme court, at which point it will be found unconstitutional and the precedent WILL BE SET, no one will be able to get a bill like SOPA taken seriously again, we're safe guys, don't worry.

The American legal system is comparable to a snail/ turtle hybrid. It's slow. VERY SLOW. There's still time to fight it, there's still time to stop it.

Honestly, I get this feeling that no one on these forums actually understands how the judiciary system works.

I'm hoping if it does manage to get to Obama's desk it gets vetoed, I'm a bit worried about if it gets to the courts since lately they seem to mostly be siding with business, at least the stupid conservative majority do.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

What's this? Hey, it won't happen all at once. There will still be some internet left. Besides, oh naysayer, it's still got to go through the House, the Senate, and the Pres. This shit takes lots of time, man. No way it's going to be crowbarred in tomorrow. It's all going to be fine. If it even passes (highly unlikely), it would fly straight up to the Supreme Court, with a huge backing calling it unconstitutional. Relax. Enjoy your internet.

But, just to be safe, how about we all go and abuse some copyright protection? Go view content of your favorite games. Talk about them on Reddit and Facebook and, hey, here. It's a bad bill, yeah, but a bill has a long way to go before it becomes a law. Just don't relent. Don't let those haggard old men who don't understand the internet decide it's use.

 

[saucecode]

Nah, the internet is too strong.
It will go down, the users will bring it back up. Again and again forever.
Hackers, Pirates, Internet Celebrities, anonymous users, unite!

 

[mysecondlife]

I hear they canceled tomorrow's hearing on SOPA. Maybe thats the sign of things to come.

 

[djAMPnz]

I'm not entirely sure what this SOPA bill is but if it's anything like the bill recently passed in NZ then that is really going to suck for a lot of people. Here's a the best explanation of the Copyright Amendment Act in NZ: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_%28Infringing_File_Sharing%29_Amendment_Act_2011

(I know it's wikipedia but it's the best explanation I could find in the top ten google search results.)

 

[Phlakes]

Say I'm silly, I'm being overdramatic, I don't care.

*sigh. You're silly and you're being overdramatic. It won't pass anyway, and even if the planets align and unicorn shit rains from the heavens and it actually does pass, the internet won't suddenly become a wasteland. In the worst case scenario, and I mean worst case, people will have to get a publisher's permission before uploading footage of their product.