Why isn't Anonymous helping us against SOpa and PIPA

[RagTagBand]

Who says they're not? I'm pretty sure that "what anonymous is doing" isn't forwarded around the Internet in a little news bulletin.

 

[ResonanceGames]

Remember this; they are regarded by the American Government as little more than cyber terrorists. Having them oppose a bill would give senators a strong reason to support the bill (the enemy of my enemy is my friends).

Naw, doesn't really work like that. Congress wouldn't be scared off from not supporting a bill just because some idiot hackers came out against it, too. Just like liberal congresspeople don't vote for wars just because racist morons like David Duke and Alex Jones are against them.

Actually, that sort of is how it works. As a rule, governments don't give in to terrorists. If they do, that legitimises terror as a way of terrorists getting what they want.

The example of this I have readily to hand is of the suffragettes in Britain (1911-ish) who commited terrorism (not killing, stuff like vandalism and burning post) to try and get women the vote. However, they actually turned a lot of MPs against the vote, and one of the reasons for this was because if the British government gave in to suffragette terrorism, that would make terrorism seem viable to the Irish nationalists.

First of all, you're conflating a major social upheaval with a minor group of hackers in the modern U.S. A better comparison might be that the murders of abortion doctors in the U.S. have had zero effect on blocking the pro-life agenda. In fact, they gained some major legislation over the last two election cycles, most recently in New Hampshire.

Secondly, there has been a very broad outpouring of legitimate grassroots support against the bill. If it were being spearheaded by terrorists you might have a point.

This isn't a case of a terrorist group holding hostages demanding that Israel be obliterated. Anonymous is a minor group of vandals who happen to be very good at gaining disproportionate press coverage for themselves. That's it.

 

[Phisi]

Anonymous is good when the threat cannot be solved by the public. Kinda like don't wage war until you have tried all other alternatives because war is not that fun. If SOPA does pass then I would welcome their support though because we would need all the support we can get.

 

[Lunar Templar]

while I'm surprised they haven't done anything, it's probably for the best. mostly cause i donno what they could do to actually help the cause with out hurting it at the same time.

 

[Whoolpurse]

I been searching a bit, I don't know if any of these anonymous websites are legit anyone that associates themselves with anonymous, but the sites I did find, Just includes some updates on the PIPA and SOPA situation, updated somewhat oftenly too, I think they're staying the hell away, they must be frightened to become those we would blame if the bills passed.

 

[balanovich]

Seriously, They've occasionally been dicks and have definitely done stuff to gain the hate of many.
But These two acts are the sum of everything they hate, if they attacked Jean Simmons because went against their ideals, why aren't they attacking something that threatens to destroy the internet by massive Censorship.
Oh and here's another thing
on a different train of thought Who the hell does the US congress think its is? the internet is everywhere, like in Canada. SO they are imposing on international affairs, seriously this isn't legal.

Anonymous are criminals, and as you said, are hated. If they go against something, that something will gain support. It's like having Osama ***** against the patriot act.

And SOPA doesn't really affect other countries. It remove (or block)"bad" website from DNS database inside the US. In Canada you should be pretty much unaffected because there are DNSs in Canada that wouldn't be SOPA compliant.

 

[foryth]

Most likely every "Anonymous" person is fighting this, theyre just not being anonymous about it.

Also, while it is US legislature that is in contest here, it affects the US, which is where ICANN is located (top level domain name servers) and generally the other TLDS follow ICANN architecture/recommendations. If ICANN is controlled by the government then everyones internet is affected.

 

[Greni]

I think you are confusing anon with some defined group with shared goals. It's pretty much like asking "why aren't the pianists fighting this thing".

 

[Raddra]

Anon would do far more harm than good here.

Right now without anything overly damaging we're making good ground.

 

[Jodah]

They are involved unfortunately, albeit because of megaupload being taken down but it is still anti-SOPA:

http://rt.com/usa/news/anonymous-doj-universal-sopa-235/

 

[Sarah Frazier]

This is something that the American people have to try to do for ourselves first.

Even if petitions, website blackouts, and refusing to vote for unpopular congressmen fail, at least it would have been following legal channels of taking action against crooked lawmaking. If something like SOPA/PIPA pass, then I'd say go for it. Our rights have been violated despite so many people following the law to see it not happen, so why should people keep playing fair?

 

[conflictofinterests]

This is Anonymous. Each individual acting together against oppression. It doesn't have to be in typical hacker fashion. All anyone has to do is get the word out.

Spoiler

[/spoiler]
This is what we did yesterday.

 

[Gilhelmi]

Seriously, They've occasionally been dicks and have definitely done stuff to gain the hate of many.
But These two acts are the sum of everything they hate, if they attacked Jean Simmons because went against their ideals, why aren't they attacking something that threatens to destroy the internet by massive Censorship.
Oh and here's another thing
on a different train of thought Who the hell does the US congress think its is? the internet is everywhere, like in Canada. SO they are imposing on international affairs, seriously this isn't legal.

Yes, because acts of terrorism will help here [/sarcasm].

No, you do not want their kind of help. Congress will say "See, this is what we are protecting you against". True or false, Irrelevant. They will do far more harm then good for the cause.

 

[Awexsome]

Because they're too busy throwing a hissy fit that they can't get their pirated stuff and porn off of MegaUpload now! LOL.

 

[Zydrate]

anonymous isn't one group. its everyone without an identity online. sure there are a few people who use the name "anonymous" but it doesn't mean that they are an organised body ready to act with unity. It's their greatest weakness, but also their greatest strength.

I disagree. I see Anonymous as a group of hackers. I may be an anon identity on the internet, but I couldn't scrape two lines of code together. And I've tried (Tech college, which I flunked out of).
So no, we're not 'all' Anonymous. Not in that form anyway.


However, I WAS expecting a "we told you so" kind of announcement, but I've been surprised to see them absent.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Well they seem to be acting now.

http://rt.com/usa/news/anonymous-doj-universal-sopa-235/

They've hit the Department of Justice, UMG, RIAA and MPAA sites, and apparently more is coming.

 

[OldNewNewOld]

On the contrary OP.
Anon is helping us by not doing anything. I find it rather interesting that a group without a real leader or any real hierarchy manged to do that. Many people actually think that Anon would help if they attacked some government sites, which isn't the case.

But I think that if SOPA passes, Anon will do something. That would actually be the best solution if SOPA passes.
If the government can't look at it's citizen as people, then the citizen shouldn't look at the government as people and simply treat them directly (i.e. brute force). Lets face it, the current mass media and government of every country wants to tell you that you're a caveman if you use force to change things, but in real life no revolution happened peacefully. The government won't care for you or your life until you put a fine rope around their neck.

Also, in some way, we are all currently Anon fighting for freedom of speech. All united, anonymous on the internet, fighting for a commune goal. That is why Anon was created in the first place. Don't forget, Anon isn't the group. Anon is the idea. The ideal that units us to fight together.

EDIT:
I just read in some posts that they actually did interfare.
It's because of Megaupload.
http://rt.com/usa/news/anonymous-doj-universal-sopa-235/

I would love to see them take down those sites and just put a blank page which says: "Now you see how it is to be censored!".

Please Anon, do ma favor. <3

 

[AT God]

I enjoy some of what anonymous does and I think they would be great if this bill was unstoppable but I think it can be stopped. Anon's tactics aren't always legal and it would be a great moment if the internet community could beat the politians at politics instead of computer know how.

 

[TomLikesGuitar]

Keep in mind, Anon is really just the result of sporadic groups of frequent internet users getting together every once in a while for a cause. I'm sure quite a few people here have been a part of an Anonymous group at one time, and those who have should know that being leaderless means little happens outside of the general consensus.

Anonymous seems to take form only when drastic measures are necessary, and for now, we have a high probability of stopping both bills legitimately.

But yeah, if either bill passes, you can bet that there will be full on warfare.

 

[dexxyoto]

Unfortunately Anonymous is almost the poster child for why they want to get this bill through so really keeping their heads down is the best thing to be done.