URGENT PUREDWTS PSA: HELP STOP SOPA/PIPA FROM STEALING YOUR INTERNET FREEDOM!
It’s pretty rare on Pure DWTS that we bring up anything even related to politics (except when a politician is on the show I guess). We try to keep a laser focus on all things DWTS. However, none of us at Pure DWTS can resist not talking about the issue known as SOPA and PIPA. This is legislation that’s going through Congress and the House that has terrible consequences.
Rather than try and explain all the details of this terribly misguided sloppy legislation (although Courtney started down this road), it’s probably more compelling to just keep it simple and point to a few major websites that are blacking out their websites today in order to #StopSOPA and #StopPIPA.
Here are a few and we can add more if you’re interested since there are thousands:
–Wikipedia
–Google
–WordPress
Also, I think this video provides a basic overview of how messed up SOPA and PIPA are:
You’ll also notice that we blacked out the Pure DWTS logo and Twitter avatars in support of this effort as well. Some out there will argue that SOPA and PIPA are aimed at protecting copyright. We’re all for efforts to protect copyright holders. We have people steal the content from Pure DWTS all the time. However, SOPA and PIPA do little to stop any copyright infringers and have potentially disastrous consequences.
Don’t take our word for it though, check it out yourself and if you agree, let your congressman know.
Wish I could do more from here!
Me too Jimm!!!
Me three.
Called my congressman and my senators…. they are from different political parties, but all 3 seem to be Weasels… 😯 Don’t know what they’ll do, but at least I expressed my opinion!
Sally,
That’s a good thing! They need to hear more opinions on this subject. My only question is if any in DC aren’t weasels, but that’s a topic for a different day.
I am fully behind this, so how can I specifically help?
Lisa,
Just call your representatives in Washington and let them know. That’s the best thing you can do.
Just signed the online petition…….! Call my rep you say? On it 🙂
Isn’t this news awesome? I was emailed this from the online petition I signed:
Today was nuts, right?
Google launched a petition. Wikipedia voted to shut itself off. Senators’ websites went down just from the sheer surge of voters trying to write them. NYC and SF geeks had protests that packed city blocks.
You made history today: nothing like this has ever happened before. Tech companies and users teamed up. Tens of millions of people who make the internet what it is joined together to defend their freedoms. The free network defended itself. Whatever you call it, the bottom line is clear: from today forward, it will be much harder to mess up the internet.
The really crazy part? We might even win.
Approaching Monday’s crucial Senate vote there are now 35 Senators publicly opposing PIPA. Last week there were 5. And it just takes just 41 solid “no” votes to permanently stall PIPA (and SOPA) in the Senate. What seemed like miles away a few weeks ago is now within reach.
But don’t trust predictions. The forces behind SOPA & PIPA (mostly movie companies) can make small changes to these bills until they know they have the votes to pass. Members of Congress know SOPA & PIPA are unpopular, but they don’t understand why–so they’re easily duped by superficial changes. The Senate returns next week, and the next few days are critical. Here are two things to think about:
1. Plan on calling your Senator every day next week. Pick up the phone each morning and call your Senators’ offices, until they vote “no” on cloture. If your site participated today, consider running a “Call the Senate” link all next week.
2. Tomorrow, drop in at your Senators’ district offices. We don’t have a cool map widget to show you the offices nearest you (we’re too exhausted! any takers?). So do it the old fashioned way: use Google, or the phonebook to find the address, and just walk in, say you oppose PIPA, and urge the Senator to vote “no” on cloture. These drop-in visits make our spectacular online protests more tangible and credible.
That’s it for now. Be proud and stay on it!
–Holmes, Tiffiniy, and the whole Fight for the Future team.