what tha.... [websites protest legislation - go dark]

[carl2591]

yahoo, msn, facebook will not load.. they doing the dark thing today..

at least put a notice up before hand... bunch of crap..

 

[DeniseM]

They are protesting proposed internet legislation - it's been all over the news.

 

[rosebud5]

What did we do before there was an internet? Can anybody remember that far back?

 

[Ridewithme38]

What did we do before there was an internet? Can anybody remember that far back?

We used to dial into a BBs....I was too young to remember before that

 

[pjrose]

Before computers - depending on the age, homework, read, went to the library for research, played cards and games, played tag and hide and seek outside, sports, slept, cooked, talked, TV, listened to music, called on the phone, went to movies, went bowling, visited people.....

With computers but no internet - computer games, TV, and less of the above.

 

[dioxide45]

I don;t think Facebook was in on the protest. I saw my wife using it earlier. I know Wikipedia is blacked out and Google has a special logo to protest.

 

[Ken555]

And everyone should take the time to find out why these popular sites went dark today.

 

[Talent312]

What did we do before there was an internet? Can anybody remember that far back?

Anybody remember CompuServe or Prodigy?
For those too young, these two dial-up services were quite popular in the 80's & 90's...

"CompuServe was founded in 1969 as a computer time-sharing service. In 1979, it was the first to offer electronic mail and technical support to personal computer users, and in 1980, the first to offer real-time chat with 'CB Simulator'."

"Prodigy began as a joint venture between CBS, IBM, and Sears. CBS left the venture in 1986. The company's service was launched in 1988 in Atlanta, Hartford, and San Francisco, with a nationwide launch in 1990. It was bundled with IBM's PS/1 and PS/2, as well as various clones and Hayes modems. Prodigy built a national network local numbers that provided access to most homes in the U.S."

 

[artringwald]

What did we do before there was an internet? Can anybody remember that far back?

Anyone remember playing Zork on the work computer with one of these?

 

[artringwald]

What did we do before there was an internet? Can anybody remember that far back?

Before there was an internet, we did this:

 

[sarahtme]

Not on a flat screen we didn't.

 

[Carol C]

Not on a flat screen we didn't.

Good eyes! :rofl:

P.S. Now, where did I put my abacus? Gotta see just how much my maint fee has increased this year!

 

[carl2591]

Before there was an internet, we did this:

looks like some one has a old artari ? system.. very kool old skool...

the flat screen was the give away... nice one non the less..

 

[geekette]

The old Atari we had prob'ly has much to do with my being a programmer now. Mine was still working up until a few years ago. Atari Basic! Weeee haaaa!!!!

Back to topic, no surprise on the blackouts. There was plenty of warning. No, Facebook wasn't part of it, but nor do I believe FB would be as impacted as pure content providers. FB is more of a user tool. But now I'm wondering, would they also be ordered to remove postings from their member base?

This thread will soon teter on the verge of political discussion.

 

[artringwald]

looks like some one has a old artari ? system.. very kool old skool...

the flat screen was the give away... nice one non the less..

I fired it up again to show it to the grandkids. The games were "so boring".

 

[PigsDad]

Back to topic, no surprise on the blackouts. There was plenty of warning. No, Facebook wasn't part of it, but nor do I believe FB would be as impacted as pure content providers. FB is more of a user tool. But now I'm wondering, would they also be ordered to remove postings from their member base?

It could very well be affected.

For example, what would happen if someone posted to Facebook a homemade video of their daughter dancing, and they included the song "Butterfly Kisses" as background music? Under the proposed law, the owner of that song could file a complaint and Facebook could be "black-listed" and shutdown with no due process.

Another example: you are a Coke fanatic, and you grab a Coke logo (a copyrighted image) off the web and set it as your TUG avatar. With the proposed law, TUG could be shutdown and "black listed".

This thread will soon teter on the verge of political discussion.

Hopefully not. I am not trying to make a political statement; I'm just trying to explain how the proposed law could affect all types of web sites, including this one.

Kurt

 

[geekette]

It could very well be affected.

For example, what would happen if someone posted to Facebook a homemade video of their daughter dancing, and they included the song "Butterfly Kisses" as background music? Under the proposed law, the owner of that song could file a complaint and Facebook could be "black-listed" and shutdown with no due process.

Another example: you are a Coke fanatic, and you grab a Coke logo (a copyrighted image) off the web and set it as your TUG avatar. With the proposed law, TUG could be shutdown and "black listed".

Hopefully not. I am not trying to make a political statement; I'm just trying to explain how the proposed law could affect all types of web sites, including this one.

Kurt

You make excellent points - had not thought about the avatars, copyrighted material used for personal recordings then posted...

it's far-reaching, for sure. There are valid reasons for the protest. The "Law of Unintended Consequences" looms large.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Good eyes! :rofl:

P.S. Now, where did I put my abacus? Gotta see just how much my maint fee has increased this year!

This is funny. :rofl:

 

[presley]

Another example: you are a Coke fanatic, and you grab a Coke logo (a copyrighted image) off the web and set it as your TUG avatar. With the proposed law, TUG could be shutdown and "black listed".

That is what my son is so concerned about.

I noticed the Walt Disney Company on the list of corporate bill supporters. Can you imagine if they decide that they don't want anyone to use their mouse logo online? All the DVC forums would be shut down so fast.

 

[zinger1457]

Seems like the bill is starting to lose support from some of it's original sponsors so it's not likely to pass in it's current form.

 

[pjrose]

Anyone remember playing Zork on the work computer with one of these?

Not Zork, but using a modem and keyboard like that, yes. But what's with the telephone dial starting at 9? Is that Canadian?

 

[PigsDad]

That is what my son is so concerned about.

IMO, that is what we all should be so concerned about. I know the OP started this thread because he felt the protest was "a bunch of crap", but the web sites going dark for a few minutes or hours yesterday is nothing compared to what might happen under the proposed law.

I think Geekette said it best: The "Law of Unintended Consequences" looms large.

I noticed the Walt Disney Company on the list of corporate bill supporters. Can you imagine if they decide that they don't want anyone to use their mouse logo online? All the DVC forums would be shut down so fast.

Yep, a very real possibility. There are a few very large corporate sponsors backing the bill, including most of the music and entertainment companies.

Don't get me wrong -- I am totally against copyright piracy where the piracy actually damages the owner. But there are better ways to combat it.

Kurt

 

[andex]

one point of view click here

 

[artringwald]

Not Zork, but using a modem and keyboard like that, yes. But what's with the telephone dial starting at 9? Is that Canadian?

I didn't even notice the phone. I never saw one like that before. I just Googled for TI Silent 700, and posted the link, which is probably a copyright violation. If the new law passed, maybe it would cause this site to be black listed and shut down. Wait, am I actually getting back on this thread's topic?

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Before the internet, before dial-up BBS, before fax, before PC, I used a device like this:

You did your programming at the keyboard, which converted it to the punched tape. You could run an existing punched tape through the reader, which would convert it to hard copy so you could review what you entered.

When your programming was ready to be executed, you connected the reader to a telephone line and ran the tape through the reader. The commands were then transmitted to a main frame via the phone line, and you got your results back in hard copy in the mail about two days later.