I agree with your last statement completely naxete, though there are things that should be policed as well (e.g. child porn, snuff films - probably not the best example, etc.) Other than that though, a free internet would be a very good thing.
As for democracy, you're right, for the most part governments and elected officials are pushed around by corporation lobbying and such. But if an elected official sees public opinion turning very strongly against something, to the point where he or she thinks that he won't be reelected if he supports it then it's very unlikely that he will support it. It's not always the case but it very often is. And while it's a shame that that's the extent of power people have in a supposedly free, democratic society, at least it's something.
Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:34 pm
Duh102
happy carebear mom
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:40 am Posts: 7096 Location: b8bbd5
Re: Internet Freedom
Asklar wrote:
We are way too dependant on electricity.
When it's gone for a couple of hours some people really freak out, as if they were going to die. You can always see people standing with their light bulbs on the public transport. People everyday talk less and are less friendly thanks to technology.
Before electricity societies did exist, we did know about each other and everything. I think it's been more problematic for cultures, since now, it's much easier to hear music that's from the US than from your own country, despite your culture may have lots of talented musicians.
Change is change. Instead of saying "Get rid of it", why not say "hey, let's do something with it!"? You don't like American culture butting into your home country? Great, more power to you, go fill the internet with your culture! Be the force of change in the world, spread X culture everywhere! But don't tell me I'm not allowed to spread my culture and have fun with my friends, many of whom I couldn't have even met were it not for the internet. If you don't like it to the point of getting rid of it: get off. Nobody is forcing you to be here.
Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:29 pm
Asklar
Data Realms Elite
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:01 am Posts: 6211 Location: In your office, earning your salary.
Re: Internet Freedom
I never said get rid of it.
At this current point, it'd be impossible, just like getting rid of money.
People should begin realising that internet is not the unique source of everything.
And yes, I've got some rants with the US culture, but I can't generalize, I mean, look at all the american people in this forum which can't fit into that stereotype.
Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:01 pm
caekdaemon
Data Realms Elite
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:00 pm Posts: 4144 Location: Hell.
Re: Internet Freedom
Asklar wrote:
People everyday talk less and are less friendly thanks to technology.
On the contrary, people communicate more, but through the internet rather then in person. Consider the present day without the internet.
Teacher's in schools would not be able to show students videos. Scientists would not be able to easily send results to one another. Artists would have more difficulty showcasing their works.
I do not wish to live in a world like that. I prefer it the way it is now. People's use of the internet is flawed, the internet itself is not.
Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:25 pm
Asklar
Data Realms Elite
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:01 am Posts: 6211 Location: In your office, earning your salary.
Re: Internet Freedom
caekdaemon wrote:
People's use of the internet is flawed, the internet itself is not.
Get on the side of the internet, you evil AI. Humans have had flaws since they were created.
...
Anyway, let's get back on SOPA/PIPA topic.
...
Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:32 pm
Duh102
happy carebear mom
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:40 am Posts: 7096 Location: b8bbd5
Re: Internet Freedom
caekdaemon wrote:
People's use of the internet is flawed, the internet itself is not.
You imply there's a proper way to use the internet?
Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:13 am
Asklar
Data Realms Elite
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:01 am Posts: 6211 Location: In your office, earning your salary.
Re: Internet Freedom
Maybe not overusing or being addict to it is a proper way to use the internet.
Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:18 am
Naxete
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:12 pm Posts: 560
Re: Internet Freedom
Duh102 wrote:
caekdaemon wrote:
People's use of the internet is flawed, the internet itself is not.
You imply there's a proper way to use the internet?
I'm with her, there's not a way more correct than other of using internet, its a matter of preferences and freedom excepting deep web and dark stuff.
Asklar wrote:
Maybe not overusing or being addict to it is a proper way to use the internet.
I'm agreed but you can't drag international laws on that, just give a correct education to your kind... we should distinguish what is liberty and what liberalism and leave our morals tells us what's right and wrong, not laws.
Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:53 am
nicolasx
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:17 pm Posts: 646
Re: Internet Freedom
@Asklar
I agree with you that the internet can do some bad things to people and friendships, and addiction to the internet or online gaming is a real threat. To be realistic there's always going to be someone who abuses a perfectly good tool. The problem with people policing the internet willy nilly is that same issue, people are going to abuse their power, and the "Big" business including big media has already shown itself corrupt. As for "America" pushing its culture, in my opinion your statement is a tad closed minded, culture will spread through the internet because it is almost without borders, I have found a ton of British bands and others because of the internet, the fact is that no human should be able to take free will away from people the internet is just a tool twords free speech and free will.
I do however think that "American" culture if you could call it that is pretty severely stunted. (coming from an American)
EDIT: Back on topic, ACTA it seems is the bigger threat right now. Something I was thinking was this: what does big media/business think that they are getting out of this. Do they really think that banning or policing piracy is going to make people spend more money on their products?!? I mean why are they really doing this?
I'm not one to necro needlessly and contrary to what this and my other posts in this thread may suggest, I'm not trying to push avaaz on people. Rather I just think this should be brought to people's attention since it's important. And if people sign the petition because of this, I'm not complaining. http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_cispa
The info they email which is more in depth and includes references:
Dear friends,
Right now, over 100 Members of the US Congress are trying to sneak through a bill that would let them spy on every Internet user without a warrant. CISPA is their third attempt to rebrand their attack on global Internet freedom. Our massive outcry helped beat SOPA and PIPA, let's save the Internet again:
Sign the petition Right now, the US Congress is sneaking in a new law that gives them big brother spy powers over the entire web -- and they're hoping the world won't notice. We helped stop their Net attack last time, let's do it again.
Over 100 Members of Congress are backing a bill (CISPA) that would give private companies and the US government the right to spy on any of us at any time for as long as they want without a warrant. This is the third time the US Congress has tried to attack our Internet freedom. But we helped beat SOPA, and PIPA -- and now we can beat this new Big Brother law.
Our global outcry has played a leading role in protecting the Internet from governments eager to monitor and control what we do online. Let's stand together once again -- and beat this law for good. Sign the petition then forward to everyone who uses the Internet:
Under the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), if a cyber threat is even suspected, companies we use to access the Internet will have the right to collect information on our activities, share that with the government, refuse to notify us that we are being watched and then use a blanket immunity clause to protect themselves from being sued for violation of privacy or any other illegal action. It's a crazy destruction of the privacy we all rely on in our everyday emails, Skype chats, web searches and more.
But we know that the US Congress is afraid of the world's response. This is the third time they have tried to rebrand their attempt to attack our Internet freedom and push it through under the radar, each time changing the law's name and hoping citizens would be asleep at the wheel. Already, Internet rights groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have condemned the bill for its interference with basic privacy rights -- now it's time for us to speak out.
Sign the petition to Congress opposing CISPA. When we reach 250,000 signers our call will be delivered to each of the 100 US Representatives backing the bill:
Internet freedom faces threats everyday from governments around the world -- but the US is best placed to attack the rights of Internet users because so much of the Net's infrastructure is located there. Our movement has, time and time again, proven that global public opinion can help beat back US threats to our Net. Let's do it again.
With hope,
Emma, Rewan, Ricken, Antonia, Lisa, Morgan, Mia, Pascal and the entire Avaaz team
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