pipage and soapboxes

[anagramofbrat]

I didn't bother blacking out either of my sites - I get so little traffic to either that it would be about as useful as an OccupyPainfullyLiberalCollegeTown protest around here. But I am watching the internet today with a fair amount of interest.

One thing that's caught my attention is a surprising amount of backlash against Wikipedia. Seriously, go check out the #wtfwikipedia tag. Lots of kids bitching about not being able to get their homework done, and as a friend of mine pointed out, the closer the deadline, the more capital letters and vitriol used.

This amuses me for many reasons. a) you DO have other resources other than wikipedia for research. Pick up a book, maybe. Support your local library. Do an actual google search. It's not the end of the world. b) This SOPA/PIPA issue is waaaaaaay more important than your individual term paper, and if either go through you may lose Wikipedia for more than just today. WHAT WILL YOU DO THEN?! c) Wikipedia is still up in all languages other than English. So if you're not a "THIS IS AMERICA - SPEAK ENGLISH AND ONLY ENGLISH OR GTFO" sort of asshole and have the ability, either through learning at home or through language education, to read in another language, you can still get your shit done.

Sigh. People are dumb, y'all.

Anyway. Call your congresspeople (wikipedia has a little form where you punch in your zip code and it gives you a list), or if you're lazy and don't like the phone, sign the Google petition. Meanwhile I may have to cope with the lack of reddit today by actually getting something productive done. Horror of horrors.

Comments

[northernwalker]

As a librarian, I'm rolling my eyes. First world problems, indeed.

[childthursday.livejournal.com]

I have had students e-mail me in panic today because Wikipedia is down and they don't know how they'll study for their first assignment without it. I normally try to be patient with them, but since this is fucking college and they are taking a class on the Sociology of the Internet, my response included a link to the "Let Me Google That For You" page with the input "How to Scroll Down."

The students have to read the entire SOPA and PIPA bills for class next week, I'm expecting a revolt.

[queencallipygos.livejournal.com]

I listen to an NPR news program in the mornings, and this morning they were soliciting callers to call in and comment with their answer to the question: "With Wikipedia down today, what site will YOU use to look information up instead?" I was really tempted to call in and say "I'm going to use THE ENTIRE REST OF THE INTERNET."