Wikipedia plans to go dark on Jan 18th - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

hugh · 2012-01-17, 08:31 AM

Wikipedia plans to take its English-language site offline on Wednesday as part of protests against proposed anti-piracy laws in the US.

The user-generated news site Reddit and the blog Boing Boing have also said they will take part in the "blackout".

The sites' webmasters are opposed to the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (Pipa) being debated by Congress.

bubbaspeed · 2012-01-17, 10:58 AM

I understand why they are doing this, but why not just geoblock US ISPs instead of taking down the whole site?... There IS a world outside of the US...

Fry1989 · 2012-01-17, 02:12 PM

Because the US law will affect users outside of the US. There's one English Wikipedia for the whole english-speaking world, and one Spanish Wikipedia for the whole spanish-speaking world, both major languages in the US. Also, because Wikipedia is hosted in the US, this essentially affects ALL Wikipedia projects.

Coop · 2012-01-17, 09:29 PM

And up to 7000 other sites

majortom · 2012-01-18, 12:24 AM

Wiki is dark

Mission accomplished, got my attention. Have to read up on this.

JamesK · 2012-01-18, 06:52 AM

I also get that dark screen, unless I search on "SOPA". I guess they want everyone to see what they're protesting.

DSgamby · 2012-01-18, 07:17 AM

Heard that this might work.

If you still need to use Wikipedia, just disable JavaScript and you're golden.

01 Boxer · 2012-01-18, 01:15 PM

There are thousands of students who are asking:"How am i supposed to do my homework now?"

DEV666 · 2012-01-18, 01:54 PM

I tried the site and the page loads like normal then goes black about a second later. Just click the browser Stop button before it goes black.

99gecko · 2012-01-18, 04:48 PM

Quote:

just disable JavaScript and you're golden

Works fine on my Android smartphone!

2012-01-17, 08:31 AM	#1
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Wikipedia plans to go dark on Jan 18th Wikipedia plans to take its English-language site offline on Wednesday as part of protests against proposed anti-piracy laws in the US. The user-generated news site Reddit and the blog Boing Boing have also said they will take part in the "blackout". The sites' webmasters are opposed to the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (Pipa) being debated by Congress. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2012-01-17, 02:12 PM	#3
Fry1989 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Orillia, Ontario Posts: 543	Because the US law will affect users outside of the US. There's one English Wikipedia for the whole english-speaking world, and one Spanish Wikipedia for the whole spanish-speaking world, both major languages in the US. Also, because Wikipedia is hosted in the US, this essentially affects ALL Wikipedia projects. Last edited by hugh; 2012-01-17 at 02:18 PM. Reason: Removed unecessary quote. Pls don't quote the entire previous post. It serves no purpose and makes the thread harder to read.

2012-01-17, 09:29 PM	#4
Coop Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Calgary, Bell Posts: 828	Google is in!! And up to 7000 other sites __________________ Pioneer PDP-6020FD, Denon 3808CI, OPPO BDP-83, HB HTPC, HP MSS, Mirage FRx 7, S10 Sub

2012-01-18, 12:24 AM	#5
majortom Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,562	Wiki is dark Mission accomplished, got my attention. Have to read up on this. __________________ uhf/vhf combo rotor chimney mount homebrew vhf hi hpf ap-8700 preamp 4way split lg lcd dtt901 pctuner mythtv

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2012-01-17, 10:58 AM	#2
bubbaspeed Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: 40 KM NW of Edmonton Posts: 42	I understand why they are doing this, but why not just geoblock US ISPs instead of taking down the whole site?... There IS a world outside of the US...

2012-01-18, 06:52 AM	#6
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,039	I also get that dark screen, unless I search on "SOPA". I guess they want everyone to see what they're protesting.

2012-01-18, 07:17 AM	#7
DSgamby Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario Posts: 3,895	Heard that this might work. If you still need to use Wikipedia, just disable JavaScript and you're golden.

2012-01-18, 01:15 PM	#8
01 Boxer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 262	There are thousands of students who are asking:"How am i supposed to do my homework now?"

2012-01-18, 01:54 PM	#9
DEV666 Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 239	I tried the site and the page loads like normal then goes black about a second later. Just click the browser Stop button before it goes black.