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PUBLIC OPINION > Wikipedia's SOPA Blackout Is a Good Idea

SodaHead News 2012/01/18 13:00:00
If you tried to access Wikipedia today, you were probably met with frustration. The Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act have become major issues since big names like Facebook and Google expressed concern, but Wikipedia is taking it to the next level. On a cue from social news site Reddit, Wikipedia decided to unplug Wednesday in protest of SOPA and PIPA, with co-founder Jimmy Wales calling the bill "a frightening precedent of Internet censorship for the world." We asked SodaHeads if Wikipedia's blackout is worth the trouble.

Wikipedia Blacks Out to Protest SOPA: Is It a Good Idea?

wikipedia blackout

80% Support Wikipedia's Blackout

Finding out what year The Clash got together might take a little more digging today, but it's not the end of the world. Most respondents were happy to hear Wikipedia is making a big deal out of the issue. One wrote, "It will certainly raise awareness of the issue. Millions of people forced to find out what the heck SOPA is all about..." If you weren't already talking about it, you are now. It's a complicated law with good arguments on each side, but the public is clearly on Wikipedia's side. Now maybe they'll make enough to end that donation request they sneak in right before you click on a page.

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SOPA Is Strongest With the Middle-Aged

In the age demographic, there was a shallow dip in support for Wikipedia's blackout right in the middle. Support was at its lowest at about age 40, where only 69% of voters thought the blackout was a good idea. That's still a lot of support, and it rose pretty evenly as voters got older and younger, reaching 86% at each extremity.

Student Support the Blackout

If anyone was going to have trouble going a day without Wikipedia, we would have guessed students. Evidently that's not the case. In fact, students were some of the blackout's strongest supporters. College students were especially enthusiastic at 91%. Wikipedias? They don't need no stinkin' Wikipedias.

Liberals Like It Most

At least this is one bill most of us can agree on. Conservatives were the least SOPA-friendly political group, but not by much. 77% of them still supported the blackout. Liberals were almost unanimous with 95%; progressives, moderates, and libertarians were all in the 80s.


If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our original poll about the Wikipedia blackout. We'd love to hear from you!
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Top Opinion

  • AlliePonie 2012/01/18 17:51:43
    AlliePonie
    +13
    A lot of the internet is actually blacking out today. I think it's a wonderful idea because it will simulate what the internet might be like if these bills pass.

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Opinions

  • Resizst... Daniel ... 2012/01/18 23:47:15
    Resizstance
    +5
    Me too! Why is Sodahead still on? LOL! REALLY!
  • Daniel Smith 2012/01/18 22:48:29
    Daniel Smith
    +5
    These bills are "criminal" in my opinion. The billionaire Movie, T.V., Music, and others, supporting this bill, should focus their money on producing things people will want to buy at a reasonable cost. There is a reason one can see a group of people always going through the 5.00$ dvd or $8.00 Blu ray bin at Walmart. When priced correctly people tend to spend rather than pirate. Even if these bills pass, Pirating will continue without question. The American public is not stupid. These bills are about controlling and regulating the internet from the general public. Internet as a form of entertainment is quickly surpassing individual media structures such as videos, music, etc . This fact scares the hell out of these Moguls.
  • Doug King 2012/01/18 22:46:38
    Doug King
    Don't care what they do.
  • thє вlu... Doug King 2012/01/19 04:32:48
  • Doug King thє вlu... 2012/01/19 22:12:18
    Doug King
    Sound like you're a moron to me.
  • thє вlu... Doug King 2012/01/23 18:08:13
  • Doug King thє вlu... 2012/01/23 22:03:39
    Doug King
    Sounds to me like your mother did have an abortion and you are all that's left
  • Chris 2012/01/18 22:36:46
    Chris
    How is it that this is the one thing Congress has been able to almost unanimously agree on? It's a slippery slope when you start to sensor technology...
  • thє вlu... Chris 2012/01/19 04:35:24
  • 11Bravo... thє вlu... 2012/01/19 13:17:40
    11BravoCibVet
    +1
    Raves for the truth to that!
  • ««zamboni»»Hellsoldier-BN0 2012/01/18 22:35:07
    ««zamboni»»Hellsoldier-BN0
    +4
    Well YEEEES!!! OF COURSE!!! SOPA and PIPA have to be BROUGHT DOWN!!!
  • merlinskiss 2012/01/18 22:33:24
    merlinskiss
    +3
    Yes! If enough people and organizations protest, maybe the ruling class will listen to voters instead of rich sponsors...
  • Chris merlins... 2012/01/18 23:31:21
    Chris
    +2
    I doubt it.
  • merlins... Chris 2012/01/18 23:38:45
    merlinskiss
    You never know. Groups are forming for many things...

    GOOOH.com
  • Constit... merlins... 2012/01/19 01:14:13
    Constitution Believer
    +1
    Its about time for the politicians to start listening to the people and not the people listening to the politicians.
  • merlins... Constit... 2012/01/19 01:35:45
    merlinskiss
    +1
    Politicians don't listen to people. They listen to money... That is the single biggest problem that needs to be fixed. Always follow the money...

    http://www.opensecrets.org/
  • Constit... merlins... 2012/01/19 01:58:56
    Constitution Believer
    The problem with politicians Merlin is they feel they are above everyone.
    Call one that is not of your party and see the attitude you get. I can remember in the old days, 1970's, when a Democrat could call a Republican and would be treated with repsect no matter how rude you were and complain and visa versa.
    Today if you don't have a "D" or an "R" behind your name you are disrespected or are called a racist.
    I have been to open secret's many times and have found that at lest 80% of what they print is fact and with todays standards those are good odds.
  • merlins... Constit... 2012/01/19 15:34:14
    merlinskiss
    Eliminate the money and set term limits and what you described starts to go away.
  • Constit... merlins... 2012/01/20 13:34:11
    Constitution Believer
    THAT my dear "Cats" friend would be asking far to much from the powers that be in Washington.
    I do have to agree with you about money and term limits...but as it was told to me when I purposed it to our state rep....THAT IS UP TO THE PEOPLE....and we both know that there are ppl out there that wil stop in the middle of the road and give you that deer in the headlight look.
    As for money, if you eliminate the money the family would have to suffer...but pay them minimum wage that would be fine with me....and I would not want to hear I WORK HARD FOR MY MONEY......Merlin I will be laughing my ass off right in their faces.
  • merlins... Constit... 2012/01/20 15:57:54
    merlinskiss
    Some of us are trying, not just paying it lip service and it can be done by the people.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com...
  • Constit... merlins... 2012/01/20 21:51:34
    Constitution Believer
    Great article and I think the last paragraph really says it all...
    Yes, we DO need to have to build an independant record and we need to do it fast and keep it accurate.
    People like Obama has taken the Constitution, a document that one of my acnestors signed, and has just wiped his butt with it.
    Like I have always said YOUR RESPECT ME I WILL RESPECT YOU...SHOULD YOU DISRESPECT ME OR MY COUNTRY I WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL.
  • Pete 2012/01/18 22:33:12
    Pete
    I believe it is a good ideas that Wikipedia's left voluntary or was blocked. Why? There seem to be too much plagiarism on his website and nothing seem to make sense........................... be with you
  • Anonymouse BN-0 ~bibbityboo~ 2012/01/18 22:29:12
    Anonymouse BN-0 ~bibbityboo~
    +1
    I think they should have blocked it completely in the US all day rather than blocking the English language one partially all day, we have nothing to do with your censor-mad government, we don't want to be blocked.
  • Resizst... Anonymo... 2012/01/18 23:52:15
    Resizstance
    +3
    The censorship that these bills would have brought would ultimately affect ALL country's.
    You should care.
  • Anonymo... Resizst... 2012/01/19 14:17:19
    Anonymouse BN-0 ~bibbityboo~
    I do care, and I know it would, but as we can't do anything about it, ithe blackout should be restricted to the US, where it's happening.
  • Resizst... Anonymo... 2012/01/19 15:45:56
    Resizstance
    There is plenty you can do. Write letters to the US Congress. Call them. Contact your Foreign Affairs office. Contact your government and tell them you don't want them supporting or capitulating with the bills in any way. ---

    The flood of letters and phone calls on a worldwide scale is to much for the US congress or the dark forces that want to exert their will upon an unsuspecting or an apathetic world to ignore. Never underestimate the will of the people.
  • PeetFizzy 2012/01/18 22:28:07
    PeetFizzy
    Mother Ukraine's censorship has risen ever since Yanukowič took over as head of Ukraine. Another thing which has risen is corruption and the power of damned Yanukowič's regime. Even beacon of freedom, Miss Tymošenko was taken down by Yanukowič in a politically motivated court case which the president of Ukraine can decide any of the results, which has cost Tymošenko her political career for the next 7 years...
    Do we want things to be like that? You can decide, but decide carefully.
  • Zomba Fett PeetFizzy 2012/01/18 22:42:58
    Zomba Fett
    I have heard Miss Timoshenko is in prison right now. Is that true?
  • PeetFizzy Zomba Fett 2012/01/18 22:46:27
    PeetFizzy
    +1
    Yes :( unfortunately it's true. That lady truly loved her country, she actually spoke Ukrainian, Yanukowič speaks very bad Ukrainian.
  • Jersey Roze ♥Jwon's Cyar'ika ♥
    Definitely worth the trouble...It was Wikipedia's way of telling me I shouldn't be using their website to write my research paper xD....
    On a more serious note, I see this issue like this: Regulation, not Restriction is necessary. The issue of piracy should be dealt with solely with the perpetrator. Everyone else shouldn't face restrictions because some people can't follow the law....
  • Hermes Jersey ... 2012/01/18 23:45:21
    Hermes
    +1
    Don't let yourself be told this is about "piracy" to deal with "piracy" the present laws are enough if enforced. This is about control and censorship. No one at any political pole or the middle should support it.
  • Jersey ... Hermes 2012/01/19 04:37:05
    Jersey Roze ♥Jwon's Cyar'ika ♥
    Oh, I'm well aware of that fact, I just tend to address the issue presented to me. If the government says "piracy" is the cause for this proposal, then I let it be known the proper solution, which is not restriction. But I think we all know the real issue here...
  • Eddie_says_OrlyTaitez_is_nutz 2012/01/18 22:00:21
    Eddie_says_OrlyTaitez_is_nutz
    +1
    How can Conservatives say no? It's government overreaching.

    Unless of course they are in the back pockets of the Music and Movie Industry
  • Amy.[: 2012/01/18 21:33:44
    Amy.[:
    +1
    I don't know
  • Tom Riddle's fangirl 2012/01/18 21:31:08
    Tom Riddle's fangirl
    Good idea, but when you have to use it at school, it's kinda annoying.
    But I'm supporting Anti-SOPA
  • BattleBunnys 2012/01/18 21:29:30
  • Daedalus BattleB... 2012/01/19 01:28:48
    Daedalus
    +2
    Is he holding a torch? :-)
  • BattleB... Daedalus 2012/01/19 02:02:24
    BattleBunnys
    +3
    To burn down the houses of the lawmakers who approve SOPA :-P
  • Daedalus BattleB... 2012/01/19 02:04:18
    Daedalus
    I like his enthusiasm. :-D
  • BattleB... Daedalus 2012/01/19 02:29:50
    BattleBunnys
    +3
    He's only expressing half of the enthusiasm I have towards anti-SOPA ;P. yes

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