According to Paul Carr of Pandodaily (the new blog setup by some TechCrunch refugees), Wikipedia should not be going black in protest of SOPA. His main reasons ares that:
- Wikipedia has asked their users for money in order to keep their servers up. The users have provided that money, and thus deserve uninterrupted service.
- It marginalizes other important things such as human rights abuses in Libya.
- It harms Wikipedia’s Neutrality.
Mr. Carr does have a point in that Wikipedia has been fundraising, and its users deserve the up time that they donated their money for. However, Wikipedia did not just make this decision on its own. Its users have voiced their opinions. If passed, SOPA/PIPA will bring down Wikipedia, not for one day, but forever. SOPA/PIPA is also not just an issue in the United States. It also gives the ability for international sites to be brought down.
Mr. Carr’s second issue with Wikipedia’s marginalization of other issues is also somewhat valid. But, those other issues did not affect Wikipedia itself. SOPA will affect Wikipedia if passed. As a foundation that’s goal is to “empower and engage people around the world to collect and develop educational content under a free license or in the public domain, and to disseminate it effectively and globally.” Wikipedia should and must oppose all laws, American and Otherwise, that would make their mission impossible.
Wikipedia’s articles must be neutral, but Wikipedia should not. It must serve its own interests. The Wikimedia foundation cannot roll over and allow the United States government to pass harmful bills that will negatively impact it.
This website will be joining Wikipedia in it’s protest. Wikipedia is making the right decisions and I fully support them.
Update (Tuesday, @4:10):
As shown in the Twitter update above, Carr misinterpreted Cosotolo’s tweet. Mr. Costolo was only referring to the pressure that Twitter should go down tomorrow. But my argument for Wikipedia’s blackout still stands.
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