So Long, Internet. We Hardly Knew Ye.

The Internet as we know it is dying.

I'm dead fucking serious.

Why? There were two big things that happened in recent history that support my hypothesis.


REASON WHY THE INTERNET IS DYING #1: Net neutrality is gone, as evidenced by AT&T blocking parts of 4chan to their subscribers on July 27th 2009, due to a purported DDoS attack from a 4chan server. Although the block lasted less than a day, it was still evident that large ISPs like AT&T have the power to censor websites they don't like. I fear that in the near future, the government will allow ISPs to block websites that restrict unpopular speech for the guise of "national security". Since when did the global Internet become annexed by China?

Sources:

http://encyclopediadramatica.com/AT&T_Blocks_4chan (Link may be NSFW.)

http://www.pcworld.com/article/169100/atandts_4chan_block_raises_issue_of_net_neutrality.html

REASON WHY THE INTERNET IS DYING #2: No more anonymity. Apparently, you can get sued for defamation of character by calling someone famous a skank. And lose the case. And be forced to identify yourself to said skank and the courts. What bothers me is that the blogger was using Blogger, a free web log service owned by Google, and that Google pussied out and gave in to the demands of Liskula Cohen and her lawyers. What also bothers me is that why would Cohen become butthurt over comments from a BLOG? And it's not even a high-profile blog like The Huffington Post, for fuck's sake! BLOGS FOR THE MOST PART HAVE NO CREDIBILITY WHATSOEVER. HELL, EVEN THIS BLOG, A SOAPBOX AT THAT, HAS NO ACTUAL CREDIBILITY. I'M JUST A MAN IN MY MID 20'S WITH AN OPINION. THAT IS ALL. 

Oh, and Miss Cohen, you are a thin-skinned, skanky, artificial, superficial, butthurt old hag who doesn't know the difference between a snarky comment and real defamation. Good day to you, madam.

Sources:

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/01/05/2009-01-05_model_liskula_cohen_sues_google_over_blo.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/18/liskula-cohen-ex-model-wi_n_261847.html

http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Liskula_Cohen (Link especially NSFW and snarky to a T.)

Yes, corporations and the judicial system are fucking up our once beloved Internet. If those things weren't enough, feminist groups and apparently the UN are trying to force Japan to ban hentai (drawn pornographic images) in anime, manga, and the Internet (video games with similar themes have been banned months ago followed by pressure of similar groups), in the guise that said images demean and objectify women. Now, I'm not an expert in feminism, but since when do cartoons hurt women directly? Yes, they are perverted, but it's just drawings. Nothing more. What's ironic is that Japan, despite their proliferation of said cartoon smut, has one of the LOWEST rates of violence and sex crimes on the planet. Maybe, just maybe, those cartoons help every pervert get off, and will have no drive to exact their jollies upon women. 

Source:

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/08/21/un-demands-hentai-ban/ (Link may be NSFW.)

Now remember, the UN is pressuring that idea towards Japan, not us, so there's not much to worry about when it comes to freedom of expression and speech when it comes to the cartoons and the Internet. But with the last two things that happened recently (AT&T and Cohen), I fear that it may happen soon, especially if legislation to ban said images is presented in a manner that will "protect" the children. Look, kids need to be protected from drugs, rapists, and murderers, not cartoons found on the Internet that their parents were too lazy or stupid to block in the first place. 

If you are a parent with very young children reading this, then please remember that television, computers, and video games are NOT babysitters. AND FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND WHOLESOME, BE A PARENT TO YOUR KIDS!! ONE SMALL ACT OF PARENTAL SUPERVISION WILL RESULT IN YOUR SON NOT ABUSING DRUGS, YOUR DAUGHTER NOT GETTING PREGNANT, AND THE REST OF US NOT GETTING OUR RIGHTS TAKEN AWAY. 

Thank you for reading. Have a good night.


 

PS: Wait...I use Blogger. Fuck.