# List of sites (and alternatives?) going dark in protest of SOPA/PIPA? \[NAF!\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864 "2012-01-18T02:45:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Doctor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Doctor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/21 "2012-01-18T18:55:31Z")
[Saturday Morning Breakfast Cerea](http://www.smbc-comics.com/#comic)l also has blocked their content with a fake take-down message from the US Government. ETA: And [Cyanide and Happiness](http://www.explosm.net/sopa.html). ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/22 "2012-01-18T19:46:03Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Not just A protest cartoon - all the cartoon links go to the blacked-out protest cartoon today. ooooh… I didn’t realize that! ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/23 "2012-01-18T19:49:12Z")
Craigslist is blacked out, (don’t know if there is a work-around). ---
**Author:** ![iamnotbatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@iamnotbatman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamnotbatman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/24 "2012-01-18T21:11:13Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Craigslist is blacked out, (don’t know if there is a work-around). There is a link at the bottom of the page to continue past to the regular site. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/25 "2012-01-18T21:22:21Z")
[WordPress.com](http://WordPress.com) has [blacked out its front page](http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/join-our-censorship-protest/) and given individual hosted blogs the option of participating in the blackout. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/26 "2012-01-18T21:38:19Z")
[Fark.com](http://Fark.com) has gone “white” over SOPA/PIPA. That’s the only one I’ve seen. I always use Noscript, so there’s been no effect on Google, or Wikipedia for me today. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/27 "2012-01-18T21:56:42Z")
Technical question: why did sites go with the scripted solution? Using NoScript, I too have barely noticed a difference. Was it to intentionally let some people continue to use the resources? I would think that if they took the time to add code to their pages they could have just as easily redirected to a simple HTML page with the same appearance. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/28 "2012-01-18T22:19:28Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Technical question: why did sites go with the scripted solution? Search engines. They don’t want to risk getting bumped out of Google because the crawlers think all of their content has been removed. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/29 "2012-01-18T22:36:01Z")
Firefox’s default start up google page is blacked out in protest. The google search still works. I hope the press does a good job reporting this story. They need to make people aware how important this is. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/30 "2012-01-18T23:04:06Z")
My _local news_ just came on and their lead story was the web black out. 😃 I bet the network news leads with it too at 5:30. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/31 "2012-01-18T23:35:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > My _local news_ just came on and their lead story was the web black out. 😃 I bet the network news leads with it too at 5:30. Unless it was only a 1 minute blurb, nope. I just checked all 3 at 5:35, and nada. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/32 "2012-01-18T23:48:51Z")
ABC ran the web story after their lead story on Seattle’s snow storm. At least they did cover the blackout. Sadly ABC didn’t explain the issue well. They had a 15 year old find Mission Impossible for dl in just seconds. Giving the impression that the only issue is piracy. They didn’t say anything about the negative consequences of the law for the web. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/33 "2012-01-18T23:50:47Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > ABC ran the web story after their lead story on Seattle’s snow storm. > > At least they did cover the blackout. I didn’t bother to keep watching. I’d rather watch reruns of _Leave it to Beaver._ ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/34 "2012-01-18T23:56:40Z")
I don’t understand television news. As for news in general, Mediamatters has had stories about the lack of coverage and likely motivations. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/35 "2012-01-19T00:04:02Z")
I sent this to my whack-job representative, Paul Broun and honesly, y’all this guy is a piece of work. But i was respectful… Dr. Broun, SOPA and PIPA are both horrible and (in my opinion) unconstitutional legislations. The USA built the Internet in such a manner as to prevent the censure of data transmissions being prevented. It is the responsibility of the marketplace to regulate its use, not the US government. The result of these actions could essentially cripple one of the most efficient commercial mechanisms that Humanity has ever created Please vote against this. I did this because when I went to Wiki, I was diverted to that dang page. So… I did what the guy who created wiki… wait let me look it up… Thank OG I found a cached… Jimmy Wales. Now, if they wanted me to be pissed off the, yep… you got it. I am really irritated at that GOP guy from Texas. But, all I have is my crappy representative and senator. Both of whom are GOPs. Yey me. crap crap crapppetty crap crap. I LOVE representational government! GO USA!!!111!!!111 ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/36 "2012-01-19T01:26:30Z")
Here’s an [official list](http://sopastrike.com/on-strike/) of sites participating in the blackout. I don’t have exact numbers but I believe several tens of thousands of [WordPress.com](http://WordPress.com) sites used the blackout feature. More still are displaying the Stop Censorship ribbon without blacking out entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/37 "2012-01-19T02:19:25Z")
The player-run Titan Network associated with the MMORPG City of Heroes went dark. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/38 "2012-01-19T02:19:51Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Technical question: why did sites go with the scripted solution? Using NoScript, I too have barely noticed a difference. Was it to intentionally let some people continue to use the resources? I would think that if they took the time to add code to their pages they could have just as easily redirected to a simple HTML page with the same appearance. The scripted version is way faster and easier to do. You don’t want to start messing with htaccess, and a php/asp/etc. header redirect is just clunky. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/39 "2012-01-19T02:25:54Z")
Here’s a list: [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/GarySiegel/aBowman-SOPA-Head-Shot1.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/GarySiegel/aBowman-SOPA-Head-Shot1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-sites-and-alternatives-going-dark-in-protest-of-sopa-pipa-naf/609864/40 "2012-01-19T04:54:36Z")
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