Hello all,
Catching up with the events of the past week here, I'd like to thank everyone for their comments and explanatory links. I'd like to agree with Bob on one point:
We could really use an educational meeting or event on the SOPA-PIPA question.
It will be to our advantage to have some shared basic knowledge of the issue, and talking points we all agree on.
Questions about SOPA-PIPA are going to continue to come up again between now and Wikimania. We need simple verbal explanations, and back and forth, in person questions, to confirm that a shared understanding exists. Videoconferencing is second best. There's a reason for in-person, face-to-face briefings and discussions: the feedback loop involved prepares you for presenting ideas live and in person yourself. If all our members can respond knowledgeably, that's a plus.
We also need to note that opinion was not unanimous for a blackout as the appropriate response, in DC or overall.
If we get together and work out consensus language for an ongoing position on this question, we'll get the membership on the same page.
We are fortunate to have Nicholas available to draft a press release on short notice. Now that the initial need to respond to the blackout has passed, I'd like to start out here by asking the Board to work out putting together a short, consensus statement on "what is SOPA-PIPA, and why are we concerned" for the membership. (Might even be a brief sentence or two, with a link referencing to WM explanations.)
Kristin