Hey folks. I try not to mix my politics with my gaming, but this is something I think we all need to be thinking about. The proposed SOPA & PIPA legislation seems like bad stuff, and I've especially been thinking about how it could impact OSR games, blogs, and so on. If you're not familiar with this stuff, there's a good primer on the topics here: http://www.copyblogger.com/sopa/
As I interpret this stuff, it could very well kill just about everything that's been great, is great, and could still be great about the OSR. If this junk had been in place when OSRIC, LL, S&W and the other retroclones had been just getting started, it's entirely possible that all of these things would have been nipped in the bud. And that would have been a tragedy.
So please take a few moments to educate yourself on these proposed laws and, if you're so inclined, contact your elected representatives to let them know how you feel. A lot of great work has already been done by folks around the internet to put an end to this madness. But there's more to be done.
Also, if you run a blog or other site, please consider joining in with Reddit's blackout planned for 1/18/12. Full details here: http://blog.reddit.com/2012/01/stopped- ... s-all.html
I'll definitely be taking StrangeStones.com dark that day, but I don't think that making a statement to all four of my readers is enough. If a huge swath of the OSR and other geek blogs took part, though, it might actually add up to something.
Oh, and for the record, I am 100% against piracy and IP theft and all of that. I've had my own pirates and thieves to deal with in various parts of my disparate artistic & other pursuits. I just happen to think that these particular approaches to the problems are draconian, stupid, ineffectual and downright dangerous.
That's all I've got. Thanks for your time.