Why Black March Is a Really Fucking Bad Idea
To the people proposing this:
You dumb bastards. You know who this’ll hurt? Not big media. Not on any significant scale.
No, the people this will really fuck over are the EXACT same people SOPA and PIPA would fuck: Creative professionals; small publishers; independent businesses.
If you want to do something that makes a statement, consider shifting your money not only away from corporate media but to independent media. Buy comics published by someone other than DC and Marvel. Buy books from small and independent presses. Support independent production companies who fight to stay independent and fan-focused. Better yet, buy things directly from creators and artisans. Support independent retailers. Don’t just blanket punish media producers and distributors—refocus those resources into supporting the ones who espouse and depend on free exchange of information and ideas.
Because those are the people preserving intellectual freedom.
Those are the people creating work of substance.
And those are the people struggling to make a living, because they aren’t bankrolled by the doucheweasels lobbying for SOPA and PIPA.
So, yeah, boycott whomever you please. But for fuck’s sake, also think.
Thank you Rachel, this is basically what my problem was the moment I saw that image but I couldn’t put into words exactly what was making me so angry. SOPA and PIPA are going to hurt small businesses and independent artists that make a living off of the internet, and refusing to buy ANY media during the month of March will do the exact same thing: hurt small businesses and independent artists.
Not all “big media” is bad. There are plenty of “big names” that have been openly against SOPA and PIPA since the beginning, like Valve, for example. I know research is hard and “Don’t Support Companies That Support Things You Don’t Agree With March” isn’t as snappy as “Black March” but don’t be so hasty that you actively hurt the people that you want to help.
(via arobynsung)

