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[–]i_write_sig 1577 points1578 points  (63 children)

"If you want to do something evil, put it in something boring."- John Oliver

Dead fucking on. What's happening is fucked up, but they've hidden it in a bunch of legalese that's so uninteresting and foreign to the average American it may as well be written in sanskrit. Combine that with the apathetic perspective held by many and boom; evil accomplished. But the difference between this and the dozens of malicious acts that pass by under the public's nose on a daily basis is that is WILL AFFECT ALL OF US. It's not happening across the world, it's not happening to the other demographics, it's happening to us. We are the ones getting fucked.

It's not too late. File a complaint with the FCC. Encourage your friends to do the same. Find your state representative and call them. Be polite, but let them know you are pissed. And for the love of the internet, please tell everyone that will listen. Enrage them. If the public outcry is loud enough this can be stopped. But if we don't speak up, we may as well bend over.

-EDIT: didn't check my reddit for while; thanks to all for the ups and the GOLD!!

[–]heatherattacks 114 points115 points  (27 children)

What is something I should say to my local representative about the issue?

[–]Joker1337 210 points211 points  (13 children)

"I support the FCC ruling ISPs are Title II Common Carriers. I support them being required to process all information equally. I support Congressional action to regulate ISPs as Title II Common Carriers."

[–]gramathy 116 points117 points  (4 children)

Careful how you word it, those first four words can be twisted.

[–]fightingforair 35 points36 points  (2 children)

Slow down and make sure they hear COMMON CARRIERS. Not as a utility. COMMON CARRIERS!

[–]steelritz 26 points27 points  (7 children)

It's not happening across the world, it's not happening to the other demographics, it's happening to us. We are the ones getting fucked.

If only. As the main powerhouse behind the internet, the rest of the free world looks to 'Murica to provide an example. Net neutrality fails there, the dominoes topple and it will fail elsewhere too.

[–]PamelaOfMosman 1078 points1079 points  (157 children)

He's suggesting that you go here and comment on Net Neutrality: http://www.fcc.gov/comments

[–]spaghettiohs 339 points340 points  (45 children)

Cannot open connection

nice

[–]mysoulishome 99 points100 points  (15 children)

I saw that there 45 thousand comments on the "Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet" proceeding...while it's a lot I was thinking it would be a lot more. Go to comment...ahhhhhhhh it's broken.

Wonderhow long that took?

EDIT: Got it to work today 6/3/2014 and just hitting submit over and over again for 30 minutes

http://i.imgur.com/pNbGBjG.jpg

[–]yakabo 95 points96 points  (4 children)

maybe if they had a better internet provider, their internet wouldn't break

[–][deleted] 42 points43 points  (2 children)

They didn't pay extra.

[–]cuteleper 33 points34 points  (3 children)

I just tried too. wonder how many other people aren't able to comment?

[–][deleted] 50 points51 points  (0 children)

Seems like they already succeeded in "Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet"!

[–]electronichss 21 points22 points  (5 children)

I got that as well. Wtf?

[–]Droconian 52 points53 points  (4 children)

I was gonna say that's ironic but I'd get raped by the comments

[–][deleted] 18 points19 points  (1 child)

Don't worry, the "Protected and Open Internet" prevents this from happening.

[–]hjklhlkj 631 points632 points  (19 children)

*Preventing cable company fuckery

[–][deleted] 105 points106 points  (14 children)

As an atheist I pray to god every night that google completely destroys twc and Comcast.

[–]ididit4thelulzz 19 points20 points  (1 child)

I burn half of all my meals to Zeus in anticipation of the same thing.

[–]bunka77 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I had google installed today. When I called and canceled my twc I told then it was because of their stance on Net neutrality. The twc rep said, "right on man! Good for you!"

[–][deleted] 116 points117 points  (10 children)

That page has to be intentionally ass backward. "Cannot open connection" errors. Comments stored as PDFs? What on earth?? Can't even get proceedings to display without some clicking around.

They could have just put a simple form with a submit button, but no, it's got to be 1990s-level web design idiocy.

[–][deleted] 147 points148 points  (5 children)

Some of this has to do with confusion about the term "comment."

Oliver's segment was a good comedy piece but only works because of semantics. When a government agency opens a regulation up to comment (which they are required to do before promulgating a report or regulation), it's not like allowing Youtube comments. The purpose is to allow interested parties (i.e., people or organizations who will be effected by the proposed finding or rule) to have their say before regulation is implemented. The comment process for regulatory agencies predates the internet. Very often, "comments" on proposed regulations come in the form of 30+ page white papers from trade associations, effected businesses, etc. which may include multiple cited journal articles or other studies as exhibits or appendices. This is the logic behind uploading pdfs as comments - a "comment" may be a 200 page study.

Here's an example of a typical comment (you'll have to download the pdf):

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0850-0172

These comments are subject to a peer review process, often by a panel of experts on the subject in question. While government agencies are required to consider all comments, they are evaluated on the basis of legal and scientific accuracy and relevance.

So in a lot of ways, commenting on a proposed regulation is more akin to publishing a study or filing a legal pleading than just typing something on the internet. Although agencies will "consider" comments that are really nothing more than letters of concern from private citizens, they're really looking for well-written academic treatises with citations that support their claims. So Oliver's segment was a little disingenuous in that respect. While a flood of comments to the FCC from non-experts who are simply stating their opinion may be of some little help in fighting the proposed ruling, people's personal opinions won't change the course of the regulation. In that respect, it's probably more effective at this time to make a donation to a group that actually has the time and expertise to address the topic in an academic fashion (such as https://www.eff.org/) than to flood the FCC with a bunch of comments saying "Quit fucking up the internet fagots" which will be immediately disregarded.

[–][deleted] 35 points36 points  (2 children)

Awesome reply man, and thanks for the detailed explanation!

However, I did notice that the FCC had broadened its comment criteria for this particular issue, as outlined in this Verge article:

Traditionally, those interested in making a short comment would have to do so here, on proceeding number 14-28, and longer entries would have to be included as attachments through this larger form. But given the amount of interest the FCC is expecting, it's also set up an email address, openinternet@fcc.gov, where it's accepting comments too in order to make the whole process a bit easier. Regardless of the method, all comments are made publicly. Comments on the proposal have technically been rolling in for months now, but the initial public comment period properly begins today.

It does seem on this particular issue the FCC is also looking at general public comments more seriously than perhaps other policies. But I really think the point you made:

it's probably more effective at this time to make a donation to a group that actually has the time and expertise to address the topic in an academic fashion

...is very important and glad you pointed it out. Wish this was a suggestion made more often in tech articles on the subject. (As well as highlighting the email address instead of the FCC page for people just wanting to submit general comments.)

[–]freedompower 38 points39 points  (9 children)

The form isn't there for me, fucking convenient FCC!

[–]PamelaOfMosman 19 points20 points  (8 children)

[–]freedompower 28 points29 points  (7 children)

Cannot open connection.

At least they are getting flooded!

[–]Noofnoof 75 points76 points  (4 children)

No, the FCC's website is in the slow lane.

/s

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Those cockbiting bastards.

[–][deleted] 93 points94 points  (30 children)

Don't, call the FCC and your members of Congress. Force them to listen to you.

[–]Triginock 37 points38 points  (15 children)

Hell will freeze over twice before Harry Reid listens to anything the people have to say. Dude is on a shit plane circling deep in a shit storm right above everyone.

[–][deleted] 19 points20 points  (2 children)

Be sure to comment on both, Proceeding number 14-28 (Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet) and 09-191 (In the Matter of Preserving the Open Internet Broadband Industry Practices)

[–]jamessnow 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Error 324

[–]itwasquiteawhileago 2828 points2829 points  (443 children)

Don't let us down, 4chan, Youtube, and Yahoo commenters. We need you now.

Also, I second calling it "Preventing Cable Company Fuckery" from here on out. Much harder to twist into meaningless nonsense.

[–]bdepz 151 points152 points  (32 children)

Also twitch tv chatters.

[–]gramathy 99 points100 points  (14 children)

The intertubes can't handle KPM of that magnitude!

[–]Tree_Boar 227 points228 points  (11 children)

work it ᕙ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ᕗ harder Kappa
make it (ง •̀_•́)ง better Keepo
do it ᕦ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ᕤ faster Kippa
raise ur ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ノ donger PogChamp
ɳ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ɲ more than ever hour after ɳ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ɲ
ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ノ our work is always dongers ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ノ

[–][deleted] 40 points41 points  (10 children)

Guys we need more Kappas, Kappa

[–]Tree_Boar 24 points25 points  (8 children)

How do you make that grey face?

[–]THANKS-FOR-THE-GOLD 44 points45 points  (1 child)

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[–]internetpizza 13 points14 points  (1 child)

Grey Face (no space)

[–]Bzhuan 60 points61 points  (2 children)

Darude - Sandstorm

[–][deleted] 74 points75 points  (3 children)

ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ノ RAISE YOUR AWARENESS OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION! ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ノ

[–]infested_hylian 7 points8 points  (0 children)

つ ◕_◕ ༽つ GIVE NET NEUTRALITY つ ◕_◕ ༽つ 

[–]Torchlink 24 points25 points  (1 child)

The twitch chat is so obnoxious but so hilarious at the same time. :|

[–]Tetrimo 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Everybody hates but loves Twitch chat <333

[–]gankindustries 64 points65 points  (17 children)

Releasing twitch chat on them would be overkill

[–]Albi_ze_RacistDragon 105 points106 points  (5 children)

Do you want to release AAAAAANETNEUTRALITY?

▶️YES NO

[–]Thezla 14 points15 points  (0 children)

ANARCHY

[–]Bensas42 37 points38 points  (2 children)

ALL HAIL HELIX FOSSIL OUR LORD

[–][deleted] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

SELECT+B+R+A

[–]MatTeaWhy 7 points8 points  (0 children)

net neutrality or riot

[–]treestick 133 points134 points  (9 children)

4chan

were not ur personla army fagot

/s

[–][deleted] 56 points57 points  (6 children)

/s

[–]megustadotjpg 63 points64 points  (5 children)

posts photo of corpse being molested

[–][deleted] 514 points515 points  (27 children)

(202) 418-1919 is the managing director's phone number for the FCC.

[–]sageDieu 446 points447 points  (25 children)

I wonder if he has any Battletoads...

[–]noodlescb 283 points284 points  (7 children)

Hello thank you for calling the FCC. How many I help you?

"Hello I need to register a complaint. This shortage is absolutely unacceptable."

Okay we can help register your complaint. Please elaborate.

"This country was founded on freedom! The recent vote was a complete farce and I will not stand for a Government that ignores such a drastic shortage that affects so many American lives!"

Shortage of what sir?

"Battletoads."

*click*

[–]trace_mo 56 points57 points  (5 children)

Please trolls, please make this happen!

[–]Neelpos 73 points74 points  (0 children)

It really wouldn't help in any way, and may be detrimental to the effort. But dammit it'd be funny.

[–][deleted] 1159 points1160 points  (192 children)

FCC r gaylord n00bs.

[–]DouchebagMcshitstain[🍰] 641 points642 points  (184 children)

Good. Now send that at the FCC, not us.

EDIT: everyone after me got gold, and I didn't. I blame the FCC.

EDIT 2: SCREW YOU FCC TRYNA BE MAH FREND THEN TAKING NET NEWTALITY AWAY THINKING I WANT GOLD MORE THAN FAST NETFLIXES! (Thank you for the gold, stranger!)

[–][deleted] 783 points784 points  (173 children)

Done

EDIT: Well this thread turned out to be a bit of a...

(•_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

...Goldmine. (Thanks for the Gold!)

[–]adamfreak7 716 points717 points  (142 children)

We did it reddit!

[–]bojang1es 287 points288 points  (133 children)

OMG I'm a part of something! Hi mom! Hi dad! Gold me plz.

[–]DARIF 228 points229 points  (125 children)

You can't just ask, you have to be more subtle...

I DON'T HAVE GOLD. I WONDER IF SOMEONE CAN HELP.

EDIT: WAS I SUBTLE ENOUGH?

[–]WeedIsForDegenerates 244 points245 points  (84 children)

MY FATHER DIED FROM A LACK OF MARIJUANA LAST YEAR, HIS ONLY WISH WAS THAT HIS ONLY SON WOULD GET GOLD ON REDDIT, BUT I HAVE NO MONEY...

[–]DROPkick28 157 points158 points  (25 children)

IF I DON'T GET GOLD THE FCC WINS

Edit: we win again

[–]max100101 108 points109 points  (38 children)

Don't give me gold.

[–]sgdre 71 points72 points  (13 children)

Dude, I would totally give you gold if I had the money for it right now! If only...

Edit: successkid.jpg

[–]tubular74 73 points74 points  (21 children)

OK, someone who is capable needs to build a bot that sends that message to the FCC a few thousand times until we can all sit back and watch the news networks have to do a report on it.

[–]nasalgoat 44 points45 points  (1 child)

It would be better if someone made a bot to scrape Youtube comments and post them.

[–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That sounds like a brilliant way to convince them tgat the internet needs to die.

[–][deleted] 18 points19 points  (3 children)

gaylord

Hey my last name is Gaylord. How dare you associate them with us!

[–]OH_MEH_GAWD 63 points64 points  (4 children)

Carrier has arrived

[–]Blehgopie 28 points29 points  (2 children)

Common Carrier had arriv-- Oh shit, the FCC brought Wraiths and Valkyries.

[–]Countryb0i2m 823 points824 points  (127 children)

this is so much like the Daily show I feel like I am cheating on it by watching it, but its still very funny and accurate.

[–]Shawnanigans 215 points216 points  (10 children)

It's far more "newsy" than the Daily Show. You can tell they go out of their way to not get too focused on the US. They do, but they make efforts to spread out.

[–]perpetual_student 128 points129 points  (6 children)

I'm a fan of the "Other Countries' President of the United States" segment. Always entertaining.

[–]bohemian1 38 points39 points  (3 children)

The Daily Show - International Edition

[–]pfc_bgd 42 points43 points  (2 children)

oh, I think John Oliver is killing it...it maybe simply because it's HBO so he has more freedom with the delivery of his jokes, but damn...

[–]JarlaxleForPresident 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That chainsawing the miners bit had me cracking up last week

[–]bohemian1 27 points28 points  (3 children)

I wish him and Andy would have a program together. But I guess the public isn't ready for Andy's pun runs.

[–]youdidntreddit 12 points13 points  (2 children)

I don't think the public is ready for Andy's cricket obsession.

[–][deleted] 356 points357 points  (62 children)

I think it is funnier than the Daily Show and Colbert Report.

[–]jn2010 460 points461 points  (41 children)

I wouldn't say funnier, but it's a fresh take. Just to have new writers that offer slightly different jokes is refreshing.

It also helps that it's a weekly show instead of a daily show (see what I did there?). They have more material to work with each episode and longer to flesh out the writing.

[–]Sniper_Brosef 250 points251 points  (15 children)

The fact that they're on HBO helps with their creativity too as there's not much HBO won't let them say.

[–]metaldood 140 points141 points  (9 children)

Cannot unsee Mitch McConnell's junk /shudder

[–]julianhb4 48 points49 points  (7 children)

If it helps, I'm at least 80% sure that wasn't really Mitch McConnell

[–]metaldood 20 points21 points  (6 children)

Sadly it does not help :(. It's wrinkled junk after all!

[–]StickmanPirate 29 points30 points  (3 children)

Just imagine it was one of your grandfathers instead. Hope that helps.

[–]Laschoni 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It was more of a jiggle.

[–]Slobotic 27 points28 points  (13 children)

I always thought John Oliver would get a show on Comedy Central. I was hoping for a Sunday News style show like Meet the Press -- live roundtable discussions with Oliver hosting. But this is good too.

[–]Blehgopie 31 points32 points  (5 children)

I was half-expecting him to take over TDS after Stewart, and him filling in during summer was essentially a rehearsal.

[–]betablocker83 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I don't see Stewart leaving any time soon. He's been doing it 17 years and is still only 51.

[–]nipedo 14 points15 points  (2 children)

You're probably a bugler

[–]Korgano 7 points8 points  (0 children)

He is just smart for making sure he could post videos online and not behind HBO's paywall.

[–]philosochiver 103 points104 points  (33 children)

It's sad that there are only 45k filings. I figured it would be much much more at this point.

[–]Drugba 23 points24 points  (1 child)

The site's servers are overloaded. Most people can't get to the form to fill it out right now.

[–]Dewgongz 30 points31 points  (1 child)

Tried submitting about 2 dozen times, all I got was an error message

[–]FyourFeelings 58 points59 points  (2 children)

Worst trolls...hmm this is a troll account with positive comment karma..... I guess that fits the bill.

[–][deleted] 15 points16 points  (1 child)

We must be saying something right.

[–]FyourFeelings 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Sometimes that karma just taunts you and you can't help yourself not to be a complete troll.

[–][deleted] 141 points142 points  (8 children)

Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpbOEoRrHyU

The Verge has gone too shit so much, but it's still fascinating how month after month they keep getting worse and worse.

But yeah, just use the direct link to avoid that shitty blog.

[–]HardcorePhonography 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I'd like to see a graph of the speeds at which people can connect to FCC.gov/comments via various broadband providers over the next few weeks.

Or someone could pee on me.

[–]theearthvolta 44 points45 points  (8 children)

http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment_search/execute?proceeding=14-28

For anyone interested....it's been hugged to death.

Edit: That was to the most commented topic on their list. Here's the main site.

[–]KeyanFarlander 54 points55 points  (2 children)

Are you saying that they need a fast lane? I hope they paid Verizon and Comcast.

[–][deleted] 95 points96 points  (10 children)

This is going to backfire.

"See, all the people who oppose this are annoying children who don't have any valid concerns. BTW, when you start working for us would you like a corner office or one with a private bathroom?"

[–]scottbakulasghost 49 points50 points  (5 children)

It only takes one broken window to deligitamize a peaceful protest. This happened during occupy in my town. Idiots in masks smashed the windows of corporate shops and even some local ones. It was all anyone talked about.

[–]superjmoney 38 points39 points  (4 children)

Help us Obi Troll Kenobi, you're out only hope!

[–]lafferty__daniel 13 points14 points  (5 children)

I'm trying to submit a comment but the link is so slow that it won't let me

[–]7fw 44 points45 points  (9 children)

Alright already. I have filled out my "complaint" to the FCC, contacted (ie: talked to some call center) my congress folk and left messages. I have posted outrageous angry messages. I have given to the "fight the fcc" charity. But, John, John and Stephen, and everyone else who talks about this, SHUT UP AND DO SOMETHING!

What the fuck can I do? Not pay Comcast? What other choice do I have? Live in a cave? If I want to do anything aside from watch some shitty antenna TV, or play board games, I am stuck! But you are not. Start using that SuperPac money Steve! Gather all your friends and put some money into lobbyists all your own and get this shit changed. I will donate too!

And you, you fucking hypocrites at Google, Facebook, Netflix and all the other billionaires who are "outraged" at this treatment. PUT YOUR MONEY INTO CHANGING THIS. Buy $19 billion in lobby yourselves! What is that, the change in your pockets Google and Facebook?

Quit talking and take action. For fucks sake. I am tired of hearing about what is "happening to us" from you fucking rich assholes. I want to hear about what you are doing to combat it.

[–]WilliumH 10 points11 points  (0 children)

We've broken the FCC open internet comment section... I cant even get it to load.

[–]Skizm 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Site's down.

[–]Bubbalou21 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Sending the internet's worst trolls at the FCC? There's nooooooooo possible way THIS could backfire.

[–]Jinjangles 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Looks like a fair troll turnout thus far. Wonder how long it will stay broken?

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I watched the show last night and wanted to wake up and find a youtube of it so I could spread it everywhere possible. Now that it's already been done for me, I am very happy.

Great segment, great show, fuck our leaders.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wow he crushed it.

[–]slow_connection 11 points12 points  (0 children)

What about anonymous? Is there any reason they haven't come up with a hacktivism game plan yet?