I am a firm believer that the internet will change humanity.

I hope, it will be for the greater good, but it's not looking that way. I still have hope though.

I'm a member is several online communities. Mostly dealing with earth shattering issues such as session state applied to a treeview control in ASP.Net, asyncronous javascript active X (AJAX) usage with dynamic content, user customisation of interfaces. No, not earth shattering. But, this is what I find more interesting.

It's not important what these problems are (which, if your not a programmer, you won't), what is important is how I get them solved.

I ask for help. I go online to various different forums and ask the question. "Can someone help me?". And someone always does!! The funny thing is, if I don't get a direct answer, I get pointed to the path where the answer lyes. But that's not the amazing part. What is amazing is WHO is answering my call for help!!!

Americans, Brits, Germans, Italians, Israelies (gonna give up on spelling at this point! :) ), Chinese, Japanese, and some weido from Austraila!! People from Brazil, Colombia, the Netherlands, Canada, Veitnam.......and the list goes on!

Black, white, brown, yellow, green (the Austrailian dude, I'm almost positive!!!) doesn't matter. The internet is the GREAT EQUALISER!!! They help me. I help them. We help each other. We solve problems. Trade ideas. We talk to each other. We don't always agree, and sometimes we might get rude, but WE, as programmers, respect each other.

This is what I hope will grow. Un-conditional, global, respect for other poeple, other idea's, other ways of thinking.

Now you may think this is just a bunch of crap. But I look at it this way. Why can't we have a medium where anyone, anywhere on the planet, has an equal say on any subject, at any time, and they are respected because they contribute to the group. I'm not talking about those idiots who leave 4 letter word responses, or just say "your dumb". Those people should, in the words of SXEPHIL (YouTube dude!) "should never be allowed to have children!"!!!

The internet is great. You can hide behind a fictious name and spill your ideas, beliefs and soul to the world. And for the most part, get an honest feedback as to other poeples thoughts and ideas on said topic.

OH....but I'm forgetting something.....the world doesn't work that way. Oh No!!! I have forgotten the golden rule! He who has the gold MAKE THE RULES!!!

Which brings me to the point of this article.

Viacom. A truly "American" company. Viacom can kiss my shiny metal ass!! But I like SXEPHIL's expletive better. "Fuck Viacom!". And I fully agree.

Viacom have just successfully patitioned for the entire Google database of YouTube members, what they have uploaded, what they have watched, when they watched it, and what content was deleted (either by YouTube or by members).

Now before you read on, wacth this clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGfAu_HRz6g

 They say more people watch illegally uploaded TV shows on YouTube....than on TV!!! Which is just utter bullshit! OK...ya might just get 2 minutes of your favorite show, but the quality is gone, and the who wants to watch  2 minutes of an hour show!?!?!

So, what Viacom want to do is remove one of the key items I hold dear about the internet. That anyone can watch, or comment, anonomously!! As Phil says "..they have set legal precedent to get any information about you, just by asking for it..."

But this isn't happening in the US alone!

The UK has jumped in on the "..we don't give a shit about the privacy of out citizens either..." band wagon by starting a new government agency that will "monitor 'suspected illegal downloading activity' on the web" which is being spearheaded by Gordon Brown with help from Virgin media. Virgin have started sending out letters to their own customers which, basically say this...

"You are a criminal. We have only marginal proof, but your downloading something, it must be illegal. Stop or we will disconnect you from the web. And we might just turn this info over to authorities (IE: movie industry and record companies) for possible criminal proceedings"

Again....Phil has a good comment on this quote! Watch this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So3WuQ9r75Q At timeframe 1:40. MPAA and RIAA (US movie and music Natzi's) want the right to sue anyone....without evidence.

Well......a judge in the US has just given Viacom the first nail to close the lid on that coffin! The UK will not be far behind, providing the other nails and several hammers!!!!!!!

What do I think!?

It's sad. Very sad. People will become just as afraid of making comments on the net as they are in real life against their own governments! Sad!

Being a highly technical individual, staying "invisible" online is easy for me. I know how! (word of the day: Dynamic IP Address). But my website, my name, address, phone, e-mail are all here for anyone to see.

These are my thoughts. My idea's. My right!

Anonomous or not.....

FUCK YOU VIACOM!!!!! And take Gordon Brown with you!!!!