Gone Black?

February 15, 2003 12:37 AM

Web sites protest by going black. A little over 100 web sites have bandied together to go black on this international day of protest. Some with interesting art, some with personal notes and others with strong words. Are there other web protests going on that you've heard of? Links?
posted by DragonBoy (16 comments total)

Not that I think this war will be a good thing, but does anyone really think there will be aything that will stop this war? Personnaly, I think it was when the adminisration hired a Heinz Exec to sell this war to the American people that it all went downhill. In her words, "This is a battle for the 11 year old mind". Not that I don't think you're doing great things, I just think there's a point when 100 million people demonstratin does nothing. What does tha say about the world we live in?
posted by efalk at 12:51 AM on February 15, 2003

What's the protest about?
posted by hama7 at 2:08 AM on February 15, 2003

posted by gluechunk at 2:47 AM on February 15, 2003

I guess this is a good "getting to know you post", so here it is my website. It's not black but I have been showing three little icons demonstrating my discontent with this war, my prime minister and one of his many horrendous laws. Only in Spanish.
posted by samelborp at 3:23 AM on February 15, 2003

If it makes those web designers feel better, then they should certainly pursue this strategy. That anyone in any position of authority or influence would care or even know about such a hidden "protest" is a horse of a different color... Just so there's no confusion between "expressing oneself" and "making a difference."
posted by JollyWanker at 6:20 AM on February 15, 2003

From 1996: "My World Wide Web Pages are black for 48 hours to protest second-class treatment from the US Government for free speech. Read about it at this WWW page."
posted by PrinceValium at 7:12 AM on February 15, 2003

I kind of wish some of those websites would run with this meme, make your background AND text black.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:15 AM on February 15, 2003

I'm going to wear my underwear inside out to protest the war.
posted by angry modem at 9:19 AM on February 15, 2003

Well, making your web site black to protest a foregone war is about as effective as putting a flag decal on your SUV to teach bin Laden a lesson. If it makes them feel good, then hey, right on.

Personally, I am doing my part by not updating my site very often.
posted by Hildago at 9:25 AM on February 15, 2003

Sometimes protest isn't about changing anyone's mind. Sometimes it's about knowing that you stood up for your values and beliefs, no matter how insignificant. Ultimately, deciding not to do something simply because you don't think it will change the world is a excuse for apathy.
Not that I really care anyway...
< /snark>
posted by evilcupcakes at 9:52 AM on February 15, 2003

I just think there's a point when 100 million people demonstratin does nothing. What does that say about the world we live in?

That it's rather more than a little prone to exaggerating demonstration numbers? (100 Million?)
posted by MidasMulligan at 10:32 AM on February 15, 2003

Let's try it Midas:
I'll start with Barcelona (my hometown): 1.300.000 people (source: metropolitan police), probably 2.000.000 people.
posted by samelborp at 10:54 AM on February 15, 2003

I did a special page for my site. I don't live in an area where protests happen. So I thought if I could make the few thousand people who stop by there today think a little bit about what is going down, it might make a tiny difference.
posted by wigu at 12:25 PM on February 15, 2003

hama7, your comments add a great deal to these discussions, thanks.
posted by rhyax at 1:33 PM on February 15, 2003

As an unintended side effect, these black pages will save a lot of electrons. (Warning: rather ancient meme.)
posted by Galvatron at 2:28 PM on February 15, 2003

samelborp, according to this story, even if you use the organizers' estimates, you're hard pressed to get to 10 million worldwide (not that that's necessarily a low figure)
posted by pardonyou? at 7:23 PM on February 15, 2003