Wikipedia Is Down – How am I Supposed to do My Homework?
Among the sites that have decided to take their services down completely in protest of the U.S. government's proposed "anti-piracy" bills SOPA and PIPA, Wikipedia is without doubt the one with the largest mainstream following. Quite a few of its users were obviously surprised by today's complete blackout and are now taking to Twitter to voice their confusion and anger. It's worth noting, though, that the online encyclopedia's users aren't angry and confused about SOPA and PIPA, but about the fact that Wikipedia is "down."
Students are unsurprisingly pretty unhappy that writing their essays has suddenly gotten harder without Wikipedia. Few of them are actually talking about SOPA, though there is a smattering of comments about it here and there. Mostly, though, they are worried about getting their homework done in time.
Here is a little sampling of reactions to Wikipedia's decision to close down for the day:
How am I going to write my Russia essay without Wikipedia? #DayWithoutWikipedia
— Becca (@beccacanada) January 18, 2012
why is wikipedia down the day i have to write a history essay?
— Alice Davies (@yay_bird) January 18, 2012
I need to do biology homework but wikipedia's down D:
— Jessica (@yessjess_) January 18, 2012
I’m suppose to be doing my Health and Social homework, but har har. I can’t cause fucking Wikipedia’s on a blackout.
— Stacy’s Mom (@MrsJordison666) January 18, 2012
RT @punk_kiid: I never realized a day without Wikipedia would leave me so lost.
— Death Nosferatu (@SisstreDaethe) January 18, 2012
wtf has happened to wikipedia?! whyhave they blocked it?! i cant function without them omg
— Julia(@JuliaBuschi) January 18, 2012
Need to do my RS essay.. Wikipedia’s shut down? O maybe not
— Natasha Wiffill (@N_Wiff) January 18, 2012
as if wikipedia is down the day before my exam and the ONLY day i have to revise. #absolutepisstake
— Daisy Gibson (@daisygibson11) January 18, 2012
love it when i have homework in for tomorrow and wikipedia is blocked,why am i so unluky:(
— amiee randle (@amieerandle) January 18, 2012
So mad wikipedia is down for the day..realizing I use that sight for everything #DayWithoutWikipedia
— Casey Morrison (@caseylynn21589) January 18, 2012
@DrBlackPHD Yeah, I mean Wikipedia is pretty incredible, it's a bit stupid that it might just suddenly not exist anymore!
— David Attenborough (@r4diogaga) January 18, 2012
NUT!!! not cool i really need tousewikipedia
#ffs
— Sarah Robertson (@justsarahh_) January 18, 2012
takes me so long to do my homework now, thanks to wikipedia deciding to be awkward. Could they not just go for a coffee and sort it all out?
— Joanna Barrington (@jojobarrington) January 18, 2012
This day has made me realize how much I utilize Wikipedia #end piracy, not liberty.
— Russell Nicholas (@hurricaneruss) January 18, 2012
@lilgreenfish pay up and make someone else write it like people must've done before Wikipedia!!
— Jennifer Newell (@jennyjenjen) January 18, 2012
WHY IS WIKIPEDIA BLACKED OUT WTF IM TRYNA DO MY HOMEWORK BITCHES WHAT THE FUCK OMFG THE WORLD IS ENDING HELP
— YMCMB (@DontH8Jasmin8) January 18, 2012
My students are absolutely gu'ed that wikipedia is down #wikipedia
— Bilaal Hanif (@bilyh02) January 18, 2012
you guys are acting like wikipedia is the only website you can do your homework on. it’s not even trust worthy, use something else
— Jodie | UKJetSetter✈ (@JoddieJetSetter) January 18, 2012
No Wikipedia who cares
— mike myers (@nolesgolf73) January 18, 2012
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Frederic Lardinois founded SiliconFilter in 2011. Before starting this site, he wrote about 1,500 articles for ReadWriteWeb. His areas of interest are consumer web and mobile apps, as well as Internet-connected devices like cars, smart sensors and toasters. You can reach him at [email protected]
