As the not-so-old adage goes, what is the difference between ordinary crooks and government crooks? At least you can call the cops on the ordinary crooks. So in that sense, yes, Anonymous is less likely to damage me or my property in way that is unrecoverable.
However, in the long run I don't think web vandalism is a pragmatic solution to the SOPA mess. Right now we have the opportunity to potentially defeat SOPA through legal, peaceful advocacy. Let's seize that opportunity and exploit it to the fullest before anyone considers engaging in criminal acts as part of an anti-SOPA campaign.
To speak your mind on SOPA, to disassociate yourself from those who endorse it, and to attempt to persuade your representatives are all well within your First Amendment rights. To damage or destroy the property of others toward the same goals is certainly not protected speech and I'd say a great deal of soul-searching would be required before one could justify going that far.
However, in the long run I don't think web vandalism is a pragmatic solution to the SOPA mess. Right now we have the opportunity to potentially defeat SOPA through legal, peaceful advocacy. Let's seize that opportunity and exploit it to the fullest before anyone considers engaging in criminal acts as part of an anti-SOPA campaign.
To speak your mind on SOPA, to disassociate yourself from those who endorse it, and to attempt to persuade your representatives are all well within your First Amendment rights. To damage or destroy the property of others toward the same goals is certainly not protected speech and I'd say a great deal of soul-searching would be required before one could justify going that far.