Ajit Pai Taunts Net Neutrality Critics. Mark Hamill Taunts Ajit Pai (mashable.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Just days before voting to repeal net neutrality regulations, FCC chairman Ajit Pai introduced a comedy video at the annual gathering of the Federal Communications Bar Association -- and it offered its own self-disparaging version of Pai's tenure as a Verizon attorney in 2003. "We want to brainwash and groom a Verizon puppet to install as FCC chairman," says a real-world Verizon executive appearing in the videotaped skit. "That sounds awesome," Pai responds.

And the day of the vote Pai also appeared in another trying-to-be-funny video on the conservative site The Daily Caller demonstrating "seven things you can still do on the internet after net neutrality." In the first image he's holding a fidget spinner and dressed as Santa Claus, and the unmistakably patronizing video reminds critics that they can still upload photos of their meals to Instagram and "post photos of cute animals, like puppies." He also demonstrated that net neutrality critics can still stay part of their favorite fan communities -- by showing himself holding a light saber. And this unexpectedly drew the wrath of Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, who responded on Twitter by calling him "Ajit 'Aren't I Precious?' Pai."

Hamill also added that "you are profoundly unworthy 2 wield a lightsaber. A Jedi acts selflessly for the common man, NOT lie 2 enrich giant corporations." When U.S. Senator Ted Cruz responded -- likening government overreach to Darth Vader and urging Hamill to "reject the dark side" -- Hamill responded again, complaining that the Senator was "smarm-splaining." Hamill also added, "you'd have more credibility if you spelled my name correctly. I mean IT'S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU! Maybe you're just distracted from watching porn at the office again."
The Houston Chronicle reports that the newest meme on Twitter is now Pai's over-sized coffee mug stamped with the logo for Reese's Peanut Butter cups, "which he occasionally sipped from during the widely-criticized reversal." The Dangerous Minds site notes that some angry net neutrality supporters have even taken their complaints to Reese's Facebook page, adding "Perhaps these protester's pleas to the candy company are simply a misguided hope that someone, ANYONE will listen to their frustration."

"Clearly, the FCC wasn't listening to the estimated 83% of Americans who support net neutrality."

Comments

Really?

[Frosty Piss]

Let the Intertube Memes begin! This will not be pretty! Well, it will be pretty funny...

I do, however, wonder if there might be legal ramifications in any lawsuits brought on the Net Neutrality issue? An impartial judge might look dimly on this buffoonery...

Re:Really?

[Anonymous Coward]

I've said this a million times. There are TWO kinds of net neutrality.

Type 1: The idea that the Internet should be an even playing field for everybody. No censorship, no throttling. This is the kind we all wanted, everybody thought they were getting.

Type 2: Mr. Obama and the FCC cooked up the idea of getting government control over the Internet in order to apply censorship. They granted themselves an authority, completely usurping the legislative branch of government. mr Obama called this plan "Net Neutrality", same name but completely different meaning. This is what we actually got.

It's true that both type 1 and type 2 results in no throttling by corporations, but type 2 (what we actually got) also results in censorship. We didn't have censorship and throttling before 2015, but now we have whole web sites removed from DNS, and censorship of Facebook, Youtube, and news stories, all while the big corporations continue to do whatever they like.

Type 2, "Net Neutrality" needs eliminated, and type 1 needs implemented. We need Congress to pass a law saying all data is just data and it's content may not be subject to throttling or censorship. This won't take a 300 page document, and will accomplish type 1 Net neutrality., the real thing.

That 83%?

[fustakrakich]

Until it translates into votes, it doesn't mean squat.

*Sweep the House*