Clay Shirky is an author and an adjunct professor in New York University’s graduate Interactive Telecommunications Program, where he teaches a course named “Social Weather.” Clay Shirky understands the Stop Internet Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act. He understands that all this is in no way new, but a continuation of decades-old arguments that have been raging ever since my mom bought me a cassette recorder. And, he understands that all of this is far simpler than some would have you believe.

Shirky gave a TED talk that explains why this all matters very much to you. You should watch this. And you should tell a friend to watch it. And, you should tell your Congressional Representative to watch it. Because, I can assure you, most of them do not know what you will know after you see it.