[jeffem]

The only guaranteed outcomes of a blackout are:

1) site owners forego potential revenue that day 2) customers cannot do business with them that day 3) users cannot access those sites that day

Depending on which sites participate, the immediate effects on the lives of those owners, customers, and users can range from trivial to very meaningful.

Will this be a worthwhile "investment" in the long run?

I can believe that a blackout will increase media coverage. I can believe that a blackout will result in more calls, emails, etc. to representatives.

What's tough for me to believe is that any of that will do any good if the end goal is to stop this type of legislation. I would genuinely like to see evidence that similar protests have historically been effective.

Until then, I can't help but think this is just the wrong tactic that punishes the wrong people. I hope I'm wrong.