Indymedia
Gev | 14.01.2005 00:35
Indymedia states:
Indymedia UK is a network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.
However, is it really that?
Indymedia UK is a network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.
However, is it really that?
If Indymedia truly believes that, and if we are truly confident in what we state then can we really allow the banning of posts that take a right-wing view?
I am from the left of the political spectrum (though I think left/right is too simplistic). However, I have always been brought up to think that if I am right (correct) then I can argue my point to the position that those opponents to that view have their real colours exposed.
For instance, if a neo-Nazi party posts something here that is abhorrent (I believe that with the anniversary of Auschwitz being liberated coming sooon then the far right will be bandying about their usual crap), then I believe that what I have to say on it will easily show them up to be ridiculous, stupid and wrong.
I say this because many of the posts I see are not news but more or less promotion from the far left. I have seen praise for the terrorists/freedon fighters/real Iraqis etc (call tem what you wish) that has not been censored but items that are from the righ deleted. OK, so if it is clearly racist then by all means the moderators on here should hide it but this must be applied fairly.
I could go on (yet you probably don't want me to!) but I just think that in the light of the Iraq travesty and other things, INdymedia has left behind its belief in open debate on news issues. I don't sewe this happening all the time but enoughto make me concerned. Either we all support freedon of speech no matter how abhorrent (remember freedom of sppech also has to have peranters but it must be set farly) or we have something that is just a sounding board for the far left.
(will this post be hidden? Wouldn't that be an irony?)
I am from the left of the political spectrum (though I think left/right is too simplistic). However, I have always been brought up to think that if I am right (correct) then I can argue my point to the position that those opponents to that view have their real colours exposed.
For instance, if a neo-Nazi party posts something here that is abhorrent (I believe that with the anniversary of Auschwitz being liberated coming sooon then the far right will be bandying about their usual crap), then I believe that what I have to say on it will easily show them up to be ridiculous, stupid and wrong.
I say this because many of the posts I see are not news but more or less promotion from the far left. I have seen praise for the terrorists/freedon fighters/real Iraqis etc (call tem what you wish) that has not been censored but items that are from the righ deleted. OK, so if it is clearly racist then by all means the moderators on here should hide it but this must be applied fairly.
I could go on (yet you probably don't want me to!) but I just think that in the light of the Iraq travesty and other things, INdymedia has left behind its belief in open debate on news issues. I don't sewe this happening all the time but enoughto make me concerned. Either we all support freedon of speech no matter how abhorrent (remember freedom of sppech also has to have peranters but it must be set farly) or we have something that is just a sounding board for the far left.
(will this post be hidden? Wouldn't that be an irony?)
Gev
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