posted by
LaminatorX
on Monday October 06 2014, @01:45AM
from the and-they-still-want-to-be-called-news-outlets dept.
from the and-they-still-want-to-be-called-news-outlets dept.
We are blessed here that our comrades take the time to submit stories they have found on websites which don't kow-tow to those that seek to avoid transparency. Project Censored has published their list of The 25 Most Censored Stories Of 2013-2014. (I would have liked it even better it they hadn't spread it out over additional pages.)
Some that caught my eye, including 1 that saw repeated coverage here:
20. Estonia a Global Example of E-Government, Digital Freedom, Privacy, and Security
10. World Health Organization Suppresses Report on Iraqi Cancers and Birth Defects
(Depleted-uranium and other munitions)
8. Corporate News Ignores Connections Between Extreme Weather and Global Warming
4. Corporate Internet Providers Threaten Net Neutrality
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The 25 Most Censored Stories of 2013-2014
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(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @02:00AM
Censorship implies that a government (or some other authority) actively blocked publication of a news story. Many of these items appear to be ones that, in the opinion of Project Censored (which you can subscribe to as a member for $5/month, as you'll find out if you click the link for Page 2):
- the news was under-reported
- based on the (lack of) reaction, people don't seem to grasp the story's significance
- some level of government is doing what is clearly the wrong thing
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @02:21AM
Censorship isn't limited to content being completely blocked. Merely just obscuring content, even if it's still available, is considered censorship.
Intentionally ignoring or downplaying certain news stories due to their subject matter or the people/organizations involved is a form of censorship.
Even the downvoting like we see at Slashdot, reddit, Hacker News, or even here at SoylentNews is a form of censorship. While downvoted comments may still be accessible, the fact that it takes some extra effort to view them means that they've been obscured, which also means that they've been censored.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @02:28AM
Yeah OK.
I think 9/11 and Katrina showed, or reminded us, that society just isn't equipped to mobilize against threats that haven't occurred before, or last occurred before almost all voters were born. That's the problem with climate change, and perhaps stuff like rapid advances in AI and robotics overtaking the oversight of laws and society.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @05:28PM
Some have said that 9/11 showed us that Dubya knew not to be anywhere near DC or NYC on that day.
Ever see the video of him reading "My Pet Goat" to elementary school kids in Florida on that day?
The response to Katrina showed us, beyond all doubt, that Republicans in the post-Reagan era don't care about people who aren't rich.
Camille had previously clobbered that area.
The response was very different in 1969.
The main thing that Katrina showed us is that cronyism in gov't is a bad thing and not only does it still exist, it tends to be worse these days and Republicans are the masters at showing how NOT to pick gov't appointees.
-- gewg_
(Score: 3, Funny) by Tork on Monday October 06 2014, @04:12AM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈 - Give us ribbiti or make us croak! 🐸
(Score: 5, Insightful) by aristarchus on Monday October 06 2014, @07:17AM
Even the downvoting like we see at Slashdot, reddit, Hacker News, or even here at SoylentNews is a form of censorship. While downvoted comments may still be accessible, the fact that it takes some extra effort to view them means that they've been obscured, which also means that they've been censored.
No it isn't! It is a way of the community to tell you that you are being a jerk, and up with you they will not put. Do readers here have to listen to your explanation of why pedophilia, racism, or systemd are perfectly reasonable? No, they do not. You have a right to speak, but you do not have a right to be heard. Do you hear me now? See, you don't have to hear me! You can totally ignore me! _That_ is freedom. But you must grant the same to everyone else. What were you saying? Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't listening, because you are an a**hole. See how it works? No censorship needed.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Monday October 06 2014, @02:57PM
He would have a point if comments at -1 weren't trivial to read.
But they are.
So he doesn't.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @04:49PM
I don't agree with your analysis. "Easy to read" would mean I could view a story, scroll down and see the downmodded comments. But that's not how it works, obvioulsy. Instead, I need to start adjusting dropdowns and then click a button before I can scroll and see the modded down comments. It isn't an insurmountable obstruction, but it is still an unnecessary obstruction. I agree that that is a form of censorship.
(Score: 2) by tathra on Monday October 06 2014, @05:34PM
you can set your default viewing threshold to -1, then you don't have to do it for every story. so, no, moderating is not censorship. also, saying you agree with yourself is pretty pathetic.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @02:36AM
As I noted in the comment posted seconds after yours, this is about media executives trying to curry favor with corporations (advertisers) or the regime.
Since Reagan decided not to enforce any of the existing rules, Lamestream Media (also mentioned in the original submission) will do nothing that would give a potential advertiser a reason not to buy commercials.
Before that, commercial media actually had e.g. consumer reporters who would tell you which products sucked.
The White House Press Corps^W^W steno pool, when they do ask questions, pitch softballs.
Since Helen Thomas got hustled out, that bunch is nothing but lapdogs.
They're scared shitless of having their credentials canceled / access denied.
-- gewg_
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @09:30AM
And US centric. Its weird how you can make a list of individual stories when entire news organizations get taken down by some governments (here, the dailymail and the economist are the usual two)
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Monday October 06 2014, @01:36PM
A little Googling shows that the definition of "censorship" isn't carved in stone.
Webster's [merriam-webster.com] definition (the one in the present context, anyway, we're not talking about ancient Rome) is entirely useless. It says only " a : the institution, system, or practice of censoring
b : the actions or practices of censors; especially : censorial control exercised repressively " It really doesn't define it. Its definition of "censor" is "a person who examines books, movies, letters, etc., and removes things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society, etc." So a censor need not necessarily be government. According to Webster's, a newspaper editor can be a censor.
However, the OED [oxforddictionaries.com] almost backs you up, saying "The practice of officially examining books, movies, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts." That one is a bit shakier; does "officially" include an editor whose job is to examine books, movies, letters, etc.? I would say it depends on an agenda.
Wikipedia [wikipedia.org] says:
The OED may come close to your definition, but its definition does not include the word "government".
The other sources, like the Urban Dictionary and Wictionary, are no the least authorative and should be ignored unless you're looking for a definition of a ghetto culture word.
When in doubt, and even when you have no doubt, LOOK IT UP. Dictionaries showed me that what I thought was the definition of "race" was incorrect.
This mesage brought to you by someone who has the necessity of looking at dictionaries, thesauruses, etc. daily.
We have a president who posted a fake video of himself shitting on America
(Score: 2) by VLM on Monday October 06 2014, @01:37PM
If as a thought experiment only 5 huge media companies controlled everything most americans see, and by nature of being megacorps, they had similar interests (ogliopoly style) and as megacorps they own and control the .gov which centrally controls and regulates the economy such that competition is not viable, then for all intents and purposes its censorship.
Luckily that scenario could never happen in the USA (LOL)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @05:24PM
If you just switch on your appliance and vegetate in the ignorance and propaganda that is likely to come from it, yeah, you are likely to be ill informed.
Watching Fox News Makes You Less Informed Than Watching No News At All [businessinsider.com]
I tried to make that point in my submission.
We are blessed here that our comrades take the time to submit stories they have found on websites which don't kow-tow to the corporate world or the regimes that seek to avoid transparency.
People who consume what I call Lamestream Media aren't so lucky. [soylentnews.org]
I like to point out that, with minimal effort in many locales, you can get electronic media that makes the effort to air the stories that others bury or "report" incorrectly.
Pacifica Radio [wikipedia.org]
Free Speech TV [wikipedia.org]
...and, of course, with careful selection of sites, online sources can get you the fact-filled news you seek rather than echo chamber of the status quo|ruling class.
-- gewg_
(Score: -1) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @02:01AM
websites which don't kow-tow to the corporate world or the regimes that seek to avoid transparency [soylentnews.org]
-- gewg_
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Monday October 06 2014, @02:03AM
Three pages isn't THAT bad. That javascript popup, though, those always meke me close the page immediately. So I didn't read it. I'll wait until the Illinois Times posts it. here [illinoistimes.com] is last year's list. I wouldn't doubt this year's comes up this Thursday or the next.
One page, no annoying bullshit. Oh, and their dead tree version is free, too, completely ad supported. I pick one up every Thursday when I get my beer at the drug store.
Not having read it, I'm confused. 2013-2014? 2014 isn't over, still lots more the mass media can ignore this year.
We have a president who posted a fake video of himself shitting on America
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @03:46AM
> I get my beer at the drug store
Not that I'm an innocent, but that's wonderful.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Monday October 06 2014, @06:35AM
That javascript popup, though, those always meke me close the page immediately. So I didn't read it.
You missed nothing. I wish I could get my three minutes back.
Some podunk legislator submits a bill in a fly over state, which has no chance of passing, and it ranks in the top 25 censored stories! Seriously?
Gee, did someone have an agenda when they made up this list?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @08:09AM
What JavaScript popup?
You don't block JavaScript by default?
And unlike online ads, those ads on paper don't even track you!
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Monday October 06 2014, @01:51PM
You don't block JavaScript by default?
No, because it seems that most web developers are idiots who don't realize that your code should degrade gracefully. Some morons even have <script when reason, logic, and lack of stupidity demand <a href=
That said, my site uses no javascript. One of my old sites did, but it degraded gracefully.
I do block Flash, but still when I have a dozen tabs I opened from Google News I get the "flash [etc] has stopped working. Continue? Stop script?"
I also block cookies, except on sites that the cookies are helpful to me (like S/N; I accept their cookies) and popups, the local newspaper (State Journal-Register) still manages to open extra windows, which always enrages me and makes me wish that God damned newspaper would go out of business.
We have a president who posted a fake video of himself shitting on America
(Score: 5, Informative) by takyon on Monday October 06 2014, @02:12AM
18. National Database of Police Killings Aims for Accountability [projectcensored.org]
14. Accumulating Evidence of Ongoing Wireless Technology Health Hazards [projectcensored.org]
10. World Health Organization Suppresses Report on Iraqi Cancers and Birth Defects [projectcensored.org]
7. FBI Dismisses Murder Plot against Occupy Leaders as NSA and Big Business Cracks Down on Dissent [projectcensored.org]
6. The Deep State: Government “without Reference to the Consent of the Governed” [projectcensored.org]
3. WikiLeaks Revelations on Trans-Pacific Partnership Ignored by Corporate Media [projectcensored.org]
#14: YEAH RIGHT. #3: TPP gets a lot of attention over at EFF and among the tech community, but no surprise a secret trade agreement is going unnoticed by the larger media.
What, no #gamergate?
Links to all of the individual stories:
1. Ocean Acidification Increasing at Unprecedented Rate [projectcensored.org]
2. Top Ten US Aid Recipients All Practice Torture [projectcensored.org]
3. WikiLeaks Revelations on Trans-Pacific Partnership Ignored by Corporate Media [projectcensored.org]
4. Corporate Internet Providers Threaten Net Neutrality [projectcensored.org]
5. Bankers Back on Wall Street Despite Major Crimes [projectcensored.org]
6. The Deep State: Government “without Reference to the Consent of the Governed” [projectcensored.org]
7. FBI Dismisses Murder Plot against Occupy Leaders as NSA and Big Business Cracks Down on Dissent [projectcensored.org]
8. Corporate News Ignores Connections Between Extreme Weather and Global Warming [projectcensored.org]
9. US Media Hypocrisy in Covering Ukraine Crisis [projectcensored.org]
10. World Health Organization Suppresses Report on Iraqi Cancers and Birth Defects [projectcensored.org]
11. Wealthy Donors and Corporations Set Think Tanks’ Agendas [projectcensored.org]
12. Pentagon Awash in Money Despite Serious Audit Problems [projectcensored.org]
13. Lawsuit Challenges Nuclear Power Industry Immunity from Liability in Nuclear Accidents [projectcensored.org]
14. Accumulating Evidence of Ongoing Wireless Technology Health Hazards [projectcensored.org]
15. Reporting Miscarriages, Criminalizing Pregnant Women’s Bodies [projectcensored.org]
16. The Beef Industry’s “Feedlot Feedback Loop” [projectcensored.org]
17. 2016 Will Find Gaza out of Drinking Water [projectcensored.org]
18. National Database of Police Killings Aims for Accountability [projectcensored.org]
19. Agribusiness Giants Attempt to Silence and Discredit Scientists Whose Research Reveals Herbicides’ Health Threats [projectcensored.org]
20. Estonia a Global Example of E-Government, Digital Freedom, Privacy, and Security [projectcensored.org]
21. Questioning the Charter School Hype [projectcensored.org]
22. Corporate News Media Understate Rape, Sexual Violence [projectcensored.org]
23. Number of US Prison Inmates Serving Life Sentences Hits New Record [projectcensored.org]
24. Restorative Justice Turns Violent Schools Around [projectcensored.org]
25. “Chaptered Out”: US Military Seeks to Balance Budget on Backs of Disabled Veterans [projectcensored.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @08:15AM
OT: On the end of the comment, as displayed in the thread, I see a link "Read the rest of this comment." But when I click that, it is revealed that there's no (non-empty) "rest of the comment"; the comment ends at the very same point as the original comment does.
(Score: 2) by paulej72 on Monday October 06 2014, @11:51AM
Team Leader for SN Development
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 07 2014, @04:34AM
> 25. http://www.projectcensored.org/25-chaptered-us-military-seeks-balance-budget-backs-disabled-veterans/ [projectcensored.org]
http://everything2.com/title/Continental+Can+and+BELL [everything2.com]
Like the disabled vet said in STARSHIP TROOPERS (1997) in one scene while stamping paperwork: "Fresh meat for the grinder."
Ablebodied recruits enter in one door and disabled vets are kicked out the other on some pretext in order to avoid paying them benefits THEY *RISKED* THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY TO EARN!
The end game is to use drones 'everywhere' to reduce the manpower and expenses needed to wage war.
This should be UNDENIABLE proof that the industrial-millitary complex is a reality in the USA as Eisenhower warned in his farewell speech when he left office as President Of The United States Of America.
This is simply unfair, cost-cutting measures used in the private sector that is mirrored by an essential part of the U.S. Federal Government.... :(
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @02:32AM
SoylentNews was one of the few sites to report about the destruction of the Debian project and community by systemd [soylentnews.org].
I don't remember seeing much, if any, discussion of this matter at other prominent tech sites. This is a real shame, given how important Debian is. It's the server operating system of choice for many people and organizations, and it also underpins other major Linux distros like Ubuntu and Linux Mint, among other minor distros.
The Debian community is being splintered by this forced integration of systemd. A lot of Debian users are moving to Slackware, Gentoo, and even FreeBSD. Many of these people run servers, where the many technical problems and flaws of systemd [boycottsystemd.org] just are not acceptable.
Debian, as a project, is being destroyed thanks to systemd. Systemd should only have been integrated into a fork of Debian. It should never be integrated into Debian itself.
This is the kind of news that should be all over any and every tech news site. It's the kind of development that will have global consequences.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @02:42AM
Ron Paul [ronpaul.com] opposed systemd, as well as America's military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, from the very start.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Marand on Monday October 06 2014, @04:32AM
Probably because it's a bit too niche of a topic to show up on non-tech sites, and the big sites (like Slashdot) are more likely to have redhat/gnome/systemd apologists that ruin any discussion about it. It seems like any discussion of systemd on slashdot results in most of the naysayers getting downmodded into oblivion, leaving mostly "stfu systemd is great! Everyone likes it but you!" comments at the top. Gives a false impression that the adoption is gaining mindshare.
SN is about the only place I've seen mostly rational discussion of it. Even the pro-systemd comments have been generally better, less shrill, and less insulting over disagreement with those of us that dislike the way it's going. I think it's because SN hasn't quite "made it" enough to be a target for the various internet crusaders, so the signal hasn't been drowned out by the noise just yet.
I don't necessarily agree. If anything, I think what is needed is a fork that re-implements systemd as separate components that don't have to be used together. Let Redhat or GNOME-only distros force the whole stack on you, and let the rest of us have distros just use the parts we want (or need due to software dependencies) without needing the whole pile. Keeps it optional, the way it should be.
There's nothing wrong* with, for example, a user wanting binary logging systemd-style instead of using something like rsyslog. The problem is that you have to pull in the init system and a bunch of other shit to get it, and they're doing this all the way up to the desktop. Being able to cherry-pick the parts you want has always been a strength of these *nix-type OSes, and systemd as-is risks weakening that.
Sort of like how Microsoft offering Internet Explorer free wasn't a problem; the problem was that MS bundled it with Windows and tried to make it part of the OS so that you can't get rid of it.
* other than questionable sanity and poor taste. :)
(Score: 2) by frojack on Monday October 06 2014, @06:43AM
Probably because it's a bit too niche of a topic to show up on non-tech sites,
More likely because 5 guys pissing each other pants on a mailing list does NOT amount to the destruction of Debian.
Its just a few guys feeling warm and macho in their basement before their mom calls them up for dinner.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Monday October 06 2014, @01:57PM
Its just a few guys feeling warm and macho in their basement before their mom calls them up for dinner.
Are you trying to join Ethanol-Fueled's S/N troll club? As this is a nerd site, your comment is insulting. Do you go to the AARP site talking about toothless gray haired grannies?
We have a president who posted a fake video of himself shitting on America
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Monday October 06 2014, @02:54PM
SoylentNews, where the trolls troll each other and the points don't matter!
Let's see how EF weighs in on the mcgrew vs. frojack fingerpointing issue.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 2) by halcyon1234 on Monday October 06 2014, @05:31PM
... those aren't their fingers. =(
Original Submission [thedailywtf.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @04:14PM
given how important Debian is. It's the server operating system of choice
you did some underreporting yourself there
(Score: 2) by tathra on Monday October 06 2014, @05:44PM
why should anyone care about a bunch of selfish assholes throwing a temper tantrum instead of getting together and working on a systemd-free fork of Debian?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @10:10AM
"We are blessed here that our comrades take the time to submit stories... "
Komrades ... would would explain article #9
I'm not saying that the title of the article is wrong... but I'm a bit pissed off that the situation in Ukraine is often hijacked for other political means. Usually it's Americans dumping on their president... but in this case it's some apologists for Putin.
The shit that Bush pulled in Iraq doesn't excuse the shit Putin is pulling in Ukraine...
... and the Hypocrisy of the U.S. media is not news to anyone.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Monday October 06 2014, @03:01PM
I thought an argument was that U.S. involvement in Ukraine semi-directly caused the situation in the first place, in which case talking about U.S. involvement is not really self-centered.
Cf. calling someone a whore when they have been arrested for prostitution.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Monday October 06 2014, @02:33PM
If that were true, we still wouldn't be hearing about them.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 06 2014, @04:16PM
You silly cow, the world ain't black and white! <3