It seems there are some who bemoan the changing world and hanker after an era when being liberal meant either being generous, or belonging to a party led by Jo Grimond.

When I see videos like the one referenced above, I start to pine for those days, too. Days when we got our information from people who were trained how to present it, knowing it was subject to verification and editing. Days when being asked to speak on a subject on TV meant you had some qualifications that entitled you to be regarded as competent.

These days there are a plethora of similar "alternative" sources, usually angry young men on YouTube (it's almost always men), sitting in their man caves, stroking their beards and pontificating in self-righteous indignation, without any kind of oversight, and stoking the prejudices of a captive audience. No doubt the captive audience circulate their web addresses on Gab, and many monetise their "work" by requesting "donations" so they can continue their "research". Most seem not to be an expert on anything, but have an opinion on everything, which they think we are entitled to.

In the past, these people would not have had an audience. Is it healthy, or dangerous, that they do now? Freedom of speech may be a precious right to be defended, but if it is abused and causes harm, then ought there not be greater oversight? Not necessarily restrictions but caveats and warnings about misinformation or unverified claims, inserted before, after and during each presentation with opportunities made available for counter claims.

Fortunately it doesn't touch me directly, as I give them all a very wide berth, but I know the harm they can do via the interactions I have with others, whose minds have been tarnished by misinformation and conspiracy theories. That's not targetted at anyone here, but at some of my friends in the USA whose distorted view of today's world is very disturbing.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Not in a million years! They think Alex Jones tells the truth, and one believes David Icke is a prophet. Others are convinced that Bill Gates and George Soros are planning our demise and controlling the population by implanting microchip codes in us via the Covid vaccinations.

These are seriously misinformed people. That's how bad it can get, once this treadmill starts to operate under your feet.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

It's somewhat amusing to read this post from the guy who calls others dinosaurs and continually calls for them to accept change..... all typed up from his provincial Cornwall domain of course....that he chose to move to....one of those, 'do as I say not as I do.'

I would recommend that people watch the video that WE complained about. Then re-read his post to see just how stuck in his own past this guy is.

Apparently WE can't accept that the Internet has meant that mainstream media isn't able to control all news sources. He wants to censor people from giving their own opinions.

It also has to be amusingly noted that the mainstream media....which he praises as being edited and checked by lawyers, is the same media that continually knowingly pumps out lies. He no doubt would counter that opinions aren't lies....yet he, by the same token, has the gall to criticise alternative media for voicing opinions themselves.

I would certainly agree that alternative media can lie as much as the mainstream....In my view...just like with any media, you have to make a judgement upon the source. However, WE would have that option taken away from you in his vocal support for censorship.

Still, in my view, the mainstream media, that he supports, goes far beyond opinion and have knowingly lied so often that I personally don't think they have earned anything like the level of establishment love that Wisbech gushingly spoons them with.

We can point to many instances of lies....hell, it's everyday but notable ones I could mention are the Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann teenager who they lied about and then who successfully sued....apparently the lawyers weren't on top of that one (which was always a ridiculous observation as lawyers know that most can't afford to sue and so that most people are powerless....that and the 1st amendment...which the Democrats hypocritically attack...actually gives them all the rope they need)

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This post would go on for ever relating the lies but just off the top of my head I remember the attacks on the supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the Ukrainian impeachment nonsense of Trump over the interpretation of a phone call. The recent Kyle Rittenhouse trial and of course when there is something true that happens, like the Hunter Biden laptop, which might have harmed their political backers....then they simply refuse to report.

The Trump/Russia Hoax....Which WE spent years on Hol continually spreading discredited mainstream media talking points on....when, despite his confident assurances at the time....all came to a giant big nothing burger.....many millions of taxpayer money spent on political jizz to hamper a president. What I stated on that thread's first few pages is what actually came to pass.

Rather tellingly for his credibility he never admitted any personal fault for spreading that misinformation and even now after several people implicated in this hoax have been sent to jail he continues to spread misinformation on the truth of the claims.

In that pursuit of dishonesty instead of truth, WE is very much like the worst aspects of the mainstream media he so adores.

God, fecking speed.

Edited by Stirlingsays (24 Mar 2022 1.22pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

There is so much wrong with this post that it's going to take a long time to dissemble it and provide the truth. Time I haven't got as the sun is shining, and I am blessed with a bit of energy to go and enjoy it. You just know you are about to read another tedious diatribe when it commences with the usual nonsense about where I live somehow discrediting my opinion, or impairing my ability to think. If I have the time, energy and desire, I will return to this.

It can though be summed up in one word. Garbage. Garbage which is a rehash of debunked conspiracy theories, misrepresented opinions and right wing tropes which convince no-one other than the already prejudiced. The idea that Trump's involvement with Russia is a "hoax", tells anyone who has actually looked at the facts all they need to know. It isn't.

My gardening and walking the dog is done, so I can return to this. These are the same tired justifications of attitudes that few will bother reading, and only the "nasty" club here will have any sympathy for. They have all been debunked many times, so there's little point in doing so again. If you believe this kind of thing, then you believe it. If you don't, you won't.

I don't want to "censor" anyone. I question whether social media platforms, and YouTube, ought to have more oversight on their platforms to ensure that what is posted is verified as within their acceptable standards, and if not, to post a warning and provide opportunities for alternative opinions to be placed in juxtaposition. I am aware of harm being done, and wish that to stop. No doubt others would want the same for other things. Should people be allowed to express whatever opinion they wish, without oversight? Should paedophiles be allowed to post videos on YouTube?

Newspapers sometimes make mistakes which costs them money. Sometimes political activists jump on those mistakes, back the "victims" and make mountains out of molehills. Sandmann and Rittenhouse being good examples of this. The latter being a silly young man with a gun, and the former trying to exploit a journalist relying on a witness. Big deal!! No, a very small story blown up out of all proportion for political mischief making:-

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Brett Kavanaugh deserved all he got. He was a terrible candidate, chosen solely for his political views and not his judicial wisdom. He was a very sad reflection of the way Trump sought to politicise justice in the USA.

I've dealt with the Biden laptop nonsense elsewhere. Suffice to say, it's a non story that no responsible newspaper ought to touch. Those that do, cover themselves in shame.

Trump's call with Zelensky was heard and reported on by credible witnesses who had no political motivations at all. They were extremely convincing, so it's easy to see why he was impeached and also to see why that failed. Not because he was innocent. Just because of the political high bar needed to convict.

The Trump team's involvement with Russia is no hoax. It's a fact. So far, Trump's own role has escaped conviction. Like every mob boss, he employs plausible deniability, but the circumstantial evidence is strong. Steele knows it. Mueller knows it. When we will remains an open question. That some may have gone too far in trying to expose this does nothing to alter the fundamentals involved.

It's been more than 3 years since I was last in the USA, but I am in regular contact with people there. I was there for 2 months on my last trip, so able to observe attitudes and hear people at first hand. (so much for being isolated in Cornwall). I am expecting to be in California for a month around September, when it will be interesting to see how things have changed. Better that than relying on dodgy YouTube videos from angry young men with chips on their shoulders!

Edited by Wisbech Eagle (24 Mar 2022 7.13pm)

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Tips hat.

We have to clear up after the WE's of this world.

In his case he moves to an area of the country that his politics hasn't s*** in yet.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Anyone who believes that Trump leads a "government in exile" and makes a video trying to claim any kind of justification for such a preposterous idea deserves being given a very wide berth.

Fact-checkers don't confound anyone who is interested in the truth, rather than listening to conspiracy theories. They do what's on the tin!

Before anyone decides to spend 90 mins watching anything, it's wise to know something about who is producing what they will be shown.

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Edited by Wisbech Eagle (26 Mar 2022 9.35pm)

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.