I'm so glad my family got out of Russia 17 years ago.
Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites
131–140 of 173 posts
Re: Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites
#132Russia no block Hacker News yet?
nop. even if it would - HN users will find their way through such blocks, in contrast with mass media users
Re: Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites
#133While the press freedom is important there are different priorities during the wartime. Russia today is ready to go to war with the West in order to keep Ukraine from joining NATO. "Russia regards this as an existential threat and will do whatever it takes to prevent it happening. ( http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26566452)" The banned sites are considered enemy propaganda outfits by Kremlin.
This isn't anything Russia hasn't been doing for decades. It has been spreading propaganda for a long time, it cannot even be compared to UK or US or any other developed country censorship levels. Putin wipes out everything that is not directly following orders from him. It is only now that these things came to world attention. Media is not only censored in Russia, they simply make up things and tell as truth and facts. If you'd understand Russian and would listen to their news you'd think it must be some joke how ridiculous their lies are, but it isn't.
Re: Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
And the feminist punk bands, the homosexuals, and the murdered journalists -- how are they doing lately?
Feminist punk bands must be imprisoned right now because of playing shitty punk rock ever. They're real traitors of punk rock :) Homosexuals? Why do you ask Russia about them? Go to Saudi Arabia and ask them how do they feel about that. We have our own vision of healthy society. Murdered journalists - that's a shame, I agree. But you know what? Now it's just a tool in hands of the West. And you use this tool in order…
Notice how cleanly he uses discussion derailing techniques, one might even think he was specifically trained for that. Misdirection, straw man, turning back criticism at you, not a single sentence from this individual is unnecessary, every word is crafted strictly by forum infiltrator handbook.
Re: Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites
#135Earlier quoted context omitted.
My impression from reading Russian blogs on LiveJournal is that there are two kinds of people in Russia right now: those extremely anti-Putin and those extremely pro-Putin, in about 50/50 proportion. No one is "too afraid" or "silenced".
Until one day those antiPutinities are mysteriously rounded up and sent to Siberia, heres a thought for you if Putin did that tomorrow what would the "West" do? the answer will be nothing, nada, zero If I was in Russia now i would shut up and plan my exit strategy, as most of those who could afford did so.
Here you are thinking about Russia in your Western categories. Those who did exit did so not because they want to be able to speak up against Putin, but for economic or professional reasons. Also Anti-Putinites are so many on the Internet you can't possibly round them up. Russians have been venting their political views on the Internet ever since the Internet has become available, I don't see how this can ever be stopped. Also Siberia is not such a bad place :) Also, the "West" doesn't need to do anything in Russia, unless it wants a mess just like in Ukraine, only with lots more of unhinged nationalists/patriots/communists/liberals and with nuclear weapons getting involved. It's not going to be nice pro-Western people against a horrible totalitarian regime.
Re: Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites
#136Earlier quoted context omitted.
Hm, you say that, but Goebbels didn't have any tricks of his own - he learned from the masters - two Americans, Bernays and von Wiegand, who sharpened their skills in the 20's working for the Hearst press and convincing America to smoke.
This. Thank you. More people should know of these giants and that propaganda's origins (in theorycraft and implementation) are much closer to home than many Anglos realize. Edward Bernays - his Wikipedia article is enlightening in and of itself. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays
Don't forget Ivy Lee. While we are at it, it is worth mentioning that the law against domestic use of propaganda in the US was quietly repealed a few years ago. Operation Mockingbird is also worth a look for those curious about the cozy relationship between the CIA et al and the media.
Re: Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites
#137And EFF "happened" to find out about that just in the midst of Ukraine crisis. How fitting.
Re: Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites
#138The thing is EFF article heading is misleading. These listed websites are not "major independent news sites". And they never been. When it comes to independent news sources, Russia uses a lot of newsru.com, lenta.ru, utro.ru, none of those blocked. Besides livejournal.com works from Russia as usual. Serve it from open public proxy in Novosibirsk and see for yourself.
It is sad EFF became a channel for demonization of Russian public image these days.
Re: Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites
#139Earlier quoted context omitted.
Hm, you say that, but Goebbels didn't have any tricks of his own - he learned from the masters - two Americans, Bernays and von Wiegand, who sharpened their skills in the 20's working for the Hearst press and convincing America to smoke.
This. Thank you. More people should know of these giants and that propaganda's origins (in theorycraft and implementation) are much closer to home than many Anglos realize. Edward Bernays - his Wikipedia article is enlightening in and of itself. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays
"propaganda's origins (in theorycraft and implementation) are much closer to home than many Anglos realize"
Propaganda is old as the humanity itself (when was performed mainly through priests), and in Edward Bernays' time it only got formalized.
Re: Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites
#140Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Consider current-day North Korea, Venezuela, or countless Middle-Eastern countries (which regulate education as well as the internet) Doesn't the United States also regulate education and the Internet, and particularly the former? It seems like you're still likely to get labelled a kooky conspiracy theorist if you claim that modern Western governments actively engage in blatant propaganda campaigns, but it's consid…
US education has both private and public aspects. Private schools are, surprisingly, almost unregulated in terms of the content that they must teach (high school students are required to take one class in American History). Public education is administered at the county level (if you can believe it). States have a decent amount to say with regards to what schools teach; the federal government does not. This system is…
> "propaganda in schools" is hard to effect from a centralized location.
What do you think of the new "common core" standards?