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Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

newsweek.com

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Re: Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

#41

Post by Veen »

mirimir wrote: post #30
19eightyfour wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know why people still support Assange so clearly. It was interesting to me that people on /r/The_Donald love Assange so much. Before this documentary, I posted there criticising Wikileaks and it was totally hated on. I find that weird because the idea that Assange is unreliable and fake, was the kind of somewhat-counter-main-narrative idea that I thought people of T_D would appreciate. They seem to see him as…

> I can't respect someone who talks about curing the world of ignorance, and having the courage to tell the truth, but then cowers for 7 years in a embassy because he's too afraid to stand up and tell the truth, whatever it was, about what happened. It was more about not wanting to rot in US prison, I think.

> It was more about not wanting to rot in US prison, I think.

That seems a perfectly rational decision to me.

Re: Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

#42

Post by nailer »

The other side: http://www.newsweek.com/wikileaks-attorneys-blast-citizenfou...

"To be clear: our objections are not about censorship. WikiLeaks remains an unwavering advocate for freedom of expression. This is about safety. It is about protecting journalistic sources. It is about personal and professional integrity, and honoring contractual obligations.

Our second major concern about Risk is the way the focus of the film has been radically altered from a broadly sympathetic portrayal of WikiLeaks’ work and the attacks against its staff by the U.S. government to an ill-defined indictment of the "culture of sexism" online."

Re: Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

#43

Post by mirimir »

nailer wrote: post #42

The other side: http://www.newsweek.com/wikileaks-attorneys-blast-citizenfou... "To be clear: our objections are not about censorship. WikiLeaks remains an unwavering advocate for freedom of expression. This is about safety. It is about protecting journalistic sources. It is about personal and professional integrity, and honoring contractual obligations. Our second major concern about Risk is the way the focus of the…

This is an interesting argument:

> Poitras has also violated her unambiguous promise to the subjects of the film that they would have an opportunity to review the film in advance and request changes, and that they could decline to appear if they or their lawyers felt that the movie put them at risk.

So I'm wondering whether Assange declined to appear, and she refused. That'd be funny, in a sad way.

Still, I've followed Assange's work for decades. Maybe he's been a sexist asshole at times. The flesh is weak, no doubt. But I don't get how that can be a criticism of Wikileaks.

Edit: In the parent article, Poitras says:

> There were individuals who requested from the beginning not to appear in the film, and those requests were respected.

I wonder what the contract actually says about the right of subjects to decline to appear.

Re: Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

#44

Post by Kiro »

I remember seeing a documentary many years ago where they interviewed a lot of Wikileaks ex-staff and Assange came off as a power-mad megalomaniac. I don't remember the name but my view of Assange was completely changed after that.

Does anyone know what documentary I'm talking about? It was aired on Swedish television (this was before the sexual offense accusations).

Re: Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

#45

Post by honestoHeminway »

mowenz wrote: post #36
lingben wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've observed that Trump and his supporters live in a childishly simple world where anything and anyone who says "good" or supportive things is hailed and anyone who criticizes or questions Trump is derided and held in contempt, irrespective of any actual factual basis.

Isn't this just politics? Here is an example: After the DNC scandal against Sanders with DWS resigning I posted an article by Greenwald on this in /r/politics. It was downvoted with such reasons as 'Greenwald is an un-patriotic [homophobic slur] who is afraid to enter the US because he doesn't want to face responsibility for his actions against the US.'

Actually no - politics in democratic systems should transcend this immature behaviour. Meaning, at some point of heated debate, those with no feelings involved take a step back, and find a middleground solution, a compromise with which both sides can live. And usually that boring compromise is accepted by the majority of the people.

The problem starts when the majority of the people are cut off from economic growth and participation. They can sense the world moving own, without needing them and rebell against that (for good reason- i presume that alot of HN readers would form similar rebelions, if the big Four would discard them all .

Re: Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

#46

Post by [deleted] »

lingben wrote: post #31
19eightyfour wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know why people still support Assange so clearly. It was interesting to me that people on /r/The_Donald love Assange so much. Before this documentary, I posted there criticising Wikileaks and it was totally hated on. I find that weird because the idea that Assange is unreliable and fake, was the kind of somewhat-counter-main-narrative idea that I thought people of T_D would appreciate. They seem to see him as…

I've observed that Trump and his supporters live in a childishly simple world where anything and anyone who says "good" or supportive things is hailed and anyone who criticizes or questions Trump is derided and held in contempt, irrespective of any actual factual basis.

[deleted]

Re: Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

#47

Post by [deleted] »

lingben wrote: post #31
19eightyfour wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know why people still support Assange so clearly. It was interesting to me that people on /r/The_Donald love Assange so much. Before this documentary, I posted there criticising Wikileaks and it was totally hated on. I find that weird because the idea that Assange is unreliable and fake, was the kind of somewhat-counter-main-narrative idea that I thought people of T_D would appreciate. They seem to see him as…

I've observed that Trump and his supporters live in a childishly simple world where anything and anyone who says "good" or supportive things is hailed and anyone who criticizes or questions Trump is derided and held in contempt, irrespective of any actual factual basis.

[deleted]

Re: Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

#48

Post by boomboomsubban »

honestoHeminway wrote: post #45
mowenz wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't this just politics? Here is an example: After the DNC scandal against Sanders with DWS resigning I posted an article by Greenwald on this in /r/politics. It was downvoted with such reasons as 'Greenwald is an un-patriotic [homophobic slur] who is afraid to enter the US because he doesn't want to face responsibility for his actions against the US.'

Actually no - politics in democratic systems should transcend this immature behaviour. Meaning, at some point of heated debate, those with no feelings involved take a step back, and find a middleground solution, a compromise with which both sides can live. And usually that boring compromise is accepted by the majority of the people. The problem starts when the majority of the people are cut off from economic growth a…

>Actually no - politics in democratic systems should transcend this immature behaviour.

This isn't a democracy, it's a republic. Any compromise needs a supermajority of citizens in support of a majority of elected officials. With the two party system, often compromising can lead to an election loss even if the majority of voters were in favor of the end bill.

Re: Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

#49

Post by vultour »

lingben wrote: post #31
19eightyfour wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know why people still support Assange so clearly. It was interesting to me that people on /r/The_Donald love Assange so much. Before this documentary, I posted there criticising Wikileaks and it was totally hated on. I find that weird because the idea that Assange is unreliable and fake, was the kind of somewhat-counter-main-narrative idea that I thought people of T_D would appreciate. They seem to see him as…

I've observed that Trump and his supporters live in a childishly simple world where anything and anyone who says "good" or supportive things is hailed and anyone who criticizes or questions Trump is derided and held in contempt, irrespective of any actual factual basis.

You realize that the other side is the same right?

Re: Wikileaks Documentary Makers Accuse Assange of Censorship

#50

Post by [deleted] »

lingben wrote: post #31
19eightyfour wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know why people still support Assange so clearly. It was interesting to me that people on /r/The_Donald love Assange so much. Before this documentary, I posted there criticising Wikileaks and it was totally hated on. I find that weird because the idea that Assange is unreliable and fake, was the kind of somewhat-counter-main-narrative idea that I thought people of T_D would appreciate. They seem to see him as…

I've observed that Trump and his supporters live in a childishly simple world where anything and anyone who says "good" or supportive things is hailed and anyone who criticizes or questions Trump is derided and held in contempt, irrespective of any actual factual basis.

[deleted]
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