this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2023
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  • The Grayzone raises over $90,000 for 3 independent journalists.

  • Gofundme freezes the funds.

  • British Counter-Terror Police detains journalist Kit Klarenberg and interrogates him for 5 hours about his political views and reporting.

The West sure loves its press freedom™ huh?

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[–] rikudou@lemmings.world 16 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Since 2014, when a US-backed coup installed a nationalist government in Kiev, our contributors have been at the forefront of exposing the role of Washington in pushing Ukraine toward all-out war with Russia.

I think I found the reason. The press is free to report whatever it wants, though! And gofundme is free to withdraw funds.

See, freedom means that everyone can do whatever they want as long as they abide by law. Grayzone is free to spread their lies, gofundme is free to not support those lies. No one is banning Grayzone, it's just pretty much everyone decided they don't want to deal with it, which they're free to.

To answer your question, yes, we sure do love our freedom, press or otherwise!

[–] birdcat@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Since 2014, when a US-backed coup installed a nationalist government in Kiev, our contributors have been at the forefront of exposing the role of Washington in pushing Ukraine toward all-out war with Russia.

But I actually have to agree with you on this, that is bullshit. The Grayzone was not at the forefront of this in 2014; the BBC was. (full transcript)

[–] birdcat@lemmy.ml -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The money didn't come from Gofundme, it came from private donors, who have not been notified or refunded so far.

If freedom of the press is loved, why is it made extra difficult to support the independent media of your choice?

People donated to that site because they probably view the information it provides as valuable.

It's fine if you think the Grayzone is shit, no one will force you to read it, but please be aware that you accept authoritarianism when it suits your bias and political beliefs. Not even questioning the reasons for the withholding? Do you just think the boss or some random person of Gofundme spontaneously thought "Nah, not those guys, not today" then froze the 90k? Not even questioning how a journalist ends up on a list of the UK Counter-Terror Police?

And btw, dismissing journalistic work when it proves that you've been told lies does not make you a critical thinker, it just makes you a victim of propaganda, all the best 😘

[–] diffuselight@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They are free to use a platform that aligns with their tankie fantasies

[–] birdcat@lemmy.ml -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Can you provide a link to 1 article that consists of "tankie fantasies"?

Edit: and they couldn't.

[–] diffuselight@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

The interviews with convicted pedo and tankie Scott Ritter perhaps?

[–] RoadArchie@lemmy.ml 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They're pushing some crazy conspiracy theories.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grayzone

I hope they crash and burn... Far left! Pah, these people are nothing but far from sane.

[–] Lmaydev@programming.dev 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Don't quite get how supporting Russia would ever be considered left wing.

[–] rah@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Russia is strongly associated with communism in many people's minds. Including many Russians'.

[–] Lmaydev@programming.dev 4 points 1 year ago

That's pretty ridiculous.

[–] Skipcast@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't see how the things reported on that page could be considered "left"

[–] diffuselight@lemm.ee -3 points 1 year ago

They just are so far left they came out on the right again

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

It's not actually journalism. It's an extreme left protagandist and conspiracy website.

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-grayzone/

[–] cannot@lemmy.ml 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

They are not leftists, they are tankies who are pro-Russia, pro-CCP, pro-Assad, and basically pro-every-authoritarian. They defend multiple genocides. They're fascists stealing leftist valor.

[–] mephiska@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

yeah just going to OP's link just half of the "popular stories" links are pro-russia propaganda nonsense, and the rest are bizarro tankie takes.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world -4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do you consider yourself a leftist?

[–] cannot@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Yes, I'm a radical anarcho-feminist.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world -4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Would you rather live under the rule of socialist China, or capitalist America?

[–] cannot@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Do you seriously think I don't know what a whataboutism is? Fuck off with this disingenuous bullshit tankie.

I'm not even a goddamn american!

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So you’re a liberal. Facts.

[–] cannot@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What the fuck are you even talking about. Go back to bed. I'm not an idiot and I'm not falling for your shit.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world -4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But you want people to fall for your shit. This isn’t Reddit. We’re not all idiots.

[–] cannot@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, I want you to shut the fuck up and go back to bed. I don't care what you fall for except maybe out a window.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world -4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Your hostility belies your intentions. Just accept that you are a liberal. And that’s okay. Own it. But stop pretending to be an actual leftist while spewing liberal propaganda.

[–] cannot@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I haven't even said any propaganda. All of my comments are just telling you to fuck off: I'm being hostile because you've been disingenuous from your first comment and I don't engage with tankies. Anyway, go back to bed. Ideally forever.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m not disingenuous. I asked a question you never answered. I don’t even consider myself a Marxist Leninist. You throw out words like they don’t have meaning.

[–] cannot@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You asked a completely irrelevant question to deflect to a different subject, presumably because you thought I was American. Unfortunately I've slayed a lot of tankies and I know your tricks. I'm not falling for your misdirection.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world -3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I am American, you are not. That’s irrelevant. Still not a tankie, and you still haven’t answered the question which actually implies the answer by deduction. I’m not trying to trick you. I don’t even care if you’re a liberal. I’m surrounded by them. They aren’t bad people, just undereducated.

Edit: How many tankies have you slayed in 3 days?

[–] cannot@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

About to be one more. (In case it was unclear, this is a metaphor and an alt.)

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You slayed me so hard, metaphorically. Now answer the question:

Would you rather live under the rule of socialist China, or capitalist America?

If you don’t want to answer it, that’s fine. But maybe think about what that means.

[–] cannot@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I don't live under and don't want to live under either, because I am a radical anarchist and don't believe in states or borders. So, I did kind of answer your dumb, misdirecting, whataboutist false dichotomy with my first reply. Hope you are happy with the answer. It's bedtime now.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago

Was that difficult? I understand, that would be my view too. But as an anarchist, if it was a binary choice, and it might be, I would reluctantly choose to live under socialist Chinese rule. They are not perfect. But they at least have nationalized healthcare and house their homeless. That’s how I know I am a leftist. But labels don’t really matter when lives are concerned.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

That may be true. But don’t discount that media disseminated under capitalism is also biased. Source

[–] Lmaydev@programming.dev 3 points 1 year ago

Gofundme is a private company they are free to do what they feel is right within the confines of the law.

As far as I can tell he has been released and not improsined so why it may be an overstep he's hardly been silenced. And the news organisation seems to still be running freely as well.

I can't find any actual information about the event online so it's hard to form an opinion either way.