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Parent Article: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly: "What's the Matter with Indymedia?" |
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Hidden with code "Other" (duplicate) |
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Re: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly: "What's the Matter with Indymedia?" |
by pdx imcista
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
28 Jul 2005
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"Portland has a similar policy in writing, but it sometimes seems more a formality than a reflection of practices."
This is false. At the time the author is referring to, there was no such policy in Portland regarding sexist, fascist etc posts.
"In the 1980s the city was a mecca for fascists and neonazis who beat an Ethiopian immigrant to death in 1988, and were subsequently driven out of town or underground. When I lived there in 2001, they briefly reemerged, and began using the Indymedia site to post recruitment messages for Volksfront--a white-supremacist, neonazi organization--as well as announcements of an upcoming meeting and concert featuring White Aryan Resistance leader Tom Metzger. Several antifascist organizers contacted the editorial group in an effort to have the posts hidden. Our requests were denied; we were told that we were undermining free speech by requesting censorship, and were invited to post messages in response to the fascists' recruitment efforts. To us, this was inadequate. Let the ACLU protect neonazis' free speech rights--they were using a community resource to spread their hate-based propaganda, and we wanted it stopped immediately."
This caused a number of us who were contributing to the indymedia effort in Portland to consider these issues. It was difficult keeping an open mind when these antifascist organizers were yelling at us, calling us nazi sympathizers and other such. I found them rude and offensive and seemingly unable to understand that we were not going to change a basic principle of the site right then and there at their demand. Internal discussion ensued for the next couple months. Then at one meeting a woman from the UK came to our meeting. She discussed in depth her rationale for editing and that free speech should not take precedent. I was very moved by her passionate and thoughtful arguments as were a few other people. Shortly afterwards, Portland IMC changed its policy.
"Though that level of fascist material has not been seen on the site recently, it is unclear if this is due to the nazis going back underground or due to a policy shift at Portland Indymedia."
The reason it is unclear is because the author made no effort to find out. The policy is very clear. No posts by fascist groups, or general sexist, homophobic etc posts will be allowed to stay on the site. It is shoddy journalism to give readers the impression that the Portland policy is vague, or not applied.
"According to their creative cartography, St. Louis is in the "Mississippi Delta," despite the fact that the actual delta is confined to the southernmost tip of Louisiana, and the nearest Indymedia site is based over 80 miles away in New Orleans."
Another commenter explained the authors error. It is at this point that it becomes clear that the author still carries a grudge against Portland IMC. This article is supposed to be about constructive criticism, not personal vendetta and demeaning sarcastic comments. |
