seattle indymedia center

Seattle Indymedia: accountble to community or open to neo-nazi spam?update

author: Ben Seattle
Mar 06, 2006 21:52

(update to earlier thread) Will the Seattle Indymedia editorial board be accountable to the local progressive community and explain why it keeps the newswire open to neo-nazi spam?

1. First -- I would like to respectfully ask the Seattle Indymedia editors not to modify the title of this newswire post (as happened to the last one -- which was shortened in such a way as to reduce readership -- see below for details). I would probably not have bothered to make this update post if the title of my previous post had not been tampered with.

2. Since the first newswire posts (more than a week ago) protesting the dozens of neo-nazi posts and comments in the newswire -- the neo-nazi posts and comments have stopped. Unfortunately it is unclear if this is because the neo-nazis got bored with spamming the newswire -- or if the local indymedia editorial group decided to respond to pressure from the progressive community and (for now) deletes this racist crap.

3. Even though the neo-nazi spamming appears to have stopped (for now) questions remain. The Seattle Indymedia editorial board has refused to clarify what is going on. I have requested that this topic be placed in the center column for greater visibility and community response.

4. The only response from the editorial board to my request for accountability and transparency on this issue -- was to shorten the title of my previous newswire post.

My post originally had the title:

> Who does Seattle Indymedia serve?
> Neo-nazi spam or accountabilty to
> progressive community?

The 2nd question was removed from the title sometime _after_ my post first appeared on the newswire. Shortening the title reduces readership -- because it leaves unclear to potential readers the _content_ of my criticism of the editorial board (ie: readers are less likely to click on a newswire posting that appears to be abstract and without a focus on a concrete issue -- because postings without a concrete issue in the title tend to be pointless spam.)

5. I also said that the time has come for the indymedia editorial board to remove the present bureaucratic barriers that serve to keep the editorial board closed off to increased participation from members of the progressive community.

The main barrier that I mentioned was the requirement that editorial members must work at least 15 hours a week on indymedia. This barrier was created about two years ago when the current editorial group gained power by ousting some of the previous people. Few people protested this barrier at the time because the new arrangement appeared to be working in the direction of the community interest.

However if the current indymedia editorial group refuses to enforce a ban on neo-nazi posts and comments -- and refuses to even discuss this issue here on the newswire -- or to make this topic a center column feature -- then it has become clear that the editorial board of indymedia must be opened up. If Seattle Indymedia is to serve the progressive community then it must be something more than a project controlled by a very few people who do not see themselves as accountable in any way to a larger community.

The proof is in the pudding. Neo-nazi posts and a refusal to talk about them are a clear indication that something important here is broken.

6. The previous newswire posts on this topic (see the appendix below) were overwhelmingly supportive of the principle that neo-nazi posts have no place on Indymedia. However the post which I initiated was opposed by one person -- who (1) asked the editorial group to censor my newswire postings (this person is not bothered by neo-nazi posts but is upset by my posts), (2) accused me of being a "provocateur" (ie: a code word for someone who works for the police) without presenting any evidence or arguments and (3) asserted (again -- without either argument or explanation of any kind) that my actions have "sabotaged" the antiwar movement and that tens of thousands of local activists would be hitting the street each week if only I would shut up.

My post here is focused on the need for an indymedia editorial board that is accountable to the community and which will keep the newswire free of neo-nazi spam. For that reason I will keep my response to the "sabotage" accusation short:

At present the antiwar movement is dominated by the big liberal coalitions which promote the policy of alliance with the Democratic Party and which work to suck the energy of activists into dead-end schemes that will supposedly (if only activists are willing to give up their militancy and learn to kiss ass) turn the Democratic Party into an antiwar party.

Along with a number of like-minded activists (I am hardly alone in this nor am I playing the leading role in this -- readers who are interested are encouraged to look at the website of the Seattle Anti-Imperialist Committee at  http://SeattleAIC.org ) I oppose the domination of the antiwar movement by the Democratic Party and its many flunkies -- and the coalitions which have an open (or hidden) alliance with a section of the Democratic Party. I tell other activists the simple truth: the Democratic Party is an imperialist party to the core -- this imperialist party is "helping" the antiwar movement for one reason only: in order to hijack this movement and lead it into the gutter and destroy it. It is because I take this principled stand that my anonymous critic (who is unable to defend his views with principled political arguments) promotes this kind of disinformation -- and implies that I work for the police and that I sabotage the antiwar movement. We live in a class-divided society and anytime you take a clear stand for building a powerful movement -- you will encounter this kind of hot air.


Sincerely,
Ben Seattle
 http://struggle.net/ben

============================================================
appendix -- related newswire postings
============================================================

- 1 -

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Who does Seattle Indymedia serve? Neo-nazi spam or
accountabilty to progressive community? (May 4)
(the original title was modified by editors for reasons unknown)
 http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2006/03/251980.shtml
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- 2 -

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An example (one of many) of the nazi theads
that has been spamming the newswire (March 1)
 http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2006/03/251911.shtml
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- 3 -

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Who IS responsible for editorial at indymedia? (March 2)
 http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2006/03/251941.shtml
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thread started by E. Miesner, comments by Frank, Ben and others
Includes: "background on indymedia editorial group" by Ben

- 4 -

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Boycott Seattle Indymedia (February 27)
 http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2006/02/251877.shtml
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This is the thread that started this off, by "2 friends"
(I wish, by the way, that posters would use
consistent pseudonyms. That way each person can
develop his or her reputation and readers can
more easily find what is deserving of attention)
comments by Edward, Ben, "Don Quixote", Ktesibios, Frank,
TheTroll and a member of the portland indymedia collective

A quote from the Portland guy:

> Same reasons also for not allowing a bunch
> of racist sexist bigots to poison the well
> we are trying to drink from. [...]
>
> the Portland site was drowing in garbage posts
> until it was decided to start moving it to the
> compost page. Many readers were leaving, people
> saw no point to post an article they had written
> if it was going to receive a bunch of crude,
> thoughtless, or malicious comments. Taking that
> decision the site immediately became more healthy
> and started attracting better quality content.
>
> I heartily recommend Seattle take a similar step,
> whatever the specifics of the policies might be.

- 5 -

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 http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2006/03/251919.shtml (March 1)
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Mostly a repost of the 251877 thread, with a few additional comments

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