Huffpo purchased by AOL

[Red Dog]

Hi everyone,

We haven't had much traffic lately. Just thought I would throw out a question, what do people think about the purchase of HP by AOL? To me it seems like it should be the straw that finally gets me to stop using HP but I have to confess although I don't comment nearly as much as I used to I still use it more than I would like.

As part of the discussion I'm wondering what sites people use as an alternative to HP?  Here is the list of mine:

http://crooksandliars.com/  For political news and a mildly intelligent base of commenters although they have a lot of what I think of as left wing macho boys, the kind who love to yell about how everything and everyone is corrupt but that I imagine spend most of their time playing dungeons and dragons in their mommie's basemen rather than actually trying to organize for real change.

http://www.democracynow.org/  For political and general world news with a left wing slant. This site can be really amazing. During the last week with the stuff in Egypt I've been glued to their video podcasts, just amazing stuff. One of their producers: Sharif Abdel Houddous, was born and raised in Egypt and while the Anderson Coopers are running out of the country with their tails tucked between their legs Sharif is not only still there but right in the middle of Liberation Square standing hand in hand with the anti-Mubarak demonstrators dodging rocks and bullets from the pro Mubarak forces. Only thing is that DN doesn't have any comment capabilities as of now.

http://richarddawkins.net/  For science and atheist related discussions. Good info but I have to say I've been a bit disappointed by the discussion, not that different from the overly emotional "new atheists" who have about as much respect for rational debate as the worst religious fundamentalist. I'm an atheist but some of the coolest people I've known have been believers and I try to never resort to petty name calling the way the "new atheists" at Huffpo so often do and I've been disappointed that the comments at Dawkins' site aren't much better.

Two other sites I've been meaning to check out that have been recommended are:

http://www.alternet.org/
http://english.aljazeera.net/

I've seen a few from both sides but not to form any real opinions yet.

Cheers,
Red Dog

[InsideOutGraphics rouslin]

I was just thinking similar thoughts.

I understand Corporate influences, agenda, and profits. And the recent changes at HP have all of those qualities.

That's a given model in today's media. It sucks, but that's reality.

The other point is, we know it's selective journalism, but it's still dependent upon viewer comments. It's their built in pulse. They look at spread sheets looking for swings in areas of public opinion.

It's still a vehicle for which BS can be challenged. Despite the censorship.

Hell, I posted a comment but typed the entire thing backwards. It went right through:-)

Also rather than taking the bait to some asswhole , go above the person, but get the correct info out. And the person very rarely will respond . 

There are creative ways we can use HP /AOL, to our advantage.

Hell, TV is based on this model. Get it out and sway public opinion. So we owe it to our belief in democracy , to take what we can get in a way, at least on HP.

But know to, that HP is not the best source for real information.

It's tabloid with a black dress on and pearls. 

I never rely on one source. Haven't done that in eons.

But HP has the viewers and the format, so lets use it, because if we don't get a democracy together, then you may as well forget free speech. Democracy is first. All else follows if we do it right.

My opinion only

Jude

--


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Support Democracy

[Adrian Haynes]

I've been on watching the fallout.

Its been an eye opener for most people.  Just 2 weeks before the merger the huffington post posted this article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/aols-dirty-little-secret-_n_812307.html

claiming that as much as 60% of AOL's profits came from confusing the elderly into thinking they needed AOLs $25 a month internet service when they were already paying for cable or DSL internet separately.  Why would a liberally minded person want to join with a company that does this?

Between this and Arianna's statements that all but confirm that the Huffington Post Bloggers still won't be paid for their work (despite her being paid hundreds of millions for their work) a lot of people are questioning her loyalty to liberal ideals.  Her labor practices make working at Walmart seem preferable. 

A elephant in donkey's clothing.  

As for finding other similar sites, I played around with pinyadda.com for a bit, and I really like their way of doing things.  Basically it allows you to aggregate news from your choice of sources (and you can request them add a source to the database if they don't have them currently). It also allows you to view articles based on topic.  It then allows you to pin articles to your various friends you think would be be interested in the topic, and post comments under it.   Unfortunately there aren't really enough users to provide the amount of conversation you can have on the huffington post (when they allow you to post), but they don't censor like HP does.  Recently I average maybe getting 1 in every 10 posts to go through at huffington post, and I'm on my 4th account (3 of them banned for complaining about being improperly moderated).

[Jon Thingvold]

Red Dog:

Haven't checked in on you guys (and girls) lately.  I'm an atheist also, but - unlike you - I usually find that atheist and agnostic commenters are more intelligent and open-minded than the knee-jerk religious types, and certainly more than the fundamentalist Christians.  I love it when I run into people who actually ask questions, something we should probably all do more frequently.  It seems I have been banned for life from HP for, apparently, complaining about their censorship.  I sent two e-mails to them telling my story and asking to be reinstated but received no response.  I like their news and opinion content but am still totally disgusted with their censorship.  They seem to me to be the China of internet news and opinion sites.

I saw Anthony Hopkins interviewed recently.  He talked about his religious beliefs and stated that "nobody knows, " including him, whether there is a God, but claimed not to be an agnostic.  It made no sense to me.

I spend some time commenting on CNN.com under thing55, but I find that there are only a few intelligent, reasonable people there.  I find lots of wacko conservatives hurling epithets, with almost no reasoned arguments or facts presented.  Sad.  Good to hear from you.

Jon 

---

From: Red Dog <redd...@gmail.com>
To: huffington-po...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wed, February 9, 2011 6:29:32 PM
Subject: Huffpo purchased by AOL

[Red Dog]

Jon,

I just wanted to reply about the atheist comment. Yes, I often criticize fellow atheists on Huffpo whom I think are being intolerant or  taking cheap shots at believers. That doesn't mean that I think that atheists/agnostics are as a group more intolerant than fundamentalist Christians.

Its just that as an atheist I think its my responsibility to hold atheists to a higher standard. Our beliefs are based on reason not faith so we should be able to always talk rationally, even with, especially with people we don't agree with. Name calling and cheap shots should be reserved for people who can't argue rationally and have no true foundation for their beliefs.

Having said that I will admit though that often I find more in common with some Christians (Muslims, Jews, whatever) then atheists. Some of the people most dedicated to social justice, some of the kindest, hardest working, selfless, even sexiest people I've known have been people of faith.

I think its wrong to draw arbitrary boundaries and to say people who don't agree with me about faith (or politics, or whatever) are automatically bad.

Red Dog

[Jon Thingvold]

Red Dog:

I don't judge a person's worth by their religious beliefs.  I think that a person's beliefs shed light on their intelligence and ability to reason, but what really matters are the attributes of decency.  Does a person genuinely care about others?  Are they kind, fair, and compassionate, and do they really try to make the world a better place, not just for us, but for future generations too?  I would take a truly good person with delusional religious beliefs over an atheist asshole any day.  Perhaps you feel the same?

Jon

---

From: Red Dog <redd...@gmail.com>
To: huffington-po...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Thu, February 10, 2011 9:12:21 PM
Subject: Re: Huffpo purchased by AOL

[2706 N8thst]

I think we can all agree that all forms of fundamentalism stops the conversation just by the nature of it's ideology; meaning, all things must never change according to whatever the fundamentalist belief system. It is "anti-human" in that we are all changing constantly; we must adapt to our environs regardless whether they are internal or external in a consistent flux. Fundamentalism of all forms denies humans any opportunity to change and it requires complete loyalty plus adherence to it's beliefs and leaders...no questions asked.

The question, "Does a person genuinely care?" is right on point. Humans have to genuinely care about themselves and others in order to survive emotionally, spiritually as well as physically. Ever hear a kid with an attitude say "I don't care" with great sneering and disgust? To me, that's always a teaching moment, but, with adults, it's not.

By the time you're an adult, you should have the dignity and decency to care, "walk in someone else shoes", see how their life works/doesn't work. Caring is required. Fundamentalism isn't really concerned with the care of "future generations" but preserving the status quo of what they believe as it was dictated in the past. I might add, shoving it down the throats and in the faces of all who won't "obey their authority" is something they are very proud to do to other people. If you want to have fun with a fundamentalist of any stripe, tell them "You're not special nor is your ideology. Myself and everyone I know is VERY indifferent to you and your ideology"...watch them get hoping mad and throw a "fanatical" tantrum. You can't have conversation when a fanatical tantrum is in session nor can you have a better world. You can have conversation with anyone regardless of their belief system if they are a caring person with the decency to walk in someone else shoes.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it...Singh X

[InsideOutGraphics rouslin]

atheist asshole????  WTF!!!!

[2706 N8thst]

Has anyone else been permanently banned from HufPo as of late? In all honesty, I spend very, very little time doing much of anything there; I only allow myself 5-10 min total to read, make comment and leave. I would prefer get news elsewhere...but as of late, any and everything I post is held/disappears. It's obvious I'm banned. I have not kept any of my comments as they aren't much to right home about...the thing I know that is getting me dinged is my persistent commenting on NOT commenting on Palin. There was supposed to be a "strike" on commenting on any and all articles in Feb (or stopping all comments at "666")...but the message apparently got lost or, in my case, deleted. It's obvious the comment "don't comment on her and she will be deemed un-newsworthy" is verboten...we all know that revenues are taken more seriously than resistance movements to remove an anti-social moron from social discourse.

I think a campaign to "stop the comments" would be great, but, how to reach people so that they know it's a protest is another thing--HP gets world wide coverage 24/7. Any ideas? Can we run petition through Moveon.org or Daily Kos and see how well it gets passed around? We need to pass the word amongst "progressive" sites...Let all the trolls will comment as that will be a dead give away when no one bites or responds...it could reflect poorly on HP's "fairness" if only pro-saraites are commenting for a good many days. The more we form "resistance movements" that are grass movements, boldly show numbers or resisters, are creative and authentic, the more we push back in an "annon" manner...Isn't the anniversary of her name appearing as the GOP VP nominee coming up soon? That would be an ideal start day...
SinghX

[InsideOutGraphics rouslin]

I've not had that many comments wiped, and for a while I thought, man this is tooo easy.I even emailed a complaint  about an audio file w/ a video that  was screeching loud. They were very nice and and they rectified it, and told me who the group was that may have done the video or rather the ad that was so loud. Anyway, it wasn't the usual  form letter. Then today because I made reference to the fact that I think Rick Scott looks like a circumcised kochhead, they didn't allow it:-))  Well he does! He looks like a dick.

I've always gotten my real news from other sources, because HP is like the top 40's radio station of my youth.  Little Motown and a lot of Bubblegum .

I would love to be able to have hp not do any comments at all. As they've  been just copy pastes from a script, or the same insulting ignorants that wouldn't know a good bill if it fell on them. These people, I am so sick of them cheerleading for the top few while the top few toss them wedge issues . Planned Parenthood, and all the other crazy bills. It's an all out attack on the rest of us. I noticed that HP is doing a worse job with many stories. Either they over do it and go all over a story , then other other stories don't even appear. Spelling and sentence structure, inaccuracies etc.All the on the rise. Some paragraphs don't even makes sense. Myself and others called them on one it was revised after an update.

We all know HP is not a climate for debate. It's a hit and run site for the uninformed and propaganda hits only. 

But HP won't scrub the comments sections, because it's attached to social media networks. Increased visitors, and it's all a money game. It's becoming a who' who of  organized TB'ers on that site. Some days I might comment w/ facts so if anyone reads it, then at least there is a fact some where. But even that gets to the point of being ridiculous.

Bottom line is, I would not feel bad if the entire site was proven to be what we always said it was. And once people finally  realize it, HP will be the voice for every nutbag in America. That would be a fabulous ending for HP. To become a conservative site due to it's comments. And the neat part would be, they brought it upon themselves way back when. When we were all questioning their censoring practices. Well, let HP fill up w/idiots and it's narrow definition of credibility will crash down. And to think, some people call it a liberal site???? It's a cash cow is all.

Hang in there. 

[2706 N8thst]

Briefly...the political attack of "crazy-making" is a torture-style technique of propagandist. We are indeed being "attacked" daily so that the threats exceed our individual stressors so, we "react"...which wears down our internal/external resources for coping...if we are pushed over the edge, emotionally, cognitively "taxed" beyond our limits, the only way we can survive is to "adapt"...this indeed is a very, very well-planed, visceral attack on our systems as human beings, social creatures. They are hoping for a melt down, a burn out of the middle/lower class so that we are too exhausted to fight, forced to adapt to their terms...but, they are forgetting one thing--most people have mature, emotionally developed skills as "educated" adults, unlike the tiny under-educated class which they are promoting as "good Americans" (lay down and do as we say "patriots") via the propagandist machine run by the upper 2% income bracket...that is why the resistance movement in Wisconsin will continue as they have internal resources that these crazy-makers cannot control or fight. They can't "buy" a way of knowing, understanding, a moral compass...they're bankrupt! It's just a matter of time...

[InsideOutGraphics rouslin]

Can I try to post this paragraph to HP? Because you've hit it straight on, what has been occurring in this Country.I'll end it w/ singhx. Let me know if I have your permission. 

[InsideOutGraphics rouslin]

Oh in terms of Wisconsin, my husband went to a Union meeting last Friday (florida) and he was told that before the month is over, Unions are going to shut Wisconsin down. Spoke to my Brother yesterday in R.I. and he is saying the same thing from his Union. What they're doing in the North east and perhaps elsewhere,  in my Brothers case, he works for a huge food distributing center, major food chain. He said that the distribution centers w/ unions are being bought up  and then they  close the distribution center down, thereby getting rid of Union workers.They've taken away even free water where he works. In Florida where my husband works for Gov, municipality,  they started that a year and a half ago. Effin water??? It is an all out planned coop.

[InsideOutGraphics rouslin]

I think I have a work around that will allow you back on the forum. But I don't want to post it. Email me privately.This could work.

[2706 N8thst]

...I thought my "crap" WAS going to the group! Oh dear...I'm so behind tech wise and have no time to set up the facebook, ect...oye. thanks for helping me out and please, yeah, post it!

[2706 N8thst]

Indeed...if you read our history prior to us entering WW2, the same stuff was tried...after all the gains the Unions made in the 30's, guys like Ford did the same thing Walker has done; right out of Ford's playbook! Eleanor Roosevelt was real persistent, insightful "pest" in the side of Ford and his ilk as she called it exactly as it was. She saw the corporatist war profiting before we even went to war, building their own business and surplus to sell at a premium...they had a guy "planted" in the Labor Dept (she sniffed him out) that was working with the corporatist to ruin the unions...history is repeating itself. Same ugly, mean, evil people reincarnated or something....Union members and leaders need to start re-reading their history, what their leaders did and what they can learn to kick these bastards in the nutz!

[Red Dog]

Your words of wisdom (hardly crap!) are going out to the group as far as I can tell. I've been getting them and I just double checked the Google Groups admin page and you are still a member of the group and i see all your comment in the log.

I assumed the discussion about posting on HP was to post to Huffpo but as always if anyone wants to add anything to the blog just let me know.

Red Dog

[InsideOutGraphics rouslin]

It got posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/01/why-conservatives-targete_n_829942.html#comments...It's the first or second one. A small victory:-) Jude

artist-53   5 hours ago (10:55 AM)

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Briefly...­the political attack of "crazy-mak­ing" is a torture-st­yle technique of propagandi­st. We are indeed being "attacked" daily so that the threats exceed our individual stressors so, we "react"...­which wears down our internal/e­xternal resources for coping...i­f we are pushed over the edge, emotionall­y, cognitivel­y "taxed" beyond our limits, the only way we can survive is to "adapt"...­this indeed is a very, very well-plane­d, visceral attack on our systems as human beings, social creatures. They are hoping for a melt down, a burn out of the middle/low­er class so that we are too exhausted to fight, forced to adapt to their terms...bu­t, they are forgetting one thing--mos­t people have mature, emotionall­y developed skills as "educated" adults, unlike the tiny under-educ­ated class which they are promoting as "good Americans" (lay down and do as we say "patriots"­) via the propagandi­st machine run by the upper 2% income bracket...­that is why the resistance movement in Wisconsin will continue as they have internal resources that these crazy-make­rs cannot control or fight. They can't "buy" a way of knowing, understand­ing, a moral compass...­they're bankrupt! It's just a matter of time.singh­X

[2706 N8thst]

Thank you!
I saw it last night...wow, that was interesting.
Will be on a very busy schedule this weekend and won't be able to "play" but am thinking a lot..if I stop, the republicans win.
X

[Nancy Weaver]

Hello Red Dog Bear, artist-53, singhx, all:

 

Thank you.  This describes the technique very well and I've experienced such tactical abuse on the HuffPost gun threads. It is tedious and tiresome even to those who know what's going on.  (It has a multiplying affect when we are exposed to the 24/7 punditry.)   It is too bad the attackers also are well schooled in how to manipulate the HP site by using character defamation, among other strategies,  against individual posters to get the site to censor smart people who comment in opposition to the propagandist.  An exceptional poster in opposition to the gun lobby has been banned about a dozen times in one year.  It is an amazing record.  He is determined to counter destructive lies and the propaganda at work undermining our public safety and our nation with the insanity of gun proliferation.  He is one who does not melt down nor burn out ... Me?  I take breaks. 

 

... the political attack of "crazy-making" is a torture-style technique of propagandist. We are indeed being "attacked" daily so that the threats exceed our individual stressors so, we "react"...which wears down our internal/external resources for coping...if we are pushed over the edge, emotionally, cognitively "taxed" beyond our limits, the only way we can survive is to "adapt"...this indeed is a very, very well-planned, visceral attack on our systems as human beings, social creatures. They are hoping for a melt down, a burn out ...

 

Speaking of "All Things Arianna" .... I caught part of her comment on the PBS Tavis Smiley program when Tavis was interviewing a group of prominent influencers.  Arianna was more revealed to me when she spoke with great affection about her many friends who sleep with an Ayn Rand book under their pillows -- or something like that.  Arianna is a libertarian.  Enough with the liberal pretense. 

 

I took down from my dusty bookshelf Arianna Huffington's "On Becoming FEARLESS: Love, Work, and Life"  (2006);  a book mostly of essays written by others.  Reading the first few autobiographical pages, I learn that the love of her life is a libertarian.  The man who would not marry her but remains the love of her life who also was extremely influential during her younger womanhood and education.  She later married Huffington.   

 

Recently, in an article from the UK about the AOL merge, I learned that Arianna endeared herself very early in her career to the conservative right-wing with her first book:  "The Female Woman."  Arianna's book was an alternative view and a very negative criticism of "The Female Eunuch" (1974-ish) and its author the brilliant and beautiful feminist, Germaine Greer. 

 

I adore Germaine Greer. 

 

Nancy

DreamWeaver2nd

[Artemis Eneldo]

If there were any doubt as to Huffington Post's credibility, they published a piece by Andrew Breitbart this week.  For those who do not know, he is a notorious right-wing propagandist and liar.  He told Wired magazine that the truth of the story isn't important, only the usefulness.  That is propaganda and HuffPo is disseminating propaganda.  Breitbart is the mentor of James O'Keefe another propagandist, liar and convicted criminal.  Breitbart was evidentally also allowed to moderate his own piece b/c even factual references to Breitbart own remarks, like to Wired magazine, that show him for what he is were edited out.  There was an opposing piece posting, but there are not two sides to the truth.  There was a truthful piece and an untruthful piece posted by Breitbart.  This is about NPR.  Breitbart is the quality level one would expect from Fox (that often carries his stuff) and there is a reason Fox is not my news source.  At best, publishing the Breitbart piece was irresponsible.  --- On Fri, 3/4/11, Red Dog <redd...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Red Dog <redd...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: Huffpo purchased by AOL

[2706 N8thst]

When I saw the article, I quit Huff-po for good. I posted a comment stating my utter disgust at their allowing this creep, this punk to be "published" as a credible anything. I have not been back since and will continue to seek out news elsewhere.

It was bad enough when Arianne allowed that twit Amy the Sara-Lover to write Toyko Rose pieces to get "soccer mommies" to follower her dagger in the back tome that feminism was soooo old school, and like guys, so icki-oouwee-ka-ka dukey, Yea-Sara-style-stupid! She sounded like a moronic character from a early rom-com who's girly whining got old fast. And now this punk, Breeeee-fart. Hideous!

We have to organize and talk to one another for news, share the best sources, the best journalist, the best information and leave the commercial crap zone as a "no show"...as in what if they threw a "propaganda war" and nobody came? Dump them and seek the authentic.

Again, my 2 cents and I'm sticking to it.
SinghX

[InsideOutGraphics rouslin]

In case the window shot is too small. Go to te link below.

http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/huffingtonpost.com#

I pasted it also to 

http://www.insideoutgraphics2.com/commentators_forum/