[Imc-uk-features] unhiding 374918

[richard hering]

374918 is clearly non-news, mere speculative rant suitable for a blog, but not for a radical news site - and I would say inaccurate, as there is no supporting evidence cited for calling the bomb plots "so-called".  I think it should be hidden, and am surprised that anyone should think otherwise.

I agree completely with Ben and yossarian on this subject.  Surely everyone knows that we get deluged with unsubstantiated conspiracy-theory-fuelled speculation after any terrorist incident.  It discredits indymedia massively as a NEWS site if we leave it unhidden.

The problem seems to be from ftp's and Chris's comments that it will be very difficult for us to get the consensus necessary to maintain a quality newswire according to the guidelines.  Ben's comments about not wasting his time might seem intemperate, but I know what he means.  Yes - we're supposed to work by consensus and disucssion, but I think the understanding behind that is that we're coming from the same basic point of view, and are only discussing marginal individual cases.  There's nothing marginal about this post IMO - it's clearly in breach.
Chris - what on earth do you mean by this:?
"I think that questioning the absurd "war on terror" is
essential, it appears from Bens recent actions and his
past actions of hiding posts questioning the official
story of 7/7 and 9/11 that perhaps he is concerned that
Indymedia should not a site on which the official account
of the "war on terror" can be doubted?"

The problem with the questioning usually posted is that it's totally in speculative blog-land.  By contrast, writers such as Chomsky question the war on terror with a fistful of credible references.

I share Ben's frustration, because I think there are real problems with the basis for our consensus here.  What makes us different from blogs is that we should be a credible source of news, but some members of the collective appear not to agree with this.  like Ben, I haven't got time to debate this, but am keen to work to keep indymedia free from sinking under a morass of non-news rant.  It just makes us look ridiculous, and makes me not to want to have anything to do with it.

The problem is how we reach out to each other and try to get a consensus on this.  this is not an ordinary political difference, it seems to me, like being a socialist or an anarchist, which is a perfectly workable difference under the guidelines.  this is more fundamental - news vs speculation / debate / rant.  Indymedia, IMO, is a news site or it is nothing.

I would propose a meeting on this - face-to-face, not irc - in the hope that consensus can be achieved, but I fear that some of us have different faiths.

Richard

 		
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