11mo ago

Alex Jones is profiting from his new game on Steam — while refusing to pay the Sandy Hook families he defamed

www.mediamatters.org Alex Jones is profiting from his new game on Steam — while refusing to pay the Sandy Hook families he defamed

Following his trial for defamation of the families of the children and school staff killed in the Sandy Hook massacre, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is using Valve Corp.’s Steam, the world’s largest digital distribution platform for PC games, to sell an Infowars-themed video game. Jones claims to have earned hundreds of thousands in revenue from the video game, yet he has refused to pay the Sandy Hook families. Alex Jones: NWO Wars also mirrors and cartoonishly repackages the conspiracy theorist’s regularly violent, hateful rhetoric despite the platform’s policies against hate speech.

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I'll take this opportunity to plug a tiny podcast that I stumbled onto called "Some Dare Call it Conspiracy". It's hosted by two English guys that were hard-core conspiracy theorists for 15 years.
They now discuss, debunk and interview people around the conspiracy life. It's really fascinating to learn about Pizzagate, Chemtrails, Hunter Biden's Laptop and Jeffery Epstein from very knowledgeable people but in an environment of debunking.
Their latest episode is an interview with Rob Jacobson, a former staffer for Alex Jones that worked for him for 12 years. Jacobson ended up testifying against Jones in the Sandy Hook trial. The episode is on their Patreon at the moment but will roll out to the general public in a few days. Fascinating stuff and Jones is every bit as shady as one expects.
- I'm a huge Knowledge Fight fan. And your recommendation sounds right up my alley.
  KF is a podcast done "the dollop style" with the broadcasts of Alex Jones, both modern and years old episodes. Dan Freissen has listened to 1000s of hours infowars, has read None Dare Call It a Conspiracy (which is why the recommendation perked my ears), has read Protocols of the Elders of Zion, "you name it".
  He shows how AJ's Globalizist conspiracy is just a reskinning of old antisemitic writings.
  Dan was flown to Texas to help the lawyers of the Sandy Hook defamation trial. I can't say enough about how much I respect him.
  Btw, by "the dollop style", I mean comedian Dan Friessen tells his findings to comedian Jordan Holmes who is naïve on the topic.
  Edit: Knowledge Fight has zero ads. Never has. No paywalls. They have no interest in sensationalizing. It feels very honest.
  I'll link the episode most inline with this article. #602 with Sandy Hook lead counsel Mark Bankston.
  It seems like you folks like Behind the Bastards. They've been guests a few times. Here's one Part One: How The Rich Ate Christianity
  Edit: I wanted to clarify the relevance of #602. That came out in 2021, right after the default judgement was issued in Texas. I believe the lawyers never gave interviews until that ruling. I listened back. It's a neat little time capsule. Just skip ahead until you hear Mark Bankston speak if it's your first taste.
  
  I'm a policy wonk!
  This, Q Anon Anonymous and Behind the Bastards were my favorite podcasts for a while.
  
  QAA is absolutely brilliant reporting. Liv Agar's ep on superfascism was so great that I had to listen to it three times to make sure I absorbed everything. The interview with Marcus Gilroy-Ware, in which the author makes the case that we live in a fake democracy, was similarly mind-expanding. I tried to listen to Liv's personal podcast, but she's too smart for me. It required more active-listening that I want when enjoying a podcast rather than being relaxing. Big brained af.
  
  Sadly I haven't listened in around 4 years now, I should get back into it. I was relatively early though as I remember talking to friends/family about this crazy thing called q Anon before there was any news coverage.
  
  I'm getting info-dumped by a pizzagater elsewhere in this thread in case you want to join the fun. I bet you're better equipped.
  
  Oh, haven't heard of it. I'll check it out. The Some Dare guys are pretty informal and raw, but they seem like guys you'd want to have a pint with if you met them in the UK. One if them is a rapper and the other is a death metal guy but they're both pretty smart.
  They talk about that actually. About how they think to get really deep into conspiracy theories it helps to be a creative type because you kind of have to be to get so far up everything's butt and see such tenuous connections everywhere.
  
  I'm very excited. Thank you. KF plus British accents sounds so fucking good to me.
  
  Can you link directly to the pizzagate one. I've never heard a good debunk beyond "there is no basement so nothing is true".
  
  The short answer is no. I can't think of when tried a pizzagate debunking. (They are going on 900 episodes.) I do distinctly remember an early episode when they analyze an undercover Periscope video inside Comet Ping Pong.
  For a hopefully longer, but slower, answer, I made a thread asking the small community on lemmy.world.
  
  I don't believe Pizzagate was ever bunked, or debunked. The problem is that there are so many claims made that a rigorous debunk is difficult and time consuming.
  The best attempt was NY Times that covered some details but cherry picked the claims it could debunk and completely ignored others.
  Rolling Stones made a feeble effort spending most of the article on how the story spread, not it's veracity.
  
  In the body of the thread a posted on c/knowledgefight, I bring up that I didn't care about pizzagate because there really no damages. No victims coming forward. No suspicious activity. Nothing.
  The only thing interesting about pizzagate is how strongly people can hold on to beliefs with zero backing. I'm sure 99% of posts about pizzagate are LARPing really. (I think the same of Flat Earth. At least, way back when.) But we know how seriously some people belief it.
  In fact, I'd go as far as to say, the fact there is no evidence backing it up is precisely why this stuff is so dangerous. If some one is mentally unsteady enough to accept any reason to hate their enemies, they are probably pretty dangerous to be around already. Now use a massive media operation so that person need no other source of news. He (sorry to be sexist, but I'm going to stick with "he" for the easily influenced viewer's pronoun) knows he's right. He hears nothing but that he is right. However, out in the dangerous part of the world, no one cares about this. It's so fucking easy to dismiss this stuff. Why would anyone believe it?
  This feels like persecution, gaslighting, and like "they" are all in on it. That's fucking powder-keg as we saw in this matter.
  
  the body of the thread a posted on c/knowledgefight,
  I'll take a listen to the podcast, but I think you are right in that it's only tangentially relevant. Although it's existence shows the topic won't die easily.
  No victims coming forward.
  Such a bad argument. Are you expecting an abused kid to file a police report? Look at Epstein's Virginia Giuffre who is now 40! At least the guardian's of the kids in the Instagram photos should have been questioned.
  No suspicious activity.
  There was enough to send 4chan and reddit into a frenzy. I think you mean that there was no definitive proof.
  The only thing interesting about pizzagate is how strongly people can hold on to beliefs with zero backing.
  I thought the most interesting thing was how hard the pushback was. Pizza owners on the news, 10 min features on Colbert, NYT and Rolling Stone articles, banning of subreddits and censoring of search results. Try to find the steemit article I linked above. There was a well organised PR campaign against "nothing".
  I suspect some of the conclusions being drawn from highly circumstantial evidence were too close to the truth for some influential people's comfort.
  I'm sure 99% of posts about pizzagate are LARPing really.
  Initially all politicians were suspected (e.g. Hastert is republican). It turned into a right wing topic after qanon stoked the fires.
  In fact, I'd go as far as to say, the fact there is no evidence backing it up is precisely why this stuff is so dangerous.
  True. On the other hand, vigilantism occurs when the police say they've investigated but actually haven't. (Sorry impossible to back this statement in 2024. If you doubt me, find some official DC police reports unrelated to the gunman attack)
  However, out in the dangerous part of the world, no one cares about this. It's so fucking easy to dismiss this stuff. Why would anyone believe it?
  It happened in Belgium, UK, France, Portugal etc. People there cared. Why not also in the US?
  This feels like persecution, gaslighting, and like "they" are all in on it.
  Podesta and Alefantis have certainly been persecuted by the Internet. And probably still are being 8 years later. Their no comment policy certainly backfired.
  
  While I don't find it particularly endearing that you are trying to dunk on a guy that is admittedly not engaged in the topic, I'll bite
  the body of the thread a posted on c/knowledgefight,
  I’ll take a listen to the podcast, but I think you are right in that it’s only tangentially relevant. Although it’s existence shows the topic won’t die easily.
  Personally, I think we should move the conversation there since posting here feels like you're trying to get more eyeballs on this stuff. I find this stuff dangerous, and it's usually best discussed in a more focused group.
  I don't recall calling the episode tangentially relevant. It contains the best evidence I've heard for Pizzagate.
  I'll be honest, I have no idea what that last sentence ("Although...") is supposed to mean. These things won't die easily because there is nothing that will ever stop people like Alex Jones screaming that Democrats drink baby blood. People believe him, and are loud about it. The fact that an idea shows no signs of dying out is not going to get me to believe it. (I'm a Taurus, after all.)
  No victims coming forward.
  Such a bad argument. Are you expecting an abused kid to file a police report? Look at Epstein’s Virginia Giuffre who is now 40! At least the guardian’s of the kids in the Instagram photos should have been questioned.
  Bad argument? At least engage with it. You ask me to look to Epstein's Virginia Giuffre. Who as you know, was a victim who came forward. This is the kind of evidence I'm asking for.
  Please, and I mean it, please I want to see it, show me any pundit that "bunks" pizzagate talking-points that also said anything about Epstein before Giuffre's public assertions.
  There are no victims in pizzagate. What are you doing bringing Epstein into this? He was brought down by victims coming forward. The lack of evidence is no reason to point fingers.
  No suspicious activity.
  There was enough to send 4chan and reddit into a frenzy. I think you mean that there was no definitive proof.
  Oh lordy. Was I dismissive of things that sent 4chan and reddit into a frenzy? I'm sorry. That must sting a bit. That is your best evidence so far.
  The only thing interesting about pizzagate is how strongly people can hold on to beliefs with zero backing.
  I thought the most interesting thing was how hard the pushback was. Pizza owners on the news, 10 min features on Colbert, NYT and Rolling Stone articles, banning of subreddits and censoring of search results. Try to find the steemit article I linked above. There was a well organised PR campaign against “nothing”.
  We're both just stating our opinions here. But I thought the pushback was perfectly inline. How else do you reach the kind of people who believe things based whatever they hear from pundits claiming to have secret knowledge?
  I suspect some of the conclusions being drawn from highly circumstantial evidence were too close to the truth for some influential people’s comfort.
  That's very vague and spooky. Does it have a meaning?
  I’m sure 99% of posts about pizzagate are LARPing really.
  Initially all politicians were suspected (e.g. Hastert is republican). It turned into a right wing topic after qanon stoked the fires.
  Wow. Bold of you to bring up another known pedophile. His downfall was the FBI seeing suspicious cash withdrawls. So who was that money going to? That's right, a verified victim of molestation by Denny Hastert. You known, one of the (sorry to call them) characters I'd like to see in this pizzagate accusation. You only get to call Hastert a pedophile because a victim came forward.
  And qanon stoking fires is another conspiracy point I will simply not engage with. Qanon is too unfounded for me.
  In fact, I’d go as far as to say, the fact there is no evidence backing it up is precisely why this stuff is so dangerous.
  True. On the other hand, vigilantism occurs when the police say they’ve investigated but actually haven’t. (Sorry impossible to back this statement in 2024. If you doubt me, find some official DC police reports unrelated to the gunman attack)
  I live in America. That investigation went as far as it could before violating the rights of a private business owner. Your parry here truly shows how dangerous this is.
  However, out in the dangerous part of the world, no one cares about this. It’s so fucking easy to dismiss this stuff. Why would anyone believe it?
  It happened in Belgium, UK, France, Portugal etc. People there cared. Why not also in the US?
  I'm sorry. I was being metaphorical here. When I said "out in the dangerous part of the world", I was speaking for the POV of the fictional infowarrior. By the dangerous part of the world, I simply meant reality. Where people do not engage with these fear-mongers who actually proclaim that Democrats drink the blood of babies. Reality is where these baseless ideas and beliefs make one feel isolated. This is last I will engage here as I feel I'm being quoted out of context.
  This feels like persecution, gaslighting, and like “they” are all in on it.
  Podesta and Alefantis have certainly been persecuted by the Internet. And probably still are being 8 years later. Their no comment policy certainly backfired.
  I have no idea what this is supposed to mean. It sounds like you are bragging about making peoples lives miserable based on nothing.
  
  Personally, I think we should move the conversation there since posting here feels like you're trying to get more eyeballs on this stuff.
  I'm indifferent. Not trying to grab eyeballs, just trying to find different angles on the topic. Anyone who claims it was debunked is interesting because they may have more knowledge than I (i.e. you and you podcasts). Post a thread and I'll follow.
  I find this stuff dangerous, and it's usually best discussed in a more focused group.
  We are discussing 8 year old emails and Instagram posts. Not planning an insurrection.
  It contains the best evidence I've heard for Pizzagate.
  The link I clicked quickly through was making fun of some Alex Jones contributors ordering pizza.
  The fact that an idea shows no signs of dying out is not going to get me to believe it.
  Agreed. My point was that continued claims of debunking don't reduce interest in the subject.
  Virginia Giuffre was a victim who came forward.
  Only as a middle aged woman. Kids in the Instagram photos would now barely be over 10. You can't use their silence as evidence.
  What are you doing bringing Epstein into this?
  I'm showing that sex trafficked people don't often come forward. In Epstein's case it took 20+ years.
  any pundit that "bunks" pizzagate talking-points that also said anything about Epstein
  Sorry. Not a claim or a point I'm defending.
  There are no victims in pizzagate.
  We have photos of some from Instagram.
  That is your best evidence so far.
  No, the. Best evidence is the steemit summary above. That made a LOT of people suspicious.
  How else do you reach the kind of people who believe things based whatever they hear from pundits claiming to have secret knowledge?
  The conspiracy crowd were not the target audience. You certainly don't go through Colbert. It was pure Streisand effect.
  That's very vague and spooky. Does it have a meaning?
  It was my attempt at explaining the massive national media campaign supporting a pizza shop owner against apparently ridiculous allegations. Protesting too much.
  Wow. Bold of you to bring up another known pedophile.
  Because he was republican and mentioned in friendly terms by Podesta. I'm dismissing the "right wing" tag that gets attached to pizzagate. Often via Qanon.
  And qanon stoking fires is another conspiracy point I will simply not engage with. Qanon is too unfounded for me.
  I think that is fair. Qanon came later. It should be separate but people often confuse the two.
  That investigation went as far as it could before violating the rights of a private business owner
  No. There was no investigation (sorry, no supporting evidence). "Private business owner" has nothing to do with suggestive Instagram posts involving children.
  Where people do not engage with these fear-mongers who actually proclaim that Democrats drink the blood of babies.
  Ah. So you aren't saying this couldn't happen. Just that you'd ignore anyone who pointed out if it was happening.
  Why introduce "drink the blood of babies. "? Irrelevant hyperbole adds nothing.
  I feel I'm being quoted out of context.
  Sorry, not my goal. Just trying to make reading easier. Misquoting is pointless here.
  It sounds like you are bragging about making peoples lives miserable based on nothing.
  I've had no interaction with either.
  You mentioned persecution and they have both been on the receiving end. However, if they had been investigated by law enforcement, or publicly addressed their accusations then there would be no persecution (or at least much less).
  I assume you are in the debunked camp. Can I ask what makes you so sure there was nothing suspicious happening?
  
  You said you'd listen to the podcast. I'm going to hold you to it. It's a comedy show. And pizzagate is ridiculous. But you offered to argue their points. "they're mean to my friends" isn't going to cut it.
  The best evidence for your claim is that link? Please read the FIRST paragraph and let's discuss the reading level of The Emperor's New Clothes.
  I've read it pretty deeply now. You better start connecting some dots. There is too much secret sourcing.
  I'm not even sure what "claims of debunking" you even mean. What even are the claims of pizzagate? That the emails are boring, but if you squint, you can pretend it's a conspiracy. It's the least interesting thing I've heard. What's to engage with? There are no bodies. No victims. The crimes alleged must have victims. What court is going to convict anybody on these charges with no victims? Have the jury squint at instagram pics? Please give your argument some grounding.
  I am not afraid of a lack of victims. The existence of victims would blow this wide open.
  Please tell me of a historical case (aka in reality) where a pedo ring was busted with no known victims.
  
  pizzagate is ridiculous.
  Depends which particular claim you are talking about.
  Hillary locking up kids in a basement ... ridiculous. This strawman was invented to be debunked.
  A pizza restaurant owner with an unhealthy interest in kids ... not ridiculous.
  I'm not even sure what "claims of debunking" you even mean.
  It means the claimer is 100% sure that a particular theory is false.
  Flat Earth - debunked
  Political figures discuss illegal topics over email using codewords - could be true
  What even are the claims of pizzagate?
  Pizza owner distributes CP from his restaurant website.
  The Podestas talk in code over email.
  Instagram was used to joke about child abuse.
  What's to engage with? There are no bodies. No victims. The crimes alleged must have victims.
  You are 100% sure there are no victims?
  Child services have interviewed the guardian's of the girl taped to a table?
  It is impossible that these people were discussing abusing kids?
  To debunk a theory, that is what is needed.
  What court is going to convict anybody on these charges with no victims? Have the jury squint at instagram pics? Please give your argument some grounding.
  OK, this is never claimed. Investigations by law enforcement to find the required level of evidence to present to a court were never conducted. Why not?
  Please tell me of a historical case (aka in reality) where a pedo ring was busted with no known victims.
  Any where images are traded. Victims are unknown but unfortunately exist.
  
  Omg, you're one of them! Lol. Take me to your magic kingdom.
  
  One of who?
  
  Pizzagater.
  
  You misunderstand.
  My position is not that pizzagate is true.
  It's that people claiming it is certainly false are misinformed and illogical.
- Thanks for the recommendation! I'm a huge Behind the Bastards fan, anything in that vein is super fascinating to me.
  
  I love that podcast. I’ve been listening to one that a trucker recommended to me recently. It’s full of inside jokes so it takes a minute to be all in, but it’s really fun. It’s called Timesuck with Dan Cummins. Not every episode is perfect and it’s a bit long, but I love it.
- How do you debunk Epstein? He was convicted
  
  Did OP say anything about Epstein's crimes? No. He may be referring to the fact that people think that he didn't kill himself (I don't have a specific opinion on the matter.)
  Edit: I just looked up the episode's description: "Welcome to part one of episode 7!! The big question we're asking today.. Did Jeffrey Epstein kill himself?? Everyone has an opinion on this, what's yours?"
  
  Probably meaning the "Epstein Didn't Kill Himself" theory.
  
  Yes, but did he kill himself? It's an interesting discussion, especially from the point of view of conspiracy theorists who literally think shape-shifting lizards are involved.
- Ugh, I was so excited for this ... And at about 20 minutes into the first chemtrail episode they say contrails are the exhaust fumes coming out of engines :facepalm:
  
  That doesnt square with the fact that these guys were hard-core conspiracy theorists? 😂😂
  
  Haha good point, at least they are trying 😏

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