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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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  • 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.

            • They interviewed a child that was taped to a table, huh?

              You have made NO claims whatsoever. You asked what I thought. I said it was nothing. All you've said is everything that I say is wrong. I have no idea what you think pizzagate is.

              So now that you FINALLY made a claim. Let's talk about the girl taped to a table. Does this girl have a name? A picture. Please post the instagram of this poor child taped to a table. I bet the picture will send chills though all the spines of those that see it. POST THE PICTURE! Or I will. You certainly have provided me evidence of a child taped to a table. Can do you have a picture where she isn't smiling?

              Was she interviewed by the FBI? Is that your big, scary evidence? The thing that should open my eyes. Please provide evidence of this child that was taped to table. That's a pretty BIG claim. Do you have a picture? I mean, I have one that you showed me. It had a warning above it how disturbing the picture is. Would you post so everyone can see how scary it is?

              All you've said about pizzagate, is that I don't know what pizzagate is. Is it that a child was taped to a table?

              • They interviewed a child that was taped to a table, huh?

                No. Not that I'm aware of. Do you have more information?

                You asked what I thought. I said it was nothing.

                Are you certain it is nothing or is it probably nothing. If the former then I would like to know why.

                Let's talk about the girl taped to a table. Does this girl have a name?

                Yes. The question of interest is, do child services know her name?

                Please post the instagram of this poor child taped to a table.

                It's in the steemit summary linked above.

                Can do you have a picture where she isn't smiling?

                So it's not abuse if they enjoy it? Heard of normalisation?

                All you've said about pizzagate, is that I don't know what pizzagate is.

                I don't think I've said anything of the sort. You seem quite knowledgeable. However, if you are certain it has been debunked then you must be an expert.

                • Since knock_knock is too demure to show graphic content here, I will share the photo. These are the words above the photo in the document

                  Warning: some of these are pretty weird/sexual, probably best not to view at work

                  We might as well start with this picture of a girl taped to a table, which is probably the most widely referenced one.

                  THIS is the "most widely referenced" picture of all the pizzagate allegations. THIS is why it's like pulling teeth to get a pizzagater to make ONE real claim. The emperor has no clothes. They are so proud of a mountain of nothing.

                  There is no one who is credibility alleged to have explicit material of this child. It is at this point where I am expected to appear to ask for this material. This could be a crime. Be careful. Look how fast this reply was locked-and-loaded.

                  Can do you have a picture where she isn’t smiling?

                  So it’s not abuse if they enjoy it? Heard of normalisation?

                  If you think that question is void now due to that retort, you are mistaken. Anyone reading along can see the photo now. You really should have tried to get ahead of that. I bet no one was picturing masking tape with the picture you created in words.

                  I have showed the only evidence provided that this child exists. Are there alleged to be other materials of this child that are objectionable? Is this a victim?

                  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.

                  "You can't use their silence as evidence." What? They sound exactly like nonexistent victims. There must be a difference between real victims and nonexistent victims. Silence is clearly not a good measurement. Are there any other methods to look for them?

                  any pundit that “bunks” pizzagate talking-points that also said anything about Epstein

                  Sorry. Not a claim or a point I’m defending.

                  I know this isn't a claim. It's a point worth discussing. There are people in our society whose job is gain the trust of people by showing integrity. They are called journalists. A journalist knows that if a reader catches the whiff of dishonesty, they lose that reader permanently.

                  So a journalist with a long, track-able career is who is best equipped to make such sensitive accusations. This is usually how rings would get busted. So who is putting their career on the line for this? Is Mike Cernovich the point-person on these matters? These accusations are dangerous. Your dismal of that is sickening, but I'll come back to that later.

                  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

                  This is the worst framing of epistemology I've seen. You are quite literally turning every argument in a "confidence game". Surely you see that the world can't function like that.

                  But I will give you this, you finally connected the dots in a way that I see how pizzagate is real.

                  We've had too many exchanges before I finally can see what pizzagate actually is.

                  Pizzagate: The believe that real world damage can be caused simply by never admitting any harmless explanations regardless of plausibility.

                  The fucked up thing here, is that with this formulation, Pizzagate is true.

                  1.) The only thing that little girl's guardians did was upload a photo of the aftermath of child's play.

                  2.) Now, 4chan enters the scene. 4chan and reddit simply make up ANYTHING they want to accuse these people of. Consequence free. There is no journalist in the loop. There are no stakes. You get federal authorities to harass strangers. And you are proud of it.

                  3.) THEN this visit is now "evidence". You keep pointing to police action, like it's suspicious, but 4chan did that shit. I don't know who you are fooling, but it isn't me.

                  These three dots are what you connected. You have convinced me it's real. It's scary. It's sick that people would do this.

                  You can claim it's about protecting kids, but there have been no rescues or even calls for help.

                  Here's from Wikipedia

                  On December 4, 2016, Edgar Maddison Welch, a 28-year-old man from Salisbury, North Carolina, arrived at Comet Ping Pong and fired three shots from an AR-15 style rifle that struck the restaurant's walls, a desk, and a door.

                  Welch was there to liberate victims. Who did he avenge? Who is lucky that Welch was there to listen to the cries of help that 4chan told him exist?

                  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.

                  Three bullets are what I'm calling dangerous, sicko. You know what is happening. You know the bullets were real.

                  You seem very proud that the feds were sent to investigate this. That seems to be a claim of victory. It's disturbing. There was no foundation. You just hate these people. It's unpleasant to say the least. You're proud you can imagine such horrible things happening. You don't even need proof. And you just want the world to hate these people like you do, and based on as flimsy shit as you accept as proof.

                  I'm done here. Pizzagate sucks. You can come bother me at /c/knowledgefight.

                  • THIS is why it's like pulling teeth to get a pizzagater to make ONE real claim.

                    I gave you 3 claims, and you picked your own 4th.

                    It is at this point where I am expected to appear to ask for this material. This could be a crime. Be careful. Look how fast this reply was locked-and-loaded.

                    Ah, now I see why you were so weirdly desperate for me to post that particular photo. You had a narrative needing to be fulfilled. Sorry to disappoint.

                    Are there alleged to be other materials of this child that are objectionable?

                    Yes, and they haven't been acted upon either.

                    Is this a victim?

                    Potentially, yes. How are you imagining this kid "coming forward" to the authorities?

                    Silence is clearly not a good measurement. Are there any other methods to look for them?

                    Yep. By photos posted online by their abusers. By having child services interview their guardians.

                    Theses accusations are dangerous.

                    And should have been handled by the police. They weren't.

                    There is no one who is credibility alleged to have explicit material of this child.

                    No-one claimed this either. Debunkers love to invent strawmen to attack.

                    1.) The only thing that little girl's guardians did was upload a photo of the aftermath of child's play.

                    Your favourite picture is far from the only suspicious Instagram post/comment

                    You get federal authorities to harass strangers.

                    Literally their job. And they point is they weren't doing it.

                    sicko.

                    You are the one defending the guy with a "members only" file share on his website who makes child abuse jokes on Instagram.

                    based on as flimsy shit as you accept as proof.

                    This applies equally to debunkers who think "no basement" is proof that pizzagate is false.

                    I'm not convinced any part of pizzagate is real, but you (and other debunkers) are convinced it is 100% fake. That's what is interesting.

                    Pizzagate debunkers are just as fervently irrational as the unquestioning gun toting believers.

                    • THIS is why it’s like pulling teeth to get a pizzagater to make ONE real claim.

                      I gave you 3 claims, and you picked your own 4th.

                      Would you like me to read one of those 3 claims?

                      Instagram was used to joke about child abuse.

                      So let's see we're YOU are finding this instagram stuff. Hmm..

                      No, the. Best evidence is the steemit summary above. That made a LOT of people suspicious

                      Ok, we know where your BEST evidence is. Let's figure out this instagram claim.

                      Here are the times YOU brought up Instagram:

                      At least the guardian’s of the kids in the Instagram photos should have been questioned.

                      We are discussing 8 year old emails and Instagram posts.

                      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.

                      There are no victims in pizzagate.

                      We have photos of some from Instagram.

                      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.

                      You talk a lot about instagram for someone who finds the FIRST instagram picture from your GOLDEN source embarrassing. Here, I'll add context. I'll expand the crop. And let see what this fear-mongering document says...

                      It's the "most widely referenced one". YOU are the one pointing to internet "frenzies" as evidence. An internet frenzy was whipped up about this ONE picture in particular. There are no other pictures related to this child. YOU are claiming the other photos are connected.

                      Adding more context makes the evidence look WORSE.

                      Also notice that the simple explanation isn't good enough: "please let me know if there are more". They want another explanation because then "see, they're changing their story". For some reason they want the reader to be suspicious of only ONE explanation. Reality works in a strange way for people who think like this.

                      Then every pizzagater ever says, "that's why you picked THAT photo. Of course the one my opponent chooses one that makes me look silly. They won't show you the other stuff I sent them. Please read the first paragraph at least, where it says if you don't see EVERYTHING, you'll be too ignorant to know the truth."

                      They are always saying "look at everything. but don't look at anything."

                      The only claim I made is that I have seen no proof of illegal activity. There are plenty of times in my life where I have seen proof of illegal activity. It's a pretty common thing to see on the news. I don't see why I should worry about people who have weird tastes in art. I see a lot of mixing pizza, weird art, and sex in that doc, but not kids. I'm worried about one who see that photo as normalization of child abuse. (Here is where that claim of "I'm not claiming THAT photo is what i'm talking about. don't you see how vague i'm being. look at everything" This is 30-Rock's "Homonym Game" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZLkcFns8Ks )

                      Seeing a girl smiling with masking tape on her arms does NOT look like normalization [i use US spelling]

                      Can do you have a picture where she isn’t smiling?

                      So it’s not abuse if they enjoy it? Heard of normalisation?

                      You are either being very disingenuous here, or you find that image stirring. I do not want to accuse you of anything, but the reason I want a journalist in the loop is because every pizzagater with any sizable voice is WITHOUT FAIL either (a) trying to convince people (including themselves) that SA material of minors is more common than it is or (b) very homophobic.

                      The document you provided is teeming with homophobia.

                      I am implementing a new rule. I will not engage with pizzagate arguments with people unless they pledge: "There is a gay person in my life that I love, and they live a meaningful, fulfilling life." That's probably not hard. Honestly, I don't care if you know them personally.

                      If you can't do that, I'd rather deal with a more serious mind virus.

    • Omg, you're one of them! Lol. Take me to your magic kingdom.

268 comments