02/12/2021 / By JD Heyes
One of the most dystopian claims made by the so-called “mainstream media” in the age of President Donald Trump is that he is a liar and that the conservative and independent, non-corporate media are “fake news” that spread “tinfoil hat conspiracies.”
In reality, the only reality reported during Trump’s four-year term came from the independent and right-leaning media. Mainstream outlets routinely published whatever lies, garbage and fake news was belched to them by the deep state. Time and time again.
The ‘Russian collusion’ hoax is a textbook example. For years, literally, outlets like The New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, the L.A. Times, MSNBC, and the networks pushed the narrative that Trump was a Manchurian candidate — a Russian dupe doing the bidding of Vladimir Putin, even as he rebuilt the U.S. military (not in Moscow’s best interests) and chided our NATO ‘allies’ to boost their own military spending to protect the continent from Russian armies.
There were a multitude of other, albeit lesser, lies and fake news stories, all of which were designed to undermine Trump at every turn and destroy his ability to carry out his “America First, Swamp Last” agenda.
Along the way, the very same media began to adopt a fundamentally anti-First Amendment stance towards outlets that did not toe the Democratic Party line, especially after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol Building, which mainstream journos falsely blamed on Trump while falsely labeling it an “insurrection.”
Mainstream outlets featured guests and ‘analysts’ who not only cheered on the censorship of conservatives and Trump supporters on social media, but they called for more of it, on the basis of ‘curbing disinformation’ — when in fact, they are the purveyors of disinformation.
Now, some protectors of free speech, a free press, and free expression are punching back.
A new app allows Twitter users to automatically block around 800 New York Times reporters and journalists, giving them a taste of the same online ‘cancel culture’ they support against their ideological rivals.
“It’s time to block,” says an introductory tweet from @blocknyt (www.blocknyt.com). “Twitter users have begun mass-blocking New York Times-linked accounts to control the flood of corporate disinformation online.
“For a limited time, block 800 NYT reporters for the low price of $0,” the post notes further.
It's time to block.
Twitter users have begun mass-blocking New York Times-linked accounts to control the flood of corporate disinformation online.
Now, a new app automates the process. For a limited time, block 800 NYT reporters for the low price of $0. https://t.co/P0MuarxDRJ
— Block the New York Times (@blocknyt) February 8, 2021
On the app’s website, visitors are greeted with several mock Times stories including one major headline that reads, “NYT BLOCKED: Blocks Take The Lead In Fight Against Disinformation; New App Blocks 800 NYT Reporters In Seconds.”
Below that headline is a link to download the app.
Many of the mock articles contain details about the paper’s regular failings.
“The New York Times Company now faces an economic and reputational reckoning. Employees are revolting, traffic is plummeting, colleagues are scathing, and readers are blocking,” another teasing headline says.
“Cade Metz and Pui-Wing Tam, senior employees of the New York Times Company, set out to intentionally reveal the identity of a private citizen against his will. An outcry ensued, and the paper backed down, but the damage was done,” another ‘story’ notes.
After downloading the app, it instructs users that they can also uninstall it.
But once the notice was posted on Twitter, several users immediately asked if whoever developed the Times blocker could also develop additional blockers for more mainstream outlets.
Now, there is a catch: To install the app, you have to agree to several permissions that some may find objectionable, suspicious, or just weird. Also, there is no telling who is actually behind its development.
But it’s a fun concept, nevertheless: Blocking those who cheer for others who don’t agree with them to be blocked.
See more reporting like this at Disinfo.news.
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Tagged Under: app, block, BlockNYT, censor, disinfo, disinformation, Donald Trump, fake news, false, hoax, Online, Russian collusion, Social media, The New York Times, Twitter
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