Post
by BjornP » Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:14 am
I'm reminded of the German comedian who got caught up in a criminal case for joking about Erdogan of Turkey, because of an old, unused and for decades ignored law that the Turkish government demanded he be charged. At that time, most German media shook their heads...
Do "news" sites exist that entirely fabricate, lie about or heaviliy manipulate the truth for whatever agenda? Yup. Even to a quite organized extent. That however is as weak a justification for prosecuting bloggers, even Russian-paid ones, as that German comedian's case. Fake news, as in real fake news, as in fabricated news, only needs an authoritative media presence or institution(s) to dismiss it as a hoax. If there are no authoritative voices, though.... If no one wants to listen, that's not the fault of bloggers, Russia or Germany's version of deplorables. It is the fault of those media figures who are unable to communicate, unable to disseminate, unable to resonate with their listeners, readers and watchers. Same with the politicians. Easier to blame the plebs for not understanding you, but that is simply a weak displacement or outright ignoring of one's personal responsibility for being a poor communicator.
Fame is not flattery. Respect is not agreement.