IPFS
Ernest Hancock
More About: Politics: General ActivismActivists and Slacktivists - (also some comments on FreedomsPhoenix editorial policies)
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 1:00 AM
To: Publisher@FreedomsPhoenix.com
Subject: Re: this article that I found at least 2 times on your site,
see inside email
Link: http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Article/052337-2009-06-24-i-who-said-federal-reserve-is-a-private-banking-institution.htm
If I ever see anything like this again, you will be boycotted and any patriots that
I have turned on to this site will boycott you also.
Are you for the people or not? This article is so chock full of dis-info
it is ridiculous.
I thought you guys were better.
I would also recommend not carrying any more articles by Edwin Sumcad
. If I ever see his name on this site again, you are done with me.
How dare you! do you even read the crap you post on this site? I
have seen some questionable madison avenue type crap before but this here just
takes the cake. (not saying this article is
madison
ave, just saying you sometimes put up stories about so called "stars"
and BS that is not important to what this site is supposedly about.)
Who are you now? Glenn Beck?
FreedomsPhoenix' Publisher, Ernest Hancock, has this to say about that...
http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Letter-to-Editor.htm?EdNo=001&Info=0060846
The link above is a Letter to the Editor from Edwin Sumcad complaining about the criticism I allow of him. At the end of the following reply to Jon is my response to Edwin Sumcad.
I'm going to allow myself a little bit of a present and express myself freely on this issue :)
Dear Jon,
I will take the tone of your email as a license to be just as free in my expressions
I am sick and tired of those that would take the time to criticize those that would allow for a controversial debate instead of taking the time to engage in it. So you may understand why I would ask myself, 'of what use you are to the freedom movement' (c’mon, you know you want to engage me now more than you do Edwin Sumcad… think about that for a moment).
The last
sentence of my reply to Mr. Sumcad's whining about how he is treated after
sharing his... whatever it is he calls his writings, sums up my position best.
"Your opinions are... well, you are the one that has to defend them in the open here. And that is the only way that they are ever going to appear on this site... in the open, surrounded by the comments of others about what you had to say.
Now don't make me have to read all of your stuff,... depending on my mood, I just might hit the delete key :)"
I need NeoConned Net Trolls like Edwin Sumcad to slap your thought processes into activity. Make better arguments than "This article is so chock full of dis-info...". What dis-info? Be specific, others have been to the point that Edwin comes whinning to me to make it stop. In fact my criticism of his detractors is that they need to be more specific.
Our "About Us" page hasn't been changed in years and our spirit is the same as when we started We know Freedom will rise from the ashes, and we want to make sure that everyone's Freedom is never signed away again by those who believe they have the power to do so.” Well, you don’t have the power to stop the spewing of Edwin Sumcad’s bullshit. But of special note: I know I can’t either. But what I can do is provide a tool that allows ACTIVISTS to engage him on an equal field. Edwin Sumcad is just a symptom/side effect/tool of a much larger force we have to contend with.
But in the past when the name, Edwin Sumcad, and the issues he writes about are researched “Edwin Sumcad” would come up in a search engine result that wouldn’t have the critique from informed minds that can call “BULLSHIT” on his offerings to the planet and what Edwin Sumcad might have to say about it. And there may come a day when Edwin Sumcad will beg for his submissions to be stricken from the FreedomsPhoenix site. By my including his name (Edwin Sumcad) a lot in this article the Internet Search Engines will scan a high density of references to Edwin Sumcad and this article regarding him (Edwin Sumcad) will move up in relevance to Edwin Sumcad’s writings and postings.
Soooo, Jon, you are the problem, not Edwin Sumcad. There will always be Edwin Sumcads out there without the informed opposition linked directly to their propaganda and “dis-information”, FreedomsPhoenix has given you a perfect opportunity to be relevant and effective in countering this infection and you would rather bitch about having the opportunity to challenge the very ideas that you oppose.
Please allow me to share with you what the young people I work with call such a person… a “Slacktivist”. That may mean little to our generations but to the young they know when someone is being a “slacker”. Claiming to be a ‘patriot’ while taking the time to criticize an open opportunity to directly engage the very enemy you oppose is very… I’m sure the young have a term for such behavior. I just call it lazy and typical of the behavior that allowed this country to get to where it is now.
Oh yeah, I’m coming down hard on you Jon. You need it. And others that want/need/expect others to do their fighting for them should take note as well.
FreedomsPhoenix is a very powerful and effective tool for ACTIVISTS.
There are at least half a dozen of our posters that I know have little value to me as a reader. After two articles from Edwin Sumcad I knew what he was and how he would serve the interests of other Activists. If you really want to punish yourself you can go to Edwin Sumcad’s writer page where all of his (Edwin Sumcad’s) material is http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Writer-Bio-Page.htm?EditNo=156 . Now think for a moment how a concentrated effort to comment on every single one of his contributions in great and reasoned detail might have an effect on Edwin Sumcad’s ability to shape public policy in the manner he seems to desire. Edwin Sumcad's writings become a tool for freedom advocates. GET IT?!!!
“Freedom’s the Answer,… What’s the Question?!!!!!!!!
“Patriot”? What the heck is that? The young r3VOLutionaries of the past couple of years dominated the political debate with their enthusiastic willingness to enter into JUST THESE SORTS OF DEBATE OPPORTUNITIES. And many self proclaimed ‘patriots’ were their greatest critics,… were you one of them?
No, I don’t
read Edwin Sumcad’s crap,… I know better. But I do read the comments and take
the opportunity to use the controversy to share these thoughts when appropriate
to emphasize our editorial policies (which can change anytime I want them to) and
for personal satisfaction (thanks Jon, I’m feeling better already :)
I can count on
my fingers the number of submissions I have deleted from the site over the past
5 years and not many more than that that Powell and I have left on the site’s archives
but have never made it to the front page. But most often it was due to their
being obvious marketing Spam or a personal attack on an individual with no
educational value.
So Jon, I hope
you have a better understanding of how this information war is going to be won.
We have a very wide spectrum of contributors, with their own following, that are
exposed to FreedomsPhoenix and the input of our readers. This was the plan from
the beginning. We are libertarians and are NOT AFRAID to discuss anything with
anyone. In fact it is the control of what can be debated that has reduced the
populace’s mind to that of a child full of fear and doubt.
Any Questions?
Oh, and BTW.
FreedomsPhoenix has provided the ability for you to have your very own Special
Edition where you can have a complete and fully functional version
of your own FreedomsPhoenix that you have total control of and can select
whatever you want to appear on it (here’s mine - http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Front-Page.htm?EdNo=200
), they can be accessed from the top Navigation Bar under “Special Editions”
Watch the tutorials
on how FreedomsPhoenix works and why here http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Standard-Page.htm?Page=00219
Waiting on you now.
Writer:
Ernest Hancock
Writer's
Response:
Edwin,
Free-Market advocates _know_ that the Federal Reserve isn't a free-market entity. Try to compete with something else (even backed by precious metals) and you'll get a jack-booted understanding of how the money monopoly really works.
FreedomsPhoenix' editorial policy is pretty much whatever Powell and I say it is. The overwhelming principle is to allow for free expression of opinion. The structure of the site allows the readers to easily avoid writers that they have learned are Brain Drains and a waste of time.
However, for those hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to make their opinions clear on a particular subject using the writings of another is stimulating to many. For new readers, they can only get the 'Free flow of ideas' concept over time and the comments section helps them speed this process up.
Your article is still on the front page at the bottom in the Opinion and Article section. And you'll notice that we reformatted the site so that the comments show up on the same page opened to the original article. This change was motivated by you and others that would use FreedomsPhoenix to promote their writings without any say from the readers of the site about what you have to say.
Soooooo, this change allows for you to share your writings while the site readers are able to provide their comments on what was shared.
Of all of the postings that you have made on this site I have read maybe the first two... I get it :) But the comments are always entertaining.
Most of the awareness I have of your postings is due to the emails I get wondering why I would allow your work on FreedomsPhoenix in the first place. But then I get some of those emails about others' writings that I personally like. So I do my best not to make any more of a judgment other than how long I allow the piece to be on the front page and how high on the front page. Very rarely to I just delete a posting. I think that I have done that maybe 5 times over almost 5 years and 60,000 entries.
It wouldn't surprise me if one of your writings were one of them but I usually target for deletion the stories that are superficial and full of useless personal attacks that are without a meaningful purpose.
Privately to my friends and supporters I do my best defending the publishing of your work... "for the entertainment and education of our readers about the thought process of people that support (fill in the blank)"
I'm sure that there may come a time that we will be more selective due to an over whelming volume of entries (we are already at two daily editions - and I doubt we'll go to a regular 3rd edition) But for now I hope to keep the site open to those that are very counter to the opinions of our editors and the majority of our readers.
Your opinions are... well, you are the one that has to defend them in the open here. And that is the only way that they are ever going to appear on this site... in the open, surrounded by the comments of others about what you had to say.
Now don't make me have to read all of your stuff,... depending on my mood, I just might hit the delete key :)
Ernie
18 Comments in Response to Activists and Slacktivists - (also some comments on FreedomsPhoenix editorial policies)
I need NeoConned Net Trolls like Edwin Sumcad to slap your thought processes into activity. Make better arguments than "This article is so chock full of dis-info...". What dis-info? Be specific, others have been to the point that Edwin comes whinning to me to make it stop. In fact my criticism of his detractors is that they need to be more specific.
Soooo, Jon, you are the problem, not Edwin Sumcad.There will always be Edwin Sumcads out there without the informed opposition linked directly to their propaganda and “dis-information”, FreedomsPhoenix has given you a perfect opportunity to be relevant and effective in countering this infection and you would rather bitch about having the opportunity to challenge the very ideas that you oppose.
There are at least half a dozen of our posters that I know have little value to me as a reader. After two articles from Edwin Sumcad I knew what he was and how he would serve the interests of other Activists. If you really want to punish yourself you can go to Edwin Sumcad’s writer page where all of his (Edwin Sumcad’s) material is http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Writer-Bio-Page.htm?EditNo=156 . Now think for a moment how a concentrated effort to comment on every single one of his contributions in great and reasoned detail might have an effect on Edwin Sumcad’s ability to shape public policy in the manner he seems to desire. Edwin Sumcad's writings become a tool for freedom advocates. GET IT?!!!
Howdy.
the time for debate is OVER, all debating has gotten us is a TORN UP AND ALMOST DESTROYED NATION.
its now time for ACTION, and i mean REVOLUTION.
Semper Fi.
jim.
It never hurts to remember the Art Of War. Be formless and you cannot be struck. Never allow opposition to dictate the field of battle. Use all environmental factors to your advantage. You don't need to slay an enemy, only render him ineffective.
(the last aphorism on this list applies to this discussion - This article was written over 5 years ago before FreedomsPhoenix was begun. I use to write a weekly column for a local newspaper... for $10 an article just for the principle of being paid :)
Ernest Hancock can be heard weeknights on KFNX 1100am’s “Declare Your Independence with Ernest Hancock” from 6 to 8 p.m. Ernest can be reached at 602-717-5900, http://ernesthancock.com and ernesthancock@cox.net.
For a full list of quotes by L. Neil Smith go to http://lneilsmith.com/tactical.
Wait, Ernie's got the truth??!!?? That son of a motherless dog told me Ed had the truth and was holding it back just to screw with Shelton and the Toms!
I KNEW that lil' article was going to stir the shit pot!! I wanted, so BADLY to say something to that NeoCON, but I'm glad I waited.
Although I’m fairly new to the realization that 97.2% of the man-made world is comprised solely of lies and greed, I am learning that Mr. Hancock's unique style always finishes leaving us wiser than before. I now understand why you give some perps-or-peeps the microphone and spotlight, realizing that the valued controversy is a huge catalyst that fuels the freedom vehicle.
Now that I'm all pumped up on the truth, I just can't seem to get enough of it! Sadly, I see some of myself in the 'slacktivest' shadowy column and I know I could be doing more to help wake this hellish world up from its sleepy death. Still, I have to smile and thank God for putting people like the Truther's of Freedoms Phoenix in my life because to be quite honest, my life didn't have much meaning with all that 'american dream' swimming around in my sleepy noggin, sloshing around with all of the deceit, contradictions and endless confusion.
Thank you, Mr. 'H', and to the minion of wise who gravitate around your watch for helping to reveal what is REALLY going on in the world. We all recognize 'style worthwhile' when we see it, (thank God!) and pray for the continued success of Freedoms Phoenix.
Blessings to all you Truthers, (and prayers for all you knuckle-heads who just don't get it ;)
The Freedom Forum will be back... someday.
There is a clitch in the code that causes the whole site to lock up. When Tyger gets done with some of the stuff he is doing I'll get him to focus on it.
I have also been toying with the idea that we can start a libertarian discuss list that was soooo helpful to me in the early days of the Internet before the trolls took over all of the open discussions.
The only way for it to work as an immediate and very resourceful medium that doesn't get taken over by destroyers of all that is holy, is to moderate it to some degree.
I'm thinking about how best to do that. I (as in me myself ) get to have total arbitrary power to ban anyone for any amount of time for any reason I want (likely start with a one day then one week then one month then forfreakingever ban) that would leave the Discuss list to flourish as _I_ want :)
(because I can)
We'll also be incorporating live chat into the radio show starting in July.
I've been down this road before and _know_ what is going to happen. This is why FreedomsPhoenix has been structured the way it has,... but we are always making changes and adding features that cause complications in the code and I now have three people working on it to get us caught up.
Tyger says he will be finished with the new Sales Desk (stuff you don't see but we need) by tomorrow and can then focus on the Freedom Forum, Live Chat and Email/Blog/Discuss list that we will be developing to suit all of _my_ desires and needs.
Then we'll start having some interactive (spend all of our time on FreedomsPhoenix) fun.
Ha! Find one.
The last one I can remember was the last time Sumcad successfully trolled Freedom's Phoenix. Plus, with the Freedom Forum gone, they disappear down the memory hole within a couple of hours anyway.
There is more substantive (and accessible) debate in the comment threads of the AZ Republic, LVRJ, and Sac Bee, which is to say none.
As for the first part, we don't disagree. In fact, that's the point I made last time this issue came up.
"the moral of that story was if you don't want to get your ass beat you better keep your dick-sucker shut, is that right?"
That is hi-fu*king-larious. Can I take poetic license? That line's a keeper; a real keeper.
No serious debate? Shut up! I so don't want to hear this. End of discussion.
Freudian slip there Chuck? Since the door has been opened and as I proceed in a semi-respectful tone here I would like to know what your point is being involved with this website? Some time ago you posted what was in my opinion a hateful childish homophobic article followed by another article about some guy who was physically assaulted for his vebal critisism of a person. And apparently in your opinion and choice of words the moral of that story was if you don't want to get your ass beat you better keep your dick-sucker shut, is that right? Just in case you haven't noticed, the people who frequent this website could care less about sensationalized garbage gossip and by far do they share your opinion about free speech. I don't see how you can't be aware of this but I guess someone should tell you, this site is anti people like you. So in summation, you annoy the shit out of me and I just wanted to let you know. Thanks for listening.
Brock,
While your comment is dead-on correct on one level, and I do understand where you're coming from, I think it misses something vitally important on another. When you agree with someone's opinion, as I largely do with the people that post original content here, it serves to reinforce your own belief set but it doesn't illicit the same level of atavistic reaction that comes with reading an article that you believe to be complete bullshit.
I also wholeheartedly disagree that there is no debate to be found within the comment section.
Peace,
Jet
As someone who regularly "ramps up the drama" by engaging writers and commenters on this site (sometimes rudely but always honestly), I believe in the right of the individual to say whatever they wish to. But, with freedom comes responsibility; for both your words and deeds. That is the price of admission to “Shoot-your-fool-mouth-off-land”, aka Freedom’s Phoenix. The biggest reason I bother to write comments at all is because of the general intelligence of the posters and readers of this site. I appreciate that anyone can basically say whatever the hell they want to. But, you had best be able to back up those words because if you get caught talking shit, running and crying to “Papa Ernie” and “Uncle Powell” usually gets you nowhere.
Welcome to Losertown, Population: You.
All this reminds me of when I was about five years old; when the bigger kids would pick on me at the park near my house, I would run and cry to my parents, hoping they would fight my battle for me. Much to my surprise, my parents didn’t stick up for me; they admonished me, pushed me out the back door, locking it behind me, and sent me back to the park to ‘handle my own business.’ That’s one tough motherf*cker of a lesson, especially for a five year-old, but it is one that serves me to this day.
Boycott or don’t, post or don’t, comment or don’t; it doesn’t matter. What does matter is the preservation of your right to do so.
Peace,
Jet
Alright, Ernie, I'll be your Huckleberry.
The idea that any "debate" occurs on these pages is ludicrous. How can there be a debate when no less than Barry Hess goes tragically to ad hominem attack as the first comment on a Sumcad article? In the time it took Mr. Hess to write that comment, he could easily have penned a rejoinder with his unique laser-focus on human liberty.
How can there be a debate when Mr. Sumcad is so successful with an obvious troll every time? Meanwhile, great minds and communicators like Christine Smith and now (awesome!) Larken Rose go unengaged.
The old guy who talks to himself keeps coming back to your shop because you keep giving him money. Sumcad was so desperate for the troll's reward (attention), that he began talking to himself in the comment threads. Is it a coincidence that Ricardo Valenzuela hasn't contributed any new content since about that time?
Then, there are the authors that don't necessarily contribute directly to Freedom's Phoenix (and, we're all the poorer for it) but nevertheless often have their work highlighted: Thomas Knapp, Vin Suprynowicz, Jacob Hornberger, Mike Shedlock, Becky Akers, Karen Kwiatkowski, and on and on. But, if readers like Jon wish to focus their attention on the very parody of a stereotypical macroeconomist, or any of the rest of us local yokels for that matter, they are missing a big forest of pro-liberty communication every day.
I'm still trying to figure out what "boycott" would mean in context. Boycott Ernie Hanckock or the site? If Jon boycotts the site does that mean he won't come around anymore? Or does this mean that Jon will withdraw the considerable advertising dollars he spends which helps maintain this free public service?
Boycotting Ernie personally, wells, I've never seen him sell anything. I've just seen him give away a mountain of free t-shirts and yard signs. And bumper stickers. And monster-freeway roadsigns. Pins, DVDs, a few other things but I've never seen him sell a scrap of it.
I'm just trying to point out the apparent contradiction of boycotting a non-commercial entity. It's a mis-application of tactics.
I would therefore conclude that the site just lost a major sponsor but I'm willing to bet I've lost more. Major sponsors for the site that is. I'm kind competitive that way. So I never heard of Edwin Sumcad but I'm beginning to think by doing so I've missed a great opportunity.
But heck, better late than never. Who's winning so far? I'm going with the underdog. Everybody here has somebody on their side but Jon so what the heck.
Boycott them Jon. Boycott them until they come wringing their hands and begging you for forgiveness. Tell them you want to see sobbing public apologies here. Don't stop for nothing and remember, I totally support you all the way.
Hello to all,
Re: the disturbing (to me at least) submissions last week by "Sumcad":
It brought to mind a blurb I recently saw announcing that the Fed Res. had hired some big buck, big reputation spindoctor public relations type firm to improve/slant/deceive further for the Fed.
Oh, boy I thought here we go, expect tons of deceipt, spin, lies, character destroying, etc. to spew forth on the lamestream scam/media. I have thought more than once; Heaven help the folks who still subscribe to that medium. Please to give them the grace to decipher the truth.
Respectfully,
Jeanne
People still read? im just here for the 4409 youtubes and other great videos!!!
Reading, LOL you old people just dont get it...
This tit is dry.
The only thing I find more desperate than a writer who understandably complains his beloved creation wasn't given enough exposure on the front page is some clown who won't even bother to contribute otherwise squealing hollow threats over our allowing him to be exposed to someone else's ideas. Ideas in this particular case that did not lack from review and criticism by more mature audience members.
As for the desire that I protect and shield your mind from the ideas of others, I ain't your mommy. Seek to suckle on the comfort of someone else's teat, because this tits run dry!
Powell Gammill
Senior Editor
Freedom's Phoenix