How Americans View 'Free Speech' in Practice
"No good deed goes unpunished"
As we've just mentioned, most of the overzealous threats (sometimes extortion) we receive originates/comes from the US. The country has the First Amendment, yet its citizens not only reject the First Amendment but also try to attack the equivalents of it in other continents (never mind countries). They have this crazy belief that they're entitled to remove criticism of their behaviour. Don't worry, we're never taking down anything and their delusions of such entitlement gets them nothing except Streisand Effect or much-needed scorn.
It turns out that Americans also do this to other Americans, never mind the "long arm" that they stretch across the Atlantic to abuse critics who are very far away.
Here's one such story, shared with us by an American this year.
"Lately," someone told us, "I’ve been writing about the town I live in and questionable funding. They reallocated 250k USD to a restaurant bar rehab from:
- kids' summer camp scholarships,
- healthcare,
- police,
- the library,
- and more."
"Citizens opposed but everything passes. We have 10 days to recall an ordinance and it requires 5% of electors' signatures. I don’t even think that many people really come out to vote."
"So I’ve been doing this independent journalist thing because I want the public to know."
"The last few days I’ve been hit with a lot of trolls, and I didn’t know why, but it turns out that the restaurant bar was opening with a new tenant, these guys brewing."
"The day after the opening, I was contacted by the first employee of these guys brewing and threatened with legal action. I await the paperwork and discovery process because they’re accusing me of libel when I’m very careful about what I write and what I link to. They have no case, but here we are again with independent journalists being censored that’s the whole idea."
"I thought about a few of my other friends who are independent journalists, and how we really need to make a network and circle around us because of these people and their frivolous lawsuits."
We're going to cover some of these frivolous lawsuits. The public needs to be aware and legal reforms are urgently needed.
As it turns out, there are many people out there who are aware of the SLAPP campaign against us and can relate.
"I just thought about you," said the above person, "and what you’re going through right now and I want to know I have an even deeper empathy and understanding of the courage it takes to be an independent journalist and the backlash you sometimes get from the haters right."
"Thank you for all that you do!"
We'll do our best to inform the public about what Microsofters and other sleazy people are up to. For every action there's a reaction and just because you are willing to throw some money at bullies with a law degree does not mean you'll get your way. █