fayfreethinkers.com

Thanks to a combination of the semi-sensible feedback system that allows users to mark comments and videos as offensive or spam and religious nutjobs who have apparently written scripts to flag selected comments and accounts, YouTube has suspended the accounts of a handful of skeptic groups including Rational Responders and (get this) the James Randi Educational Foundation.

Yes folks, the rabid righties have spoken out against free speech by dishonestly manipulating the system. To my knowledge, this actually started with the user "thunderf00t," the author of the excellent video series "Why People Laugh at Creationists" and whose pseudo-feud with a particular creationist drew a lot of attention.

"And if you're told the answer needs no questioning, the answer is a lie."

See:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009 ... p#comments
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jre ... utube.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7Cn_gje ... annel_page

Savonarola wrote:whose pseudo-feud with a particular creationist...

DAR
Hey, I was actually following that battle. What was "pseudo" about that feud?

Can't wait to check into this. Surely this is a temporary thing?

Possibilities:

***
Posted by: Wildflower | March 30, 2009 5:00 PM

@#29

Educated guess based on previous similar events with more or less popular YouTube accounts that promote reason and critical thinking: JREF got flag-botted or falsely accused of violating the DMCA.

I don't know how thorough and/or automated YouTube's review process is. Since Pat Condell exclusively posts unique material and doesn't use any music it's easy to see that DMCA claims just plainly can't apply. Perhaps that's why. Or he just hasn't been a target of vote- and flag-bots yet.
#35

Posted by: Iason Ouabache | March 30, 2009 5:00 PM

YouTube seems to have a habit of banning first, asking questions later. I would place bets that some stupid psychic/dowser got their panties in a wad and filed a false copyright claim.

Also:

Posted by: sailor | March 30, 2009 6:27 PM

I think a couple of people here are confused. Utube has not banned all videos showing Jame Randi, of these there are plenty, as you can quickly see. What they have done is suspended the JREF account, meaning you cannot see any videos posted by JREF. This explains the thousands of hits still available.

Posted by: LightningRose | March 30, 2009 6:26 PM

Joe @#63 is correct. Under the terms of the DMCA Google *has no choice* but to take down videos when someone claims a copyright violation, as venomfangx has been known to wrongly do in the past.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009 ... p#comments

Darrel wrote:Hey, I was actually following that battle. What was "pseudo" about that feud?

Can a feud be one way? venomfangx was roasted beyond recognition time and time again.

Darrel wrote:Can't wait to check into this. Surely this is a temporary thing?

No telling. It's a Christian vote-bot issue. Gotta love the righteous, holier-than-thou Bible-thumpers.