An Epik Statement on Racism and Injustice

[Rob Monster]

Archived copy here: https://www.epik.com/equality

 

[Samer]

Thank you epik and Rob.

Samer

 

[bmugford]

I am interested in words and actions.

The treat people with "kindness, humility, and compassion" rhetoric does not match your actions.

Or does spreading ridiculous conspiracy theories and sharing a video of people being slaughtered qualify under that? Do attacks on an editor @ Wikipedia fall under that? Do racist comments from Epik employees fall under that?

Is Epik still going to not only host, but court the far right wing extremists, which often include racism as shown over and over again?

Is Epik going to take any action vs employees for their racist comments?
Is Epik going to openly come out and reject racist supporters like Charizard?

Also, isn't Robert Davis the user intelliname that has been involved of much of this nonsense from the attack on Molly White @ Wikipedia, spreading baseless conspiracy theories, and the recent nonsense with Dan.com?

It is my view that Rob and Epik put themselves in this position with their (poor) decisions.

Take accountability. Take responsibility. Take action to fix it.

Brad

 

[Abdillahi Abdillahi]

Long statement and it would be good to address the questions posed by @bmugford. Great job to Epik management for this statement specially @Intelliname Rob Davis for putting this together.

Good actions expect after this statement.

 

[Joe N]

Companies and people who are in a position to effect meaningful change need be better than this:

Laws are imperfect. Laws can be unjust. History has proven this time and time again.

Unjust laws will only change when people are brave enough to stand together against them.

It's disappointing to me that Epik's bravery is so lacking on this front.

 

[Rob Monster]

Unjust laws will only change when people are brave enough to stand together against them.

It's disappointing to me that Epik's bravery is so lacking on this front.

I think I am missing context. Perhaps unpack this for us. What law did you wish for us to fight this week?

 

[bmugford]

I think I am missing context. Perhaps unpack this for us. What law did you wish for us to fight this week?

I think what Joe was saying is pretty clear. Just because something is within the law doesn't mean it is acceptable behavior. You went out of your way to court many of these extremists.

Laws change over time. There was a time when slavery was lawful, or burning witches at the stake, or endless other things that look ridiculous now.

Your statement means nothing without concrete actions.

I welcome an Epik statement on what actions you are actually going to take.

Brad

 

[Joe N]

I think I am missing context. Perhaps unpack this for us. What law did you wish for us to fight this week?

Brad explained it perfectly.

Hate speech is legally allowed under every American's first amendment rights. Therefore Epik believes every American deserves a chance to engage in hate speech.

This is disappointing.

 

[Rob Monster]

Rob and Epik put themselves in this position with their (poor) decisions.

Take accountability. Take responsibility. Take action to fix it.

Brad

Judge not, lest ye be judged. See Matthew 7:1-5 for context. Or you can learn it the hard way. Your call.

First of all, we are all works in progress, including Epik, its staff and me. The industry is also a work in progress. Did anyone expect this one today?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1271497235268866052

If your objective is to turn this positive thread into a struggle session for Epik, I am likely to disappoint you.

The point of the statement is to engage with compassion and love.

We can do all more of that, including you.

As for Wikipedia, there is a dedicated thread about it.

As for right wing sites, we don't court them. In fact, we turn many of them away.

If you want to have a call to discuss specific cases, happy to do that and report back to the group, as I surely lack context, e.g. never heard of "Charizard".

Here was my related comment:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1270740471590072322

 

[Grilled]

Show attachment 157796
Archived copy here: https://www.epik.com/equality

Seems more like a cult writer / sheep herd writing to me.

Actions > Words.

 

[bmugford]

Judge not, lest ye be judged. See Matthew 7:1-5 for context. Or you can learn it the hard way. Your call.

First of all, we are all works in progress, including Epik, its staff and me. The industry is also a work in progress. Did anyone expect this one today?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1271497235268866052

If your objective is to turn this positive thread into a struggle session for Epik, I am likely to disappoint you.

The point of the statement is to engage with compassion and love.

We can do all more of that, including you.

As for Wikipedia, there is a dedicated thread about it.

As for right wing sites, we don't court them. In fact, we turn many of them away.

If you want to have a call to discuss specific cases, happy to do that and report back to the group, as I surely lack context, e.g. never heard of "Charizard".

Here was my related comment:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1270740471590072322

My point is to show your words don't match your actions, and unless you are willing to take actions that back up those words, then the words themselves are meaningless.

Brad

 

[Grilled]

Did anyone expect this one today?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1271497235268866052

Well when threats of exposing the industry's dirty laundry surface, I suppose nobody is immune from feeling the need to walk back statements or delete tweets.

Looks like some type of domain roundtable boardroom agreement was had to turn the grill down and keep secrets from boiling over.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1271025224205697024

Perhaps change the statement title to something more fitting such as:
More Epik Propaganda on racism and injustice

 

[TheBaldOne]

Do we in the democracies not elect those who make our laws? Do we not elect replacements for those we think have not done a good job making our laws? Do those elected not have a chance, and indeed often do, change laws? Do we not have a system where laws either existing or proposed are openly and publicly debated?

It seems people are equating 'bad laws' as those they disapprove of, either current laws or now historic laws. What right has anyone in a democratic country to decide arbitrarily which laws they will obey and which laws they will ignore? If people do not like a law then try to get it changed, remarkably the system works very well. You find others of the same belief as you and you work together, you try and convince others of the rightness of your cause, you get 'public support' that at the ballot box brings about a decision of the electorate that within the democratic system used brings to power those the people wish to be governed by. If your beliefs are supported by a vast number of the electorate then generally your beliefs will result in those elected being in power and thus making and changing the laws of the society and country in which you live.

However, to just say that certain people should not have the right to air their views because they or others don't like those views, even though it is within the law for them to do so, is dictatorship and nothing else. Indeed this is the very practice that is carried out by dictators throughout history.

The basic rule in modern democracies is that the rule of law must be paramount and that the law applies to all. (I know exceptions apply for holders of certain offices, etc..) Is this not the best form of government and law making that exists? I think it is, even though in my own country of the UK I think some laws are ridiculous and indeed bad, and I obey the law because the society in which I live, a democracy, the law applies to everyone fairly and irrespective of prejudices. I think the same can be said generally for the USA and the other western type democracies in this world.

Give me our democracies any day of the week and the rule of just law over politicised indoctrinated mob dictatorship. Those who do not break the laws should not have their equal rights set asunder just because others don't like them.

Right then, that is my one and only post on this thread, because from here on in I expect it to go the usual tirade of the 'right' are bad and the 'left' are great, or vice versa, in my mind neither view is totally accurate and indeed if one were then the ballot boxes would be overflowing in support of the one over the other.

Epik gives the same treatment and respect to all its customers as far as I can see - as long as they obey the law, and that is how it should be.

 

[BrandAptly.com]

My stance on the racially-charged state of affairs in the US is a rather controversial one. I maintain that the tenets of the Black Lives Matter movement are absolutely pointless at best and preposterous at worst. I have never met a group of people pervaded with as much self-hatred as blacks. If your life matters, show the world that it does instead of telling them. For starters, stop killing each other over worthless crap. I am writing an extensive article supported with data that will most likely garner a substantial number of enemies in the Black community. What I have to say, while offensive, is the truth that MUST be said. If the spirit moves me, I'll go further and make a documentary.

 

[Joe N]

My stance on the racially-charged state of affairs in the US is a rather controversial one. I maintain that the tenets of the Black Lives Matter movement are absolutely pointless at best and preposterous at worst. I have never met a group of people pervaded with as much self-hatred as blacks. If your life matters, show the world that it does instead of telling them. For starters, stop killing each other over worthless crap. I am writing an extensive article supported with data that will most likely garner a substantial number of enemies in the Black community. What I have to say, while offensive, is the truth that MUST be said. If the spirit moves me, I'll go further and make a documentary.

If you have unbiased data to support what you're saying, then I hope your article will be objectively exploring why this is happening.

Without the "why", the "what" is nothing more than a barometer to show us that there is a problem.

 

[BrandAptly.com]

If you have unbiased data to support what you're saying, then I hope your article will be objectively exploring why this is happening.

Without the "why", the "what" is nothing more than a barometer to show us that there is a problem.

I am guessing that you have no idea that I am black...more so that I am African, born and raised in Ghana.

I spent a good part of my youth in the country where the Transatlantic slave trade began 500 years ago. We still have the slave castles that we helped build for the Europeans to remind us of the horrific treatment we subjected our own brothers and sisters to. My family was right smack in the middle of it all. I am ashamed to say that we amassed generational wealth by facilitating and brokering slave transactions over a period of 400 years. After the slaves were sold, they were 'stored' in dungeons for months awaiting the arrival of the next cargo vessel. In spite of the grossly inhumane conditions under which we saw our people being kept on our own shores, we still provided and ensured safe passage for the slave ships.

The article I am writing will thoroughly illustrate how the very state of mind that made slave trade more convenient for the European settlers over a 400 year span still exists today. It will shed light on all the ways in which we are STILL selling our own people into psychological slavery. Until we stop taking dumps in our own houses, we can't point fingers at others for dumping in our houses.

You don't sell someone a mule and expect them to treat it like an eagle.

I am a documentary filmmaker by day. I can inbox you my name so you can research my background.

 

[Joe N]

I am guessing that you have no idea that I am black...more so that I am African, born and raised in Ghana.

I spent a good part of my youth in the country where the Transatlantic slave trade began 500 years ago. We still have the slave castles that we helped build for the Europeans to remind us of the horrific treatment we subjected our own brothers and sisters to. My family was right smack in the middle of it all. I am ashamed to say that we amassed generational wealth by facilitating and brokering slave transactions over a period of 400 years. After the slaves were sold, they were 'stored' in dungeons for months awaiting the arrival of the next cargo vessel. In spite of the grossly inhumane conditions under which we saw our people being kept on our own shores, we still provided and ensured safe passage for the slave ships.

The article I am writing will thoroughly illustrate how the very state of mind that made slave trade more convenient for the European settlers over a 400 year span still exists today. It will shed light on all the ways in which we are STILL selling our own people into psychological. Until stop taking dumps in our own houses, we can't point fingers at others for dumping in our houses.

You don't sell someone a mule and expect them to treat it like an eagle.

I am a documentary filmmaker by day. I can inbox you my name so you can research my background.

My post made no reference to your race at all.

Sounds like an interesting article. Would have been a lot less inflammatory sounding if you had led with all that detail.

 

[dntaps]

Racism is real, world needs solutions not people trying to make things worse.

Every life matters. Every race has good and evil individuals.
Sometimes white people kill fellow white people, black people kill fellow black people, same applies to other races. Simply put some people kill fellow human beings, no matter what race.

Black lives matter, does not mean other lives don't matter.

Thread is specific to addressing existing issues of racism and injustice.
Black on black crime or white on white crime is not racism, is a separate issue that needs specific solutions.

https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/racism
racism:-

"prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior."

I moved all my names from Epik, started moving the names at the beginning of the Gab saga. It is sad because I liked the platform.

Agree with Brad "Take accountability. Take responsibility. Take action to fix it."

 

[BrandAptly.com]

My post made no reference to your race at all.

Sounds like an interesting article. Would have been a lot less inflammatory sounding if you had led with all that detail.

Race has been the subtext of this discussion. Why would I lead with that and diminish the shock value?

I find knee-jerk reactions before facts are gathered rather interesting. You were actually very diplomatic in your response in spite of not having that pertinent information.

I have lived in the US for the last 25 years. One of my greatest regrets I have was attending a historically black college. 95% of the discrimination I have faced in this country came from African Americans. I was ridiculed in class on several occasions because of my accent. This was always my response: "Your mockery of the way I speak glorifies the very process that led to your becoming American." Most of these kids had IQs too far below room temperature to grasp the insult.

Listen to the lyrics in RAP music. Pay attention to how the verbiage demeans their women. Also pay attention to all the products that are being promoted in them. Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, etc. These dumb kids get brainwashed by this garbage. They then go out and rob each other for these brand name goods at gunpoint often resulting in the death of their victims.

On a monthly basis, blacks in the US kill far more blacks (over 4k) than the KKK has since it's formation. If you start a chess game by taking out all your black pawns, how does that increase your chances of winning?! Until we put well executed radical reform programs in place to demonstrate that our lives really matter, we just need to shut up. We do more harm to ourselves than the police ever does to us.

Take a look at this video:

This is one of the many black owned businesses that were vandalized under the guise of protesting against police brutality. Will someone explain to me how one can rationalize this stupidity? How does this illustrate our value for our lives? How does this alleviate our economic disadvantage?

You cannot mandate that other people treat you better than you're willing to treat yourself. That is just downright ridiculous.

 

[HotKey]

Thanks Rob, for what's it's worth, appreciate the post.

Just wanted to put out there, must be quite the balancing act, to try and feed dinner table with such a diverse group of appetites. At times, I'm sure it must weight. Respect, and I stand with you.

**

Give a man a fish, satisfy him for a day. Teach him how to fish, a lifetime. I think this is what Rob brings to the table.