The Illusion of Objectivity: Is Wikipedia a 'Wrapper' for MSM Bias? – And a Look Ahead: Censorship for Profit
The misinformation-disinformation paradigm is invading all areas of public discourse.
Imagine a world where the truth is not what it seems, where the information we consume daily is quietly manipulated, distorted, and re-packaged as objective fact.
This isn't the plot of some dystopian novel—it's happening right now on one of the internet's most trusted platforms: Wikipedia.
I recently explored this unsettling phenomenon in an article for Pirate Wires titled "How Wikipedia Launders Regime Propaganda." This piece uncovers the disturbing ways Wikipedia, under the guise of neutrality, has become a key player in transforming biased media narratives into hard, undeniable "facts."
Read the full article on Pirate Wires here.
The Illusion of Objectivity
Wikipedia is often hailed as the digital age’s ultimate knowledge repository—a place where information is supposedly curated and vetted by a community of neutral, well-intentioned editors. But what happens when the sources these editors rely on are anything but neutral?
In my Pirate Wires article, I dissect how Wikipedia’s strict adherence to mainstream media sources, like The New York Times and The Washington Post, creates a dangerously skewed version of reality. These outlets are not impartial; they have their own biases, agendas, and blind spots. Yet, on Wikipedia, their narratives are treated as the final word, the unchallengeable truth.
One example I discuss is the experience of Atsme, a dedicated Wikipedia editor who worked to instill neutrality into political articles. For her troubles, Atsme was banned from editing in the American politics topic after challenging the biases entrenched in the platform’s content. Her story is a stark reminder of how even those within the system face significant obstacles when they try to uphold true objectivity.
The problem doesn’t stop with Wikipedia. Once these biased narratives are enshrined on the platform, they begin to echo across the internet. Wikipedia’s entries are referenced by journalists, educators, and even policymakers. The bias thus ripples outward, shaping public opinion, influencing academic research, and even affecting the outcomes of political decisions.
Ashley on The Winston Marshall Show
To explore these issues further, I recently joined The Winston Marshall Show for an in-depth discussion. Winston Marshall, as many of you know, is the former lead guitarist and banjoist of the Grammy-winning band Mumford & Sons who took a principled stand on issues of free speech when he stepped away from the band to pursue these crucial conversations more openly.
Our conversation was as urgent as it was eye-opening, revealing the hidden forces that shape our understanding of truth. If you haven’t yet, I strongly recommend watching the full interview, which is below:
It’s More Than Just Wikipedia
The discussion surrounding this issue has been gaining traction, and I’ve been engaging with many of you on X (formerly Twitter) about it. Miranda Devine, New York Post columnist and bestselling author of Laptop from Hell, posted on X:
I also posted on X about how all these conversations about misinformation-disinformation and free speech distract from the real issue at hand—for example, where COVID-19 really came from or if Joe Biden did indeed have illicit business dealings in Ukraine.
A Look Ahead: Censorship for Profit
In my next piece, I’ll be diving into another critical issue: the burgeoning censorship industry. What I call "censorship for profit" is an alarming trend where private sector companies are stepping in to do the government's dirty work, skirting around free speech laws under the guise of combating misinformation.
This industry represents a new front in the battle for free expression, and it’s one we must confront head-on. Stay tuned for more on this in the coming weeks.
The Fight for Truth
This is not just an intellectual exercise—it's a battle for the very soul of our public discourse. It’s up to us, the informed and engaged, to push back. We must demand transparency, accountability, and above all, truth from the platforms and sources we rely on.
If you found this issue insightful, please share it with your friends, family, and colleagues. Encourage them to subscribe to 🔥 The Burning Telegraph so they too can stay informed about these crucial issues.
Here’s the link to my Pirate Wires on Wikipedia in case you missed it.
Thank you for your unwavering support and for standing with me in this critical fight for truth.
Ashley Rindsberg
🔥 The Burning Telegraph