The Truth Vs. Alex Jones

[DanaK]

Quote

The HBO Original documentary THE TRUTH VS. ALEX JONES, directed by BAFTA and Emmy®-winning filmmaker Dan Reed (HBO’s “Four Hours at the Capitol,” “Leaving Neverland,” “Terror at the Mall”) debuts TUESDAY, MARCH 26 (9:00-10:55 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.

Synopsis: Filmed over four years with unprecedented access, THE TRUTH VS. ALEX JONES chronicles the riveting courtroom drama of two defamation lawsuits brought by Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims’ families against Alex Jones and his website, InfoWars. While exploring the scope and ripple effects of Jones’ brand of conspiracy-minded media, the film follows the families’ legal efforts to hold him accountable for spreading lies about them and their children. The cases culminate in a historic award of nearly $1.5 billion in damages, followed by Jones declaring bankruptcy.

Full press release https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/hbo-original-documentary-truth-vs-alex-jones-debuts-march-26

Trailer

 

[TakomaSnark]

Four Hours At The Capitol was a magnificient piece of work. Looking forward to this, though Jones is a magnificient piece of garbage.

[Spartan Girl]

Calling him garbage is an insult to garbage.

[Wiendish Fitch]

45 minutes ago, Spartan Girl said:

Calling him garbage is an insult to garbage.

Yeah, garbage is stuff that once served a purpose. What meaningful purpose has Alex Jones ever served?

I know I shouldn't watch this documentary, "outrage porn" isn't good for me, and yet, I just don't know how to quit...

[DanaK]

I’ve only watched the first half hour so far and I’m already tired of the unhinged garbage Jones and company were spewing back then

[AheadofStraight]

The Guardian did an article about the documentary.

[meep.meep]

This was chilling.  1 in 4 people believed him.  And that woman who thought the bodies should be exhumed because she "watches a lot of true crime and they exhume bodies all the time."  People's purient interests don't require action on anyone else's part.

I wonder what he said after Las Vegas.

[DanaK]

This is definitely hard to watch and I've managed a half hour so far. Not only is it hard to hear about the kids deaths and the families' pain, but it's really hard to sit and listen to Jones and his allies spew so much crap. I may have to watch this in segments

[Spartan Girl]

On 3/27/2024 at 10:47 AM, meep.meep said:

And that woman who thought the bodies should be exhumed because she "watches a lot of true crime and they exhume bodies all the time."  People's purient interests don't require action on anyone else's part.

People like her and the rest of the assholes that had nothing better to do than harass the parents of dead children are the reason that I don’t feel the slightest ounce of sympathy for those that listen to Alex Jones. 

“But they were tricked…they have a right to their opinions!”

NO. I don’t care what they believed. Being gullible is no excuse for despicable and deliberate cruelty. It’s unforgivable. 

And the fact that Jones made a big show of a half-assed insincere apology in court, then turned around to mock the parents and everyone else on his show…I truly hope there is a hell.

Edited March 28 by Spartan Girl

[Wiendish Fitch]

I hope, if nothing else, at least a few people took away these lessons:

Having an opinion does not make you special or heroic. You have the right to your opinion, but your opinion assuredly does not give you the right to bully others with impunity.

Being interested in true crime does not make you a detective or a forensics expert. Take a damn seat and shut your noisemaker.

Dare to question the people you watch or listen to. 

Admitting you're wrong is not a weakness... it is, in fact, an admirable strength and the ultimate show of character.

[StatisticalOutlier]

On 3/27/2024 at 9:47 AM, meep.meep said:

This was chilling.  1 in 4 people believed him. 

I would imagine that a good many of them still think it was staged.  That's what I find chilling.  Alex may have moved on, but that doesn't mean his followers did.

Or they don't actually believe it and maybe never did but it was fun to be on that bandwagon.  I find that even more chilling. 

I purposely keep Alex Jones out of my orbit, and knew very little about the trials except the massive verdict, so I watched the documentary.  If I hadn't already given up on the human race, I'd be scared. 

[Smokeyblow]

My blood pressure won't let me watch this.

[AheadofStraight]

1 hour ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

I would imagine that a good many of them still think it was staged.  That's what I find chilling.  Alex may have moved on, but that doesn't mean his followers did.

I live in Connecticut and just yesterday, a friend posted this on facebook. So yeah, they still believe him and probably don't know what he said in the trial.

("Alex Jones was right" is one of the stickers)

Edited March 30 by AheadofStraight

[StatisticalOutlier]

5 hours ago, Smokeyblow said:

My blood pressure won't let me watch this.

I hear ya.  In my case, I chose a 2-hour blood pressure spike over prolonged irritation.  Since I refuse to even read about most of the craziness out there these days, it was educational for me.

I was in Austin during Alex Jones's early days on cable access.  Most people thought he was just eccentric and funny (keep Austin weird, right?).  And it's a perfect example of "It's all fun...until it's not."

He gets to unleash all this shit and will suffer no net consequences, because he profits from everything that happens to him.  Just like another well-known denialist who gets other people to do his dirty work.  I like to think they suffer inner torment, but deep down I know that's not true. 

This piece did cheer me up a bit.  It's about Jones and his cable access show and there's a nice description of a parking lot fight with some people who prank-called his show all the time, and showed up in person.

https://observer.com/2019/04/alex-jones-austin-public-access-tv-origin-story/

At least he got his ass kicked once.

Edited March 30 by StatisticalOutlier

[Spartan Girl]

8 hours ago, AheadofStraight said:

I live in Connecticut and just yesterday, a friend posted this on facebook. So yeah, they still believe him and probably don't know what he said in the trial.

("Alex Jones was right" is one of the stickers)

What an asshole. Confirms my belief in what kind of people Alex Jones’ fans are.

Edited March 31 by Spartan Girl

[Marigold66]

Forgive me if this is a stupid question but how is he still allowed to broadcast his show?  Can't these verdicts legally prevent him from spewing his crap?  Are these families ever going to see a dime?  I truly couldn't stand to look at his face during those trials.  Just making a mockery of those poor families who are already in hell.  The depth of his depravity is boundless.  

[CherryMalotte]

16 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

What an asshole. Confirms my belief in what kind of people Alex Jones’ fans are.

I agree.  It's easier to hate than to show love, and I find that people that follow Jones not only hate but have a lot of fear in the world around them. 

He doesn't care about the pain he inflicts, it's all about sales to him.   

[StatisticalOutlier]

I forgot to mention one thing the documentary highlighted, which is the impossibility of dealing with Alex Jones and his followers.  I can't remember who it was, maybe a lawyer?  But he just refused to acknowledge them at all, despite how incredibly hard that is, because he knows they'll call him a coward or say he's hiding the truth, and that's NOT why he's refusing to engage.  And if he does engage, they'll call him a liar, regardless of what he says.

It was particularly striking with respect to exhuming the kids' bodies.  I can see a parent thinking that as hard and painful and abhorrent as that might be, surely it would finally shut them up.  But you know it wouldn't--they'll just manufacture crazy theories about that, deepening their pain.  It must be unbearably frustrating.

So...Alex Jones makes more money no matter what he does (I'm being persecuted in a show trial!  Buy more supplements to support me!).  And the parents endure more pain no matter what they do.

I also felt bad for the judges.  Who wants to have to tell this guy over and over and over to shut up, knowing that if you impose sanctions, it just plays into his narrative of persecution and makes him even more popular?  It's yet another impossible situation. 

Surely if Bobby Seale could be bound and gagged, Alex Jones could, too.  Again, it would just roil up his supporters, but it just might be worth it.  Because no matter what you do, it roils up his supporters.

 

 

[meep.meep]

18 hours ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

I forgot to mention one thing the documentary highlighted, which is the impossibility of dealing with Alex Jones and his followers.  I can't remember who it was, maybe a lawyer?  But he just refused to acknowledge them at all, despite how incredibly hard that is, because he knows they'll call him a coward or say he's hiding the truth, and that's NOT why he's refusing to engage.  And if he does engage, they'll call him a liar, regardless of what he says.

It was particularly striking with respect to exhuming the kids' bodies.  I can see a parent thinking that as hard and painful and abhorrent as that might be, surely it would finally shut them up.  But you know it wouldn't--they'll just manufacture crazy theories about that, deepening their pain.  It must be unbearably frustrating.

It was the attorney for either the town or the school board who refused to engage with Jones or his followers.

The problem with exhuming is the scale.  If they had exhumed one body, run DNA tests to confirm parenthood, then the Jonesers would have said that the other ones were faked.  What if one of the kids was adopted?  What if one family used donor sperm or eggs to conceive?  There would always be room for conspiracy theorists to see conspiracy.

 

[lasu]

3 hours ago, meep.meep said:

The problem with exhuming is the scale.  If they had exhumed one body, run DNA tests to confirm parenthood, then the Jonesers would have said that the other ones were faked.  What if one of the kids was adopted?  What if one family used donor sperm or eggs to conceive?  There would always be room for conspiracy theorists to see conspiracy.

The problem is that they will move the goalposts.  Evidence is only seen as further cover up.  There's no winning, and I don't think anyone should have to dig up their dead kids to prove they have dead kids. (Not that I think you are recommending this.)  It's so gross, I can't stand it.

[MadyGirl1987]

Almost 30 min in and I don’t think I’ve hated someone as much as I hate Alex Jones right now ever in my life. The way he attacked those poor families and caused them even more pain at the most painful time in their lives makes me feel he is worthy of the title of one of the worst people in the US today.

[MamaMax]

I thought there couldn't be anyone else on the planet as reprehensible as Alex Jones.  Then, his lawyer came on screen. 

Also, I wanted to vomit when he was using the press at his trials as an opportunity to do his sales pitch. 

 

I understand that school shootings are SO horrific that some people would like to believe that they aren't real.  What I can NOT understand is how anyone can be so devoid of any kind of human empathy that he could say and do the things that Alex Jones and his minions did. It might be as scary as the shootings.

Jones did it for money. What did his minions get out of it? That's nightmarish to think about.  

Edited April 16 by MamaMax

[MadyGirl1987]

On 4/15/2024 at 1:13 PM, MamaMax said:

Jones did it for money. What did his minions get out of it? That's nightmarish to think about.  

They did it because they wanted to be "right" and feel like they knew better then all the "dupes." I think a lot of conspiracy theories feed on the fact that people like feeling like they have "inside knowledge" others don't have. They like feeling "in the know."

Honestly, as abhorrent and crazy as I find most conspiracy theories, the psychological and social roots and influences behind them are fascinating to me.

Edited April 18 by MadyGirl1987

[MamaMax]

13 hours ago, MadyGirl1987 said:

They did it because they wanted to be "right" and feel like they knew better then all the "dupes." I think a lot of conspiracy theories feed on the fact that people like feeling like they have "inside knowledge" others don't have. They like feeling "in the know."

Honestly, as abhorrent and crazy as I find most conspiracy theories, the psychological and social roots and influences behind them are fascinating to me.

I don't have as hard a time understanding why people might believe Jones as I do what would motivate them to actively harass the families of victims.  One thing to wear your tin foil hat a home - another to go out in the word and confront people face to face. 

[MadyGirl1987]

4 hours ago, MamaMax said:

One thing to wear your tin foil hat a home - another to go out in the word and confront people face to face. 

But how else will others know how much smarter and better you are then them? (End Sarcasm)

Joking aside, I do think it comes from a place of wanting people to know how "right" you are.

Edited April 18 by MadyGirl1987

[sugarbaker design]

4 minutes ago, MadyGirl1987 said:

But how else will others know how much smarter and better you are then them? (End Sarcasm)

Joking aside, I do think it comes from a place of wanting people to know how "right" you are.

Right, and how wrong the 'sheep' are!

[Wiendish Fitch]

You know what? I'll take being a sheep to being a cruel, heartless psychopath any day of the week. 

Baaaaaaa, bitches!

[MamaMax]

Just now, Wiendish Fitch said:

You know what? I'll take being a sheep to being a cruel, heartless psychopath any day of the week. 

Baaaaaaa, bitches!

Ill join your flock 

[Anela]

53 minutes ago, Wiendish Fitch said:

You know what? I'll take being a sheep to being a cruel, heartless psychopath any day of the week. 

Baaaaaaa, bitches!

LOL. Same!

I almost started a thread for this, when I saw that it was on HBO, but I haven't watched it, because I didn't want to be angry. I have lost friends who believe this man. I can't believe I missed that they believe in "crisis actors" including children. 

[Anela]

On 3/30/2024 at 12:41 PM, AheadofStraight said:

I live in Connecticut and just yesterday, a friend posted this on facebook. So yeah, they still believe him and probably don't know what he said in the trial.

("Alex Jones was right" is one of the stickers)

Three years ago, I saw a van like this, outside a grocery store. It was covered on the sides and the back, full of conspiracies. He apparently gets around, because he's been mentioned in the State reddit. Someone called it a vanifesto. 

2 hours ago, MadyGirl1987 said:

But how else will others know how much smarter and better you are then them? (End Sarcasm)

Joking aside, I do think it comes from a place of wanting people to know how "right" you are.

When covid started, I was arguing with people I knew, who are no longer friends. not arguing, but discussing more heatedly than we were used to with each other. One of them basically told the others to be nice, that they knew better - they knew what was really going on, unlike me, and another friend. 

[Spartan Girl]

3 hours ago, Anela said:

When covid started, I was arguing with people I knew, who are no longer friends. not arguing, but discussing more heatedly than we were used to with each other. One of them basically told the others to be nice, that they knew better - they knew what was really going on, unlike me, and another friend. 

You were nicer than I would’ve been. What a bunch of no-nothing-know-it-alls.

I’m impressed that the Sandy Hook parents didn’t react more forcefully to the assholes that were harassing them. If someone defaced my child’s grave or tried to dig up their coffin or called us crisis actors…

 

Edited April 18 by Spartan Girl

[Tachi Rocinante]

The problem with mental defectives like the woman who suggested the bodies be exhumed is that you could show her (for the purposes of discussion, if it existed) 4K video of all the shootings on an 80-inch HD TV and she would just shake her head and say, "that's fake".

[StatisticalOutlier]

On 4/20/2024 at 7:02 PM, Tachi Rocinante said:

The problem with mental defectives like the woman who suggested the bodies be exhumed is that you could show her (for the purposes of discussion, if it existed) 4K video of all the shootings on an 80-inch HD TV and she would just shake her head and say, "that's fake".

Yep.  That's what I was referring to when I was talking about the impossibility of dealing with these people.  Or, well, it's not impossible, but you're going to lose no matter what you do.  Ignore them?  You're a coward and hiding something.  Present evidence?  It's fake.

[lasu]

That woman in question has already admitted that the one man believed just as strongly that he had a son as she did he didn't.  She just somehow thought she knew better.  The audacity is insane.

[merylinkid]

On 3/30/2024 at 1:57 PM, StatisticalOutlier said:

I was in Austin during Alex Jones's early days on cable access.  Most people thought he was just eccentric and funny (keep Austin weird, right?).  And it's a perfect example of "It's all fun...until it's not."

I was working for the police monitor's office at the same time.   We would sometimes get his followers in to complain about the cops.   Always made for an interesting day.