Wikileaks Opens Official Online Store 142
siliconbits writes "You can now buy officially branded Julian Assange T-Shirts, cups, netbook sleeves or bags and contribute financially to the Wikileaks fight. From the article: 'Wikileaks is looking to generate more revenue by launching an online shop that is run by Spreadshirt AG. Supporters of Julian Assange and the Wikileaks cause will be able to buy a variety of products like shirts, messenger bags, hats, buttons, scarves etc.'"
Wikileaks has officially jumped the shark (Score:4, Insightful)
Whether you liked it before, or hated it, it's now an Assange fan club, of no real importance or effectiveness. Beware the cult of personality, even those would ostensibly believe in similar causes to you.
T-Shirt's with his picture? Seriously?
Re:Wikileaks has officially jumped the shark (Score:5, Insightful)
When Assange said "Killing people is fun" he very obviously meant that the American soldiers massacring civilians found the killing to be fun.
And what you don't seem to understand is that people understand this and find it to reflect Assange's level of ignorance. But don't let that get in the way of your asserting yourself as so far above all the sheep.
Re:Gear without his face? (Score:3, Insightful)
Che Guevara got his hands dirty through massacres and summary executions.
Nothing there to love.
irrelevant (Score:2, Insightful)
There are soo many leaks sites running around now that Assange won't "control the market" anymore. Imho, Assange deserves credit for pushing this cultural shift, both by trying to make an uncrackable publication chain and by putting himself on the line going after the U.S. I'll buy a shirt with his face for that.
You'll notice however that Anonymous' HBGary hackers didn't bother protecting their anonymity by gong through wikileaks, they just handled it themselves using proxies, friends, public wifi, etc. If enough hacks and leaks are occurring, and we're explaining reasonable precautions to people, then maybe Assange's leaker protections aren't all that important. And we've all heard how wikileaks backlog is just brutal, even when they still accepted material.
Re:Wikileaks has officially jumped the shark (Score:4, Insightful)
There's a donation-based non-profit engaged in a pitched legal battle against some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world. How would you suggest they raise the funds necessary to defend themselves?
What is the big deal? (Score:5, Insightful)
Wow. I see a lot of funny comments, but also a lot of whiny bitches. *cry* Assange is a media whore! Assange is a poser! Assange is this, Assange is that */cry* Really? Does anyone read what they type before they hit submit?
1) The shirts with his face aren't the only item in the store. I bought a hat that says Wikileaks on it, along with a shirt that says the same. You don't have to buy the one with the pic of his face on it. (Frankly, the shirt with his face on it IS kinda on the creepy side. Not sure who would buy that shirt, Assange fan-boy or not. But that doesn't make the whole idea of wikileaks selling stuff wrong.)
2) Not sure what the big deal is. WikiLeaks needs $, just like any other organization, in order to keep the leaks flowing. Nobody is forcing you to buy a shirt with Assange's face on it. In fact, nobody is forcing you to buy anything at all.
3) Assange fan-club or not, WikiLeaks has provided, and will hopefully continue to provide, insight into the shady dealings of governments and military's . They have done more good than bad. Who cares if Assange likes media attention? If WikiLeaks never had media attention, then the leaks would be MEANINGLESS. Assange never asked for rape charges to be drummed up and then covered to DEATH by every major media outlet. And he has, for the most part, used the media coverage to dispel the lies and get the word out about WikiLeaks and the content of the actual leaks.
4) How is it a bad thing they are doing this? This store is most likely in response to their other means of funding being shut down! Remember how you used to be able to donate through paypal? Well now you can donate by buying a freaking Assange shirt. Either support them or shut up. I really don't see another reason to try and call Assange a media whore again. That isn't what the store is about. It's about funding wikileaks.