It seems that Second Thought (and their second channel, First Thought) has been silently removed from Nebula, with no comment from them or anyone on Nebula’s side.
There’s some context in the comments of a couple of reddit threads about this, that have been deleted on the Nebula subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Nebula/comments/17be8bf/second_thoughts_channel_being_removed_from_nebula/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Nebula/comments/17bav9j/what_happened_to_firstsecond_thought/
That would explain why his latest video seemed to go full tanky. He basically spent half the video justifying the USSR’s, North Korea’s, and China’s actions by saying “akshully the US is worse!”
Like I could agree with the sentiment if he wasn’t trying to justify the actions of these actors at the same time. How hard is it to criticize the US without forgiving the rest of history’s monsters?
The truth about authoritarianism, whether fascist or communist, is they will point to the other to justify their existence, when they both deserve the same bunk in hell.
Does anyone know what the original controversial or divisive statement/quote actually was?
That is a good question as there have been plenty to choose from. And not getting any better. I have watched a few of their videos and didn’t find many of them that objectionable. But they and the channels overall have had some pretty bad takes here and there. And heavy lack of objectivity towards some subjects.
The video put out today for instance was pretty much whitewashing leninism. Dancing around some of the horrible things leninist states have done. Always justifying it with somehow the west or the United States was worse. Which doesn’t matter. If it’s bad it’s bad. It’s not a contest. And two wrongs don’t make a right.
I legit hardcore chuckled when he un ironically claimed that China was somehow more democratic than the West? And had much better representation. Maybe it was intended in jest and I just took it seriously? I’m down to critique of America all day everyday. There’s plenty of a problems with it. But that statement was just bananas.
Might have found the segment here
He was talking about the genocide going on in Gaza right now, and said that there were no Israeli civilians, because they’re colonizers. Here is a link to the bit of the podcast. Really braindead, bloodthirsty, and (I don’t use this lightly, because Israel loves using the term to push their propaganda) bordering on antisemitic take. Especially when Hamas themselves are saying to the press that “any civilian causalities are unintentional”.
Stacked with his really bad takes on the Ukraine war, and it gets me thinking nobody should be listening to the guy.
Can you post some of the Discord context here? Do you or archive.org still have it?
Random user: @JT How come First thought releases this week aren't showing up on Nebula? JT: FT, ST, and The Deprogram are no longer partnered with Nebula. It wasn't a good fit anymore. JT: We mutually decided it was time to part ways. Some Nebula creators wanted me to make a clarifying statement on my position regarding Israel and Palestine and it was getting too close to a "both sides" thing for me, which felt like compromising my principles. Just a difference of priorities. Business optics versus taking a principled stance.
The things I note are “Some Nebula creators” is not Nebula itself. And second, that he left before Nebula could remove him.
I find it hard to blame Nebula here, regardless of your stance on Israel.
I thought nebula was run by the creators essentially. At least that’s how it’s presented in the ads for it, so it does sound like this is nebula forcing creators to hide their opinions.
That’s fair. Sad but fair happy stuck to his morals. It’s not a both sides thing and history will remember.
Pretty sad that’s what seems to have happened. I was seriously considering a Nebula subscription.
The guy said that Hamas is fine because he doesn’t think there are any Israeli civilians. Something even Hamas disagrees with. When he refers to “both sides” here, he means that he doesn’t agree both sides have human beings getting hurt.
Ah sorry I meant in the comments, this particularly
https://www.reddit.com/r/Nebula/comments/17be8bf/comment/k5j2sbi/