Indeed. Assange is an asshole. A lot of people that have tried working with have conformed that. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been successfully smeared (he has), or that hes contribution to journalism should be ignored (it shouldn’t)

> Assange is an asshole.

The smear campaign continues to be successful even in people who consciously know it was all lies.

The human psyche is pretty "amazing".

Some people are assholes. Some people are smeared with crimes worse then “being an asshole”. Julian Assange can belong to the intersection of the two.

Not everything bad ever said about Assange is a lie.

Assange isn't an asshole. Assange is a victim of torture.

False dichotomy. And being a victim of torture can in no way be defended by "he's an asshole."

When being or not being an asshole became something of importance regarding the issues at stake? The dichotomy might be false but you're missing the whole point.

I don’t see “being an asshole” to be the issue at stake here at all.

It is for sure an issue for people that are trying to work with him. It is understandable that people bring it up when conversation revolve around him. But it is completely irrelevant when we are talking about his contributions to journalism being censored.

The people smearing Assange frankly come across as the asshole to me. Assange may not be the most pleasant person ever, I have no idea since I've never met the guy. But an asshole calling someone else an asshole makes the allegation lack any real credibility