The sticky imitation of reality

Bulgaria's Agency for National Security (DANS) has blocked access to the online medium "Opasni novini" (dangerous news) for allegedly spreading confidential information. The daily Dnevnik warns: "It is extremely important that society does not allow state institutions to restrict media freedom, even if that institution happens to be the Bulgarian FBI. ... Is this not a sign that the state crisis is also taking hold of the fourth power? The website was successful because of people's refusal to accept the sticky imitation of the reality in which we live, for [this imitation] is intertwined with the busily flirting political elites, dubious businessmen and media makers. Honours are conferred and gifts are made of trips in the presidential aircraft for the sake of preserving this imitation. ... 'Opasni novini' was a rumour factory. Yet we should ask ourselves what kind of a society it is where rumours replace the public sphere. One where there is no real public sphere. This is why rumours, whether whispered or converted into bits and put on American servers, become dangerous. And measures are taken to prevent them in order to re-establish peace and order in the country."

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