The real question is, why he would he ever consider it a good idea to work for him in the first place? It's not like Alex Jones was an unknown quality.
7
Sort of sounds like working for someone like Hunter S Thompson. Some people might find it fun, others would definitely run away. Depends. I bet it was always interesting. I mean, who could say they had a Boss as crazy as Alex Jones? Not many. "You know what my Boss did today? He came in with his shirt off, stabbing a Globe with a Bowie Knife while wearing a gun, and drinking a Fifth. I didn't know what to do." "You know what my Boss did today? He told me to file some more TPS reports." LOL!
6
Part of what fuels the legitimacy of conspiracy theories has been real events where the official stories are so patently false that nothing becomes real to the reader or listener anymore, and all truths must be questioned.
Did it really start to take off in Dallas after 22 Nov 1963? It was not a coincidence that Dallas was the hometown on Alex Jones, and perhaps it was the idea of "producerism" which likely metasized into something darker and more sinister for Mr. Jones. In that sense, he must be forgiven.
Yet many valid critics of the Warren Commission did not go off into those dark spaces as the years went by. For example, Mark Lane almost lost his life in Jonestown, and I'd say he's hardly a crazy nut to write the things he has done. A lot of conspiracies can happen in the darkness of the South American jungles, and we may never fully accept the official version of that nightmare.
It takes a strong mind of exceptional intelligence and moral character to not fall prey to some elements of modern yellow journalism. I think most of us are at risk of that.
4
i have been listening to Alex Jones for 5 years. It is no less fake than watching CNN, ABC, or any of the other mainstream news outlets who all guaranteed that Hillary was going to win 2016.
Alex Jones was right about Epstein and was talking about him and Bill Clinton for YEARS and no one believed him. Just last week the article about pig/monkey hybrids from China came out which, again, he has been talking about for years and also that there are human hybrids. he's probably right about that too.
His track record is getting better vs. the mainstream media everyday in the post Trump era. And it will continue to get better as confidence in government and the mainstream media continue to collapse and we drift further into the whistle-blower era. This is all just the beginning, there will be many more AJ type personalities rising in the ranks of this new counter culture revolution.
6
I guess what disturbs me the most is that this shows how many people who work in these types of “alternative media” are fully aware that they are misleading the public yet they continue to do so. I often wonder if Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity actually believe the things they say that are obviously false to any reasonable objective observer. Is it the money? I’d it the access to the powerful? Are they working to remake the country into some sort of theocracy. Is it the ends justifying the means? When all of this comes tumbling down will we remember these guys and the spineless Republican Party as the Quislings of America? I have to say that if Obama had done 1/2 of the things Trump is accused of I would be just as outraged as I am by current events. Once upon a time Americans loved their country more than their political affiliation. If the founding fathers were alive to see all of this they wouldn’t be able to stop throwing up.
7
A portrait of one of the darlings of the Right: a drunken conman, criminal, hate monger, and utterly amoral, venal opportunist.
All he’s good at is peddling self serving fraud - showing absolute contempt for everyone, even his core audience....
Jones is like Trump: he knows full well he’s shoving junk down the throats of the pathetically gullible, but it serves his personal brand, and lines his pockets.
The horror of it: Jones is like so many of the pundits on the Right - including most of the crooks at Fox News. They market themselves as part of “the Press,” but they are heinous abusers of the honorable, even sacred traditions of the Press in America.
If anything, Jones and his ilk are prime examples of why our “press freedoms” need some sober analysis and accountability behind them. Most other Western Democracies have figured out that Press freedom can’t be entirely unlimited - or else it leads to irresponsibility, chaos, and even evil.
Fox News has done more to damage this country than any terrorist ever could. Jones has done his fair share too. It’s time for some accountability! As we are now, the body politic of America has become the profit making football of the hate mongers - to the detriment of all.
10
WOW! Without reading this whole article, how can I get a job like this?
As an old guy (70+) so obviously not afraid of dying, I'm looking for excitement. Jones looks like the kind of dude I could work for.
BONUS: I'm a Canadian and so am completely unbiased when it come to American political shenanigans.
Where do I apply?
6
So many great writers began as passionate journalists, uncovering the underbelly of the underbelly of corruption: Steinbeck, Sinclair, Twain, and a modern favorite of mine by the name of Mike Lewis. Moreover I am Irish, and am quite familiar with the volcanic alcoholic. (I've probably been one, once or twice. Okay, thrice.) All you can do, as Michael Palin would say, is run away.
Josh Owens, you are a fine writer. So often I'll get midway through an article and then skirt to the end because of the author's endless ideological blinders. (I won't name names, but you know who you are.) HS debate-class forces us to reason and argue the wrong way: Two teams are given opposing sides of an argument (guns are good vs. guns are bad) and then asked to reason backwards from these pre-ordained conclusions. Yours is an didactic tone, wandering and inquisitive, concerning a topic that is frightening. It's a delicate touch, without sentimentality. I look forward to more of your articles in the future. You found your calling, at last.
9
I think there are many other people working in American journalism who are much better known than Josh Owens who are liable for at least as much harm, and have at least as much to answer for. It's just that they perform their mendacity less blatantly than Alex Jones to elicit the applause of a much wider audience, and the rewards of their role lead them to have a harder time noticing their own tendencies toward duplicity and self-deception.
You know, if only one American TV news anchor had announced that they just couldn't get to do it any more, and quit on-air in the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. On CNN, say, in between all those 30-Second-Hate clips of Saddam Hussein firing his gun into the air at a military parade in Baghdad that the cable news flagship was running every few minutes.
2
His original name was Bill Hicks, a comedian. He faked having pancreatic cancer, got plastic surgery, and took some kind of testosterone or steroids to become the character "Alex Jones." Some people think he works for the CIA to spread disinformation and make dissenters look crazy by association. They suggest the products he supposedly makes so much money from are just a cover for his government checks. Either way, he is certainly Bill Hicks. Teeth are an exact match. He wears color contacts to hide his brown eyes.
1
@Clay Without fail, the invocation of the name "Alex Jones" brings out the real nutters. Case in point.
3
As I read this piece I couldn't help thinking of Donald Trump. He and Jones may have different mental afflictions but they play out in many of the same ways. They both rage, make up truths to suit their perverted ideas, need people to idolize and worship them. I don't know which is worse, the vodka-drinking explosion of InfoWars, or the bellicose baby in the White House. I'm surprised Trump hasn't offered Jones a cabinet position!
6
Alex Jones really needs to go to jail
10
As horrific as all of this article is, what haunts me the most is what Jones and his sick, stupid followers did to those animals. Slaughtering them just for entertainment. Firing repeatedly at a standing bison with a handgun? I wish I could get that image out of my mind.
I feel sorry for Alex Jones's kids, having a deranged, demented, obviously sadistic and violent father. His drunken driving, his fraud, his reckless use of firearms, his abuse of animals; all of this is criminal. He needs to be dealt with summarily.
24
"I can’t say I ever believed his avowed theory that Sandy Hook was a staged event to push for gun control," but if can say that you knowingly did work for Jones on the Sandy Hook conspiracy theories, then you're beyond redemption and should go away.
8
I'm sorry but I have no sympathy for this fellow. It's the same with folks that still now support that man in the White House. When he is gone I will not have any sympathy for them when reason returns and they are seen as the aiders and abettors to his criminality.
I only hope they have the good sense of this young man to admit to how these people ruin our country.
10
Good article, Josh. Keep them coming, and keep doing good.
1
"I believed in his worldview." Really?
Sorry, life is short. I don't have time for the maunderings of somebody who falls for Jones' "worldview." This person has nothing to say to me. Not interested in his crummy article.
5
This guy sounds like a jaded ex lover. Most of what he says is completely unprovable and a lot like the current democrat playbook of saying things that are not so and idiots believe it. Alex Jones was thrown off of all the social media sites for being a nutcase. Being a nutcase isn't a crime. Being a conspiracy theorist is also not a crime. He has never done anything to warrant his banishment from social media. Everyone should be appalled that a man can be banned just for saying things the leftist elite doesn't like. He said Sandy Hook was a hoax' So what? He is wrong, big deal. Saying that is not a reason to ban the guy. No one is forcing you to listen to Jones. If you don't like it, don't watch or listen. Problem solved.
This age old poem fits Jones perfectly.
"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
THAT is exactly what is happening to Jones. First they go after him and you say nothing, Then they go after Diamond and Silk and you say nothing, Then they go after Milo and you say nothing. YOU are next. Censorship is wrong. Social Media isn't God and they should not be allowed to say who can and who cannot speak. They need to be broken up a federally regulated.
1
@Ted A Bates I have written letters to the editor that never got printed, were they censoring me? Alex Jones has a right to say what he wants, he does not have a right to a platform from which to shout it. He is welcome to take his soap box to the corner and say what he wants. Facebook, Twitter and other platforms are not required to cover it.
16
You should ask if the author’s old job is still available.
4
How dumb do you have to be to believe anything Alex Jones says?
10
@Shiphrah
Or Trump!
2
WOW!!! What a load of Garbage.
What it did to people???
I don't see Alex Jones supporters rioting in the streets.
That would be the left and their socialist professors doing that. Conspiracy theory isn't a threat or a harm. What is a harm are the socialist professors selling revisionist history as truth with the backing of universities. you can rag on Alex Jones all you want. Try criticizing the left and see what happens. views and what they do to people are only dangerous when they aren't allowed to be criticized in the light of day
Actually, yeah, you did see them rioting in the streets and murdering a woman in Charlottesville. And the people who have massacred dozens of Americans in their churches, synagogues, mosques and Walmarts spout the exact same conspiracy theories Alex Jones spreads.
25
@CRK
Easily gulled Americans have waved guns, stalked people,and assaulted and murdered people based on the provably false alarmist claims purveyed by people like Alex Jones.
"Try criticizing the left and see what happens."
The views contained in your letter have been printed by the New York Times on an equal footing with the content of every other comment writer on the page here.
9
Alex Jones has a marvelous quality that, if you spend any amount of time listening to him, you will know less at the end than you did at the beginning!
5
That was an excellent read, thank you.
1
This article is really quite amazing. The author does well to humanize Alex Jones to the point where you almost feel bad for him. This is reality. Some of the most dangerous people in society are much like Alex Jones.
Don't think that Matt Lauer, Trevor Noah, or Bill O'Reilly are much different. Humans are predators. Don't forget it.
1
I was at the edge of my chair waiting for the horns and bifurcated tail to be mentioned. Alas, my hopes were dashed yet again when I realized it was yet another hit piece to create the impression of an insane megalomaniac. When will I ever learn. *sigh*
@James
Alex Jones isn't insane. He's a cheap hustler tapping a niche market of people who don't know how to check their own facts, even with the world's largest reference library practically at their fingertips. People who turn a profit on paranoia aren't crazy. They're unscrupulous con artists.
Jones is a megalomaniac, however. His success at being a professional fearmongerer has plainly gone to his head. That's a practically inevitable consequence of the game. Why deny the obvious?
6
Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
2
You write: "At 23, I was vulnerable, angry and searching for direction, so I decided to give it a shot." I missed the details in your piece about a life so bad that you willingly hooked up with a maniacal monster who was bent on destroying lives and dividing our nation all for a buck and some fame.
History does repeat itself and is full of young angry men who do despicable things and later show little remorse for their deeds.
I cannot get the grieving Sandy Hook parents out of my mind. What Jones did to them is unforgivable.
13
First thing this morning and I could not finish this article. I applaud the confession and the "outing" and the revelation of Jones' "eccentricities and excesses" (the same acceptance that Trump's supporters give him) but after half the article I was so disgusted as to need a shower.
2
What is truly scary is that our country is being led by a man like Jones.
4
Fantastic article, thanks for confirming what most of us knew about this whacko.
1
Let’s see, who does this remind me of? A man who lies repeatedly, who never admits he is wrong, who rants to support his lies, who forever keeps one eye on his ratings, who egregiously attacks people, who endangers people with his instability, all the while having a pathetic need to be liked.
All that’s missing is buddying up with foreign dictators.
6
Alex Jones is the worst of the worst, willfully spreading lies, hatred and vitriol and in so doing, giving his personal contribution to the weakaning of democracy itself. Even sadder is that millions of "intellectually challanged" individuals actually give him credit, amongst them one who currently works as president of the US of A.
3
Still waiting for megyn kelly and Gretchen Carlson to write a similar message culpa. Likely to be less sensational but more insidious.
3
leftist fictional vilification...
Jones is about to get back on the mainstream platforms..America is coming beck from the brink of socialism..
1
I read this article. I regret it.
3
This article literally made me sick to my stomach...
3
I appreciate Mr. Owens having the strength to admit his errors. It is not an easy thing to do. Having done that, I hope that he uses his skills to atone and attempt to reverse some of that damage.
He clearly has communication skills, both in visual media and in writing. If he were able to work with others he met in the Jones network to deconstruct that monster, that would be a truly valuable service.
It is interesting to see the similarities in personality and behavior that are cited in this piece, and in accounts for those who have worked closely with Trump. The same fragile egos, the same constant need for fawning from subordinates. The same hollow displays of "manliness", in the absence of any obvious, truly commendable qualities. Also traits seen in Bill O'Reilly.
10
Beautiful, thank you. I'm so glad you emerged and that you've told this story. God bless you, and may God help you stay on the path of truth wherever you go!
9
On an obvious, possibly overlooked note - There are a lot of people out there that still support Alex Jones. Go pick on them and leave Josh alone. Thanks for the article, Mr. Owens
7
Jones has some issues, but he is spot on in much of what he sees as the orchestrated destruction of American liberty and justice and the God fearing civil society.
1
Ummmm, no ... seriously. Jones is insane, but he knows how to make money off of very gullible people.
8
@kim What exactly is a "God fearing civil society?"
How do you destroy this? We are, or should be, according to our Constitution, a secular society,
with people allowed to worship as they wish. How
is Jones preventing the destruction of this part of
our Constitution. Who is orchestrating this destruction, the liberals? I fail to see how Jones is spot on in anything. My liberty and justice seem more imperiled by Trump and his minions,(Trump Conservatives and Evangelicals) than by liberals.
Evangelicals certainly want to enter my bedroom and my uterus, along with putting God in the public square. If given more power, I'm afraid these evangelicals will tell me how to worship and only their god should be worshiped. I fear this country's liberties will be curtailed with another term of Trump, who espouses White Supremacy and all the horrors that go with that. Think slavery, crusades, inquisitions, and intolerance, all blessed by various churches.
6
So, seriously folks, where does Alex Jones money come from? Energy companies? Right wing racists? Robert and Rebecca Mercer? Oh - how about the Russians? Yeah, lets see Alex Jones tax returns.
How about some actual transparency Alex?
21
The writer’s escape from “Jones’ town” gives me a small measure of hope that others will denounce the terrible and hurtful lies of Alex Jones, a deeply disturbed man. Albeit slowly – perhaps too slowly to avoid damaging many innocent people and supporting Infowars’ total abandonment of the truth - the writer pulled away. Perhaps his decision to leave was the exposure to just one-too-many conspiracy theories that were too insane to keep him from a mental meltdown.
I have close relatives who get their “news” from Alex Jones and others of his kind; they refuse to avail themselves of real news. Perhaps there is hope for them – a balm in Gilead.
5
Really good article. The irony is that Alex Jones wants people to question everything they are spoonfed, yet he himself was not what he appeared to be. Takeaway: question everything; verify THEN trust!
2
@Andrea Dorea Scientific Method, make an educated guess about how things work than try to disprove it. Emphasis on disprove. Most people want to try to prove their guesses.
Kudos to Josh Owens for the resolve to admit he was wrong. He was a very young man that didn't listen to his instincts. How many of us have had to learn that lesson?
I hope that his critics will recognize that the road to redemption is a little smoother with forgiveness, and I hope that in time he will be able to forgive himself.
I wish the Republicans in congress would have a moment of self reflection and put the welfare of this country ahead of their avarice, and lust for power.
18
Thanks Josh, this was excellent.
8
Thank you for writing this! Alex Jones and Inforwars must be stopped. He has ruined lives. I hope he ends up behind bars, paying for what he has done. More people need to be this brave and write and share the truth to bring down that man.
9
I recently had a deeply unsettling experience, where I took in a volunteer on our farm only to later find out about his white supremacist beliefs when I happened to stumble across his social media. I ended up in a deep dive of his Facebook posts, and I could easily map the change in tone and content of his posts. In early 2017 he started posting about flat eartherism and conspiracies to present the earth as a globe; from there, it was a rapid descent into Holocaust denial and a variety of conspiracy theories relating to Jews. By mid 2017 he was posting about how it would have been better had Hitler won the war.
It is just one anecdote, but I think illustrative of the corrosive effects of conspiracy theories on people's thinking. Once you can deny reams of evidence in favor of accepting the most preposterous (but initially innocuous) stories, you become vulnerable to accepting the deeply dangerous beliefs propelled by conspiracy theories around Jews, slavery, feminism, sexual preference, and more.
12
The author has suffered what I learned is called "a moral injury."
This is frequently connected to some not-very-good outcomes.
I hope he finds the healing he needs and sidesteps those kinds of outcomes.
May God be with you, and bless you, sir.
It took a certain amount of bravery to out yourself like this. I hope it works out well for you. As you certainly are aware, we live i some perilous times.
Not a few of which have been aided and abetted by Mr. Jones.
8
@logicalknot I don't agree with you. The author did not "out himself" at all. He explained is path to learning the truth and how he got wrapped up in something horrible. You should learn from this. There may be many things you believe that are just as horrible, or worse than this man...
3
I think I remember some of your created content, I have listened/watched Infowars for several years, off and on. No doubt Alex can go off script and that is where a knowledgeable listener can chose to turn it off and/or quit listening.
The article is well written and I can believe what you described actually happened, probably wasn't too hard to get your first article published once they knew you had dirt on Alex.
1
@Tickhill
But why? Why would you believe that what he described actually happened? Why do you believe an avowed liar?
I am dismayed at the gullibility in many of these comments, and the willingness to "forgive" someone who's done literally nothing - at least yet - to earn forgiveness.
3
Jones is an alcoholic grifter who made up stories when there was no story,he is just looking for the easy dollar selling nonsense. P.T. Barnum would be proud.
15
@DC What stories did he make up? I'm aware of him embellishing or hyping the impact of certain issues, but not making anything up. If he gets something wrong he issues a retraction. Are you aware of anything he's said first hand? Can you think for yourself? Take responsibility for your own actions? You should start censoring yourself and stop asking the billion dollar corporations and big government take away everyones freedom because your stupid and cant raise you kids.
Sandy Hook “false flag” lies - just one of many “stories” from Jones’ fevered, alcoholic mind.
6
@Senoj Xela: Here are only three examples of the many looney tunes conspiracy theories that Jones has either created or propagated: Sandy Hook, Chobani, Pizza Gate. Any other questions that we can answer for you?
7
"I'm really, really sorry, I was wrong. -Adolf Hitler"
It doesn't work. Some ideas are just evil an so wrong you're tainted for life. Jones and Trump (and their zombicons) are the same. People use their musing to justify abhorrent behavior and ignore fact.
11
look into he conspiracy theory that's dogged Jones for nearly 2 decades: 'Alex Jones is really Bill Hicks'
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/d7evqv/digging-deep-into-the-only-conspiracy-alex-jones-doesnt-like
2
Jones is for entertainment only. But the thing is, he's kinda right about 1-2% of the time. Because when you state EVERYTHING is a conspiracy, it's bound to be right sometimes. A big one occurred on the Joe Rogan show when Jones was ranting about a high profile pedo-ring way BEFORE the whole Epstein thing. That being said, I don't think Jones should be censored.
I almost stopped reading this article when I saw the tagline, suggesting that the author believed in Alex Jones' "worldview" (does he have a worldview? I'd say it's more of a view of a wastebin.) The responsibility for believing in anything Alex Jones says is both personal and institutional. Personally, I'm sorry, but it takes a certain level of ignorance to watch that show and to be so impressionable as to not see Jones for the sideshow clown that he is. So hooray, let's celebrate the navel gazing of a young man who has seen the light (extreme sarcasm here).
Second, there is an institutional rot as well. What is it about American culture that Jones is so extraordinarily popular? He is disgusting, violent, and an absolute lout. At the core of both the educational system and American cultural values something that has long festered, that is spoiled and that is unsalvageable.
This article reminds me of the asinine accounts of Trumpies who, after losing their jobs and healthcare, suddenly withdraw their support and publish long sappy articles about what should have been obvious all along
11
Very brave of you to speak your truth. I know that you have moved past this and will be a force of good in the world.
3
Funny. How people on any side of the thought spectrum know that what they believe is the truth. Who actually knows the truth? What is the truth? You can write as many times as you like that this guy or another spread conspiracies. But in fact, everyone today doing it. Look at the mainstream media that we all believed in. Today, we found that they spread fake news since the beginning of time. Just look at their news about Cannabis back in the 1040's. They all here to sell the news. And the only thing that sells is negative news, that's how our mind works. How do you actually knows what's real and what's not? You don't, no matter how much you believe in your own narrative.
This place is incredible. After reading these comments, I have never been surrounded by such perfect people in my existence. So many stones being thrown. It's easy on the internet. No one can see the glass house you inhabit.
7
I read, years ago, in "Time" magazine, that when films of Hitler's speeches were played for young Germans, the most common response was laughter.
The guy's words, gestures, and facial expressions were absurdly over the top. The audience was responding to a cartoon of a man, a joke of a public speaker, who, tragically was deadly serious.
Alex Jones struck me that way, too. He seemed like a comedian, a shock-jock, a more extreme Stephen Colbert (in his former stage persona as a mock-conservative).
I stumbled across him on YouTube. I just laughed at his ridiculousness; in that sense, it was entertaining, like watching awful singers audition on the old "American Idol."
I moved on, and apparently Alex's mental condition got worse: The Sandy Hook thing he concocted is insanity on steroids. Which leads me to conclude just that: The man is mad, mentally ill. But he's got a YouTube channel, watched, at times, by millions; if they were tuning in to laugh or behold a silly man's outlandish responses to today's news, that might be mentally healthy or harmless. If they tuned in to learn the truth, the inside story, that crosses the line by a million miles.
Like Trump, Alex Jones is a mentally troubled man; and a few of these you can expect; but when millions trust in and believe these men, it's time to push the panic button. This situation, our situation, calls for a complete makeover of our American educational system, and a way to discover and treat our mentally ill compatriots.
16
I think that Owens has performed a signal service to humanity by ripping the mask off Alex Jones. This account confirms what I have always believed about the man; that he is suffering from some sort of severe mental illness and that everything he says and does is based on acting out his sickness:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/intermittent-explosive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20373921
It was good that Owens escaped the web of madness. I am grateful for hearing some of the facts about Jones.
7
This is what the right wing--Fox News, talk radio, Internet, print, in concert with Trump and Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate--is doing to millions of Americans: feeding them lies all the time, that will addict them to the "righteous" rage that they manufacture, while soothing them with "authoritative" confirmation of their worst fears.
The lies of this network have created a cancer in our body politic, which will kill it if it isn't treated. There's never been a need like there is now for the Fairness Doctrine that the FCC once operated by. Check out its history, and start pestering your local newspaper and elected "representatives". It's beyond high time to do so.
9
Thanks for this article. Thanks for seeing the wrongness of your part in this horrible misuse of the printed word. I’m so thankful that you escaped and are now able to use your gift for good.
1
Has the Times offered him a job yet? Well, what are you waiting for?
2
Sure. But why tell the story about you giving the 5 year old your seat? Your point about seeing her humanity could have been made without the seating details.
Its almost as if you’re telling us that you’d give someone a rolex off your own wrist, simply because you thought they had reason to be mad at you. “Now, would a bad guy do that?” you implicitly ask the reader.
I sincerely Hope you continue to gain awareness of the complexities and manipulations you learned from your time with Jones.
4
Great article Josh. You clearly kept your sense of balance and fairness.
I'm a conservative. I think President Trump has accomplished far more in the 3 1/2 years he's been in office than his predecessors. He has proven to be a man of integrity. Those who have been screaming for his blood since he took office are no different than the arrogant blowhard that is Alex Jones.
ANY time ANYONE resorts to overdramatization, hysterics and propaganda is a clear indication of their insecurity and focus on self-aggrandizement. They follow their own agenda. The victims of that agenda don't matter. Conservatives AND liberals are guilty of this. It is divisive.
I'm embarrassed that Alex Jones and his ilk resort to boorish, crude and nasty behavior while calling themselves "conservatives" and putting themselves in the same category as President Trump. Trump isn't a smooth talker like Obama or Clinton, but he's not a politician -- which is EXACTLY what we've needed for a very long time. I don't agree with some of his behavior, but I absolutely agree with the good he's done for this country.
I'm glad this author FINALLY left his position, but like so many others, I wonder what took him so long. The constant drinking, the bullying, the erratic behavior . . . the video of the animals and the shooting of the bison are the actions of a sociopath. Besides, Jones' voice drives me nuts!
Hopefully, my post will be read for its content and not attacked for my conservative beliefs -- which, after all, I have a right to as much as anyone else.
3
I honestly wonder what you think integrity is.
7
@GEM 1st Trump is a politician, you dont run a campaign, solicit donors and get elected to office without becoming a politician. So yes, you elected a politician. Trump has been a politician for 2 decades, the only problem is no one elected him during that period. 2nd. Please share with all of us the reJust curious you made some great accomplishment " I think President Trump has accomplished far more in the 3 1/2 years he's been in office than his predecessors". The republicans had the house and senate the first two years, a massive tax cut for the rich would have been passed regardless of the outcome of 2016. Clinton certainly would have passed it. Other than a massive tax cut he has done very little to help the people that elected him. allow me to fix your statement. " I think President Trump has accomplished far more damage in the 3 1/2 years he's been in office than his predecessors".
2
@GEM
You say nothing about your "conservative beliefs" except that you are a trump supporter who believes trump, despite thousands of documented lies, has "integrity". That doesn't make you a conservative, it makes you gullible.
2
I wonder if Jones is going to sue Owens for violating any non-disclosure agreement that I've read he forces all employees to sign. I hope Josh doesn't get burned for this.
1
I can agree with the toxicity of cancel culture, but this dude is 23, in my own age bracket, and I can't help but think who and what led him to go down the path of being a co-conspirator to a conspiracy theorist. His parents? Family? Friends? Co-workers, even?
We're in the information age, where people tell us to just "research it" on topics such as vaccines, science in general, and topics which require education and critical thinking in order to fully understand. However, in an age of choice, many parents, and dare I say, boomers, wish to stay begrudgingly in their past because "back in their day..." things were just simpler. Yes, they were, if you didn't pay attention to technological advances and your education.
With the sheer amount of misinformation being perpetrated on the largest information database known to mankind, it's easy to understand why this dude fell by the wayside in his pursuit of wanting to find meaning, and settled for something easily digestible. It's this educational system, and the people who don't like following science and evidence, that are the problems which need to be addressed. The source of the issue isn't any political party in general (though it's a symptom), but the discarding and shrugging off of critical thinking, history, empathy, and scientific literacy.
You ask me what's wrong - I'll tell you that this system is broken and that the previous generations did nothing to fix it, but just sat by while we tried to save a world from burning.
1
There will always be angry & manipulative people on both sides of the aisle. Big woop. It's always been this way. You can get lost in the fine minutia of your opinions on any side of this subject. What you can't get back, however, are the basic freedoms we, as Americans of every race, creed, & color enjoy as a result of the founding of this nation. Yes, it's been both an ugly and glorious journey; but we enjoy freedoms unique from anywhere else in the world. All you have to do is restudy world history to understand how easily all can be taken from you, only to be forced to live under a tyrannical system of control until blood is shed once more. Will humanity never learn? I hope we do.
“Then the camera panned over to Jones, maybe 20 yards away, holding what looked like a handgun. Jones began firing at the bison, tufts of hair flying with every hit. The animal remained standing as Jones shot round after round. Finally, the hunting guide yelled at Jones to stop and handed him a high-caliber rifle. Jones took a moment to make sure the cameras were still recording and fired a few more rounds as the animal finally collapsed.”
Mental illness, often incurable, is a staple amongst Republicans.
Thank goodness the author of this story got out.
7
Josh Owens doesn't need to worry about future positions. He'll find a spot. The boy writes good!
1
A must-read for all conspiracy followers and religious fanatics, who follow any dogma blindly without questioning its intent and origin.
There are many "Joneses" out there, profiting by manipulating reality and showing a vision of a world based on illusions which feed a need, just as drugs do. It is not easy to shed the glasses we are given to at birth by those who wish to pass on their own ideologies but if we are to survive as a species, we need to fight the darkness of the cave and come out into the light.
I consider this writer to have a serious case of stockholm syndrome and the same mental state of someone who is an emotionally abusive relationship.
Unlike others who will never forgive someone who makes a mistake, I will also have sympathy for those who are willing to make a better life for themselves and others.
That's why I guess I hired ex-cons for my business. A person who has committed violent crimes but have changed their ways and are willing to work hard is better than someone who is lazy and has apathy. So I walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
Maybe those people who can't forgive will learn one day when they are in a situation where their past is brought up to deny them something in the present like a job or loan, they remember this story of a guy who made a terrible mistake.
He didn't have to tell his story, but he did, knowing the criticism he would receive and for that, he has my respect.
1
@Casualsuede
Of course he has to "tell his story," if he wants any kind of future career. He couldn't possibly hide that he had worked for Alex Jones. So he has to claim to have seen the light. The public loves a redemption story. That's where he's cast his lot. If he wants to be a journalist, what else could he do? The serious media would never hire him if they thought he was still a deranged Alex Jones groupie. He wants to better himself. He is probably looking at a lucrative book contract.
C'mon people, apply common sense here.
3
Must be getting close to election time in the USA .
The Dems are putting shells in both barrels this time . It would have been better for the Dems to just wait on the side lines and let things play out as far as the election .
They don't realize the back lash this is going to have on the country.
Better put the thinks cap back on .
I find it curious that, given what Josh Owens admits to here, so many commenters believe him.
3
This is becoming a popular trope - former Alt-Right propganda henchman sees the light. We will get to watch as the collaborators in the Trump administration parade out books and speeches about how they were "the voice of reason" inside the regime. We'll watch as they get $100,000 speaking fees about the madness they witnessed. Why are these people not held accountable? Alex Jones, Donald Trump - these people do not function alone. It takes the Sara Huckabee Sanders, the Rudy Guilianis and the Mitch McConnels of the world to make them work. Then these people get a free pass for facilitating the dismantling of American democracy?
6
Wow, this article just got him more listeners and future supporters, and more people will side with Jones during election time.
Truth is difficult. If you think consensus reputation is an adequate proxy for truthtelling, you've failed your cui bono due diligence, and fallen for the ethos fallacy. Alex Jones' character does not preclude his, or any other, organization's conveying at times true and useful information. But our now growing and naked censorship is this generation's "Best and Brightest" running roughshod over the people. It's happening all over the world. It won't end well.
"... I took my window seat close to the rear of the plane."
Owens wrecks his narrative by ending with that irrelevant anecdote about airplane passengers.
Owens should have written that Jones has been banned by several major social media web sites and sued for defamation in court.
That's called a "just deserts" ending.
8
I'm a bit surprised at how harsh and critical some of the comments here are. Sure, a 23-year old made a mistake by joining Jones and by not having the strength to leave sooner, but give the guy a break - the whole point of the article is to share some of his experience with us and give some insight into the inner workings of a conspiracy theorist. If we cannot accept people after they admit their mistakes and try for a fresh start, then we are guilty of the same reckless and destructive tribalism as Jones and his ilk.
461
@lulzone
"close-minded authoritarianism of pronoun police"
What does this mean?
And how is inclusion exclusive? The concept of inclusion is to be welcoming. There is nothing exclusive about it.
13
@Bassman - And there you have the fundamental difference between a leftist and a liberal. MLK and FDR were liberals, Stalin and Mao were doctrinal leftists. Many young Americans seem utterly incapable of differentiating between the two.
11
@lulzone Are you saying there's 1 tribe and it's the left and there are no other authoritarianism tribes?
10
The last paragraph, noting the girl looking out the plane window, was perfect. It tells of deep regret and the loss of innocence. You messed up. Most of us do, especially when we are young, and usually it's in our relationships with others, our failures. It stays with you and doesn't really go away. But I believe you can regain a little bit of innocence, with acts of kindness as often as possible. Being good can't fix the past, but it can change us for the better.
348
@K.Kong The last paragraph was 'too perfect'. Not believing it. It fits the narrative too closely. After all he went through on the trip and he just happened to have an encounter with a women wearing a hijab and small child. Too perfect.
6
@Chiaroscuro He didn't mess up, he took a job. That job got him to another job. He should be grateful for the travel, adventure and experience that came with his high salary job.
1
@Chiaroscuro Well no. If it were fiction, it would be stupid. However real life is stranger than fiction. That is just the kind of incident that would dig deep into a person and cause them to change. Because of that, it has the feel of truth about it.
20
Wonderfully written! I was skeptical at first... should I read it or not? There were so many articles still unread that Pocket was pushing at me... and yet, for some reason, the headline kept tugging at me and curiosity got the better. Glad I did. Great job and hope to see some books from you in print soon. All the very best!
2
Thank you for having the wisdom and courage to stop enabling Alex Jones and to share what you learned with others. We all make mistakes. We don't always admit them and provide a way for others to learn form them.
6
As someone interested in conspiracy theories, I sampled Alex Jones for a while some years ago and quickly determined that he kept his listeners in a heightened state of fear so that he could sell them his "survivalist" products on a regular basis. Kudos to Mr. Owens for having the courage to break free from the Jones cult. As for all the self-righteous commenters denouncing Owens for succumbing to Jones in the first place, let me ask what difference there is in the anti-Trump sect in which the Constitution, due process, rule of law and honest journalism must be set aside to achieve a goal its followers seem unable to achieve at the ballot box
2
@Rex Nimbus
I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. You would have to give specific examples. If you are talking about the current impeachment proceeding, for example, then, read the Constitution--the founding fathers specifically allowed for it. For more clarity read the Federalist Papers.
Due process? We had hearings. Lawful Subpoenas were issued and ignored by the White House. Public testimony was provided, which I watched as an interested citizen. Impeachment articles are being drawn up as I write this. The White House has chosen to call the proceedings a sham, yet I cannot find anywhere in our legal opinions by people who are expert in Constitutional Law, that this is any sort of sham. Even the GOP guy didn't call it a sham. He thought there should be more evidence. Maybe there would be if Trump responded to lawful subpoenas.
Journalism? Explain what about the coverage of Trump within the pages of the New York Times is dishonest. Do not point to the editorial pages, that is not reporting, that is opinion. Show me in the news; go ahead, show me.
So, what's your problem? When the dimwitted electorate abetted by an equally dimwitted electoral college chooses an unfit president who reveals his unfitness for office every single day, there are Constitutional remedies available to remove that person from office before they do too much damage.
What don't you get?
7
Oh, the humanity. Watching the right-wing conspiracy mongers flame out reminds me of the old footage of the Hindenburg exploding over New Jersey.
2
Nicely written
2
There is no real insight offered here, no actual regret. The author avoids any exploration of his own culpability, save the breezy dismissal that he was a “vulnerable” 23 year old. With this article, he has leveraged the moral catastrophe of his service to Alex Jones into a self-serving boon: a buzzy NYT magazine article and a facile image makeover.
6
If he believed in that worldview and abandoned it because people responded horribly... to what he thought was reality/truth... then this journalist is a coward who would tell people lies to protect them from a harmful truth. The only other alternative is hes a liar. A worldview can be right or wrong or somewhere in between because i dont believe anyone has the right to declare your view wrong... but regardless you dont abandon it because it hurts people... that would only be betraying yourself... doing what you think is right is the only path, otherwise your psyche will start to attack you with guilt, resentment... living a lie takes it toll.
1
Whoa. The last time I read a description like this it was about Jim Jones and the Jamestown massacre. While I'm glad Owens was able to see the light and get himself out, and I hope he spends some time in therapy doing the internal work necessary to figure out what made Jones' brand of crazy attractive to him, I worry what those million listeners who are true believers could be motivated to do should Jones decide to rally the faithful to take up arms & fight for his cause. Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
6
Mr. Owens quit Infowars and wrote an article. Great, But, not before he filmed segments that tortured the families of Sandy Hook. He deserves no quarter, nor forgiveness. He gets no free pass. An article does not absolve him. When he spends a decade working with the victims of mass murder he can get back to us. From where I sit, he's still a co-conspirator and perpetrator of violence against innocent families.
8
You should have stayed, taken the higher salary, and taken lots of pictures and videos, and THEN written the article.
This person is a monstrosity, and due to the ability of anyone to self-broadcast, presents an issue that needs to be addressed.
He is clearly insane.
2
You can get all this information and more through the podcast Knowledge Fight. It's humorous, it's informative, but what it really exposes is just the sad man that is Alex Jones.
1
Other than the drinking, what's the difference between Jones and Trump?
9
Thank you for writing this article
1
I dont know how any reasonable person would want to listen to or follow Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh or other vile folks! To work for them seems to violate all sense of decency. Of course Josh Owens realized his misadventure after awhile, but how did you get started on this, Josh? Do you live in America or what? Didn't you listen to anything other than crazy Alex Jones? Like NPR for a change? Or have friends who were not like you - people of color, other belief systems & political leanings? I am discouraged that educated young people like Mr. Owens can be so gullible in an age of overwhelming information sources!
6
@Sudha Nair tell us the name of your strawman so he can respond. You, and many others here seem to be talking to a cutout. Some idealized 'deplorable' that you can beat like a pinata while looking virtuous in the process. And ridicule truths you don't like because they came from Jones. 5 years ago he was talking about Jeffrey Epstein and his crimes. You nor I never heard a word about it in this publication at that time. And it was precisely the attitude you display here, "shoot the message so that you can appear morally superior to the messenger", that left this story untold and Jeffrey Epstein at large. To commit how many more heinous crimes on child victims? Sorry but we should have listened to Alex Jones. Like him or not. The truth doesn't wear a nametag or a jersey.
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. We know the lies this publication has told and they are massive. As are their lies of omission. If we put every word you ever said up for public ridicule how much better would you fare? How about if someone close to you betrayed you publicly like Owens has done. Yes Jones is a belligerent drunk maniac. But saying so doesn't make you a better person or anybody less guilty. So what's the point of all the other posts here just repeating the same insults in an irrelevant echo chamber? Who even cares? Fill the emptiness inside you with something real. Before you become your own unique version of Jones. Have you read some of these comments!?
Take the money and whine!
He should have quit long before he did!!
"keeping Jones from getting angry was a big part of the job". Maybe he can get work at the White House??
4
Excellent article! Can't wait to read more of when he infiltrates Leftist groups.
I wonder how an educated man can do this for 4 years and not realize how wrong it is for the nation. His action has put the very wrong people in our government...his myopic stance is troubling to me. I can see an unedited ignorant person doing this, but surely an educated person would have become conscious oh how wrong it all is before getting in a car with a drunk. Thanks to your action we now have a president the world laugh at rightfully so. Instead of one they respect! Sorry if I feel no empathy for you and blame you for the mess.
4
I taught a boy in HS that fawned over Jones' every word. He had an infowars sticker on his laptop and notebooks as well as the tshirt. In government class, he would shrug, roll his eyes and grunt as I went over our established laws and principles of the Constitution describing how they work. I now realize he must've been having a Jones like conversation in his head arguing with me (with no courage to do it aloud in class.) I often wonder what happened to that young man. He could easily have been in that car with Jones speeding down the highway. I do worry about the influence these maniacs have with young impressionable and often angry young men (yes, I sad men on purpose). This era will be soon be realized and known for its sowing of discord and anger at fictitious boogey men. Future civilizations will laugh. But they won't realize how truly frightening it was.
199
@Paul
This era was realized in 1980.
This state of affairs is the only possible result or as one of its architects of it liked to say the "reductio ad absurdum" of the conservative movement.
9
@Paul There is more propaganda is our educational system than in Hitler's Germany. There are so many lies in education, the constitution for example. When people pick up a text book it says that the 16th Amendment authorized the income tax and this is simply not true. High School teachers and students dont know the simplest thing about money. Ask them what is a Federal Reserve Note and they dont know.
6
@se7ensnakes - "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived..."
Please explain.
19
I sense, that like Mr. Jones employees, Trump's people are constantly trying to keep him from getting angry.
A sure path to effective governance.
6
Josh Owens is a very, very, very talented writer! Josh, we're proud of you, all of us who see you confronting your personal, yet public, history. We're proud of you as you expose the dark, gross underbelly of conspiracy theorists. I encourage you to put all of the stories and talent and self-reflection to good use as you combine your writing and film-making skills.
2
I long for the day when Alex Jones and his toxicity are a thing of the past. He has absolutely nothing positive to offer to this world.
5
Unfortunately this article won’t be seen by the people who should read it — Jones’ devoted followers who don’t read mainstream media, ironically believing it to be all lies. And therefore Jones’ self-serving, manipulative rantings will continue to enrich him monetarily.
Alex Jones’ listeners are being groomed by him to only believe his version of reality, which is laden with lies, misinformation, bigotry, and hate; bringing him riches and some power. Donald Trump also does this on a regular basis using his Twitter account and rallies to spread his message to the masses and selling merchandise to fund his campaign.
I suspect Jones knows he’s a fraud, and drinks heavily to drown his conscience. Trump on the other hand, has no conscience. Both have enablers. Both will be exposed, long after lasting damage is done.
2
Something about this article doesn't ring true to my ears. Every instinct in my body, every interaction I have had with another human being over the course of my 55 years on the planet, every belief and understanding I hold tells me that Alex Jones is little more than a boorish performance artist. I sincerely doubt that he believes even 5% of the content that he creates. My understanding of human behavior and motivation leads me to believe that Mr. Jones, as with Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others of their ilk, are media professionals that make a very good living by doing what the Republican party (and to a lesser degree the Democrats as well) has been doing for some time: playing on the fears of a certain segment of the population in order to gain access to their votes and their finances. In pursuance of this objective these individuals will behave in public in whatever manner is necessary to seduce their chosen quarry. They will claim to hold any belief or value that is most likely to gain the trust of their target audience. While it’s a tired cliché that “Politics is Hollywood for ugly people”, I feel that this statement is more accurate than many people realize.
3
@Alaska99
...At this period in our country’s history I would assert that our politicians and their propaganda propagators are less concerned with creating legislation to promote the will of the people and more concerned with effectuating the desires of the entities that provide them with the capitol and connections required to gain political office in our present political system, and of course their other primary concern being increasing their own pecuniary resources. To these ends, these persons are willing to publicly appear to adopt any position, to give the impression of endorsing any cause and to seem to embrace any value required to project the image that is most enticing to the audience with whom they wish to gain favor, and by “gain favor” I mean “take all their money”.
Since I have not spent even one moment in the presence of Alex Jones and Josh Owens clearly has, it would be ridiculous for me to posit that my opinions are more valid than Mr. Owens’s direct experience. I’m simply stating that his account of Alex Jones’s sincerity conflicts with both my personal observations of Mr. Jones’s geek show exhibition and my experiences with human nature over the course of my entire life, and I don’t know how to reconcile the two. Or it could simply be that, in the absence of any genuine merit or legitimacy to my assertions, I am simply entranced by my own self-indulgent rhetoric?
1
Alex Jones had one purpose. To make anything conspiratorial be associated with the most deplorable, laughable, and sometimes dangerous thought tank ingredients and steer herds of dissent and backlash and steer it back on track until nothing is looked into that isn't polluted with misinformation thicker than most are willing to trudge through.
You've got Trump, the head puppet in office leaving his trail of ruin as all the proof in the sludge pudding. The backlash from all of this when the pendulum finally swings harder away from Trump and his destroyed party will be like nothing we've seen before.
1
Powerful. Thank you for the brutal honesty. Perhaps, your experience with Jones, will fulfill a purpose and reach others who so blindly need to believe his dangerous rhetoric. The conspiracy theories are dividing and weakening our country..we are in scary times.
1
The defining part of this story for me was the sickening, senselessly cruel slaughter of wildlife for "sport". The very solution that the radical right prescribes for those of us who disagree with their world view.
2
Jones graduated HS in 1993. Not yet 20 years old he went directly into public access TV call in show of his own making. in 1995v he accused the government of being behind the OKC federal building bombing. In 1996 he became a radio DJ.
Take a look at his Wikipedia page.
The man has never done honest work. his entire life direct from HS has been spouting these crazy things he makes up from whole cloth spontaneously and it has made him very very wealthy.
6
What I find most interesting about this article is the author's turning point was not the bloody massacre of many innocent animals, often a leading indicator of psychological pathology, but a little girl wanting to look out an airplane window. Just... wow.
The way I see it is that conspiracy theories help people make sense of the world. Without a doubt, there is more going on in the world than what we know about. The recent college scandal in Ca., the NXIM one, MK ultra...I understand the appeal of this world view, but try to maintain a healthy distance, and a good sense of humor about it all.
I must say, however,...the truth is out there!
Wow, great perspective and well written. Peace
1
The stable genius, Jones, Hannity, Carlson, Limbaugh and their pals are all con men who are enriching themselves. They take advantage of gullible people who believe their bill of goods. They take advantage of some who might be angry at life. Rather than look within, the discontented find it easier to use the garbage spewed by Jones, et al to excuse what is wrong in their lives. There are others who already espouse the hateful ideas promoted by those in the public sphere. The warped schemes pushed by the conspiracy liars serve to validate the beliefs of their followers.
The stable genius appears to have mental health issues and has never been held accountable for his behavior. Limbaugh admitted to being addicted to prescription drugs. He was arrested but unlike those who are poor and can’t afford lawyers he made a deal with the prosecutors. The writer mentions Jones drinking on more than occasion. It seems to me that he is an alcoholic.
Yet all of these get to discuss their conspiracy lies publicly without any consequences. Their insane ideas put lives at risk. I believe in freedom of speech but their rights end when they impinge on the rights of others and endanger lives. We need better hate crime laws and modern means of communication need to be regulated.
1
It's an efficiant strategy to push AJ forward to control the opposition in order to name Truth "a conspiracy theory".
This way to delegitimized opposition has always been a snart move, because now many will look AWAY from the apparent conspiracies, the culprits, terrorists and those who harbour them.
I other words; this article claims: "Nothing here, move on...".
Wonderful article. Some commenters wonder how a nice guy like him ended up in a place like that. I can tell you that many people discovered Alex Jones because of 9/11. Those who questioned 9/11 (demolition of WTC7) and did a little digging would eventually discover Alex Jones. It’s notable Owens lists the extreme conspiracies he doesn’t agree with and leaves 9/11 off that list. I guess that’s where I am, somewhere between Alex Jones and honest skepticism about our government.
1
Sure, welcome to reality, Mr. Owens, and I am glad you realized your errors. But the mea culpa falls short. You were not some 16 year old when you started working for Jones. Were that the case, I could chalk your decision up to peer pressure or the result of some teenage insecuity about finding your way in world. As an adult, you are responsible for your own actions. And hitching your wagon to Alex Jones, for whatever reason, after a certain age, say 18, has not excuse.
Jones is a vulture, a creature who roots around to exploit misery to get YouTube viewers. Nothing more. To have ever cast him as a champion of truth, fighting those in power, is pathetic.
So better late than never, but please spare me the apology. You and your ilk have contributed to the destruction of any agreed reality, and that has led this great republic to the brink.
2
Alex Jones is a guy who figured out a way to make an ‘easy living’ by pushing his deep state paranoia and colorful, bloviating, Rush Limbaugh imitation. He really hit it big when YouTube began airing his program for free—then he started pushing alot of products, hiring devotees to be ‘reporters’ on the scene of protests, etal. Jones was the primary conspiracy shock jock-and he loved the attention-he needed the attention. YouTube made him the ‘conspiracy star’ shock jock.
Obviously, he went totally off the rails with the Sandy Hook tragedy.
2
The bison killing. A metaphor for our time.
3
I used to work for a company that made weapons systems. My job directly led to people dying, and, surely, some of them were innocent civilians. I will not judge this guy for what he did to get a paycheck. My question is for the other people in the comments who are so sure that they are better than him and that he should be condemned.
How sure are you that you have no beam in thine eye?
4
@Michael
Did you work on nuclear weapons? Those are the only weapons that will certainly kill civilians. The intent of weapons is national defense. We can have a legitimate debate on the moral pros and cons of working on weapons systems. We can have a legitimate debate on the morality of using or developing nuclear weapons.
The intent of my car is to get me from A to B. I use gasoline which is a fossil fuel. Every ride I take, I injure the planet. My brakes might fail and I might injure a pedestrian. Should I not drive? Do you want me to say, well, I drive my car and I'm killing the planet and maybe someday I might kill a pedestrian so I'm doing the same thing Mr. Owens did?
I'm not better than Mr. Owens, and I'm not going to judge him. But, while you and I may have jobs or drive vehicles that may do damage to innocent people, Mr. Owens was "fully invested in propagating (Mr. Jones's) world view." Mr. Jones's 'world view' is fabricating baseless conspiracy theories even he doesn't believe. These 'conspiracy theories' of his have done a lot of damage, especially to the Sandy Hook parents. Exactly what was legitimate about that? What sort of legitimate debate about that do you have in mind?
I appreciate the 'people living in glass houses thing,' but sometimes people just make bad choices.
Alex Jones is precisely the type of person that gun control advocates are most worried about - male, middle aged, angry, delusional, compulsive-addictive personality, prone to manic episodes. I hope proper measures are being taken by local law ennforcement to monitor his behavior.
2
The role of a paycheck in this story is not at all shied away from. Life in the US without one is hellish. Counting pennies isn't much fun since a five gallon jug is not much more than 30 dollars.
I was impressed when after the Dutch UN delegation failed to protect Muslims from murder during the Bosnia bombings & that series of events all resigned.
From what I understand of the Netherlands they did not require paychecks & living according to their consciences was not so difficult.
Wondering why you wrote an article vs making a video? You are a filmmaker after all. If what you are claiming is true, you could have edited together a real insiders view of Jones. The video could have complimented the article. I cant imagine adding a personal or hidden camera to the mix would have been all that difficult since cameras are everywhere in Jone's world...These days having video proof is almost expected. Anyways, just a thought.
I respect Mr. Owens for taking the risk to write about working inside Infowars. Alex Jones' role as gateway drug for white nationalists is part of a bigger problem in America that, as many other commenters say, panders to the worst instincts of humanity.
I was glad to read that the Infowars management style is basically non-existent and depends on a temperamental, mentally unstable founder. Founder-centered companies don't typically survive after the founder departs so I hope that we see the end of Infowars within the next few years. Jones' hateful rhetoric only helps to divide our nation.
For an almost too even handed take on Infowars it's worth listening to the Knowledge Fight podcast. They distill current day and past episodes, especially around the time of the Sandy Hook / false-flag conflation, and give context to the disingenuous arguments that Alex is presents to his audience. Host Dan Friesen is wading through hours of toxic content to help people see that they are the marks in a vitamin supplement scam.
3
Wow, Jones really comes off a raging alcoholic. And a horrible human being who created a violent and deeply harassing work environment that is more toxic than Fukushima. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is that vicious angry drunk; it explains a lot.
2
Well written and insightful, I hope you publish more
1
Welcome back, Josh.
You are a good writer!
1
That an actual intelligent human would ever take Jones seriously enough to knowingly perpetrate deception & fraud upon his audience just boggles the mind. Five seconds of watching his shtick is enough to ascertain he's a charlatan. But being in the thick of things is just too exciting an opportunity for some to pass up, I guess.
3
Reading through some of these comments only demoralizes and depresses me. Alex Jones, like so many before him, Father Coughlin, Joe Pyne, and many others, are always waiting to capitalize on fear and hatred, and, unfortunately, they succeed. Yes, this fellow aided and rejected Jones, a common motif in literature, but I'm more worried about Jones' audience of fear mongers and hatred specialist who roam our country spreading his neanderthal conspiracy theories and thinking they're doing a service to our nation. What are we going to do about them?
8
This was an amazing and moving life experience, especially the ending where the author connects to the simple innocence and beauty of a young Muslim girl. (Sometimes I don't believe in coincidence.) The author should continue atoning for creating, supporting and disseminating hateful lies and perhaps the best way is by shining the light on the lies. He's a writer, he knows how it works, he is an good position to make this his life's work.
4
Josh Owens, if you want to make amends for the terrible harm you contributed, I would say this article is only a beginning. I would suggest contacting some of the people or communities that were hurt by these false and dangerous conspiracy claims that you were co-inventing and propagating, and be willing to act as a key witness should lawsuits be filed against Jones and Infowars. People do need to know the inside workings of the insanity/hate/pain factory he has created. As a person who values sanity, stability, wholeness, connectedness, and genuine love and compassion, reading your story described an atmosphere that was completely at odds with those values. It repelled my entire being and I personally would have run from such a place knowing the darkness that would become my life. Working for him is it's own punishment as you nourished yourself with hatred, disharmony, abuse, dishonesty, violence, and the paranoid suspicion from Jones himself. We are all creators. Jones creates darkness and pain and his followers and employees choose to live in that world.
We all make choices every day about what we will create. This story is only a beginning. Amends are a key aspect of healing and rebuilding a foundation of self love and respect. The healing path will be a much longer and deeper process and require more of you. Like working for Jones is it's own punishment, taking the deeper path into inward and outward healing, will be it's own reward.
4
What's wrong with the anglosphere? Here a perfectly articulate and intelligent young man "believes" in whatever at 23. He's educated, he's logical. Propaganda and other bad-faith communication has existed forever, that's not the news. I could never take Alex Jones seriously. Something about the ill-conceived concept of freedom of speech which is used as a cloak for abuse and more. Granted there are some in continental Europe to fall for that, but it still seems so foreign here (mashups of aliens and politics... come on...).
4
I think this is an excellent article. It rings true ie not a fake construct. There are a number of relevant truths. If you side with a bully, an area in you agrees with the bully. Another is that this collusion allows a person to take on the powerful identity of the bully. Another is that the worldview of the bully is full of infantile omnipotence, a complete lack of concern, guilt , regret, empathy, and a denial of basic dependency on others for life, rather than on oneself. There is a paranoid world view. The capacity to subdue one’s identity to a bully is I think in us all, but some are much more vulnerable than others, especially those who have suffered little emotional containment as babies, and lack basic trust, and choose to depend on themselves. As with Owens the answer is to get in contact with that in themselves is like the little girl in the article. It’s a huge, impossible ask for many. They must make up a large proportion of Trump’s mindless base.
1
Jones' actions, as alleged, mirror the actions of a domestic abuser. Although I'm angry at the author for helping to perpetuate Jones' hateful, vile conspiracy theories, as a person who has survived domestic violence, I can empathize with his difficulty in getting out of an obviously abusive situation. I hope Mr Owens gets therapy to deal with it. I believe this type of abuse occurs frequently in workplaces - abusers don't just abuse at home. Workplace abuse is a real problem that should be talked about more often.
5
Welcome back, Josh.
3
Owens: "We made it all up."
American Adults: "Um, we know."
10
Josh Owens, there are other people out there like you who have stepped away from such anger-mongering. Bravo, you are brave and strong to have walked away and I hope you soon find the strength and peace to calmer waters. There are more and more professionals now admitting the fact that this all-consuming anger is another form of mental illness and we all ought to pay attention for the future wellbeing of our whole society. Mr. Zuckerberg, I wish you cared about this as well and left your hoodie more often to educate yourself properly about what you think is fair political speech...Because you are indirectly involved here as well.
3
This article clearly brings up a lot of emotions from all of us - anger or disbelief someone could put up with this for so long vs. empathy for a fellow human who has changed their beliefs. For those that have critiqued the author and demanded further penance, I ask you will your comments and attitude encourage others to have the turnabout that Josh did? We should welcome those that have evolved their views versus seek punishment.
8
This was a fascinating article. I can't help to think that it took some measure of courage for the author to write. Much appreciated, Mr. Owens.
6
The apology seems self serving, to allay a guilty conscience. I don't reject it, I just can't feel congratulatory about it. Courageous would be to work to counteract what he participated in. This, even if heartfelt, just feels like the bare minimum.
9
Thank you, Josh. As someone who has had the misfortune of following Mr. Jones’ career quite closely, with concern, over the years: I’ve been waiting for this article for at least a decade.
7
Alex Jones is seriously mentally ill. He even claimed that in his defense of undefenseble, harassing parents of children killed at Sandy Hook. He will eventually kill someone (like he almost did this guy) or himself. I hope his life ends before he does alot more damage. I can't believe I wrote that, but I don't see any kind of good coming from him
48
So now it's ok to cast the first stone?
Some redemption is ok, some is less ok?
As individuals, we are all solely responsible for our beliefs, actions and reactions - including our reaction to people like Jones.
Awakening to understanding and compassion is part of the journey of being human. Redemption is a miracle.
This is a great story for our times. I applaud the young man for his courage.
11
@ExPat
"So now it's ok to cast the first stone?"
Who has cast a stone?
"Some redemption is ok, some is less ok?"
Yes, of course.
"Redemption is a miracle."
Sometimes redemption is a fraud, or a career move.
Owens seems to be a conscientious and thoughtful young person. If I am reading correctly, he is seeking redemption. I will credit him enough that he doesn't believe taking a normal salary at a normal job is sufficient penance for four years of inflicting terror on distressed people.
He may have committed actual crimes; the Sandy Hook parents litigation will decide that. But he contributed materially and substantially to organized campaigns of violence, regardless of whether these actions can be formally charged.
I am delighted and inspired that he has turned from the dark side. But he made a hefty withdrawal from the ATM of decency and karma. There are things that can't be fixed just by saying "I'm sorry," which I don't think he actually said in this article.
But I wonder about his personal struggle. Is he bothered by his conscience? If so, he has a long road ahead. He deserves our support, if he is engaged in sincere introspection.
12
@Joyboy
I honestly cannot imagine where you saw "conscientious" or "thoughtful" in this sordid account.
By definition, those who would work for Alex Jones EVEN ThOUGH they understood the torment he was imposing on Sandy Hook families are not conscientious or thoughtful people. They are despicable.
Can he redeem himself? He's more than welcome to try. Self promoting Times op-eds aren't it.
3
Owens essay is OK but I wished he had delved deeper into his own personal issues that motivated him to join Alex Jones. Are there easily identifiable traits that we can find among people drawn to angry, conspiracist movements?
16
@del
Um, that is all implied. The issue is always developmental. For whatever reason people do not mature and develop healthily and that leads to behaviors that seek to assuage the pain of being poorly developed. There is a term for how one perceives themselves which describes the developmental state where one fails to notice ones own fault. I cannot recall it right now. Thus looking out on the world from that place "there must be something wrong out there which is causing the problem since I am perfectly normal."
I would be surprised if he were so well developed in the short time since leaving because of self loathing, that he could even detect those faults in himself let alone openly speak of them to millions.
3
Better late than never, Josh!
If you're still trying to get your bearings, you could do worse than to pick up a biography of FDR, the man who began reshaping the Democratic Party, and modernized the US government. Like Trump, he was born to privilege and became president, but all resemblance ends there. FDR sacrificed himself for the nation. Facing far worse times and bigger challenges, he accomplished great things for the American people while making sure that the world's democracies survived WWII. His social programs did more than anything to extend American's life expectancy by some 20 years. His wife Eleanor crisscrossed the nation, and later the world, to report back to him on how everyday life was going for the average American, and how our troops far from home were faring. You might say he was the anti-Trump. While suffering from heart failure, he drove himself pitilessly to save the nation. When news of his death came, grown men regardless of party were seen to weep in the streets.
20
What he describes from Jones is classic abuser behavior.
34
Alex Jones is nuts. He actually believes these conspiracy theories. Like all paranoid megalomaniacs he massages facts to fit his narrative. It's like looking at data from an experiment and then formulating a hypothesis. What is interesting is that his twisted worldview appeals to otherwise rational people.
5
I'm not interested in judging this author; instead, I thank him for exposing the seaminess and cruelty of Alex Jones, showing how his excessive alcohol consumption is tied to his rages and conspiracy theories, and for walking away when he realized the damage he was doing working for a creep like Alex Jones.
24
Clearly, Jones lied to the family court judge in his custody dispute when he said his show was just 'performance art'.
Hope his wife takes this story to court & seeks for any kind of contact he may have with his children to end until & if he can be stabilized on medication.
19
Interesting piece. So you finally returned to civilized society. Bravo!
But what was it that drove you into that cesspool in the first place? What was the mental hook? Why were you so vulnerable? Family troubles?
You were only 23; the pre-fontal cortex in men continues to develop until age ~25. Women mature faster. Maybe that's why men are responsible for the lion's share of the world's depravity.
14
Is there a more miserable and tragic person than Alex Jones?
11
@Joseph Donald Trump.
1
@Joseph
I suggest Trump as a possibility.
1
Apart from Trump?
1
A bully employs insecure dilettantes to promulgate his point of view. That's exciting. Glad this one grew up somewhat.
12
Alex Jones is crazy, like a fox.
He’s all about the money.
Upwardly mobile divisive anger stokers are a dime a dozen these days, on all sides.
2
Why does Jones, a total maniac, have an audience?
Watching the WMD fiasco unfolding in slow motion
Watching N.O. sink in slow motion
Watching the global economy collapse in slow motion
No one watching Epstein on suicide watch
When the "Party of the Left" 2016 candidate voted for the Iraq War and the 2020 field has 2 finance billionaires - and no one in the media sees any problem with it - you know the fix is in.
8
Josh, thank you for sharing this rare glimpse into a world that threatens to engulf us all into in a dark, hopeless fiction.
I hope you continue your personal and professional growth.
8
Forty years as an editor here.
I am not going to lambast you for your body of work.
Just do us all a favor, go edit something real and constructive in politics. Make a film that tries to help the left and right find some common ground.
Doesn't even matter if you're a con or a lib as long as it's heartfelt and real.
We are all Americans.
Glad you escaped.
PS: I discovered Jones and was a loyal listener for about a year, way back around 2002.
Afterwards, wifey informed me that when I decided to stop listening, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been planning to leave me if I didn't.
She's smarter than I am.
34
@Jeffery Haas
'We are all Americans' is utterly meaningless now. What, exactly, is America? To me, this was a land of reason. An honest nation that insisted on rule of law. An enlightened nation that insisted on separation of Church and State. A creative nation that recognized the potential and dignity of all humans. A caring nation that helped refugees and asylum seekers.
I am not so naive that I think we always lived up to our own high-minded rhetoric, but we at least paid lip service to it. It was up to us to elect people to office who would put our ideals into action, or at least try.
So, what do we have now? The GOP. Can you explain to me how not a single one of them is willing to admit that Donald Trump did something wrong regarding this Ukraine issue? Can you explain to me how they see somehow see absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing or betrayal of the Constitution whatsoever?
That behavior is right out of the Alex Jones playbook--spout patent absurdities that defy common sense and proclaim them as truth. Almost half the electorate is fine with it.
I have zero values in common with that America. I can see no common ground. I am an American by passport only now, and I no longer seek discourse and compromise. Mr. Owens can take a stab at it, but, seriously, what is the point?
Your wife is a saint--I would have given you three months.
1
Good write up, Josh. Congratulations on making it out alive and good luck on your future endeavors.
7
Mental illness runs deep and quick
Confession is supposedly good for the soul. I hope he thinks back to all the harm done by his boss and will take responsibility for helping push the most vile videos.
Alex Jones deserves the worst type of punishment...everyone forgetting him.
5
Conspiracy theories are means to feeling relevant in a world that we easily get ignored. Stories of aliens dropping by a little unknown town in a desert or terrestrial aliens crossing the southern border to do mischief against some good folks in the middle of Wisconsin, satisfy that longing for relevancy at the expense of truth. Jones is just a peddler.
5
Very well crafted, Josh. please keep at it.
5
Thank you. Redemption is real.
6
I must admit, his appearance on the Joe Rogan Podcast was pure Comdey Gold. One of the funniest and absurdest ecperiences I had on the Internet.
It's easy for me to enjoy the outrageous stuff he said on the podcast (never watched his own show) while separating it from the biggest mistake he made (Sandy Hook). Sadly, there is a percentage of people who are schizophrenic and will actually believe what he is saying instead of treating it as an act and laughing about it (Not about Sandy Hook of course).
2
A little tad different from Howard Stern, no?
2
I am encouraged by the author’s courage and openness to share what he witnessed. I would hope the talent evidenced here is a step in a new direction. The infowars experience should be ideally suited to apply talents to expose the fakery machine, the gross misinformation and damage being inflicted on a large scale, but to publish to the same audiences infowars targets. We need a large scale info detox or cleansing as part of our collective recovery. Perhaps start an “Info Peace”?
4
Is it true that he dropped out of college because of the free supply of vodka? According to "unreliable sources", the Russians saw him as a great world leader and a nasty rival--they wanted him to become "unsteady" all the time and fail.
This seems to be so ridiculous that even Putin's friends would laugh. In any case, this "Conspiracy related article" is the right medium for this unbelievable story.
1
It is called neo-fascism in Europe.
It is surprising to me, and many Europeans, how the American media and public is unable to call it what it is. They call it "alt-right", "radical" or "right-wing", yet neo-fascism, as executed by Bannon, Trump or Jones, is as old as more than 100 years.
Everything we've seen so far regarding Chenney, Bannon, Trump or Jones happened one way or another before in Europe some 100 years ago. It would be too much for a single comment, but apparently there is a huge lack of education and likely some ignorance towards the non-American world, because how else can you miss the lessons and wisdom learned from the past?
28
@Wirfegen "Alt-right" was a term coined by and open and avowed Nazi as part of efforts to soften the image of racists in the United States. If he wears a suit and is college educated, he must know what he's talking about, right? You're not wrong, but I'm not sure calling it neo-fascism quite captures the breadth and depth of what's happening, here.
1
@Wirfegen: Americans are coming to resemble 19th-century Russian peasants in their poverty, bigotry, and ignorance. Low wages and a high cost of living mean that most can't afford to travel to Germany to see the destruction caused by fascism, so the lessons of the past are unreal and unknown to us. But our so-called leaders are happy to keep us exhausted, ignorant, and impoverished, since that type of population is far more governable for an oligarchy -- that is, until it isn't, as the Russian and French Revolutions demonstrated.
3
@Wirfegen
The much presumed American exceptionalism explains this. Folks think it can't happen here. They are wrong.
4
If Josh Owens truly wants redemption he should offer his writing skills to the Anti-defamation League.
5
"I can’t say I ever believed his avowed theory that Sandy Hook was a staged event to push for gun control." Jones' claim was crazy in the extreme and the writer still took the job. (Even softens his rejection of the idea with an "I can't say I ever ...") How was it possible to ignore Jones' depravity? Now the writer wants our sympathy. Sorry, but no.
8
@LAM
Exactly. Yes, "I can't say I ever believed …" is pretty weak sauce. It's just like, shrug, didn't actually believe that one. Some of the other conspiracy theories, but not that particular one? Whatevs.
The guy is still in denial about - or perhaps actually in agreement with some of - the depth of Jones's cruelty.
Thank you for this. It gives me hope that more people who are perpetuating hate and lies will also come to see the light.
5
The effect that Mr. Jones conspiracy theories had on his many fans, my brother having been one of them, shouldn’t be underestimated. In the case of my sibling, who was constantly haranguing me to take some supplement to counteract the radiation from Fukushima I was surely receiving as a West Coast resident, the constant paranoiac prognostications preyed on his mind and supported some terrible decisions made around his health. He passed a month ago to a disease that shouldn’t have taken him so quickly. Yes, we are all responsible for our own decisions and health. It just seems criminal to allow the level of disinformation this person spread and is nothing to be proud of. The author of this article shouldn’t pat himself on the back for coming clean on this fool, but rather thank his lucky stars that he didn’t suffer any worse setback than a jolt of cortisol driving around with a very sick person.
5
Mr. Owens said he hooked up with Jones because he was angry. What kind of anger makes a person relentlessly go after the parents of murdered children? Even if Owens wasn't personally involved in that, he knew what Jones was doing. How is that going to make him less angry?
10
I don’t know whether I should be angry with the author, he seems angry enough with himself, and contrite enough for participating in Alex Jones’ scourge on whomever in America is vulnerable and susceptible to his work.
I’m glad that he shared what goes on on the inside of the Alex Jones operation. However, the people who really need to know about the industry of manufacturing outrage and peddling conspiracy theories are Alex Jones’ fans. I’m doubtful that they’re subscribing to the New York Times and seeing his work.
Perhaps he should do a bit more outreach to more effectively reach those guys. The writing here is good and strong,but maybe he needs a viral video, a meme, or something to really get the message out to those needing to hear this most.
If, that is if, they can be persuaded to consider that they are being manipulated...
6
Maybe the author deserves redemption, maybe he doesn’t. It’s difficult when confronted with the reality that he was a fully capable adult participating in an obvious advocacy of outright evil for most common people. So I’ll just say my part: I would never hire you, and you best hope others are more generous in this world in a way I, and certainly you, am not.
3
At 19 it would have taken me a microsecond to see completely through Alex Jones and his deplorable worldview. I'm glad this gentleman finally did.
But I think the greater question is why as a society we have so many millions of people who are so easily deluded by all sorts of hucksters, liars and dangerous conspiracy peddlers? I can easily think of three.
1. An educational system has failed to teach and prioritize basic civics, critical thinking skills and history.
2. An information/press system that allows easily falsifiable data which harm the public good to pass for truth or even "legitimate" opinions.
3. Charismatic religious, political, or television personalities with no scruples or commitment to the common good who are given a lucrative forum.
This country has been headed down a dark road for some time. We have reached great heights of sociological and scientific knowledge and have applied this in so many ways to advance the public good. But our commitment to fostering civic responsibility and truthfulness in the public sphere is in the basement at the moment.
17
I suppose America has a special connection with personal redemption but, Alex Jones has been a conspiracy theory maniac long before Josh Owens joined that team. Jones' theories include accusations that the massacre of children and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School never happened. He has accused the grieving parents of seeking fame and fortune. As a result, they have had their lives threatened by Jones' followers. This is not protected by the First Amendment. Jones should already be in prison.
Thus, with a despicable background, what was it about Alex Jones that convinced Josh Owens to ignore his moral compass? Did he have such a compass? What joy did he find in working to ruin the lives of others in the service of the most disgusting — among so many disgusting — right-wing conspiracy theorists in the conservative efforts to take down our democracy in pursuit of one-party rule in perpetuity? Was fabricating stories and working in a fact-free, hate-filled world of Alex Jones a breezy decision?
Josh Owens should have put his writing effort into apologies to Jones' victims instead of this confession. He is now tarred with the same brush as his former employer.
I have no interest in redemption for Owens. He will have to reconcile his actions as a Jones accomplice within himself. Maybe then he will discover the slippery slope leading to the moral high ground will require more than hot air.
2
this "angry, vulnerable, searching" guy deliberately quit film school for something more interesting -- he DESCRIBED himself as bored. (i read "entitled.") it isn't as if this was the only life path offered to him. he chose it on purpose. he hedges his bets, saying he viewed Jones as a hero but also knew better than to believe a lot of his conspiracy theories. did it stop him? no. he spent years there. and he's still angry, he says. about what? really? HE'S angry? and... if he could afford to quit for a quarter his old salary, i'm guessing he was never motivated by needing a job to begin with.
5
Thank you for sharing and for your honesty. Change has to start somewhere. All of this craziness has to stop. Hopefully you will inspire others to seek the truth.
2
Count me among those who appreciate Mr. Owens' change of heart. He has shown a measure of humility many of us don't, publicly acknowledging acts he has come to realize were shameful.
Our divided, polarized body politic has put our backs up against the wall. We decline to acknowledge, or sometimes outright deny, wrongful or immoral actions committed by those we see as our allies, convinced that to denounce those actions would be a blow against "us".
Pundits like Jones portray politics as a life-or-death struggle. The trouble with that idea, whatever you think of Jones or his views, is that it leaves no room for humaneness, as Mr. Owens discovered.
I would be interested in another piece from Mr. Owens containing any insights he has about how others in Jones' and other extreme pundits' thrall might come to an epiphany like his own.
1
One thought occurs to me... the writer of this article knows quite vividly what becoming an enemy of the right wing means to a person, how destructive it can be to his or her life, and yet he wrote this article anyway. As far as "amends" goes, I'd say putting his hand on the hot stove voluntarily like this is a far cry from "cashing in". Granted that so, so many of the right's victims are innocents or even heroes, but this guy ain't one of them. If his speaking out gets him some backlash, it would be just. Maybe, just maybe he is aware of that.
2
As Leah Remini courageously called out the cult of Scientology in the series “Scientology and the Aftermath,” this young man and others need to band together and create a similar series that can reach millions of households to call out Alex Jones and other fake news radio shows, webcasts, etc. We saw that after decades of raking in the dough, Rush Limbaugh finally started to lose his luster, when grassroots movements caused a mass exodus of his advertisers. The time has come to douse these fires that continue to fan the flames of divisiveness, hatred, racism and misogyny. As a Kentucky native, I am constantly reminded of our state motto, United We Stand, Divided We Fall.
3
So this is what it has come to in America? The freedom to spread cruelty, broadcast lies, all in the name of making a decent living while the main goal of the job seems to be trying to keep the boss from getting ANGRY?
What has happened to our country? What is wrong with a country whose culture drives young men to go along with the meanness, the cruelty for so long? How did this young man end up with this toxic combination of a sense of entitlement to a good-paying job, a lack of self-esteem, and a willingness to ignore the corrosive and destructive nature of what his boss wanted him to do?
This piece provides no answers to those questions. It therefore provides very little guidance or hope that the millions of Americans attracted to what Alex Jones and the rest of the right-wing media are selling will come to their senses, as Owens finally did.
Is this what we have to come to accept, then? That a significant portion of the American population is mean and cruel, but because cruelty isn’t a crime, we just have to accept it, accept the distribution of it, enable the distribution of it, because this is America, the land of the free, land of freedom of speech and all that? And when we get tired of helping spreading it, we get to walk away and think there is nothing more we can do?
Is this what America has come to?
7
I read a lot of Alex Jones in college because no one else seemed to be talking about the George W. Bush presidency as I saw it. But he was also much more mainstream than he became during the Obama years. He was even featured in the movie "Waking Life" by Richard Linklater. Then he started going really crazy and I couldn't stand him anymore.
Although this article is intriguing and quite thought provoking as to how one can get caught into a world wind of such, I must question his motives in producing this piece in coming forward. Was it for self serving motives because as stated in the article he knew he would not be able come back into society to get a regular job without that stain being on their backs. Is this some form of personal atonement? I commend change and progression but this doesn’t seem genuine.
3
Well that was just lovely.
I'm glad the guy has turned his back on all that, but I'm baffled why it took 5 years rather than 5 hours or maybe 5 days. That is what's truly depressing about this.
9
Josh Owens, thank you for writing this. I don’t know the exact sources of the anger you mention, but I know being angry is all consuming. I hope you’re able to find some peace.
7
Saying 'I regret it' seems curiously under-stated. I'm glad Mr. Owens had a change of heart but I hope he will continue to evolve to the point where he can say, "I worked for Alex Jones and I am totally appalled at myself and will devote the rest of my life to trying to somehow undo the evil that I did." Then, I hope he goes out there and devotes himself every day to working against the evil that is Alex Jones and the people who follow and support him. A lukewarm article is a start, but rather self-serving. Go out there and fight against the Alex Joneses of the world every day--peaceful but forcefully.
17
There is much goodness in my adopted city of 30yrs. This article is a rare reminder of Alex Jones existence. Let us make him rarer still.
40
Alex Jones, Infowars and many other conservative based sites and podcasts do nothing but spread misinformation. Their goals have nothing to do with truth or facts, but everything to do with promoting Republican agendas at any cost. These sites are promoting race war, civil war, vigilante justice and white supremacy and should be shut down. Hate speech is not free speech. And Zuckerberg's Facebook is all about the money being made via advertisements, not his claims of free speech nonsense. Don't know who he thought he was kidding on that one..
87
The sentences Alex Jones spews are not ‘misinformation’.
They are lies.
As long as we continue to accept weasel-words, we have no-one to blame but ourselves.
7
The little girl on the plane, "completely unaware of the world beneath her": The world you help to create.
Your regret is not enough. You have a lot of work to do.
712
@Hollywooddood I agree. But Josh, you've begun that repair work by writing and publishing this article, and I thank you for it.
107
@Hollywooddood I have no doubt Mr. Owens is aware of the work he must complete. This superbly-written piece is evidence of that.
Your scolding does not help him or anyone else.
91
@Hollywooddood
A leopard does not change its spots.
This cat will always be looking for the main chance.
13
Unfortunately, Alex Jones's "disciples" probably do not read the NYT.
33
@Mel Exactly what I was thinking. Mr. Owens needs to send this to multiple outlets, including Breitbart. Let's see if they publish it.
3
Mr. Owens, you know and we all know you sold your soul for a simple paycheck. So why, when you first heard from Jones that the conspiracy that Sandy Hook was a hoax, didn't you leave immediately? That's on you, Sir.
52
And it took you four years to figure this out? Let's see you put four years into undoing the lies and hate that you promoted. I'd rather see an article about that than just your late awakening published in the New York Times, no less. Your presumption of unemployability sounds a bit inflated don't you think?
28
I sounds like Alex Jones is an alcoholic.....that would explain a great deal. Hopefully, he will find recovery soon.
13
@stephan Agree. Jones is an oversized portrait of self-loathing and the rage it inspires.
Alex Jones needs a long comforting hug from "Mommy." Maybe then he will realize his humanity and stop spewing hate. Anyone want to volunteer?
3
Too bad you couldn’t figure it out before Jones went down. I don’t believe a thing you say.
19
Would love to know anything about any military or social service this "creature" has done for his country. While vilifying and denigrating his fellow citizens, he slips around, behind the screen, presenting himself as a savior of the white race. I'm surprised he hasn't been confronted and taken to task by someone physically.......just saying.
7
I give Mr. Owens credit for his honesty or leaving Infowars. However, I am still mystified as to why he or anyone else joins and stays with any cult-like organization, especially one headed by a mentally unstable alcoholic who endangers staff and peddles lies that can get innocent people killed. I have no doubt that after Trump is brought down we will see similar mea culpas from his enabling staffers.
22
unless you've worked for an alcoholic/abusive boss, you have no idea what it's like it why is so hard to leave, especially when there's a narrative and a worldview attached
1
I'm disappointed in the NYT. Alex Jones & anyone who has ever associated with him is not worthy of a piece in the NYT. This to me is like the National Enquirer. What is the point of this article? Truth? It brings to light no truth. All this article does is perhaps sell more Sunday papers & more internet hits.
9
@John L
NO, sir. This is a wonderful article. NYT deserves to be congratulated as its author Mr Owens deserves to be accepted with open arms and NOT CHIDED as some commentators have done. More strength to Mr Owen's pen.
2
Way to go Josh! You should be proud you got out of that toxic environment.
Didn’t know Alex drank so much; can’t say I’m surprised.
5
Oh please, please tell me when OH WHEN did Alex Jones ever EVER have a message, cause, thought for ANY rational human being to believe in????
7
Too bad this video expert didn't wear a hidden camera....
4
The fact that Josh Owens would work more than one day for a complete nutcase who's in it only for the money says a lot about Josh Owens.
Repulsive.
18
So, what's the scorecard on this guy? Thousands of minds poisoned and one saved?
5
Alex Jones, average Republican.
9
Absolutely nothing surprising here at all
1
To spread vile lies, (especially the kind like Sandyhook) to convince the ignorant what is wrong is right and what is real is false, is the epitome of evil. And what is worse is the fact that Alex Jones knows this, admits to being tired of it, yet still refuses to quit.
Evil squared.
16
Once a hustler and grifter, always a hustler a grifter.
6
I tire of mea culpas after the damage is done. Reading this article I became aware of the ultimate huckster in you.
You aren't fooling anyone. You rode the Jones' horse as far as it would take you and now you're riding this one.
Get over yourself.
17
Maybe Stephen Miller will write something like this?
6
Now do Rush Limbaugh. These insane creatures will divide the nation irreparably if they haven't yet.
7
Josh, I give you my respect for your honest article. We learn and we grow. You appear to grow faster than the rest of us.
6
@Harold "most of us" already knew that what Alex Jones does is reprehensible. Why on Earth would you say that someone who peddled hate and lies for years is "faster to grow than the rest of us?" Because he wrote an article stating the obvious?
1
Bravo! Thank you for publishing this article. Alex Jones is a rotten man who spreads nothing but negativity and ignorance. How wonderful to hear this filmmakers transformative story.
2
Goodness me. Imagine believing in Alex Jones' worldview. The man is certifiable.
11
According to the author - Alex Jones is not insane as he knows what he is doing is wrong and wants to stop. He is, however, a sociopath and a con man that is getting rich of this paranoia scam. But who is the greater fool? Him or the fools who follow him?
8
So he was attracted to this moral disgrace of a human being and he was surprised how it turned out? Sorry, but that should have repelled him if he had any decency whatsoever. In the meantime he has used his own and Jones's indecency to hurt people and corrupt civil society. No, Josh, your explanation doesn't wash and your mea culpa is hollow. You should have known, or did know, and you consciously abandoned a sense of what is right. I wish you and Jones's entire organisation an very unpleasant life from now on. You earned it.
10
Jones is a sociopath. Maybe even a pyschopath. He is some form of dangerously mentally ill person.
At every point in this sad story, there was a crossroads - is this the moment he turns away from a seriously bad person? Is the moment that he stops weighing his wallet and ego against the lives of others?
It took a really long time. Not the death of any innocent animal, or the degrading of his colleagues, or even being SHOT AT himself (thank god a colleague stood up for him), or the reckless roulette game in the car with drunk Jones, got him to leave.
The world is your confessional, Mr. Owens, but after the 'mea culpa' comes the work of absolution - you've got to do the washing up.
7
I tried to read this, I really did. I wonder if the author ever got to the (literal) snake-oil salesman, which is how he made his millions. But my disgust with the author won out. His audience is the cream of the deplorables. And the author was one.
Better recognize your brother.
5
Interesting, well written article.
The only other complimentary thing I can say is that Josh did eventually find his way out. Other than that, he was the same pathetic, gullible type who, like millions of unfortunate Americans, simply did not care about truth or the damage done by this maniac Jones, or did not possess the intellect required to feel repulsed by it.
4
Oh it's all complicated and tragic. Alex Jones, Donald Trump. But really what is worse are the people who are aligned with them. I'm in a state full of them. They are everywhere. White, Pentecostal, often poor and uneducated, trailers, bibles, guns, 4x4 trucks with confederate bumper stickers, alcoholism, meth, teen pregnancy, swastica tattoos...I mean this list goes on and on. And well, here we are. I remember hearing Alex Jones on the radio cause where I live, well that is what is on AM radio. It's outrageous really. But more outrageous are the volumes of people, who are on board with this nonsense. I really don't believe we stand a chance in this next election. Still...hope remains. The ring bearer made all the way into Mordor, and the ring was destroyed. Where is Frodo when you need him?
16
this may feel confessional to the author, but it is repulsive to me.
this is the story of selling your soul to the devil for money,
it is a pity and i felt sick reading it.
14
Good thing the technocrats at Google/Youtube/Facebook/Twitter all banned this man on the same day, this is America, if you dont like a point of view have it blocked from the internet.
Great story
1
This writer did a great deal of damage and was totally dishonest as he worked for this dishonest man.
Then he stopped.
What does he want: A medal?
The only way he can redeem himself is to erase every poisonous lie he spread over the Internet and elsewhere and make everyone who heard and read those lies un-hear and un-read them. Until that time, hang your head in shame and don’t ask anyone to take you seriously. You blew it, and knew you were doing so.
You toasted yourself, and professionally you are toast. Finished. Good-bye.
13
This is the journalistic equivalent of a death-row inmate proclaiming that he's found Christ. Too little, too late.
8
Do good work, sir. You got a lot to make up for.
10
Runaway capitalism leads to addiction, creating desires that capture the brain and turn them into absolute necessities. Infowars is another in a long line of adrenaline IVs that channel throughout the addiction economy. People are addiction targets and flesh and blood ATMs to silicon entrepreneurs who gorge on their lives from birth to death and then charge them for a decent burial. The predation, exploitation and destruction spans a lifetime from cradle to grave. Human life is not sacred, but something to be sacrificed to the god of mammon.
2
"But it was easy to brush off these fever dreams as eccentricities and excesses — not the heart of the Alex Jones operation but mere diversions."
I'm sorry, but was this guy homeschooled? What was easy to brush off? The mangled six-year-olds? The absence of sulphur? The "Nazis" at Planned Parenthood? It's good to know you've seen the light, but you have, by your association and employment by Alex Jones, hurt innumerable Americans whose needs & grief were paydays for Jones & for you.
10
The author should've called the police and had Jones arrested for DUI.
8
Welcome to the Resistance, Josh.
2
I know a woman who graduated with a Master's degree from film school. She's waiting tables, five years later. Sure, she's disappointed and disillusioned, but hers is an honorable job. I graduated with an art degree and worked as a secretary for several years while doing my artwork at night and on weekends. Maybe Mr. Owens has learned that selling one's soul for money is never going to feel right.
9
Well, at least you finally emerged from the darkness and the crazy, but mostly from beneath the greed, which is the foundation of all such enterprises.
Your former employer does these things for the money, and for the feeding of his ego and his narcissism just like you did it for the same reasons, except that you did it for a lot less money.
You're not the first guy, nor the last guy to tread such a path behind such a myth.
You're a good writer and likely a good videographer, so some good came from the crazy.
So do some penance.
What price dignity, eh?
-C
2
Mr. Owens, am I the only one asking how much you were paid for writing this article? It seems to me you have a lot more work to atone for the evil you have done and the people you have hurt. Being paid for a trite confession does not seen to cover the bill.
7
Wouldn’t it be refreshing if this was reprinted or covered in the right wing “press?”
5
Speaking of self-aggrandizing victims.
4
Alex Jones is completed his human life , when he stated that Sandy Hook is a staged event .
Since then he is living a second life fully, Swamp leech.
5
I usually will accept sincere apologies. But Josh, you crossed the line working for a sociopath. If you don’t spend the rest of your life trying to atone for all the hatred and potential violence you helped perpetuate, than you will deserve the karma coming your way. I had a friend who fell for your propaganda, he is now certifiably a danger to society. Sleep well Josh, I can’t.
7
Some people will do anything for money, and apparently the writer was one of them.
7
You were young and your boss was an abusive alcoholic & quite possibly a sociopath. Victims of abuse come to accept their treatment. I'm glad you were able to walk away.
If you can help anyone else you worked with get out, I hope you will do so. And if you can testify in any trials against Jones, I hope you will volunteer to do that, too. What he has put the Sandy Hook families through is unspeakable.
Keep writing.
8
Unfortunately he will likely have to face the consequences for the rest of his life. Lie down with dogs and get fleas.
2
How can he say so flippantly that he never believed Jones’ theory about Sandy Hook? Seriously. To further injure people who have experienced perhaps the worst atrocity (perhaps second to the genocide of indigenous peoples) in American history as, oh well, that’s show biz.
3
It's kind of on you for not doing your homework before accepting this job. That's like me as a young graphic designer taking a job with Rush Limbaugh to start my career. I mean, come on.
7
Being 23 and broke isn't really an excuse. I'm younger than you are. I was lost and directionless once too. I never would have applied for a job with Alex Jones. I turned down more respectable jobs than Infowars at 23. You want to be an editor and you're willing to relocate? Why didn't you try New York or California like any sensible adult? I could have gotten you started doing tape ops for the History Channel and I don't even work in TV. Good grief.
Now Owens is laughing all the way to the bank as he signs a book deal about the "real" Alex Jones. Give me a break.
Let me tell you one hard cruel lesson about the world sir: A soul is a very easy thing to sell; it's nearly impossible to buy your soul back. Your little epiphany on the airplane notwithstanding. 23 is an intelligent age. You shouldn't have applied for the job in the first place.
12
Alex Jones needs anger-management counseling, followed by a complete brain overhaul.
7
You probably don't regret it as much as those Jones tried to destroy.
5
Long journey to ‘duh.’ Happy ending though.
2
There is a thing called libel law that should put Alex Jones out of business. You are not allowed to lie about people maliciously, as he has done about the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre. Hopefully he will not be able to hide his assets after the court finally rules and awards them every penny he has and then some.
6
Alex Jones is one of the most dangerous men in America. It's beyond my comprehension why he isn't either in jail or in a mental hospital.
9
The paragraph about the shooting of the bison and all the dead animals on the floor tells you everything you need to know about Alex Jones. He's a psycopath and needs to be put away in a padded cell. He's not strength, he's the embodiment of human cowardice and insecurity.
13
Anger makes people do crazy stupid things. Maybe that is what we need to address? And Owens doesn’t get a pass for realizing his mistake. He was party to a lot of damage - Sandy Hook anyone? Time to do more than write and ask for forgiveness. How about sign up to work for anyone, anyone who is not a Republican? Surely there are moderate Democrats who would fit the bill?
3
I hesitate to believe that Mr. Owens is genuinely contrite. To me, the whole piece smacks of an attempt to use the Times platform to distance himself from his willful complicity in the misinformation empire he helped build, while at the same time advertising his writing skills for his own profit. Maybe he should have spent less time trying to sound erudite and more time explaining why he chose to stay on with such a loathsome character, other than the timely bonuses.
5
Thanks for speaking up!
4
Jones is so obvious using victims for a profit platform with hatred and contempt to a sick audience.
2
‘ “Hit me,” he said..’
Love to Alex.
1
This young man has a long way to go to earn forgiveness for all the lies and conspiracy theories he supported while working for this sordid organization. As a Jew I will take a wait and see approach!!
5
I'm sorry to say that Mr. Owens is an exploiter. For years he exploited the ignorance of what is now the MAGA constituency. Now he is exploiting the fact that he was employed by a sociopath.
Owens had to know that the whole thing was financed by overpriced (and largely ineffective, if not dangerous) supplements. Jones and his staff counted on people being stupid.
The greater issue is this: Why should we now believe in Owens' claims of contrition when he made a living lying to people for years? For all we know this is Owens' attempt to gain some attention to salvage whatever is left of a damaged career.
4
hmmm better late than never? Well, it took pure ignorance, laziness, selfishness and hate to believe Jones.
2
Alex Jones IS the Republican Party.
3
Jones belongs in an institution for the criminally insane.
7
I'd say this is a good start. But you have a lot more to do. So many people I know, some in my family, believe these right wing conspiracy theories, and they are suffering terribly because of it. You need to do more to help these people understand how they've been brainwashed, and how they are continuing to be brainwashed by the likes of Hannity and Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. They are just slightly more polite versions of Alex Jones. This country is suffering horribly from this kind of crazy propaganda. You owe it to the country to do more than just write this one article.
5
many many years ago i worked (for a year) at the National Enquirer making a very low 6 figures - a fortune back then. i was never asked to outright lie, but i was encouraged to attribute quotes to "sources" who were willing to lie for me and in effect making me a liar as well. i worked the celebrity beat and when the day came that they asked me to "out" the daughter of a white house president, i knew it was the last straw. i headed down to atlanta, ate bucketfuls of barbeque, hung out in the gay girl bars and played pool for 2 weeks. when i returned, i told the editors that the story was not true (i didn't even try to verify, i just flat out said it wasn't true) and quit that week, not even giving them 2 weeks notice. if you don't stand for something, you fall for everything.
8
Is Mr. Owens writing this because he was an amoral louse who has finally seen the light after inflicting years of pain on innocent people?
Or is he writing this meā culpā in hopes that he won't be named in the multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit coming his way?
I'm guessing it is the latter and I will not belive him until he proves it to me - just like the proof that was demanded by Jones for the Sandy Hook massacre. When he rips out his heart (metaphorically) and shows it to me I'll do the same thing he did to those grieving parents. I'll stomp on it and demand more.
4
Welcome back Josh.
2
If you dropped out of school to edit AJ's videos because you believed in his world views, you can never redeem yourself. Be gone.
3
Just because a guy has a radio show and an audience doesn't mean he's not a lunatic with a drinking problem.
9
You should regret it. This article actually makes me angry -- so much damage done by the alt-righties. You took a job for a conspiracy freak because the money was good and you liked the action. At 23, you were old enough to know better than to promote vicious lies.
Sandy Hook. And now suddenly you care about kids?
I guess you grew up, but the damage is done.
6
Great work Josh!
1
There is evil in the world and Alex Jones is just the tip of the iceberg. He is also one of the more visible in the US.
What should we do about this evil? In our free society, it is (as it should be) impossible to legislate against it. It is the responsibility of every citizen to recognize this evil and banish it from his/her world (turn off the radio, TV, You Tube, etc.)
When this evil reaches out and does violence in our society, it is the responsibility of our government through law enforcement agencies to punish it. When our law enforcement agencies partake in this evil (yes, people like Barr, Pompeo, self-righteous fake Christians like Pence, etc) it is the citizens responsibility to speak out and elect representatives that will live up to their constitutional oaths to do their duties of oversight.
Vote for freedom, sanity and liberty in 2020. Vote Democrat.
8
Yes, however, you knew he was lying and deranged from day one and you chose to buy into it. The harm is done. Go away.
5
Years ago I ran an editing studio in Manhattan. One day a young lady walked in asked me if I'd hire her and save her from a fate worse than death working as an editor for Rush Limbaugh. Your story reminded of her desperation.
3
@interossiter, so what happened?
This is an incredibly well written and engaging piece Josh. I'm glad your talents aren't being wasted at info wars anymore.
3
Ummm Why would anyone who loaded a rifle, chamber a round, put it down and leave the safety off?
The story tells you the why if you pay attention. How could he afford to pay you and for all that traveling? That is why.
The phone calls were him trying to generate a story smearing you in advance to counter your eventually doing this article.I guess he could tell that you think for yourself after all.
1
"keeping Jones from getting angry was a big part of the job" That is part of every job that deals with a man-child petty dictator. That is what the White House staff does all day with trump. There is not enough money in the world to get to to take a job that has to deal with that. Life is too short
7
Sorry to see the rather flattering rendering of Jones accompanying this opinion piece.
In real life he’s a really miserable looking character. Dorian Gray, I’d say.
5
I'm glad the author got away from that mess.
I take issue with one statement though - the author says "...to Jones, everything was a 'false flag.'" However, It appears Jones only believed in false flags when it fit into his worldview. Examples - Sandy hook? False flag. Shooting at republican baseball game? taken at face value.
4
I am reminded of the Republicans in leadership who hold their nose and do Trump's bidding and defend him and, in doing so, debase themselves morally, ethically, and spiritually. AND help weaken our country and our democracy. Down the road, many of them will write a similar mea culpa account of their time working for a deranged, narcissistic, frightening despot who is systematically dismantling our democracy. So I feel little but disgust for this writer who, I imagine, thinks that penning these words will lead to forgiveness, perhaps even praise. He apparently needed a job, and no amount of despicable, hurtful, untruthful duties would deter him. And I am guessing that he thinks that the closing vignette in the plane, where he looks fondly on the little girl, will bring him redemption. Nope -- just disgust.
4
Alex Jones's worldview? Was it ever about anything but enriching himself and feeling like a big shot while destroying people with lies?
6
For more real stuff about Jones, see Jon Ronson's books:
"Them: Adventures with Extremists" and "The Secret Rulers of the World".....great, funny, but true, writing by a Brit journalist.
Alex Jones is the posterboy for hatred and extremism. He is truly scary, and should be debunked and made irrelevant by anyone who can do so. This article is a wonderful start!
2
On a different scale but in a similar vein, I was hired as an assistant to a NYC photographer in the 1980's, and after a month discovered he was going through and selling a lot of cocaine. Plus he liked to play with guns.
I quit working for a nut job as it did nothing for me professionally, and tainted my reputation in the business. Not to mention wondering when he'd go off the rails on a coke binge and shoot up the studio.
Although Mr. Owens is parlaying his time with Jones with this article.
4
Thanks for preaching to the choir here—the people who will actually read a rather lengthy, rather nuanced NYT piece dismissed Jones et al long ago.
Owens really needs to figure out how to communicate with those dangerously radicalized by Fox and Breitbart.
4
Four years is a really long time to spend day in and day out loading content you know to be lies on the internet and taking extra steps to help it go viral.
Alex Jones and his employees should be financially responsible for the lives destroyed by their lies, fraud and outright deception. It’s not journalism it’s terrorism.
6
Well, Josh, this was well-written and I am sure writing your essay was cathartic, but I'd like to see you take your story to middle schools and high schools, and to Republican strongholds.
Teach people that prostituting your ideals for attention and a paycheck can only lead to tragedy and misery - for yourself and others.
5
Mr. Owens, you hurt a lot of innocent people. You’re a very young man, and that is not a guilt you want to live with.
Consider putting your video editing and media skills to work undoing some of the harm you caused. You’ll feel much better if you do.
6
Jones obviously says a lot of outlandish things, but he's been proven right about many of his "conspiracy theories", including Epstein's private island and human-animal hybrids. There are also several scientific studies backing up assertion that 5G towers may cause cancer. Jones is an entertainer first and foremost who gets off on making hysterical ultraliberals squirm. Seems like the author of this article has made a mess of his life and is looking for attention.
2
Conspiracy theories come from the right and the left, and they're awful. And so many people fall for them: that Bush started the Iraq invasion for his oill buddies. Or that Obama was secretly born in Kenya. Shame on all who fall for this stuff, and on the politicians who spread them.
5
This story could just as well be about working for Donald Trump.
9
Back in the 1990’s, Infowars was a cheap public access program with Jones sitting behind a desk and a pile of papers, screaming into the camera about the New World Order. My friends and I would cap off a night downtown by watching it, laughing hysterically at this crazy guy. I still can’t believe he’s gotten to be as big a deal as he is. He’s a genuine lunatic. And worse, I have people I’ve known my whole life, people I always thought were intelligent, normal people, who watch his show and cite it when talking about the news as if it were The New York Times or CNN. It’s honestly terrifying.
8
Sorry...try as I will, I'll never understand even getting close to the outrageous insanity that is Jones. And I'll never understand the forfeiture of ethical and moral values just to get a paycheck...especially after what he did to the parents of the innocent young victims of Sandy Hook.
What the author did was to help enable some of the most hateful and despicable conduct that could ever be imagined.
Count me as unconvinced.
3
if i may guess: Jones is a drunk, mentally-sick con man. there are many conspirators out there. they have to up one another to catch people's attention, so they fabricate conspiratorial stories. along the way, selling "survival kits" to enrich themselves.
2
At 23 you were ‘vulnerable, angry and searching for direction’?
Join the club of most at that age. The entitlement that rips through this piece makes me want to hurl. This reeks of intellectual and emotional laziness.
You ‘dropped out of college’?!
I have two daughters 20 and 25. You don’t think they feel ‘vulnerable’?
Articles about a woman on campus being killed because she didn’t respond to cat-calls. More women killed in this country by boyfriends or spouses than strangers, but we can’t enforce loopholes in gun purchasing to keep them a little safer.
My evangelical, church-planting neighbor posts Alex Jones on her FB all the time, plus all the reasons Trump is the ‘chosen one’.
I don’t care about how Alex Jones feels, and I don’t want to hear about your thoughts and feelings about working for him.
Come back and after you’ve written an article dissecting what makes your white, male, privileged existence so traumatic that you couldn’t find anything else to do except peddle his hatred.
Hindsight is 20/20. Open your eyes and look in the mirror.
6
It is only because of people like Mr. Owens that scam artists like this get as big as they are. He needs to pay a price for that. I’m sorry doesn’t cut it for the damage they’ve done.
3
Well, at least you had your Lee Atwater moment before you arrived at your deathbed
Though you seem contrite, I personally have a hard time in wanting to forgive you for your considerable part in bringing us to where we are today. I don’t really see you taking responsibility for your actions - apologizing to those you hurt or making amends.... other than offering a window seat to a Muslim child.
You portray yourself as a victim, casting most of the blame on the rants and ravings of a lunatic while minimizing how much you, as one of his enablers, contributed to keeping his destruction in play.
What if Alex Jones had been different? What if he wasn’t an alcoholic risking your life or rant and rave towards his staff but was instead a silver tongued psychopath? Would you have had your epiphany and left or would you still be sitting with your colleagues enabling the destruction of our society?
Before you can point out the speck in another man’s eye you first need to be aware of the log in your own. I’m not convinced you’ve done that yet.
5
Why is it so hard for some people to see other people as people?
3
@Jessica: A friend of mine is fond of saying, "My species hates people." There are a lot of misanthropes out there.
2
Mr. Owens deserves to be commended for getting out of what sounds like an abusive cult. While he may seem less sympathetic because of who he worked for (and helped to greater fame), he is no different than others who are in thrall to an abusive narcissist.
3
So this is Mr. Owens’s “first article for the magazine.”
Hopefully it will be his last.
1
Dear Josh.. by your own admission you once shared/agreed with Jones's world view. That leaves me speechless. Everything I have ever heard/read about this man leads me to conclude that is an amoral venial person. So now you have a mea culpa moment. Hmmm.. damage is done.
1
While I appreciate Mr. Owens’ honestly, fine writing, and detailed look under the hood at Infowars, I’m duly impressed by his intestinal fortitude. Imagine gutting it out for 5 years editing and producing the content to stoke the beast day in and out not to mention interfacing with one of the most loathsome humans to ever fog up a mirror? I sure hope he paid you in more than vitamin supplements.
I’m surprised not one mention Sandy Hook, the suit, and all the pain and anguish Jones brought to bear upon the already devastated families. Maybe someday the others who help support and enable the likes of Jones and Trump will also have their own come to Jesus moment like Mr. Owens.
3
Amid the flood of addictive substances available today, Alex Jones has discovered the most dangerous yet easily available narcotic of all: adrenalin. Manufactured by the human body, it sends a thrilling rush to the brain while producing the sensation of a life filled with meaning and significance. But like all addictions, the user must produce more and more of it to get the same delicious effect.
Watching Jones work himself into a screaming, red-faced “high” is amusing but terrifying. Unlike the annoying uncle at the holiday table who is only invited because grandma wanted him there, Jones struts into millions of homes on a daily basis, disrupting lives and sowing intolerance and fury while spraying saliva in a hoarse, 100-decibel bellow.
The man is a frightening clown who will eventually burn out, only to be replaced by yet another drug-dependent blowhard pushing overpriced merchandise along with conspiracy theories. The tragedy is that these addicts will always find a devoted audience for their bigotry and hate.
3
I don’t think for a moment that the author ever fell for Jones’ bunk in any real way. They seem far to bright for that. Instead, the impression I have is that the author made as much money as they could by perpetrating Jones’ nonsense for as long as they could stand it, and is now working the same vein by writing tell all expose pieces revealing that Jones is depraved.
Which I suppose is an improvement, but it’s one that only summons a weak “Hoo...ray?” from me.
2
Mr. Owens - I hope your next attempt at professional life is based on decency and dignity. Among many other hideous things, your former boss ridiculed the little kids that lost their lives in the Sandy Hook shooting massacre and then condemned their parents.
I live within spitting distance of these families. Do you realize how hard it is to lose a child and then be chided and ridiculed for talking about it ? Why do you people do that ? Does it give you some kind of sick pleasure ?
Just try not to extract monetary value from enabling cynicism.
7
I’m sick of these remorseful world, sharing their stories, after they have made lots of money destroying people with vitriolic lies.
Am I supposed to feel sympathetic because these people made mistakes due to being young, alienated, and angry? I was too, but I sure didn’t go and work for Alex Jones. I got this thing called therapy. It worked! Without ruining lives!
5
Josh Owens is trying to rebrand himself to get out of a deep hole. He made his choice to support Jones over multiple years. I am sure that he thought that the 'madness' was exciting. He is as responsible as Jones for the devastation left behind. Writing an article about his 'struggles' changes nothing.
2
There will always be the grifter waiting to excite us and fill dull lives with outrageous entertainment. Jones is not rare or unusual and there's a hundred others like him waiting for their chance. The Internet will grow up and find a way to keep the grifter's in the shadows.
3
Better late than never.
What I didn't know was that a show, any show but especially an internet show, with only 1 million viewers would have such a large and well paid staff.
I wonder if Hannity and those tools from "fox and friends" believe any of what they spew out? Do they believe half?
I find it hard to believe anyone could be that blind or stupid so I am guessing it is all about the money and fame.
Fascism flourishes in the dark and since Reagan threw out the Fairness Doctrine this Nation has been clothed in darkness, or at least one third of it.
If Bloomberg really wanted to use his money to turn the Country around the best use of it, I think, would be to make Murdoch an "offer he can't refuse".
A real conservative news outlet, without the lies and hate, would seem a good way to jump start that great American debate between Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian ideals.
7
It is clear to me in reading this disgusting and troubling expose' on Alex Jones that there are more similarities than differences between the personalities of Alex Jones and President Trump.
None of what I read surprised me in the least, but nonetheless I am still extremely disturbed and troubled by the obvious similarities of these troubled , dysfunctional, and dangerous men.
5
What is disturbing is how easy it is for a loon like Jones to gain a large following in this country. He's like Trump in the respect that Jones's base won't desert him either, even if he shot someone on the main drag in Austin. I guess it's a side effect of democracy to have these living among us. We're like a dog resigned to fleas. We just hope the fleas don't fester enough to destroy the body.
4
An awful lot of women are angry about commenters criticizing Owens. Would they say the same if it was "Janet Owens"?
Josh Owens chose to immerse himself in a right-wing fantasy bubble. Precisely why he went down this path we will never know. But people on the political left do similarly, living in a different fantasy bubble made possible by countless leftist journalists including The NY Times. Both cases, left and right, are facilitated by large doses of confirmation bias and an unwillingness to maintain a sense of proportion.
A few days ago Nicholas Kristof wrote an article about the travails of Venezuela and how US sanctions aggravate them. There was only a slight mention of the years of gross economic mismanagement of Maduro. Much worse, Hugo Chavez, the real architect of Venezuela's nightmare, was mentioned only once in passing by Mr. Kristof. Once! And he ignored Cuba's role completely.
The fantasy bubble doesn't end there. Most of the comments on Kristof's article AGREED with him, blaming Venezuela's problems on the US sanctions, not Chavez and Maduro's Marxism. And please remember that the starvation death toll has now exceeded 40,000.
Wait! There is more. Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard also inhabit this Venezuela fantasy bubble. At least Alex Jones is not running for president. And millions of leftists are in love with these candidates, get their news from NYT, DemocracyNow!, the Young Turks, etc., and very hypocritically write scathing denunciations of Josh Owens.
Mr. Owens, you have lots of company.
1
@publicitus: Venezuela did all right for quite a long time, as long as oil prices were high. I lived in Europe and recall reading many positive articles about the social programs promoting education and culture in Venezuela. When I returned to this country, I was quite surprised at the vitriol spewed at Venezuela (and Cuba, too) in every newspaper. But the longer I remain in the U.S., the more I realize that it is populated by many reactionaries who ardently support the notion of an unfettered capitalist plutocracy, regardless of the harm it does to society. These people will never be convinced that social democracy can bring a higher standard of living to the middle and working classes, because they have been indoctrinated to protect the rich at all costs, even when it means voting against their own interests. It is owing to these kinds of Americans that Venezuela (and Cuba) have been victimized by U.S. sanctions -- and U.S. sanctions have indeed done untold harm to both countries. Hindering countries from engaging in truly free trade is what American monopolists do best, after all.
3
@Allison I disagree with most of your reply. Yes, the high price of crude oil allowed Chavez to sweep under the carpet the results of his mismanagement. Every oil producing country was adversely affected by the fracking revolution, but Venezuela more than any other, precisely because of Chavez's politics. Maduro has received most of the blame inside Venezuela but Chavez was the real culprit.
If what you read in Europe about Venezuela under Chavez was so radiant, that is more likely a reflection of what sources you chose for news. About five years ago there was a video clip showing lots of happy Venezuelans looting a bog box store similar to Walmart and carrying away big screen TVs, etc., and feeling very proud of themselves. Now these people cannot get electricity for these TVs, assuming they still have them. There was no cause for this other than opportunism. Of course leftist European and American news outlets would turn a blind eye to things like this.
US sanctions are of almost no consequence to Venezuela's problems. The first sanctions were simply disallowing their politicians to enter this country. But for a sophisticated leftist, anything this country does, no matter how trivial or symbolic, is portrayed as the main cause, as you yourself just demonstrated. I question your sense of proportion.
I confess that I found Alex Jones entertaining in the early 2000s when his rants were about Bohemian Grove and the Bush-Cheney coven. I regret it, too.
3
What is it with our country that produces conspirator theorists like Alex Jones and how can they go so far?
I have not heard these kind of conspirators in any other country.
Perhaps not relevant to this story but not far off.
Why do UFO’s only seen in US.? How come no one saw UFO’s 200 years ago? Did the aliens suddenly got technologically developed in the last 75 years that they could reach us. These imaginations are only peculiar to US population.
We believe in fiction. Alex Jones created the biggest fiction and we give him publicity
3
Don't get stuck in the weeds.
Sure, Jones is a nut, but more important is why people pay attention to him. Two main things: Economic security has vanished for the white working class, and many whites think that elites are handing their country over to foreigners.
You might disagree with these beliefs but tens of millions don't. If those issues are not addressed, expect more of the likes of Jones. Expect worsening violence against Jews and people of color.
Democrats winning the next election (and I hope they do) will not stop this right-wing radicalization. We have to make things better for the white working class--the most dangerous people in the country.
Note that right-wing radicalization is an international phenomenon.
4
The Times should give a platform to those who repent for their misdeeds only AFTER they have demonstrated their sincerity of remorse through a few years of public service. There’s no story otherwise.
4
Even if these angry, right-wing “media” nut jobs are doing it “for effect,” or “as an act,” they may not realize that a lot of people hang on their words, and want to hear more “horror stories,” to further fuel their sickness. If there ever comes a day when they have to answer for their actions and say, “I didn’t really mean it. It was all a show,” you know it wasn’t. And they know it, too. They poured the gas and hoped someone would provide the match, just as they knew someone would.
4
Mr Owens,
"...I was vulnerable, angry and searching for direction..." is lame and platitudinous. When you use phrases like "imbuing the world with mystery, adding a layer of cinematic verisimilitude" in relation to your ex-employer, it is clear that you have not got over the delusions and self-absorption that landed you in a mess -- a mess clearly of your own choosing. At age 23.
In the face of a (glib? token?) mea culpa, Americans tend to be like deer caught in headlights (as evinced by some of the other comments). I think you are cynically exploiting this cultural susceptibility. I think you are merely planning your next career move. There are many like you in today's America who plough on from one shame to another without the least shame.
2
To sum it up directly; ABOLISH APATHY. Seriously.
2
Mr. Owens:
1. Go kneel at the grave of EVERY Sandy Hook victim.
2. Then visit their families and apologize for lending your energies to the Alex Jones empire.
3. Then turn the energies of your life towards honesty and fact and truth and kindness and tolerance and use them to to get people to see liars, cons, and evil-dooers for what they really are.
And if you are ever again tempted to take the easy showy clickbait way out, remember #1.
7
Joel’s change of heart is a good thing. Joel no longer aids the spreading of Jones’s corrosive poisonous lies.
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
— Luke 15:7 (Parable of the Lost Sheep)
Joel may have further to go, and the aid he rendered InfoWars has damaged the world and the people in it. I cannot say what further restitution he should provide.
Further, though, this story should remind all of us that we cannot divorce ourselves from the consequences of our actions. There is no excuse of merely following orders; no excuse of taking actions in the shareholders’ best interests.
Actions have consequences both good and bad. Peddling lies and harming others through commission or omission is wrong, for everyone.
3
This is a very important and powerful perspective. It's hard, on one hand, not to be glad that Josh changed his perspective, while on the other hand realize, and feel anger about, the immense damage done. Infowars is a psychological treadmill to violent right wing ideologies, and, without question, is partly responsible for the anti-Semitic and anti-minority massacres that have occurred in the last several years, and I'm afraid there's more to come as long as these sites continue to spew their hateful conspiracies.
These men embody the internet-enabled conundrum of our time, of validation impaired men becoming victims and monsters of social media, with platforms whose algorithms are precision tailored to destroying our physiological well being in order to keep users festering online. Hopefully more people come to their senses before they harm anyone. Hate is no way to live a life.
4
I’m sorry. Your behaviour was unforgivable. No excuse will do.
4
Great story.
I have numerous relatives who hang on Jones' every word, who demonize Muslims, liberals, educators. Sad and scary.
2
Nice article, but tell me: how many innocent people's lives did you upend on the way to this epiphany? You are complicit; what you did was horrible; you stopped sooner but by no means soon enough. No absolution as far as I'm concerned.
1
Fascinating article, but I wish it had appeared in a publication more likely to be read by Jones' followers.
3
Josh,
If this isn’t a film released by September 2020 the world will a more dangerous place.
2
I've never paid much attention to Alex Jones.
Right away I figured he was a CIA plant, the best way to discredit "conspiracy theories" is to put the crazies in the forefront.
There are reasonable "conspiracy theories", not the Sandy Hook one.
Questioning government gospel is important.
If there had been more questioning of the CIA Iraqi WMD lies, and if the Iraq War had not happened, the world would have a better, more sustainable future.
Questioning the lead-up to 9/11, 9/11 itself and its aftermath is very reasonable.
Ordinary citizens are likely never to know the real facts.
The role of dissidents is to question and speak out.
1
Apology not accepted. Neither of these people have the capacity for any decent human feeling. One cannot work for or be Jones and have any shred of humanity.
2
Now, will someone please steps up to the plate and tell the world the truth about Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. This is desperately needed.
5
How can anyone see a child and see an enemy?
3
There are some truly messed up people that inhabit this world. Jones is one. Trump is another. Really unfortunate for everyone else that these two have such visibility.
4
Hey Josh, I know what it's like to be young and idealistic. Do not beat yourself up about making this mistake. You learned a very valuable lesson and mostly you learned about yourself. You know you are made of better stuff than what Alex Jones is peddling. The sad thing is he will never be able to rise above it. He knows he isn't capable of better. He has built a life out of sensationalism, lies and creating distrust in government. His followers are paranoid and scary. I'd really like to know more about how Alex is financed. Think about writing that story. I enjoyed reading this.
4
Josh, I enjoyed you when you were on Info Wars. I watched almost every day during 2016, still think about the good days when people could use their freedom of speech how they wanted before this bias censoring. Would love to see you back hosting a show.
Forgiveness isn't free. I'll forgive him when he makes restitution for the huge systemic damage he has done. That's what happens to criminals.
2
"I can’t say I ever believed his avowed theory that Sandy Hook was a staged event to push for gun control;"
And therein lies the problem with Owens. This whole piece, therefore, comes off as completely disingenuous.
Weirdly, I heard approximately the same thing from an ex-soldier in Germany, long after the war there. That man didn't really have a choice. But Owens?
You should not have been paid for this.
3
Everyone sitting up on their righteous high horses, scolding Josh Owens and vowing never to forgive or forget, is contributing just as much to the division of this country as any angry, right-wing conspiracy theorist. Yes, Josh Owens should have known better, but he didn't at the time. He does now. If you call yourself a mature human being, try acting like one. Mature people examines their own behavior critically and work to mend it when they err. Scolding and rejecting people who are trying to make amends are guaranteed methods for continuing the destructive cycle of inflame and insult. None of us have any control over anyone but ourselves. You want other people to change their hateful behavior? Try setting the example.
6
My instinct is not to let this guy have a pass. Just imagine the tens or hundreds of thousands of right wing Trump supporters who are going to have to atone over the next decade. When the dust settles, they are going to come back to their liberal friends and family and ask forgiveness.
As all of us struggle through the coming challenges of climate change and rising seas, political division and white supremacy, corruption and the entire right wing’s support and approval for more corruption, We have to decide how we forgive and how much. I have to say, I’m not in a forgiving mood as we approach 2020. Let them eat guilt, shame, and dinner at the kids table on Thanksgiving.
4
I consider myself an imperfect person and I try not to be a public moralist, but, for all my flaws, I haven't spent a single day of my life publicly standing behind what I knew to be untruths or promoting incivility. The writer, whose sincerity I will accept, spent years either being insincere or being sincerely twisted. I wish him a good life but it would be a very long time before I would assume he is committed to analytic truth. His redemption is his business, not mine. His record can be added to, not forgotten.
2
It baffles me how anyone could find inspiration and kinship in the unhinged, irresponsible, bottom-feeding rantings of someone like Jones. His entire purpose seems to be to goad and to hurt. Who finds that fulfilling and enlightening? People cut off from anything healthy and stable and enlightening in their own lives, it seems, judging from the crowds who stomp and jeer along with our president. There is something profoundly wrong when "freedom" means seeking out the basest possible road and smearing as many others you can, including the families of murdered children. So Owens now says he was wrong. Better late than never, I suppose.
2
Over the years I paid very little attention to Jones. I thought he was likely either putting on a show or was mentally ill. Or maybe both. I now think it is more the latter. Hopefully, he will do a lot of people a favor, especially the parents at Sandy Hook, and make himself disappear. Forever.
4
"The information did not meet our expectations, so we made it up, preying on the vulnerable and feeding the prejudices and fears of Jones’s audience."
False narratives are impossible to correct if there are willing believers. This type of damage is permanent to many people. They lead to divisions and hate within society and it very unfortunate that people have abused their positions and put out lies about others.
3
“Over time, I came to learn that keeping Jones from getting angry was a big part of the job, though it was impossible to predict his outbursts.” Sounds another public figure we know. Unlike Jones, he is running the country.
Great article- scary scary stuff. And if it is not Alex Jones, it is hundreds and thousands of other peddlers, monetizing their lunacy to a vast population who no longer reads or knows how to think critically.
3
I loved this article, especially because it gave a glimpse into what happens behind the curtains of Inforwars.
IMO Josh is brave for writing this; he could have just disappeared into his new job and never face some of the criticism that I see in the comments.
Yes, I wonder how someone can work for Alex Jones at all, never mind for years, but I also know women who stay with an abuser husband, because like Alex Jones, they know how to break you down until you've normalized the insanity that surrounds you.
Again, this may just be me, but I think we should dig deeper at what made Josh connect with Alex Jones in the first place. We, the liberal left, want inclusivity and tolerance right up to the first person we meet with views that are different from ours.
Something is wrong in America and that something created a huge divide. Condemning Josh now, only underscores why we're so divided. This is a huge learning opportunity for us, the righteous liberal left. I hope we don't squander it.
5
I wish the Times had emoji options so I could “love” this comment. This is a case study not of radicalization. Those who feel betrayed by traditional institutions are ripe pickings for extremist ideology of any kind — white nationalism, radical Islamism, conspiracy theory, whatever. I also was struck by the parallels between Jones’ treatment of his employees and classic abusive behavior.
All the folks virtue-signaling their disgust and claiming they would *never* do such a thing should listen to Monday’s episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, “In the Heat of the Moment.” For good measure, listen to the November 15 episode of Cautionary Tales, “The Rogue Dressed as Captain,” and the November 1 episode, “Danger: Rocks Ahead.” Good people are easily led to disaster by their emotions, respect for authority, and circumstances. Or you could just read John 8:7.
So now the writer has profited from his malevolence by selling the story of his bad deeds. If he truly has regrets he can start redeeming himself by making amends for harm done.
4
Jones preys on people who are bored, lonely, afraid,. My guess is that he's extremely intelligent and probably bi-polar. The alcohol is just self-medicating. I hope he and his followers get the help they need...
2
I hate to be a skeptic.. but I doubt the veracity of this opinion piece.
I am more inclined to believe that Josh does regret his tenure with Jones, but that this is really about rehabilitating his trashed reputation for being associated with Jones.
If he was sincere and transparent here.. I would have expected to see this written years ago.. after Sandy Hook.... rather then today... long after the luster and enthusiasm about Jones has withered as he has been sued all the way into oblivion.
3
Rather insightful and genuinely well-written.
2
The secret to understanding Alex Jones...or maybe not so secret...is that he despises himself, and since that makes him uncomfortable, he projects that hatred on to other people.
In that respect he is very much like the person who postures as our president.
3
Josh,
My cousin was best friends with the Principle at Sandy Hook.
Despite what Alex Jones said she did die and so did the children and other staff members. It was not a hoax. This article is a good first start. You have a long way to go. Perhaps you should meet with the families of the Sandy Hook victims to apologize. It's horrible to loose
your child, but then to be harassed and stalked because of Alex Jones is just awful. When you speak with them you will truly understand the harm that Alex Jones and people like YOU have done. I will save my applause and thanks until after you've spent all your energy and time unmasking Alex Jones and helping to insure he pays for all the harms he's done to people. I just can't understand how you could work for an organization that helped promote the idea that Sandy Hook was a hoax. You are just as guilty as Alex Jones!
5
I felt the entire range of emotions while reading about a privileged white man who felt his confusion warranted a direct attack on my freedom as a liberal woman. And now he, like so many men before him, thinks absolution is simply writing a mea-culpa in the NYTimes.
However, by the end of the article and after reading comments here, I’ve landed at understanding and gratitude. I voted for Reagan in my first election because my religious conservative upbringing formed my world-view and I hadn’t even begun to experience the world as an independent adult. With no Internet, I just had no idea what other possibilities were out there.
I quickly woke up to the incongruities of voting Republican when I began dating an older liberal physician. He asked, “How can you mindlessly take birth control pills and then vote for a man aligned with people enraged by what they represent and committed to taking them away from you? You have rejected the sexism of evangelical Christianity, so why do you then vote with the Moral Majority?”
I myself was once a sheltered and privileged white girl who just happened to cross paths at 19 with a kindly highly-educated man who challenged my lazily-inherited worldview and radically altered my philosophical trajectory. The author didn’t have that same kind of trajectory-altering experience until 28. I now better understand those confusing early adult years and am grateful he has stepped up to expose Info-Wars while sharing his own unique journey.
5
A few months ago I was shopping in Aldi, where I noticed a man, maybe in his thirties, with a small daughter. He seemed every inch the loving dad, chatting with the girl about the things they were buying, etc. A charming scene. The only dissonant note was the man's T-shirt. The front said: "CNN is fake news." The back: "INFOWARS is real news."
Not attracted to this sort of thing, I have never consumed Jones' product. But it seems to me that he and Donald Trump could have been separated at birth. And their ability to appear sane and logical to seemingly ordinary Ohio dads is terrifying for what it tells me about my neighbors.
5
"To this day, I still don’t know why he wanted to keep me around. He said it was because he cared about me, but if I had to guess, I would say his main concern was losing control."
Jones is, among other things, a classic abuser.
Congratulations for getting out with your body and soul intact.
17
Mr. Owens, I'm not sure if you were a good film editor, but you're an excellent writer and story teller.
Thanks for sharing, and thanks for becoming aware of the world beneath that little girl in the window seat.
I only wish Jones would have played the punching game with me.
10
Excellent, elegant writing Joel. And brave of you to admit to this all. Good luck in your (what I know to be promising) future.
12
Thank you, Josh, for that brilliant article!
Some comments here go, in my opinion, way to far! Everybody should be thankful for your honesty and courage to admit that you did something wrong. This is quite something!
Some asked why it took so long. I don‘t know, but what I once read about ‚switching‘ neonazis in Germany could also be true here: some individuals just missed love, respect and empathy when they grew up.
Getting this finally (from whomever..) can change so much!
I wish you all the best for your future.
11
There is one detail in Mr. Owens’ piece that is inescapable - Alex Jones’ seeming dependence on alcohol.
And this reminds me of something a friend in 12-Step recovery once told me: “hurt people hurt people” - the former an adjective, the latter a verb.
For the first time, I have a glimpse into Alex Jones’ humanity, despite my antipathy for him.
Here’s to hoping he gets the help he needs and has the same moral awakening and spiritual journey as Mr. Owens.
22
Josh:
You are a good writer. The last paragraph is poignant, perfectly placed and well introduced. Welcome to the world of human innocence that you saw in the girl. Alex Jones too is always welcome to join that world. I hope that he too makes that journey and no matter how many times he might fail, he will always be welcome to come back.
20
I applaud Mr. Owens for his change of heart. I am curious about his upbringing- Did he grow up in a family of bigots? Was there alcoholism at home? For him to be able to tolerate and normalize Jones behavior for so long makes me wonder if chaos was part of his upbringing. The roots of people’s hatred are important in preventing damaged people who spread their hate on others. I encourage him to write and explore more about it. And Austin area police- get on the job- you have proof that a high profile celebrity in your midst is driving drunk and endangering the people of Texas!
21
wow... what was most striking to me in this piece, was not the screaming grubby grime of Jones' daily reality, but the disconnectedness of the author who watched it all happening mute, seemingly powerless while engaging in a series of justifications and minimization of acts so strange, immoral and fked up that it is shocking. Some real reflection and work on the dynamics of not recognizing and putting up with such an abusive relationship, would I believe a direction worth taking. At least the author had a voice that said it was wrong, while it was happening, which is important. But really, dear, you have got to get more in touch with that distance between what you saw and participated in, and what you knew was wrong. That's you're real work. That's the story I really want to hear from you... you can do it.
14
@Gmuntin, and Owens needs to explain why he went along with this? What made him so angry he would help this guy smear shooting victims’ families and essentially foment violence? Until Owens faces up to that, his apologia is worthless.
1
In about 2006, a longtime friend and roommate shared some Alex Jones videos with me. I wasn't interested. I figured he'd lose interest eventually. He didn't.
Our relationship deteriorated over the years following as he warned me of government plots and the dangers of Obama. He said derogatory things about 'blacks'. For years, he had been the guy who just wanted to just have fun with everyone, to fit in. Now, he was hateful toward all people of color - even provoking confrontation with service people, trying to get them fired. He refused to pay child support for his infant son, and was buying all sorts of supplements to improve his health - which had been terrible for years.
Suddenly, I could not have friends over, nor tell anyone where we lived. When I moved out and cut contact, he was buying massive amounts of non-perishable food, and working on the design of his dream house, which he planned to build off the grid in Montana. He was also stockpiling guns and ammo for the coming 'war' - which terrified me. I am aware he had mental health issues - he had always suffered from anxiety. But I believe they were exacerbated by his ongoing consumption of 'information' promoted by Alex Jones and other extremist conspiracy groups.
We did not speak for almost three years when I heard he was terminally ill. Soon after, he sent me hateful messages, demanding money. I didn't respond. He died alone, broke, and angry a year ago. And I don't know how to mourn the person he had become.
38
Mourn him as he was when you were friends. That’s the person you cared about, laughed with, and had a close enough friendship to share a place with. That one is the person you miss so that’s who you mourn.
I wish you well.
8
@Lena Thank you.
5
@kl, I am so, so sorry. Remembering him as he was is the really the best you can do.
2
Beautiful piece. I appreciate the honesty. He was essentially inducted into a cult-like organization, and managed to get out. He was young, angry and ignorant and these are kind of recruits that those who want to radicalize look for.
He realized the great harm to others that his actions created- and he faced this. Writing this piece is in itself an amends.
I wish him well in his life and career.
16
Josh Owens needs to do more than write this article. Sure, he saw through the lies he created. But, how many people don't? How much more fear and anger, and even death did Owens create because of the falsehoods he created?
11
He should make a movie revealing the depravity of what he and Jones and co did.
2
" Two nights later, I received a call from Jones: “Let me tell you a little secret,” he said in his gravelly voice. “I don’t like it anymore, either.” "
And there was a time when Josh Owens liked it... Liked 'sticking it' to the liberals, liked the money and imagined power, liked the fame and respect among the far right, flattered that " a half-witted, conspiratorial glance at the creation and function of the Federal Reserve — made it to the final round. "
Jones thrives on the support of advertisers seeking willing dupes. His audience has an insecurity itch that needs constant validation and Jones knows how to scratch it. The trick is in finding enough sensational material to hold their attention and presenting it in a way that very few will bother to question, no matter how absurd.
And that's where Josh Owens learns a life lesson... You can forgive a few bogus stories as the luck of the draw but when you realize that's the norm, and Jones is a mean drunk with serious personality flaws, it's time to move on. Even with a 75% pay cut but a 100% increase in personal integrity.
Fame and power can attract disturbed people, fame and power can also corrupt the normal. Don't waste your time or talent on those who can't handle the temptation... For every Alex Jones there are a thousand who want to be his replacement.
9
The whole thing reminds of Yeats:
“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.”
21
He sold his soul for money yet he was still flying in coach. I guess I thought that souls cost more.
7
wow.
In my whole life I never went near somebody as nutty and nasty as Alex Jones.
Some of this was luck; my circles and workplace automatically sieved out the Alex Jones of the world.
But, where I grew up, out in rural East Texas, folks knew a nut when they saw one and we kids acquired the ability to stay away.
You cannot farm successfully if you start up the road to nutty and nuttier.
Farming requires good judgement and good friends and neighbors.
Alex Jones would have starved.
19
Another byproduct the Extended Adolescence of the American Male. Owens describes himself, at 23, as "a bored kid attending an overpriced art school." First, he was not a "kid," but a grown man. Second, he should have been far past any adolescent ennui, believing in escapist fairy tales and pretending to be "Fox Mulder." And, at 23, you don't go to an expensive art without serious commitment to a career in art.
A 23 year old is a man. He should have goals and plans for his future. He should be working hard to achieve those goals. He should have responsibilities in his community - either through his job, through volunteer work, or within his family. He should have meaningful friendships with other adults. But instead, young men are drifting, unmoored from society, lacking purpose, and unmotivated to grow up. These Peter Pans are fertile ground for extremism, conspiracy theories, and a hatred of society that (correctly) views them as losers.
I am on the older end of the Millennial generation so I've had a front row view of this phenomenon. I am raising my two sons to take responsibility for their lives, and giving them the skills to be fully functioning adults, including the critical thinking skills necessary to identify charlatans like Jones, and the moral compass to NEVER do something as evil as purposefully and maliciously compounding the grief of Sandyhook parents. That was an abomination, and Owens should have known better. He admits he did know better! Disgusting.
30
@LLL
Owens really didn't get it. Fox Mulder had principles, a commitment to truth, and a deep compassion for those less fortunate. Of course, that was fiction.
2
You don’t get it. White guys are boys forever. As in “boys will be boys.” As in “was just a kid.” As in “cut the kid a break.” Well into their fifties.
Black kids are adults from the time they are in kindergarten. As in “tried as an adult.” As in “the officer observed an adult black male engaged in suspicious activity.” By the age of ten.
Innocence and forgiveness and infinite second chances are some of the perks that white guys get.
3
@Glen: I have observed the difference between how my white son is treated versus how black boys his age are treated. You are correct that there is a vast difference. But I don't think the answer is to treat them all equally harshly and without understanding or forgiveness. I would rather see police saying about a black child, "Let's cut the kid a break and make sure he gets home safely," rather than see them start violently handcuffing and arresting every juvenile of every skin color who made an error in judgment. A little kindness can go a long way. Unfortunately, as a society, we no longer encourage kind interactions between strangers. Suspicion and cynicism seem to dominate our interactions -- they are particularly on display in this comments section, in the many disparaging, cyncial, and resolutely unforgiving comments from my fellow "liberals," who not only seem to have forgotten what it means to be a liberal, but who also never once in their lifetimes ever strayed from the path of utter righteousness. The intolerance rearing its ugly head here helps me understand how mob justice and witch burning became a "thing" in the early days of our country.
1
In almost every detail in this story Alex Jones reminds me of my mentally ill brother. Has he ever been diagnosed? - Or would that be counter productive in today's conservative movement..
16
At the end of the day everyone associated with toxic figureheads like jones and trump will also walk away with a shrug and a "sorry not sorry" that I helped revive fascism. Oh well, it paid well at the time.
23
Or: many (most) people think they are smarter than they are.
3
No praise from me for a deplorable suddenly discovering what most everyone else always knew.
16
Alex Jones reminds me of tRump. But tRump says he doesn’t drink. After having seen enough pictures of him, tRump, I think he may well be a pretty heavy meth (or equivalent) user.
7
Mr Owens should tell us how many “Sandy Hook is a hoax” videos he worked on during his four years for Alex Jones. That’s a long time churning out false content to manipulate people.
My own son is 20. I think he knows better. I would be destroyed if this was his chosen path. I would grieve him, or as my mom would say, sit shiva on him.
18
People died because of Josh Owens. They weren't just "hurt".
They were terrorized online and off, their churches and synagogues were shot to pieces, as were the people within. Women were hounded and terrorized anonymously. Honest and forthright public officials were demeaned, humiliated and threatened.
The harm he has done to this country is beyond forgiveness.
I'm sure a deeper dig will reveal that he still has strong "conservative" credentials and leanings, and is a likely Trump voter, and will find a way to contribute to this madness.
"Unmasking" a menacing terrorist we ALL already knew to be such contributes nothing, changes nothing, advances nothing.
Sorry pal, no free pass. You did real harm. Own what you did. When most of us were your age, and younger, we knew better than to align ourselves with an insane demagogue. At 23 I was running a business, hiring people, contributing to the economy and standing up for what is right.
What possible reason do we have to trust you now? Go away. You have caused untold pain and harm.
22
I agree. I’m not sure how Mr. Owens sleeps at night. But one article of “regret” does not redeem you. I would say this is the first step on a long road to redemption. I hope he recognizes that. He’ll need to do more than write an article for the NYT.
4
@ClearWindow This sort of attitude is a great way of keeping other “Joshes” from leaving. Why turn away from hate when you’ll never be welcome anywhere else?
I wish someone would treat Alex Jones the way he treated that bison.
15
Jones, Trump, and many republicans are exactly what Hillary called them. A basket of deplorables. Hopefully they can be forced to hide their sick minds and actions from public. We should never forget they are still there. All weaseling for personal power that will hurt many people. Glad that Josh Owen understands how horrendous they were, and still are.
16
It’s like being a member of the Ku Klux Klan for years, then he finally acknowledges the humanity of the other, and ponders whether he was wrong. And he didn’t really agree with the Sandy Hook hoax conspiracy? But helped support the machine that pushed that message for years, worsening the already endless pain for the families. And no real problem with his psycho boss emptying a handgun into a bison until even the callous and de-sensitized employee at the game reserve stops it as over the top cruelty.
It’s better than still working for Jones, but the author has a very, very long way to go to actual redemption.
18
Great writing! Thank you for this!
2
If Jones was a neighbourhood kid, his enjoyment of torturing and killing animals would be enough of a red flag to get him
psychiatric help, or at least careful observation. Sadly no-one caught on soon enough, and the damage he's done will continue long after he's faded in obscurity.
10
For many of these anecdotes about this abhorrent behavior (*), I don't find it much of a stretch to imagine substituting a certain US President's name every time the word "Jones" appears in the article, and having it still make perfect sense
Likewise, the generally blind acceptance of these quirks (<< too mild a word, I admit) by the author, can easily be transferred to the millions of followers of DJT.
(*) to be fair, the main exceptions being the inebriation and violence attributed to Jones, which the other person doesn't share (as if that makes him any better of a person! LOL)
5
What is worrisome is not this guy's change of heart, at last, but all those other folks who still work for this nut, still make his outrages possible, still tolerate his insanity.
All for money. I am sure some really believe as he does, but can they all? And yet they keep at it, feeding the beast.
All for money, of which Mr. Jones seems to have plenty.
8
To those who demand of this fellow more penitence and punishment, or to those who consider this person un-redeemable for having worked with and "enabled" Jones for four years:
Consider maybe that this was his place -- to participate, see the light, and now be a whistleblower and tell the story from the inside.
Consider that maybe your unforgiving-ness of his primal political sins, and your blaming him for his situation echoes the blame we place on innocent people who get swept up in cults, or even that toward drug addicts for their own vices.
And finally, consider that your unwillingness to tolerate politically even someone who comes to your "side" with open arms--because of their past associations--only affirms the worst accusations from the right of what "liberals" are like. Judging and vindictive, even of their own.
3
The author needs to be studied, examined and understood in the context of knowing how radicalisation occurs and can be prevented.
6
I'm sorry, but I didn't hear an apology.
12
A woman in my office always has Mr. Jones’ website open in a small window and his audio running into her ears. She often laughs at what she's hearing, but appreciatively, not derisively. (I assume that, as it's hard to imagine someone could listen so assiduously if revulsed.) By all indications, Alex Jones and Donald Trump are self-loving, self-serving, expert hucksters, comfortable with branding and selling themselves and their professed "beliefs" in whatever way suits the market. They're not unique in this. But the market they are mining is the human desire to understand and engage with our world, and their angle, unfortunately, is to pander to the worst of human impulses.
542
@Jonathan Alex Jones' behavior here sounds like that of a sociopath. The quick changes from rage to laughter to calm concern are indicative and Trump is most certainly a narcissist (in the medical definition). His need to be pandered to and receive adulation is abnormal for a regular person.
55
@Jonathan And they both like hurting people, apparently. They are certainly good at it.
43
@Jonathan I would say one thing regarding your suggestion that Jones and Trump are "self-loving". I would argue they do not love themselves at all nor anyone else, nor appear to even know what love is. I believe at their very core is self-hatred and it is that hatred from that which all the narcissism, selfishness, and manipulativeness emerge in an attempt to convince themselves that they have value. It's the person in the room that can't stop talking about themself and expressing only how the world affects them, that is the most insecure and in need of attention.
29
It's not at all clear to me from reading this that the author is now a significantly changed, morally grounded person with a really laudable understanding of and adherence to virtue, decency, and personal responsibility... only that he had been initially content in the very vortex of evil and decided to move a bit further out. This piece does indeed suggest a desire for a higher sense of self-regard, and perhaps greater viability in the job market, than anything else. Not even vaguely impressed.
9
To the people mocking this guy -- would you prefer that he DIDN'T have a change of heart and continue help Alex Jones pump out poison? This cancel/holier than thou culture has gotten out of hand; we have to provide a road to redemption for guys like this. Otherwise we're just adding to the problem.
I personally think it takes courage to admit you're wrong.
1405
@Brian I agree. Goldwater's ascendance was fueled in part by the left's condescension. Nixon and Reagan dismantled the new deal on it. Pat Buchanan got a good boost from it in '96. Embrace your principles. But when others see the errors in their ways, do not shame them for their conversions. Welcome them into the flock. If you'd like them to vote along with you, that is.
92
@Brian
Sometimes, one is just too wrong. And he knew from the start he was wrong but he was in it for himself.
26
@Brian
Of course it takes courage to admit your wrong. But there is a chasm between admitting I lied about cleaning the bathroom and admitting I worked for four years as a tool for hatred and propaganda for a known conspiracy theorist.
Of course there is path back to social inclusion, but writing an article in the NYT is not part of it; or at least it's not the end of it.
The question of 'would we prefer he not change his mind' is a straw man's argument.
Of course it's a start on his path to change, but this isn't revolutionary. What many of us are questioning is why he is not challenging himself and revealing more about WHY he found himself here -- beyond feeling 'angry and vulnerable' at age 23.
I have no interest in 'cancelling' humans, but this person indulged in willful infliction of pain on parents of dead children; people of color and people of native lands. He didn't leave the lid to the toilet seat up, or steal cigarettes from a bodega.
His path will be long, as it should be. He caused so much pain for so long to so many, and has yet to explain why.
He has chosen to be public in his journey, he must be prepared to face public scrutiny regarding his sincerity. That's part of the deal.
83
Hello Josh Owens, It will take a long time for me to trust your word.
This is a good start and i hope for everyone's sake it helps dismantle what you helped build for Alex Jones.
I will read more of what you have to say and hope the truth now matters enough you cannot avoid telling it.
Everyone deserves a second chance.
This is yours.
6
I was a mental-health worker for 10 years, and have to say that I've seen people who acted far less crazy than the way Jones is described here be forcibly held down and injected with major tranquilizers. Think about that for a moment.
14
Josh, you are a terrific writer. I will read your books.
When I read the end of this essay, about the innocence of youth, I couldn't help but think of you, at 23. Also naive, working for an unethical business, with an unpredictable boss. You must have been asking yourself, "Is this what the world of work is?"
I'm glad you figured out that the answer is NO.
I look forward to reading your future work, which no doubt will be written in service of a more truthful, kind, and ethical world.
4
Mr Owens, you still don't get it. This is not about the damage you have done to the little girl that you helped, not her family, not even her community. It's much, much more than that. Its about the damage you have done to American society and ALL of the communities within this diverse nation. Kudos, I guess, for seeing the humanity in the people that you once hated but you have a long way to go. Good luck.
14
Thanks Josh. I hope your future work will promote Truth and integrity in order to further justice in our fractured nation.
2
I'm from Austin, TX, and used to watch Jones on cable access in the late 90's before he got really big. He was hilarious and strange, oftentimes unhinged, and totally entertaining. It was like professional wrestling - you watched because of the spectacle, but there was no way you actually believed this thing was real. I still can't believe people take him seriously. People's inability to delineate between truth and entertainment is terrifying.
6
Mr. Owens, I appreciate and commend you for writing and publishing this article. I hope you continue to do good work exposing Alex Jones as the fraudster and conman he is.
2
"But it wasn’t the politics that initially drew me in. Jones had a way of imbuing the world with mystery, adding a layer of cinematic verisimilitude that caught my attention. Suddenly, I was no longer a bored kid attending an overpriced art school"
So it was all a lark for a 23-year old spoiled rich kid still in 'art' school? Get outta here.
9
I wonder what the FTC has to say about creating false content to sell an iodine supplement - surely that breaks a few laws.
8
For me, it was the description of killing the bison. Even throwing away a fish. Cruelty to animals is a huge red flag. You've got a lot of atonement work ahead of you, Josh. I will never have an article in the NYT under my name, but I learned how to treat animals and women when I was a young boy.
I knew how to work a Geiger counter, too.
13
Great article. Hopefully more like him will come out of the shadows and report the truth of the hatred that is fueling the feedback loop of ratings, clicks, and false information that is crippling society.
2
Jones, like Limbaugh, O'Reilly and Beck, are not journalists. They are entertainers. They deserve no further consideration than by those who are entertained by them.
The recent PISA scores show US students can less distinguish fact from opinion than ever before.
Ignorance has taken over, and is now generational.
4
I was in the cult and remembered Rob's reports. What got me out of the Jone's cult was meeting a man from Yemen who was trying to raise money for food and water for his homeland. The Sauds had been blockading and people where dying. My perspective changed and I began seeing that the Jones/Trump/Stone objective which included Pizza Gate was/is complete nonsense. But they had me hooked for a good year. Good Luck Josh, and thank you for writing this.
3
My father was a conspiracy theorist, and had an immense library of 'secret information' to show it. I suspect that the tale told by Mr. Owens would be understood by anyone of reasonable mind who spent a lot of time with such a man. The dinner table of my youth was immersed in fantastic tales of the New World Order, corrupt Jewish bankers, the Rockefeller family, how President Eisenhower met with aliens in a space ship, and thousands of other tales. The chaos and political corruption of the 1960's made everything more believable.
As an adult I learned that my father's personality suggested that he had an unusual need to bolster his own ego. And by arming himself with special secret knowledge, he became the expert. Only he knew how things really worked.
I also learned that conspiracy immersion is a sign of paranoid thinking. In extreme cases the psychologists used to called it paraphrenia, although that term is no longer used (because everyone has the 1st Amendment right to believe what they want). It's not the same thing as encountering a real conspiracy, though. The law books are full of legal conspiracies, and they do happen. As Golda Meir once said: "Even paranoids have enemies."
According to Booth (2011): "Paranoia is marked by a strong tendency to cast a negative light on ambiguous interactions -- those that leave a lot of room for interpretation." (p. 74)
Cite:
Booth, Stephanie. A Slew of Suspects. Psychology Today Vol. 44, No. 6 (Nov/Dec 2011). p. 72-79
10
This brought to mind a time when I saw a reformed former Ku Klux Klan member speak. He had been traveling around the country to warn communities about how the Klan recruited vulnerable young people, saying it was comparable to how street gangs recruited. The message that that speaker and Josh Owens have in common is that it is at our peril that we neglect the most vulnerable members of our communities. They are easily radicalized by the likes of Alex Jones. We need to help people when they are hurting- help them pick themselves up before they are welcomed into organizations that tear society apart. I write this on the same day the Trump administration announced its plans to make it more difficult for people to obtain food assistance.
6
A good read, but I just cannot agree that Jones' Sandy Hook horror show was just a mere diversion. This was a full-on, unforgivable assault on human compassion and decency.
14
Josh Owens pulls back the curtain and shows us that the people who write the content for the alt right media are actually real people, educated, well spoken, good writers and if you met him at a party you would probably like him. So he is just like everyone else except his day job for four years was to tear down civil society.
6
I’ve made 1000 mistakes in my life. I hope that I try to see them and avoid making them again. You and I are alike. Let’s try to do better.
4
The upside to technology is obvious; the downside is that human foibles can be broadcast and multiplied throughout the culture and community. Alex Jones is one of the ugliest phenomena in America. At least the account of Josh Owen's journey is now available as a counterpoint to Jones and his ilk.
4
The "change of heart" genre always makes me think of the countless people who never strayed from their principles whether they had emotional issues or not and whether they needed a job or not, people who didn't need an epiphany or a series of epiphanies to understand right from wrong. Of course, these people don't have articles or books to write about experiences working for insane pathological liars, extreme movements or extreme organizations or taking extreme and destructive stances. There is not much regret, just a wondering what this world would look like without the compromisers, the sell-outs and the arrogance of the privileged who know it all.
7
I suspect that Owens may have to deal with some wild conspiracy floated about him in the future because that’s the way people like Jones operate - weaponizing rumor.
3
I regret it? Let's not get carried away with remorse.
Jones is not a theorist. Making stuff up isn't theorizing. The president can get away with it because he has layers of defenders who cannot be questioned, as they would perjure themselves.
3
What a great story, explains a lot.
2
“The information did not meet our expectations, so we made it up, preying on the vulnerable and feeding the prejudices and fears of Jones’s audience. We ignored certain facts, fabricated others and took situations out of context to fit our narrative...”
This article could have been written by any random member of the Trump administration, including state TV Fox News.
6
I thank you for writing this, but more importantly -- To your former self who didn't believe in your reporting chops, know this: You are a wonderful writer. And the skepticism that ultimately carried you away from Jones suggests you'd be a darn good one.
3
I expect to see more of this type of revelation as the SS Trump takes on even more water and finally sinks under the weight of its own lies and corruption. Should those who enabled this also then profit financially? It will become quite a profitable enterprise as we've seen already on a small scale. Wait for the collapse and the number of books and movies will become a tsunami. I'll do my best to avoid buying any of the tell alls from the Mulvaney, SHS, Conway types and wait for the All the President's Men version of this heist to come out and consume that. The Republic will survive, I hope.
2
Why are you giving this man a platform? He was an adult when he started working for Alex Jones. Some choices can’t be taken back. No do overs for him.
7
Forgiveness is an important thing otherwise none of us would have do overs. Mercy wins hearts and that is a powerful thing.
Thank you Mr Owens, I forgive you
3
There are probably a number of Josh Owenses among Trump's supporters, cognizant of what he represents and sick of what they themselves have become. How do we reach them, Mr. Owens? How do we help them find the off-ramp to remorse, as you have done?
4
An excellent article which gives us a peek behind the curtain of the Alex Jones sausage factory. Thank you, Josh.
3
What's missing in his mea culpa is an apology to all of the people he did enormous damage to - the people in Islamberg, for example. I find this a hollow, unfeeling, and un-self-aware piece that seems like it was written for no other reason than as an assignment from a 12-step program. I have zero sympathy for him.
8
At 23, I was vulnerable, angry and searching for direction, so I decided to give it a shot.
Ironically your giving it a shot will finally pay off soon! A book offer, movie and screenplay rights and all the trimmings will come your way, making you a rich (and hopefully sane) man. It's the American way!
3
"She was amazed, joyful, innocent, carefree and completely unaware of the world [I created] beneath her."
Fixed that for you.
Consider adding a sentence about how she was unaware of the actions of the man sitting next to her.
9
Sorry Josh Owens not buying it then, or now.
7
Right-wing indoctrination real, and this is a terrifying look inside it’s inner workings. Chilling to think how many Americans are taken advantage of by these types of people every day.
6
May Mr. Owens have a long and fruitful career in a field other than journalism. Small as his role was, he participated in the destruction of truth in America. It's bad enough that some people believe Jones' nauseating claptrap, but it's quite another to know that it's claptrap and still produce it. As someone who spent 32 years in journalism, I have no sympathy for those who knowingly lie to the public for a few extra bucks.
10
This article is upsetting to read, but insightful, and I thank the author for having the courage to write it. Too many angry young men fall for these manipulative media personalities because they, too, want to be Fox Mulder. Unfortunately they don't all grow up and admit their mistakes.
It's especially upsetting to think about the author's many colleagues who didn't leave, and who are still peddling lies for profit. They actively encourage violent extremists and endanger innocent people--for what? Because they're afraid the boss will throw a tantrum? Because they don't wanna take a pay cut to change careers? Because they're used to living in a bubble where everyone assures them they're not really bad guys, but they know the real world will tell them the truth? It's sad to see how easily people will throw away their moral compass out of fear and weakness.
7
That is the folly of youth, we’ve all been there, idealistic, impetuous, wanting to change the world. But time passes, and we become smarter to the ways of the world, well those of us that allow ourselves the opportunity to grow, to do as the door mouse said, feed our heads. As we get older, we get further away from our juvenile way of thinking, because that’s all the life experience we have to draw from. But by the time your 30, you’re not the same person you were at 20, and your not the same person at 40, that you were at 30, our views of life, and the world around us, change as we become more “worldly”. We stagnate as human beings if we don’t expand our horizons, learn life’s lessons. The writer of this article was angry and looking for answers, who wasn’t at 23, but who he was, deep down in places only he knew or understood, (we all have them) was always there, he just needed to be reminded of that fact.
What happened, he grew up, he came to realize that what he was doing for someone else, was having the opposite effect on society, and more than that, it was having a negative effect on him, he was conflicted, he came to understand by proxy he was inflaming the hate, and mistrust that the writer knew to be a false narrative, that money can’t buy true happiness. That in the end the only person who truly benefitted, was Alex Jones’s pocket by pushing his hate, and selling his anti-radiation pills to supporters who’s minds are as small as Alex..
3
What Mr. Owens doesn't say is how many Sandy Hook, Comet Pizza or other hoaxes he worked on during his four years with Alex Jones. He picks a couple that most of us never heard of but leaves out the most egregious. Which shows me he is not really looking to atone - just white wash.
9
Mr. Owen's honesty is rare these days but greatly appreciated. People cover over their self-loathing with enormous layers of falsehoods, baseless assumptions, and deflective armor--the root of anger and hate. And sadly, far too many stay like this until the day they die. This why the examined life is the only way to go. Contrary to what some people say--that we live in a "post-truth" age-- we don't actually, because we know deep down the difference between right and wrong.
449
@RichardL
I didn't actually see a lot of detail or "honesty" regarding the author's personal growth. He started working there in 2012 and left in 2017 - only after he found another job. There wasn't a single moment that persuaded him to leave, he says. I note he sidesteps the atrocious impact on the Sandy Hook parents when the Infowars followers were told it was a false flag operation and harassed those families for years -- those are real victims, not this guy that had been working there for two years and would continue for three more. The moment he artfully recalls (repurposes? conjures up?) regarding the Islamic woman's child looking out the airplane window happens two years before he quits. Most of his article does include nicely-crafted descriptions of Jones and his antics, but anyone with the same experience working for Jones and a mild flair for creative writing could have written this.
19
@PostBKLYN-Worth repeating: let's see Owens testify in cases brought against Alex Jones/Infowars. Expose the truth and make a difference to the people who have been threatened by Jones or his followers. Go on the talk shows, including Fox Propaganda News, and expose the truth. Speak to the groups who have been harmed -- and hear their anguish. Consult with Yahoo!/Twitter/Facebook on how to improve their site policies. Testify in Congress. Time to make amends by rectifying the harms Owens has actively enabled, and supported.
4
It sounds like Jones is motivated purely by megalomania, as opposed to actual conservatism or even greed. Perhaps this is true for much of the far right.
5
The fact is that Mr. Owens was an opportunist who sold his soul for what he thought would be a quick level of fame and fortune. Once he realized that this was not to be, he quickly changed course and suddenly "saw the light" so-to-speak. While redemption is certainly a virtue that should be granted to all who have made missteps, Owens still has some serious atoning to do.
10
@InfinteObserver I don't believe him. Too pat. Too tidy. Too creative writing class confessional. I see ambition looking for a short cut to notoriety, not a penitent. I hope I'm wrong.
6
@P. Maher Agreed.
1
Great writing and soul searching in one article. I sent it to my kids. Let us all learn his lesson. How many times as young adults, and even as desperate middle age people looking for fame, glory and money, do we agree to do things against our values? It also strikes me why words and intentions matter so much. They are a window into the soul and eventually lead to either "good" or "bad" actions. I am personally humbled by this young person's maturity and believe he deserves Grace. So will Alex Jones if he ever fully admits to his mistakes.
11
I am saddened that for some people there is no redemption. This young man had the courage to admit he was wrong about working for Jones. He announced this not just in a confession booth but to the entire world. Everyone makes mistakes (usually on a daily basis) and we are especially vulnerable to poor decisions when we are young. We need to exercise more grace when people finally see the truth for what it is and admit they were wrong.
20
@DRH
Writing an article is not redemptive justice!
If people want to understand what it means to truly understand why they did what they did and learn from it, they must do the work.
This young man worked for a known conspiracy theorist who terrorized the parents of dead children. Filed lawsuits to exhume their dead children’s bodies to ‘prove’ their death was a ‘hoax’.
He stood next to armed ranchers in defiance of BLM. Does he understand the history behind that land?
He was a co-conspirator. He chose to take the reasons he was feeling ‘angry and vulnerable’ and exact those feelings on others. Willingly and knowingly.
Has he explored why he felt like that? Has he reached out to apologize, atone, do whatever he must do to give some solace to those people so painfully affected by Alex Jones and his message?
Yes, he can work his way back into society-and it appears he wants to; but let’s not confuse an article about what happened with the behind the scenes work of addressing WHY it happened. Why he did what he did.
Actions have real costs and accountability is a marathon, not a sprint.
9
@DRH
David Brock, who founded Media Matters for America, wrote a book called "Blinded by the Right" which explained how he got caught up in the vicious right-wing of the Republican Party in the 80's and 90's, and also contained a public apology to Anita Hill for his part in the smear campaign orchestrated against her when she testified against the nomination of Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court. Yet to this day, some people continue to revile Brock for mistakes in judgment that he admitted to and publicly apologized for.
For years, my husband had a poster in his office that said "Embrace Misery - Never Forgive, Never Forget!" Unfortunately, a lot of the responders you mention remind me of that poster.
2
Fascinating piece. Thank you Josh. At the heart of his story, Jones, and likely Trump's is the lack of perceived acceptance. Acceptance is not just being able to be admitted to a club, or social group, business meeting, or not being profiled, it's a feeling of belonging. If we don't have that, we create these alternative universes where everything further validates that 'outsider' feeling, and the anger, in the case of these 3, that comes with it. All of which means most of us are not compassionate enough towards each others suffering. We invalidate it with terms like snowflake. These men, are trying to get us to join in their sufferfest. Worse, they are trying to deny someone else their right to contentment. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; it's the basis of this country. Sad, how so many have not only forgotten it, but attempt to draw others via outrage and money into an un independent version of America.
8
Fantastic article, well-written, insightful, and aware of the complexity of human nature. Alex Jones is a perfect case of arrested development. At some point in his life - probably his teens - he stopped maturing emotionally and shut down everything except the one emotion American males are allowed to express openly: anger. Men in this country are not allowed to express grief, sorrow, fear, or appear vulnerable in any way, and boys become acutely aware of the limitations placed on their emotional lives as they reach their teens. There is a reason why most mass murderers are angry men, and it partly has to do with the lack of support they get in learning how to manage the ebb and flow of complex human emotions. Josh Owens managed to struggle through his own case of arrested development and is emerging as a more mature man. Congratulations to him. He allowed himself to feel more than just anger, and he is learning how to deal with the world from a more nuanced perspective.
11
I find striking the parallels between Caro's description of Lyndon Johnson as a boss and Alex Jones' behavior. Much of it tracks: the manipulative driven behavior, the willingness to exploit the emotional and financial fragility of subordinates, the culture of fear induced by unpredictable rages and the need to appease a fickle controlling personality, and above all, the willingness to lie exhaustively to accomplish the right spin and narrative.
6
Wow. You’re an amazing writer. And a great human being. This is one of the most amazing articles I’ve read in my life. To convince you of how moved I am, this is probably the first comment I’ve written in the last 10 years I’ve subscribed to the NYT. Well done champ.
25
Great human beings would report a drunk driver. I hope he considers doing some charity work to help prevent drunk driving. It’s just dumb luck that Mr. Jones didn’t kill anyone that day.
3
Great story, thank you. Sometimes we don't see how people can change.
16
I wonder if this is how members of the Trump team feel at times. Some must know they are worshiping a Golden Calf. Yet, they stay.
Mr. Owens has made an honest beginning here but there is a lot more work to do. One hopes he will channel his anger and passion into good causes. I wish him well on his journey to redemption.
51
Any time I read something about Alex Jones, I can't help but wonder how much of it is an act. I listened to Joe Rogan's podcast interview with him a while back, and while it's pretty clear he does drink his own kool aid to a very large degree, there's also like this article alludes indications he feels trapped in the persona he created. In any case, he's dangerous.
46
Welcome back to humanity, Mr. Owens.
50
This is a worthy first step by Mr. Owens to account for his errors. I hope he is aware that his actions were grave and injurious enough to warrant further efforts. Surely, he is aware that his debt is not paid. I hope he realizes that he cannot reverse what he did but he can do something to make up for it.
34
@Locho I'm not sure we are the proper demographic for his confessional. Surely he can do more good on the sights that follow his original work. I keep hoping something will enlighten those angry minds but my comments are not published.
1
Working for Alex Jones sounds a lot like working for Donald Trump: Dealing with a mean-spirited, self-centered boss who always wants to control the narrative (even when it comes down to conjuring up nuclear waste where there is none), who always wants to be the center of attention, and who is an angry, emotional child. Jones also hurt a lot of people and turned up the toxicity of political rhetoric to a fever-pitch. How could anyone work to support that for three years?
37
All I can say is thanks for sharing that. If only people like Limbaugh, Carlson, Hannity and the rest of the right-wing click bait crowd could come to the same insights. They don't realize how they are tearing their country apart for their own thoughtless benefit.
29
@Keith Yes, although those you mention are much more set in their ways.
2
@Keith My hope is that Hannity will be indicted. I know there are lots of phone calls between him, the White House, and Rudy.
2
Mr. Owens has a debt to society. It will take him a long time to pay it off. I’m glad he has disavowed Jones, but that in itself is insufficient.
27
@Brian - He does have a lot of work to do, but this piece is the first step on that road. I applaud Mr. Owens for taking that first step so publicly. I doubt many defectors from Alex Jones’ insane orbit would do the same.
25
@brian
Yes he may have a debt, but he also has the currency to pay it off in a way that few others do.
Road to Damascus / redemption / apostate tells all stories have a power that can reach people who might not believe an outsider’s story.
Also this is really a great piece of writing- almost a film treatment - I hope it turns into something.
8
If I could understand what motivates a person like Owens to work for such a totally immoral person like Alex Jones, then maybe I could understand why 40% of the electorate worship Donald Trump. Trump, minus the vodka filled paper cups is Alex Jones.
25
The rise of Alex Jones and Rush, etc. has been toxic for America and for our democracy. One family friend, has a 70 years old brother who can’t stop listening to what I call “AM Hate Radio” and must have a radio playing at all times with the haters spewing their lies, propaganda and talking points. The man is sick. Imagine all the men (it’s mostly men who listen to Rush and Jones) who are being completely brainwashed, the danger we are in from one of those men going off the deep end! Often on social media some nut will post a threat that if “Trump is removed from Office there will be another civil war” I take these threats seriously, and they send a chill through me.
We must be aware, well informed and we must spread the truth whenever we can.
27
I wish you could turn this from an article into something, anything - that would reach more people. Unfortunately you’re preaching to the choir here. Which is, of course, the elephant in the room of this planet.
9
I personally never thought much of Alex Jones until I actually listened to the full 4 hours he did on Rogan. About halfway through it, I started to get the feel that there was more to this man than just being a lunatic from the Right. Not to defend him in any way, but he discusses a head injury that had a serious impact in his life that was an important pivot for him.
Whether his viewpoint is guided by brain damage, money, or the machine elves, he is capable of crafting and delivering bizarre yet convincing stories. My prayer for Jones would be that the damage he has delivered to himself and others will start to manifest itself in more benevolent ways going forward. That he can turn the volume and rage down, and use his audience to move in a positive direction. My understanding is that he may have stopped drinking. If so, that would be an incredible step in the right direction.
11
Trump's base has 20,000,000 Alex Joneses.
17
What drives Alex Jones? Is it some combination of alcoholism, narcissism, bi-polar disorder possibly with some other mental disorder? Whatever it is, it is frightening that so many can be swept up into following him and Info Wars AND BELIEVING IT!!! And what does this say about the mental health of many of our citizens?
14
One of my best friends was a long time listener and believer in Alex Jones. I think I was his last friend, because he had alienated and driven away all his other friends and his family. My turn came when Jones jumped on the Trump train and my friend of 30 years joined him. Jones is toxic, and he’s just the best known of these Pied Pipers of paranoia.
21
I hope you learned that when you see someone trafficking in cruelty for profit (or for anything), run away.
I guess it's fine to expose yourself to wildly outlandish views if that helps you gain perspective of quell some misplaced anger, but at no point should any of us stop thinking critically, or subjugate ourselves to the people, and adopt the rantings of lunatics no matter how angry we might be. instead, invoke the serenity prayer.
3
Josh, you made me speechless reading about how greed can drive a man to cause so much hate. Thank you!
3
@Bo But, is it greed? Obviously he is well rewarded for his behavior, but it sounds like the crazy paranoia have a reality, although it might be pretty far from simply believing that what he is saying is true. (Or, if you are talking about Josh himself, he was apparently deeply into the act for quite a while, not just collecting a paycheck.)
2
Alex Jones in an entertainer. The more crazy he is the more he stands out and the bigger his audience potential is.
If he could make more money turning into a left wing crazy he would do it in a minute. The same applies to Hannity, Limbaugh etc. With the "main stream media" being branded as liberal/socialist/anti American, there is a lot less competition on the right wing media side.
If liberals want to combat Fox News, give them some competition from the right. Start a couple of more News/Entertainment companies that are even more partisan and crazy than they are.
5
It would be good to see this article posted on Fox or Breitbart, where it is needed more. On the NYT, he's just preaching to the choir.
12
@CincyBroad I don’t think it would make a bit of difference. Just read the comment from “Lane” after yours.
Conspiracy theories abound. What's the difference between Alex Jones far out constructs and Democrat narratives insisting Russia/Trump collusion is fact.
1
I suspect that you do not know what a conspiracy theory is. Conspiracy theories are based on a loose collection of “facts” or possibly alternative facts which have little to no basis in reality. They are replete with alternative versions of fact which often are based on what an individual wants to believe and cannot be documented. The Trump/Russia conspiracy is not a theory. It has been endlessly documented by reputable fact based organizations (all of the governmental intelligence agencies). The Mueller report provides a clear primer to the basis of this conspiracy.
6
@Lane: Well, the short answer is, lots. I suppose there are some versions of anti-Trump theories that are pretty out there: probably he doesn't actually get instructions from Putin over the phone on a regular basis. But that the Russians busily aided his campaign, and that he and his people were aware of it, is pretty well known.
7
@Lane Maybe it's because documented facts have demonstrated that Trump invited and benefited from Russian interference in the 2016 election? Perhaps you missed the points in the article where the author recounts how stories are constructed to bolster Jones's set narrative, whether it's true or not. Go back and reread.
6
Owens has some work to do. He needs to go to a Trump rally and explain to the people directly the lies they've been told, and how their intelligence and country have been compromised by alcoholic narcissists. NY Times readers probably already know, at least about Jones' lies.
12
Josh. You’re a pretty good writer. Thanks.
3
The bison. That tells me all I need to know about this man.
37
One wonders how many of the commenters sitting in judgment of Mr. Owens have jobs that also can and do regularly ruin people's lives -- health insurance claims adjustors, pharmacy benefit analysts, pharmaceutical company managers, hospital bill collectors, etc., etc.
7
@Hypatia I guess it's all a matter of degree, no? Mr. Owens willingly engaged in creating and perpetuating the dangerous conspiracy theories and lies that fill RW websites and publications, and in many ways have led to the election of Trump and the poisonous political atmosphere we live in. If we take your example, then perhaps we should also equate what he did to truck drivers and frequent fliers who contribute to air pollution, anyone who eats meat for contributing to the appalling conditions in the agriculture industry, people who buy anything made in China for their abysmal factory conditions, and on and on. The article is about Mr. Owens and his choice to enable Alex Jones, not what everyone else is contributing in their own small way to the ruination of the world.
3
The bit about Jones torturing that mighty Bison before being urged to end it's misery brought me to tears. This example demonstrates everything you need to know about this sick individual. I would have quit on the spot.
Frankly, I would have been tempted to turn the gun on him to end the misery he has caused so many.
35
Unless he has some proof, this article will be dismissed by Jones and his followers. The author will be smeared as a deep state spy doing exactly what he accuses Jones of doing. Even proof may not be enough. We are beyond facts these days.
11
Thanks, in part, to the author’s own work.
3
Josh,
You will carry the weight of your contribution to hate and lies fed to those vulnerable to it, for the rest of your life. There will be those who can never forgive you and those who will. I am one who will. That little girl you saw, that you truly saw for who she was,was the grace you needed to change.
We can only hope that those like you, including those in our own government, willing to follow, create and are complicit with the lies of our POTUS, can find their moment of Grace that tells them that this must stop. They must stop and come back to the truth for the good of their own souls and the good of the country that they serve. I hope each and everyone of them reads your words and are ready to hear them. I would hope that they must be as tired and upset at themselves for their years of participation in this shameful "reality show" being played by DT to harm this country as you were by now....
11
I’m thankful that the author came forward and agree that offering a “soft landing” to people that do so is what we should aim for. My hope is that this piece, and more like it, are published where people who watch InfoWars might actually read it.
9
The same story could be written for any organ of the right-wing propaganda-for-profit industry.
Spinning half-truths, over-simplifications, distortions and outright lies to know-nothings may provide a lucrative income, but it's soul-killing and is destroying our democracy.
8
Josh,
Obviously you are a talented writer and a probing thinker. When you pull away from such a powerful force, and finally break free, you tend to slingshot far in the other direction before bouncing back. I think this article may be your arrival at a mid-point of sorts.
Welcome.
P
4
Kind of a Glengarry Glen Ross atmosphere. I guess truth really is stranger than friction. Even more amazing, there are people who actually believe the vile stuff Jones puts out.
6
Reading this, I couldn't help but think of domestic violence. Alex Jones treats his employees the way an abusive partner treats his spouse. Berating, demeaning, and humiliating one minute, caring and sensitive the next. It's enough to drive anyone crazy, as millions of abused women can attest.
And the inevitable, hectoring question: "Well, why didn't you just leave?! Nobody forced you to stay!"
Talk about missing the forest for the trees.
13
@Lisa Simeone I had the exact same thought reading this piece. Jones appears to be a master of manipulating people into staying in an abusive situation. I'm glad the author finally found his way out. Here's hoping others do as well.
3
@Lisa Simeone
IIIRC, Jones has been defending himself in court against claims of similar violence toward his family.
This article throws up HUGE domestic violence/intimate terrorism flags in Jones' treatment of his staff.
3
If Alex Jones really didn’t want to “do it,” he could stop any time he wanted. He could dry out, get therapy, confess his sins publicly, and try to help the people he has so horribly misled over the years out of the disinformation zone. I’m not saying he’d be embraced, but he might find an ounce of redemption if he tried to do the right thing.
3
@Farina When I read that part, my assumption was that Jones was simply echoing what he picked up from Owens, as a means of getting Owens back into the fold and under control again. Totally manipulative on Jones' part, in a not unusual way. He is much deeper into this than Owens ever was. But I suppose at some point, he might exhaust the rewards of whatever it is that he is doing, and retire in some sense. Who knows?
2
For sure. But at the same time, Jones’ divorce and his lawsuit must have some kind of affect. I hope?
1
Mental illness is not an excuse for spewing hate and propaganda.
Most of us can spot mental illness, racism, hatred, homophobia, anti-Semitism and xenophobia from afar. Our children aren't learning important lessons at home or at school and are falling for much of the propaganda being served up to them.
We shouldn't be allowing the purveyors of propaganda to be on TV, the internet, or anywhere else. It's not a First Amendment issue. It's an issue of saving our democracy and protecting our venerable Constitution. Which one will we choose and when?
7
It clearly begs the question. Is Trump simply a pale version Alex?
5
Compare Josh Owens' experience with Alex Jones to White Evangelicals' experience with Trump. Trump has proven to be the antithesis of everything the evangelicals profess to believe -- and yet they are rock solid in their support of Trump!
Josh was young, inexperienced, and confused.
What's your excuse, white evangelicals?
17
Ahhh, the old invincibility of youth. These vultures like Trump, Jones and many, many others have always been the grim reaper of young people everywhere. Usually it begins with young boys playing army with sticks and making pretend machine gun noises and such. As a mere boy of perhaps 3 or 4 I thought Indians were some kind of army of evil savages and cowboys the conquering army of good. I later had fantasies of tramping around jungles to kill "commies" watching the evening news of the Vietnam war.. It even includes playing sports. Our team vs the evil bad guys who must be defeated at any cost and all this youthful nonsense eventually matures to political hatred of "the other side".
Perhaps the human race will someday wise up and outright outlaw sending young men off to war and instead making is merely an old man's game, but I certainly won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen. In the meantime we all have to remain vigilant for the conspiracy mongers always ready to sell us the next reason to kill anyone not on "our team".
5
Well-written. Absorbing at times. I wouldn't worry about your career going forward. (I mean, if Alex Rodriguez and Pete Rose can be commentators on Fox....) That said, it also feels like your piece could be used as compelling witness testimony in someone's lawsuit against Jones and Infowars.
5
I had an encounter with Alex Jones in a restaurant parking lot in Austin not long ago. I challenged him on Sandy Hook,
in front of my grandchildren, and he was just as menacing and rude as you might imagine. I saw the misery and evil in his face as he screamed at me.
My son quickly intervened because, as he said, anyone that unhinged probably carries a weapon.
Sorry it took this writer so long to break free but I’m glad he did. I’d like to see a few more of these epiphanies documented in the NYT, by members of the trump cult.
22
Thanks for this piece Josh. It's not easy to admit you were wrong, and less so in a nationally-syndicated paper.
What struck me is your characterization of Jones. It reminded me of somebody else who is currently a hot topic. Jones seemed less like a diabolical genius who had mastered the 'art of the conspiracy' and more like a compulsive bully who found it easier to believe his own fictions and inhabit the fictitious world they generated, than to give the game up and admit he's just a two-bit crackpot (apparently with a penchant for vodka).
6
Now go, and sin no more.
3
What a fantastic article!
2
Yesterday we heard from a right wing Republican prosecutor who regrets his vehement support for the death penalty. Now we have Mr. Owens. Arrogant right wingers regretting the damage they caused after years of causing damage. Gee, sorry I ruined a bunch of lives.
It just seems like opportunism and expediency to me, as I never doubt the insincerity of right wing zealots.
5
I was 18 when I heard of Alex Jones. At the time, America had been waging war with Iraq for two years, based on American's naive associations between the country and 9/11, and in line with the vision of Rumsfeld and Cheney's Project for a New American century. Jones seemed like the only one who recognized the danger of a government that can spin the narrative so easily.
I became a 9/11 truther. I passed out literature at movie theaters showing films about the event. It was the only thing I could do which brought order to what seemed to me like a disordered world. I viewed my self as an information warrior. My effort created tension between me and my family and friends. Self-righteousness is a toxic life style.
But I didn't stay absorbed with his worldview. It only required a viewing of a few of films to realize that they're all the same incoherent ramblings of a narcissist. It's easy to spot when someone is lying to you, they're trying to sell you something.
Later, a family member showed me the NIH report from engineers who debunked many of the 9/11 conspiracies. I still didn't trust the government, but it didn't seem plausible that thousands of people could be involved in a cover up that cost the lives of so many. Facts really are the best antidote.
I too contributed to the early buzz of Alex Jones. Given the pain he's caused so many people, I regret this. Thanks you Josh Owens for speaking out.
57
@Nielad, thank you for your comment. Thank you for being open to listening when your family and friends brought you truth and evidence. That’s called, wisdom, which sadly many Americans are lacking right now. Be well, you give me hope.
10
"Welcome back to the fight. This time I know our side will win."
"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
5
You write well, Mr. Owens. That last paragraph was beautiful. I hope it's sincere.
23
One way I keep my equilibrium in these weird times is to believe that everyone has a tipping point. The ceaseless flow of outrageous behavior on the political right offers daily opportunities for subscribers to reassess their allegiance to right-wing ideology. The reason I think this is that I used to be a Republican. When Bush took us into Iraq, that was a bridge too far for me and I switched parties. It can happen. We each have a personal "bridge too far."
20
I believe Mr. Owens' experience as an Alex Jones employee is much like the experiences of Alex Jones followers, writ large. There was, for him (and them) a certain thrill at being "Fox Mulder combing through the X-Files" -- feeling like you have access to the "real truth" behind world events.
The only casualty is to the soul, and taken as a whole, the truth. Mr. Owens is right: pursuit of these conspiracies hurts people, and attacks on the truth hurt the country. I'm glad for him that he is out of it. I hope Alex Jones's followers, QAnon's followers, and other right-wing "cultists" take heed.
17
it's encouraging that he finally realized the error of his ways, but hard to understand why it took so long for him to realize that making things up and passing it off as "news" was dead wrong.
31
I'm just unable to understand why it took this man so long to see the evil he and others were doing.
He has now found a moral compass and denounces Jones and, in a way, himself.
However, redemption comes with both the realization of one's wrongs but the determination to apologize and to ask forgiveness for those wrongs.
Writing this article was very good. But an apology to those whose children at Sandy Hook were slandered and harassed by Jones et al, the Muslims at their small town, and so many more seems more appropriate to me.
28
I suggest he start by working to expose more than what he discusses in this article. Bring the whole thing down.
I suggest he look at the privileges he has (white male, college opportunity) and figure out how to dissect his very normal 23 year old feelings of ‘anger and vulnerability’ to get at job at McDonald’s or a grocery store NOT working for a known conspiracy theorist who gives him a credit card.
I suggest that he do the very hard work that is necessary for personal and social redemption.
He didn’t steal Susie’s lunch, and writing a note to her about how it was wrong to do so is not redemption.
I suggest that we recognize effort, of course, but we shouldn’t diminish real accountability simply because we’ve convinced ourselves, in the age of Trump, that any amount of reflection--no matter how limited, is a replacement for true personal accountability.
18
Sorry, Mr. Owens but you are not there yet. Yes, this is a slice of "tell some" rather than "tell all". Perhaps you were too low on the totem pole to know which companies are backing Jones little sales operation. There is more here than this piece reveals.
As to you, there is little contrition in any real sense ,as feeling true remorse requires you to go beyond "how could I be so thick and join up with this person Jones?" Feeling compassion for others is a first step, but not enough. You helped fuel wild and dangerous untrue propaganda and sick conspiracy theories which trigger the unstable and the poorly educated among us. Your road to redemption is not yet completed.
23
@Unworthy Servant "There is more here than this piece reveals."
I actually believe you, but back it up. Without some kind of proof, this sounds exactly like something Jones would gabble.
2
@Unworthy Servant: On the other hand, how judgemental should we be, based on one article in the NYT? What can we know about the depth of his contrition and so on? I mean, jeez Louise!
Unless of course, you have been staying up talking to this guy till three AM, like, sharing the secrets of your souls... which I doubt is the case. But who knows?
1
"At 23, I was vulnerable, angry and searching for direction, so I decided to give it a shot."
Mate that's not supposed to be an age you put in that sentence. That's an adult's age.
21
Reading this, I was struck with the personality similarities between Jones and Trump. What happened to these men in their early lives to make them into the people they became?
15
Chrissy says "sad that a 28 year old couldn’t see the humanity in someone until he sat next to them on a plane. .... How can we teach people compassion for our fellow humans?"
By sitting next to them on a plane. Not literally of course, although if that situation arises, sure. I am an old white guy who teaches at an high school with the demographics that one might come to expect. Our school is two miles from one of the largest universities in the world and is bordered by one of the wealthiest communities in the state. For the most part, the kids in my school and the folks in those other areas might as well be on opposite sides of the moon from one another. De facto segregation and income inequalities have means that if we are sitting next to someone on a plane, chances are they are more like us than not.
15
What I'd like to know is why it took years for the author to realize what most people would figure out in about five minutes.
25
@Frank O On the other hand, if most people could "figure it out in five minutes", then we wouldn't have Trump in the White House, would we?
3
@Frank O: When a guy like Alex Jones has twenty million followers, I'd think twice about claiming that "most people" could figure it out. It's quite apparent that many people cannot tell the difference between news and entertainment. Even worse, they prefer the entertainment to the news.
3
Sometimes people who have done wrong can change, regret their mistakes and atone for them. It's not for me to judge this guy's run at redemption. Here's my problem: He freely admits he has lied, fabricated stories out of whole cloth, freely participated in outrageous hoaxes and cruel conspiracy theories, for money. How do we know he's stopped? Being nice to a little girl on a plane might generously be called a step in the right direction. It's also a clever writer's moral symbolism that falls far short of substantive, meaningful atonement.
21
@Bill Palmer
Why think like an Alex Jones groupie? Take 'em at his word until proven otherwise.
1
This is a good example of an intrapsychic conflict made external. Clearly Alex Jones is a man in deep pain and whose inability to see his own conflict projected onto others has wide-ranging implications for the rest of us.
4
It's such a sad reflection of our society that so many people listen to this fraud Jones. I'm glad the author found his way out of Jones' dark web.
5
I guess Jones isn’t “just a performer”. Great piece. Really enjoyed it.
3
This article isn't just about Jones or Owens - it's also about how easy it is to be manipulated and abused by an employer, especially in your early 20's (so often it's called "paying your dues"). How many people reading this have asked themselves "is this ok?" about their current work situation? Chances are, it's not. Don't let the spectacle of Jones betray what is a very common and very damaging reality for so many young people starting their careers. If it feels like a cult....
5
The sad part is that for every Josh Owens there are a dozen eager, gullible, willing 20-somethings ready to make the world a little more dangerous to live in.
I can't even imagine a scenario in which this vicious cycle ends.
9
I hope this article will help end Alex Jones' career in the mainstream spotlight. Not counting on it, but I hope for it nevertheless. The damage Jones and his cynical, hate-mongering colleagues have generated is shocking and sad.
6
Maybe there’s a reason for Jones to constantly quaff alcohol from a paper cup.
7
People die, democracies die because of the likes of Alex Jones. I wonder if Mr. Owens couldn't use his skills with video for counter measures. Even at a volunteer level I am sure adding to the "good" is much needed. Pictures are often better than words for mind share. I would also wish him a better class of friends, co-workers, and mentors. His tale strikes me as sad.
9
If Josh Owens is seeking atonement, or redemption, or anything approximating reentry into the realm of human decency, he should start by apologizing to the Sandy Hook parents in person, not asking for forgiveness but with genuine contrition, then back that up with action to expose Alex Jones and the entire right-wing lie machine not just to the readership of the New York Times, but on every conservative platform he can find. Fox News would be a good start.
30
"And for what? Clickbait headlines, YouTube views?" This is the world we have created. More and more egregious behavior for clicks that exist in a virtual world. I'm glad the author started to live in the real world with real people. I wish more people would put down social media, turn off their phones, tune out divisive rhetoric... and just start living in the real world.
4
We all have made mistakes in our lives and we all have regrets.
None of us know that much about you Josh. You may have had a great beginning and privileged life or not. We know this - It was very brave of you to write about this and submit it to the NY Times for publication.
I applaud you for exposing this mans lies and hope, as I am sure you do as well, that it makes a difference.
7
All well and good but where's the recognition for the decent people who've never had to come back from such a disgraceful lifestyle?
Really, between this guy and "Anonymous," why do we celebrate people who should've done the right thing from the beginning but just didn't?
13
@Graham Hackett: It's pretty frustrating to think that if we, as good guys, were to write articles about how we've been pretty much right all along, the NYT might not be interested. I think the Prodigal Son's brother had some complaints along those lines.
4
@Graham Hackett THANK YOU for saying this! I guess our stories are not click bait!! But we are here and our stability keeps our communities grounded. I just hope there are enough of us!
2
Josh, Great Article. I've been there, and you've got nothing to be hesitant or reluctant over. You needed a job. One fell into your lap. You took it. And, under extreme circumstances, you managed well, well enough for responsibility and raises.
Don't ever be ashamed or allow anyone to shame you.
That's important, how well you managed, and anyone who doesn't see that doesn't deserve comment. Look 'em in the eye and ask what they've done to pay the rent. You'd be surprised.
There are lots of drunken bosses in the world, sociopath/ psychopaths don't walk around with signs over their heads advertising how far they've left the path of decency, a lot of them make 20, 40 mill a year doing horrible anti social damage running 'respectable' organizations, like the NFL, Boeing, UFC, Ciba.
Remember the good bosses, right? Do your best to follow their examples, you'll do right the right thing by those sober courageous principled bosses who tough it out everyday if you follow their examples.
You mentioned a 'high priced' film school in your piece; I hate education most days because it gets perverted by money, but I love learning and discovery.
There are good principled educators in the world who love learning and discovery as much as you do. Find them and finish your degree, because if there's one thing in this world that can't ever be taken away from you, and I do mean ever, it's a good education and that little piece of paper that says so.
All the best. Great article. I've been there.
5
@angry veteran Yes, but there was a little more to it than just taking a job for the money: Owens was apparently pretty attracted by the craziness, too... if not absolutely all of it.
1
Brave, insightful and very well written. Thank you Josh.
1
I wish Mr. Owens the best and hope he continues to expose this sort of thing. Mr. Jones sounds to me like an extremely petulant 2 or 3 year old that likes to make up stories and have temper tantrums over everything including the color of toilet paper. Most 2-3 years olds make up stories, it's called imagination. They also have temper tantrums from time to time. The key here is that a 2-3 year old child knows that stories are fun but not real and they outgrow the tantrums when they are not fruitful. Why rational adults listen to Alex Jones? Not a clue here. Evidently some of those who work for him question that as well.
3
Time. Maturity. Perspective.
It took all three of those for Josh Owens to see the error of his ways.
Courage. Character. Strength.
More significantly, it too all three of those for Josh Owens to escape the rabbit hole, rather than doubling down, as so many others in his position would have.
Josh, now that you've made it out, I hope you will use your gifts -- your words -- to tell the truth about what's going on in these pockets of fake news that purport to be "real journalism." I'm sure you've got plenty of stories, in even more detail, that would blow the roof off these insidious propaganda-for-profit schemes that are destroying American politics and society.
You joined Jones because you thought you could be an agent for change.
Now, you really do have that opportunity. Please don't waste it.
5