Yup, all monetized. Quite in the same way that all people, poor and rich, have money.
Glad you noted this. The many YouTube channels on one side or another have different stances, and disagree as to much in this non-NATO war between thugs.
As to dueling YouTUbe videos, and per your earlier observation, the pro-Z content and their content creators are -- hands down -- the champs at raising money for themselves. Quite the cottage industry. Therefore confirmation bias decides which "Kaboom" daily salvo anyone thinks to hit some mark. And click. Donate, subscribe, be a sponsor, buy a t-shirt. Or book. Self-promotion all around. And dare not disagree.
My attention was first drawn to the Free Republic 'game' by only two daily threads, as a number of behaviors were observable, quite distinct from all the other posts and threads and comments. While you know this, clever fellow you, I detail for others:
1) Both threads involve clear pro-Z stances;The above points are most particular. They are not found in any other Freeper thread over these last months.2) Both threads' participants employ name calling in one way or another to paint any disagreement --- let's call it 'dissent,' per your observation about Belarus in your comment to me -- as pro-P, when there are third and more stances;
3) Both threads have for many months begun with a specific and constant first reference;
4) Both threads shows multiple comments by the originator of the thread, numbering in the tens and more sometimes;
5) Both threads have a small "cast of characters" as regulars, daily taking up the same call;
6) Both threads have shown "Comment # -- Removed by Moderator", but this one is the champ in this behavior;
7) Both threads have repeatedly trotted out Forum rules as a "helpful hint" and the like, but only in part;
8) And both threads have assiduously ignored Robinson's acknowledgment that there is "a difference of opinion whether or not the US government should be involved in a controversial foreign war where we were not attacked," such that reviewing the last month my repeating this text seems quite singular;
9) Both threads seem not to be convincing any new readers to their "cause";
10) Both threads ignore the rapidly growing US debt, as of this day about $32,702,760,234,623, as if money for Z or any other "strategic" effort worldwide is a small matter.
Clever fellow you, as I noted, you already know this. So the ensuing argumentation between us is "just for fun," I would think. And from you, I take it as such.
As to the operators of these two very anomalous threads, far outside the general behavior of Freepers, there is something consistent, far beyond merely being pro-Z. I think it to do with that "cottage" industry and, as we both see, promotion pays.
What doesn't pay, obviously costs. For the US -- where you say you do not reside -- that cost grows precipitously. Thereby is this nation further weakened.
“The pro-Z content and their content creators are — hands down — the champs at raising money for themselves. “
Because, of course, they are much more popular. Globally, I believe. This reflects the general public opinion in re Ukraine vs Russia.
As for FR, you misunderstand. FR is a niche place of no consequence in the general public discourse. There is a trivial amount of real-world value in it, either in money or influence. We are all just hobbyists, using FR mainly out of habit, out of long residence here.
There may be some professional Russian participants, and I suspect several, but they are barking up the wrong tree. Maybe its because their employers have old leftover accounts from when FR was much more influential.
As for the consistent partisans in this matter, both sides are largely the same groups of people.