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Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Facebook Nazis

Update: As of 11/26/16, my Facebook account has been restored.

Addendum at the end of the post



I’ve been banned from Facebook.

My account has been suspended supposedly for violation of community standards.

My profile is still active, you can still access the page and comment on posts that haven’t been deleted by Facebook. But I myself am locked out.  I can’t post, comment, or access the Facebook messenger system.

 

The community standard I violated is apparently the one where you’re not allowed to criticize actual, no fooling, Nazis.

 

Yes, actual Nazis.

That’s right, I was banned for criticizing an actual Nazi.

This is the post that got me banned:

I don't envy Mike Godwin, his law is getting a hell of a workout

I've got hundreds of angry messages here telling me to stop calling Trump supporters fascists. And I would, except for the part where I keep running into ACTUAL FUCKING NAZIS.

This guy for example. He's upset at my "brand of profanity" (I used the term "ball-gargling" in reference to Sean Hannity. My apologies, but as a retired military officer and professional writer when I see somebody gargling balls I'm required by law to use the technical term. I digress), but sees nothing profane about naming himself after an infamous French collaborator and member of the Waffen SS. Not to mention his "heroes" are literally a list of fascists, fascist murderers who became the actual Nazi party, and white supremacists.

And then there's "Jewry." Just right there, in a sentence, like you know that's something people who aren't Nazis do.

So again, you don't want to be called a Nazi?

Then stop hanging out with actual Nazis. Just stop it. Stop it. Stop it.

Stop hanging out with Nazis. Don't be polite to Nazis. Don't think that the First Amendment means you have to be respectful of Nazis. Don't pretend Nazis have a valid point of view. They're Nazis.

Stop standing next to Nazis.

Stop acting like Nazis.

Stop cheering Nazis.

Stop voting for the people Nazis vote for.

They're fucking NAZIS. You don't have to be polite to them. It's okay to hate them. They're fucking NAZIS.

And for the love of Dread Cthulhu, stop using the word "Jewry."

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Now, nothing I posted violates Facebook’s community standards.

If you plug “Henri Fenet” into Facebook’s search function, you’ll find literally hundreds of neo-Nazis praising the ideology of Nazism on Facebook. Talking about Nazis is okay. Posting comments favorable to Nazis is okay.  Being an actual Nazi is okay with Facebook.

Nor is it use of profanity, in fact, if you type “fuck” into Facebook’s search function, you will literally find tens of thousands of results of that word posted to Facebook, including actual Facebook Communities and Groups that use the word in their titles. For example:

image


In fact, those who complained to Facebook about the post, flagged it as “spam” because they couldn’t find an actual violation of Facebook’s community standards – despite the fact that my post is obviously not spam by any definition including Facebook’s.

So Facebook removed the post and then banned me from the platform for the next 24 hours.

The people who do this sort of thing, do so specifically in order to silence people they don’t like, not because they are actually offended. This is targeted harassment specifically designed to suppress people like me.

In my case, I’ve been targeted by certain rabidly obnoxious members of the Science Fiction community and more recently by actual neo-Nazis and Trump supporters. These people spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing over my Facebook page and scheming to find ways to have me shut down.

As I noted the last time this happened, unfortunately this is the risk you take when you sign on to Facebook and other social media sites.  You don’t control the platform. Hell, you can’t even talk to the those who run the platform. And the size of it makes any attempt at real-time moderation by the platform managers a complete joke. Neither Facebook nor Twitter has made any real effort to prevent harassment, bullying, or any of the other more unfortunate aspects of social media. And Facebook has made no effort whatsoever to prevent abuse of their system and they’ve made it impossible for the victims to do anything about it. They are in fact complicit and they are very likely to become more so in the future. 

My ban from the platform is the result of Facebook’s lousy architecture, which lets bullies and harassers abuse Facebook’s automated system – a system that was supposedly put in place to make Facebook safer – and I have absolutely no recourse for protest or appeal.

Despite the fact that I personally bring more than 90,000 people to the table on Facebook every single day, the people who profit from the content I create simply don’t care.

If Facebook was serious about their supposed commitment to free speech and the safety of their users, they would take immediate steps to publicly remove those who abuse the system. But not only do they not remove those who abuse the system, they actively protect those abusers and keep them anonymous.

 

I’d like to say that this won’t silence me, or keep me from posting to the community I’ve created on Facebook.

 

But the truth of the matter is that it very well could no matter what my determination might be.

If Facebook allows fascists, Nazis, Sad Puppies, racists, bigots, haters, and other assorted mal-adapted bilge to continue to abuse their system, then it’s likely I’ll be permanently banned from the platform. And I have no control over that – less I choose to knuckle under, raise my arm, and shout Sieg Heil with the raging mob.

Those who know me, know that I am a veteran who fought under the flag of the United States of America for more than 20 years, who fought for what that flag used to represent, can probably guess which way I’ll go.

Given America’s new acceptance of fascism, I suspect platforms like Facebook and Twitter will either have to become more accommodating of actual fascist ideology and less tolerant of people like me, or risk going to the wall themselves – especially given that our new president has made it very clear that he intends to directly control how the media, including social media, reports on his administration.

I guess we’ll find out.


Addendum: Comments on this post are now well over 200. When that happens, if you want to see all of the comments, including those nested under other comments, then you have to scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “load more.” You may have to do this several times. // Jim

491 comments:

  1. You are one of the canaries in the coal mine. I am deeply disturbed by efforts to silence, discredit and demean writers, journalists, artists and people of every stripe who are speaking out.

    Silence=Death

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Given the real purpose that the canaries served, and their fate, I'm not so sure I would feel comfortable with such a tag. But then I guess the point is that when the canary is silenced, shit's about to get real.
      Keep singing, Jim.
      There are still more of us than they know.

      Delete
    2. I shared with the paltry number of people to whom I have access.
      I'm not willing to give up to the fascists.
      I can go through 12 hours of labor, I can do without Jim for 24 hours.
      But it still sucks. It's still wrong. and it still needs to be fixed.

      Delete
    3. I filed a complaint with Facebook; hope it goes somewhere.

      Delete
    4. That statement is offensive to canaries!

      Delete
    5. How can I file a complaint with Facebook???

      Delete
    6. Well, it's SHARED on Facebook. We'll see if they try to ban me, too.

      Delete
    7. WOW. The guy who said that I should be gang raped wasn't banned and his post wasn't removed, but this one was. What the hell are their standards?

      Delete
    8. Ditto. Also sent a FB message to Zuckerberg.

      Delete
    9. Shared as well, from David Gerrold's page. They cannot silence all of us.

      Delete
  2. Ugh. So sorry, man. I hope to have you back there, I value greatly the dialogue you create on that platform.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have been feeling more and more that I am done with Facebook. This just sealed the deal for me. My first reaction was that you had to be kidding. But I know you're not, and that's just sickening.

    (And typo? 90,000,000? 90,000? I dunno... just seemed very high to me, but, what do I know?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's exactly what the right-wing enemies of the people want: left-wingers to abandon Facebook so they can continue their takeover of the US.

      Stay.

      Delete
    2. Yeah. That's what I've been telling myself. It's just... NAUSEATING!!

      Delete
    3. Jim has over 4800 FB friends and is followed by nearly 87,000 people. Unless most or all of his friends are also followers, that gives him over 90,000 people interested in his words.

      Delete
    4. Preposterous actions by Facebook, If it acts and looks like a Nazi then its a NAZI.

      Delete
    5. Great job shipmate. Keep at it.

      Delete
    6. Agree. People have to stop using abandonment as a tool to fight the fascists; that's not how you win the war.

      Better to do what I do when something like this happens, which is to share the banned author's post and urge others of like mind to do the same. If nothing else, it keeps the trolls busy playing whack-a-mole.

      Delete
    7. I am German. People in my rural Missouri town are totally clueless aboutl Nazis. Hitler rose the same way Trump is rising now. Smh.

      Delete
  4. This is more than a little messed up. It's disturbing that a sufficient minority of technically savvy ideologues can silence someone they don't like on a supposedly neutral platform.

    The nerds who make these moderation engines need to get this fixed and fast.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Replies
    1. Go to Twitter and report any Tweet from Henri Fenet that in any way shows evidence of his Nazi collaboration.

      Delete
    2. Good idea. I hate to follow those assholes though. Will add that to my morning twitter to-do list.

      Delete
    3. Done. It doesn't even have to be Nazi collaboration, you can report him for:

      choose - being abusive or harmful
      then choose - directing hate towards a race, religion, gender or orientation
      then choose - a group of people
      then from the list it shows, choose five of his tweets (these are words he's posted, not retweets) that promote white supremacism or bigotry - the "jewry" posts are good one, plus there's several against diversity, promoting the white race. Click show more if needed. Do this as many times as you can and spread the word. Twitter is claiming they're working to shut down hate, help them do it. Report David Duke while you're there too.

      Delete
  6. Why doesn't the mainstream media call a spade a spade in regards to Trump, his supporters and those in his administration? Are they willing to let this kind of un American garbage proliferate unchecked in exchange for not possibly losing access? Are they afraid of this guy? Nazi's becoming mainstream in America; Christ, not exactly what I served 8 years of my life to preserve and protect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You mean the media stars who met with him then went home and cried because he was mean to them? That media? The ones for whom access is the be-all and end-all of their existence, and they'll kiss any available butt to ensure they have it?

      Delete
  7. rather than post long-form on FB you should share the intro para and then link over to here. Use them as a distribution mechanism, but siphon off as much of their oxygen as you can in the process. Maybe look at cross-posting to Disapora and other communities as well as being a part of #Indieweb community. I suspect your audience cares more about you and your message than they do about Facebook

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought that very thing myself. Now, he shouldn't have to, but it's a damn good idea. Summarise, politely, link to here.

      Delete
    2. I have been doing that for a while now. I refuse to give my content to Facebook for free. I keep it on my blogs.

      Delete
    3. I dunno, y'all. While that might be a good work-around to Facebook's inadequacies, think for a moment what that would be like for *Jim* in attempting to real-time moderate his comment streams. I am in complete awe that he can keep up with fb, twitter, and this blog as it is; were there even more?? Good gravy, the man really does have to sleep *sometimes*!!

      Delete
  8. I guess we all must now post a link to this on Facebook. I know I will.

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  9. My dad and all of my uncles from both sides are in national cemetaries and are rolling in their graves.

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  10. this is disgusting! So, I shared, and I suspect many of your other minions will share this. We cannot allow our community to be silenced.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes, whose cage do we need to rattle? We may be gruel eatin, whiskey slingin, cat pic cooing minions, but we can rattle some cages!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. damn straight, no chaser. Minion Local 702 has been posting and reposting original with pics all over FB. Because fuckity fuck fuck. Lord LittleHands is #NotMyFührer

      Delete
  12. We sadly know which side Facebook is on...

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  13. I have been on the receiving end of a ban like this. Your posts are something I always look forward to. I hope this doesn't deter you from your posting.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is very disturbing. And personally disappointing as well. You have always said the things I was thinking but could not articulate. I'm sorry this happened and I hope it is only temporary.

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  15. Putting a link to this article on my FB page.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sorry to hear that the FBnazis have struck. I suppose that it won't be the last time..nor will you be the only one.Those of us who oppose this crap are going to be targeted.Keep doing what you are doing though; as it is indeed a valuable point of view and in these times we need that. Stay strong my friend,there are many who will stand with you. I am one.
    Be well. ==(:*D

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sent in a support request gentley telling them they better escalate this - I doubt anything will happen, of course as 99% or the things I send them are "No, that's not spam!" "That's not a racist comment!"

    You're special, Jim. You can piss off more people before 8am than I can all week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is exactly what I was thinking! Every time I report actual hate speech, spam, etc, I get the message that it "does not violate our Community Standards." They're wrong, and they should know they're wrong in how they choose to enforce these things, but I don't think they care.

      Delete
  18. Shared and posted - while Fb could ban all of us, that hits diminishing returns very quickly.

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  19. And this was orchestrated by the same people who whine about the progressive "echo chamber," and like to disparage the "perpetually offended."

    ReplyDelete
  20. Okay, Jim, so what can we do to help you (if anything)? Donations? Emails to Facebook? What? I am unable to comment on your Facebook posts, but my wife and I love them. I don't mind coming here for your posts, but Facebook was not only convenient, it was/is where I can share posts I agree with so others can see them - not that I cannot simply copy a link to one of your posts...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, don't feel bad. I can't comment on my Facebook page either.

      Too soon?

      All of the things you mention would certainly help, but Facebook isn't exactly responsive to user complaints and I doubt even an email barrage would get their attention or do anything to change their mind. So long as they keep making billions for Mark Zuckerberg, they're not likely to change.

      Delete
    2. Ha ha! True, you can't do anything on your Facebook page!

      Well, in the meantime, I will donate. I will write. I will continue to visit this site and share your posts on Facebook. Keep posting the good posts and fighting the good fight!

      Delete
    3. I like the monthly recurring donation option myself. Easy as pie.

      Delete
    4. I vote we post and share and re-post and urge all our friends, relatives and fellow minions to do so too. Wouldn't it be great if this story made Facebook's trending stories list?

      Delete
    5. I reposted this on my FB page. I also posted a question of FB's Community Help page.

      Delete
  21. Tor and Freenet. Both underutilized for precisely the purpose they were created for, which is this.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Happy to share your Blog on my Facebook page...

    ReplyDelete
  23. Shared and posted on FB. I will never cease to be flabbergasted by the lack of acceptance for facts and truth while blindly accepting lies. Why are humans so dedicated to their own misconceptions and false realities?

    ReplyDelete
  24. Zuckerburg and Co. have not exactly been handling this whole fake news, abusive posts, and inappropriate behavior situation well recently. I've heard quite a few negative news stories about how they have been slow to respond, have had to backtrack and revise statements, and have generally been acting like corporate assholes. Offloading their "moderation" efforts to off-shore, third-world tech farms has not been well-received and has generated a lot of criticism.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm sorry FB banned you, Jim. right now it seems one can say/write offensive/fascist/nazi things as long as they use bland, inoffensive words, I.e. "areJews people" vs, for example, "I am a proud anti-Semite".

    Godwin's law has come around to bite us in the ass. for many, the words Nazi, Nazism, fascism, Hitler, have lost their concrete meaning and are just hurled as insults.

    ReplyDelete
  26. This is disturbing on so many levels and should be appealed. Never stop writing from your heart and telling it like it is.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've posted your Twitter message with the link to here on my Facebook feed, but damn....what the fuck is wrong with Facebook?

    ReplyDelete
  28. So, this is totally automated, and has nothing to do with the content of his post or his motivations. It's the same stuff that Google gets hit for on YouTube, where enough people flag something they disagree with as "spam" or "offensive" that Google removes it, and then requires human interaction to undo. As long as there are any thresholds that get content removed and/or users banned (usually temporarily) if their content is flagged enough by the rest of the community, this will happen.

    ReplyDelete
  29. There should not be a "Report Post" option. If someone doesn't like a post the only option should be to block further posts from appearing in their individual news feed. I spent a career programming computers and learned early on that no software is perfect. Hopefully FB will fix this.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Facebook community standards = oxymoron.

    (There's some karma there in the word oxy'moron'.)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Kafka couldn't have done a better job if he'd designed Facebook as a part of one of his stories. I got banned from posting to groups for 30 days for provoking some right wing Christians. No right of appeal. Nobody to talk to.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I see that you posted that on Facebook as "Jim Wright." Is that a personal page (according to FB rules)? Might it be better to create a page under Stonekettle Station, call it a business or public figure or whatever, and maybe make it harder to lock up your account? I don't see anybody locking up Robert Reich's account.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I thank you, every day, for your continued service to your country, sir. Spreading the good word (Constitution, freedom of speech, protection of press, rule of law, personal accountability, rebuttal of national socialism, good writing, your Word in full) as a matter of routine.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Keep fighting the good fight, Jim.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Fooey. Looking for your return, Jim.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I might be next on the list. This is outrageous. Violence against women is tolerated as are threats against minorities. Calling out Nazis is necessary--not offensive or in violation of community standards.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Damn. This stinks.

    I've been worried about this sort of thing since the election. The writing is on the wall. That's not helpful right now, though.

    Jim, I think we need an alternative structure. The Google network is one. Your blog is obviously another, yet it's limited in its reach. Daily Kos is one, but the flame wars are a serious turn-off. I am not a geek, have no idea how to create something like this. But we had better get it done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The older style 'self hosted' communities could work - not sure where it could be set up - but I'm willing to help if Jim wants to head that direction. Silencing voices of sanity is one of the first signs that things are heading left.

      Delete
  38. Why do Nazis/Facsists whine so much when they get called out as such? You'd think they would revel in it. I guess it's hard to be insidious in the full light of day. As for Facebook, I am at a loss.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Can a work-around be developed? So when you are banned from FB, you could send an e-mail to a friend, or colleague so they could post on FB with you attributed, but from their account? They may be banned for a day but how could you when you didn't post it? You may have to have a bunch of these people lined up. Just an idea. I like working rules to my advantage.

    Fay Reilly

    ReplyDelete
  40. So if we "like" everything Stonekettle posts will that will even things out ??

    ReplyDelete
  41. What can we do to reverse this travesty?? Who do we contact?

    ReplyDelete
  42. I will continue to repost Jim Wright's blog until Facebook re-instates him.

    https://www.facebook.com/joseph.maxx/posts/10210759867731139

    ReplyDelete
  43. I only want to comment here to elevate the outrage so that Facebook might take action. Nazi Punks, go away.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I shared the link to this article on my page. Silencing people doesn't work.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I am going to try, even though FB makes it damn hard to do this, but I'm going to try to find a forum where I can complain directly to FB for this...instead of silencing the haters and Nazi's they are silencing the voice of reason, the voice of resistance, our voice...this is alarming to me and I really cannot understand why Zuckerberg would be someone who allowed his platform to do this...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Buy a share of stock, go to their Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and ask embarrassing questions. Or, find a financial reporter (e.g. Bloomberg) and get them to ask Farcebook's Shareholder Relations Department those questions.

      Delete
  46. As one of your legions and aspiring minions, I am sorely disappointed in Facebook and shred this post as well as the "offending" post.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I love reading your posts. You bring to life a lot of good points, and many times a smile to my face. I sent a comment to Facebook about them banning your posts. Not sure if it will do any good, but I'm sick of them letting the nut jobs get their way trolling you and others like you. I may not be able to comment on your actual posts, but I do share quite a few of them so others can read them.

    ReplyDelete
  48. The Old Boys Network puts me two ping pong tables away from Zuckerberg, and I just called it in. I'll let you know if it leads to something. My connection's a late riser, and it's only 9 AM Pacific right now.

    ReplyDelete
  49. I am so sorry, Jim. This is complete crap. I really do worry about what happens next in this crazy, suppressive, mean world that is bubbling up.
    I'll still wait patiently for a space as people are airlocked.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I don't understand why they don't track aggressive users of these tools and ban them if found to be abusing it. I know I use it to actually mark those people who post movie spam, but if they found they were reversing much of what I was reporting, I would expect to be banned.

    ReplyDelete
  51. For what it's worth
    Sent to Facebook under "Report a Problem"

    "Facebook has blocked a user access for 24 hrs for no defensible reason. The best possible explanation is that Facebook automates the definition of offensive based on the number of complaints received. Of course this leaves your system wide open to being abused by those who organize and target pages and people they disagree with. You do understand this yes?
    Assuming that this is being read by a human I am sure you see the problem with your system. Disagreement is not in and of it's self offensive. No matter the number of people disagreeing
    What is much more important however is that Facebook then simply becomes a tool of the mob. The most numerous and/or loudest voices will become the only ones heard.
    Facebook is of course a commercial enterprise and as such is motivated to efficiency. Fair enough.
    But in this cases such as this, this platform, wherever the original intent is transformed from the peoples Bully Pulpit to the bully's pulpit.
    Looked for or not, you have responsibility. Step up.

    A link explaining the situation
    http://www.stonekettle.com/2016/11/facebook-nazis.html"

    ReplyDelete
  52. I'm sorry Jim. The whole lot of these creeps are like vampires; truth is like sunlight to them. They hate you for shining.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I'm glad you are suspended for only 24 hours, some people get 30 days!! Why is it when I try to get someone suspended facebook's response is that it doesn't go against fb standards? I've had actual threats on my life and that was ok with fb!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Report that to the police, and name Farcebook as the accomplice of the threatener. (Yes, the CDA legally protects them, but having to answer subpoenas is still annoying.)

      Delete
  54. I suggest we establish a network to continue spreading and sharing posts, articles, blogs, etc. in the event of this shit happening. I'll definitely repost and share anything from pages that get targeted like this on my own, and feel confident that others would do the same.

    ReplyDelete
  55. You're losing it the sky really isn't falling.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Not sure if anyone else heard/read this, but apparently the people looking at flagged items on FB get 10 seconds to determine if it should be flagged.
    From the article: Let's do a back-of-the-envelope calculation. Say a worker is doing an eight-hour shift, at the rate of one post per 10 seconds. That means they're clearing 2,880 posts a day per person. When NPR ran these numbers by current and former employees, they said that sounds reasonable.
    http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/11/17/495827410/from-hate-speech-to-fake-news-the-content-crisis-facing-mark-zuckerberg

    ReplyDelete
  57. WHEN your account is re-activated, this might be a good time to re-consider a different approach to post management there. If you create a page ("Stonekettle", "The Real Stonekettle", "Jim Wright's Stonekettle", etc.), you can grant multiple users (Jim Wright, RealJim Wright, etc.) post capability there. You see the possibilities from there.

    Just a thought.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Unbelieveable. To whom at Facebook do I need to complain about this?

    ReplyDelete
  59. Damn. Your posts make my day.
    BTW, since I am a Muslim, I cannot reply to your post surveys as currently worded to give you the highest "grade". But I would if I could. :)
    Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  60. If you see a Nazi, say Nazi

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/22/white-nationalists-alt-right-nazi-language-trump?CMP=fb_gu

    ReplyDelete
  61. When you tell the truth and you have such a large following, you are bound to get even more attention from the good and the bad. They are organizing to make an example of you, to shut you down. This will work only temporarily as you know. It will probably happen a few more times before Facebook finally sends a guy in to look at the whole enchilada. At that time they will likely start to realize it is a cyber ambush and will hopefully ignore the future flags. You just have to keep posting till their interest wanes.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I have been subjected to the FB "Security check" nonsense many times, especially when following your FB postings. It seems that FB can't conceive of anyone with a reading speed of more than 500 wpm. It also seems that they treat political postings differently than social ones; I have had the same "security check" nonsense when reading other political posts.

    I've been a reader of Stonekettle Station since before I joined FB (less than 2 years ago). Your clear-headed, fact-based analyses are greatly appreciated. If there is an opening for another minion on FB, please consider adding me.

    I, too, will re-post your blog until the bots at FB re-instate you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joan-I have actually had websites freeze my screen and bump me off. "We have ascertained your reading speed is excessive and therefore probably a computer"
      I read at 2,000 wpm

      Delete
  63. I posted a link to here on my FB, too. Dadgummit. We need every 'smite 'em hip and thigh' we can get!

    ReplyDelete
  64. The Holocaust didn't start with killing. It started with words.
    These are frightening times.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a fact. I'm with you. I have the same dread and outrage.

      Delete
  65. Just what you need. A white supremacy euphemism Generator so you never again have to use the N-word and offend Facebook's community standards.

    http://boingboing.net/2016/11/15/euphemisms.html

    ReplyDelete
  66. This is wrong, and a perversion of Facebook's system. We need to press Facebook to engaged in a dialogue with users who have been harassed and silenced in this manner. This isn't the first time organized hate groups have used FB's system to silence or harass people, and it needs to stop.

    ReplyDelete
  67. A note from a follower. This is suppression of free speech. Simple. Until this gets fixed what we can do is share this blog as others have said and also speak on her own pages about the Supreme Coolness of Jim's writing.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Complained to FB, shared this on my wall, and then spent some time reporting Henri Fenet tweets.

    We will not be silenced!

    ReplyDelete
  69. What's your issue with Jewry? It's a shorter way of saying "the Jewish community". I've seen it all my life in Jewish publications. American Jewry, world Jewry, etc.

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  70. I've been banned because people made reports like this. There needs to be an appeal feature and a live team that reviews appeals and applies suspensions to people who make false reports. This is bullshit.

    ReplyDelete
  71. I'm also sharing this entry to my FB page, and will keep checking here to keep track of what you're up to and where you're posting it. Your essays and the subsequent minons' discussions in comments sections are a never-ending source of pleasure and hope.

    ReplyDelete
  72. "Another friend was sent to Facebook jail for a post where he used his own name.

    "How is this happening? How are they gaming the system? It turns out the anti-vaxxers are creating many accounts and sitting on them, sometimes for over a year. They are naming these accounts after actual people–friends of the people they want to attack. Sometimes they use the names of the people they are attacking themselves. And then, using those phony accounts, they report any post using that name. I imagine they have to report quite a few and get their friends, also, to report, until the report sticks."

    https://karenvaxblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/10/smells-like-desperation/

    ReplyDelete
  73. I just posted this on FB. Wonder if they'll take it down.

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  74. Jeebus. Longtime reader here. I rarely comment, but share a lot of your facebook posts. Never been able to comment on your FB page, but if your words move me (which also happens often) I share the post and add my two cents there.

    Shared this one...

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  75. Have you considered trying Imzy? They've attempted to start with a fully realized structure for dealing with abuse. The community guidelines are cool with criticizing people, as long as you don't incite violence, invade their space to harass them, dox them, etc.

    I've been there about a month now and am really liking it. (Okay, probably part of that is that most of the Internet's trolls haven't arrived yet, though Imzy has already had to shut down at least one Gamergate presence for participating in doxxing, so there's proof that they will actually try to enforce their guidelines.)

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  76. I'm a Jew, and I've seen Jewish organizations use the term "Jewry" on occasion. It may not be as offensive as you think. "Soviet Jewry" was one of their favorite catchphrases in the 90's.

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  77. Just reposted your post, with a "Streisand Effect" notice for Facebook. Let's see how far this goes...

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  78. Perhaps it is time to bring blogging back to the front of the communication lines. Let Facebook fall to the fascists and nasties. Those of us able to read (and write) communications that are well-written and well thought out will seek out like-minded folk. Let those escapees from a colostomy bag continue to shrink their brains until they get so light-headed they slip in a puddle of their own drool and forget how to get up.

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  79. FB is so screwed up that Hate speach and hate groups are allowed to exist. Even after being showered by complainted about specific posts etc. Social Justice posts and posters are routinely suspended and groups are banned for nothing. Just like your post. It is frustrating that it is so lopsided.

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  80. Facebook posts fake news that helps elect a scumbag and you get banned. Right. Fuck them. Fuck nazis

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  81. Don't worry Jim... The Streisand effect is taking hold firmly. Your readers are copy/pasting and linking to this article. Your words will likely find more eyeballs than the would have if Facebook had played nice.

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  82. Reposted URL on my FB page. We need to stand up to this stuff now, but if you get shut down for real (highly unlikely), send your posts to friends and we'll spread it by email or post it on road signs. We will not be silenced.

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  83. Now are you permanently banned or just banned for a day. I follow your blog, it's on my blog roll and I check every couple of days to see what's cooking. Keep ringing that bell. Oops didn't mean the Seal's bell more like the alarm bell. And shining that light. Puppet masters work best in the dark.

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  84. > The people who do this sort of thing, do so specifically in order to silence people they don’t like, not because they are actually offended.

    Well, let's be clear, the people didn't ban you. Facebook did. They should answer for their defective reporting system.

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  85. My current FB status, I'm thankful for free speech. I attached a link to this blog.

    Let's see what happens next.

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  86. My friends have shared your post, and so will I. Even if you leave Facebook, we will continue to share what you write here. We will not be silenced until they cut our tongues and slit our throats.

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  87. So here's a thought. Since this whole thing is automated, howza bought all 90,000 of Jim's friends and followers hammer the nazi groups on FB by reporting THEM as spammy. Just a thought.

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  88. The message is going out to your followers on FB. We are also pelting the help system with complaints. We cannot stand for this.

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  89. I'm poking some people with a stick on this, we'll see if anything comes of it. A number of us have been trying to make a number of points about the process to those in charge. We'll see what happens. Feel free to NOT approve this post. :)

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  90. I am so sorry they banned you. Your voice needs to be heard whether people agree with you or not. You are one of the funniest and truthful writers I have ever read. I will share you Blog of Stone Kettle Station whether Facebook likes it or not. We cannot all be stopped! We may have to fight our way through all of this BS, but we will survive and thrive despite the oppressors.

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  91. How many of us have to share this blog post on Facebook before it becomes a trending item on Facebook? Best response I can think of to this for now, is to give Jim another 10K followers.

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  92. "full-on ball gargling" BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

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  93. Jim, I've researched how we got to this point in our history, and I think it behooves everyone to understand what they did to get us here. It's not a short read, but it is relatively inclusive. Please help share this.

    https://www.facebook.com/notes/bruce-bacon/americas-conservative-road-to-destruction-our-last-chance/10154091982593017

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  94. Jim, your donation link isn't working ... at least not for me.

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  95. Sorry this happened Jim, and whatever your loyal readers can do to assist, let us know. We need your beacon of sanity in what is quickly becoming a black fog of hateful craziness.

    On the bright side, hey... you get a day off. :)

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  96. Wish I was surprised but I'm not. Hope you're back soon Jim.

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  97. To my knowledge, FB staff doesn't actually review posts and make an actual determination, but operate by "guilty as charged" and impose sentence for no reason other than a complaint having been made. This has happened to countless people. Ridiculous and unacceptable FB policy.

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  98. I am using this as an opportunity to contribute monthly to the blog via patreon. Been doing a lot of putting my money where my mouth is post election. ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Jim Wright.....

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  99. So disturbing on so many levels. Your posts were one of the reasons I even bothered to look at my feed every day. I look forward to your return and will do my part to get you reinstated.

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  100. From Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade while rescuing his father in their castle headquarters" " Nazis..I hate those guys!"

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  101. Jim, 'spose if we all complained about Zuckerberg's next FB post we could get him banned for 24? Might be a good way to get the point across.

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  102. Boosting the signal and shared to my fb wall. This kind of protection of abusers of a system meant to protect against abusers is unacceptable. Made all the richer in this case because the founder of fb is a Jewish man! I've also made a complaint on fb itself.

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  103. I wonder how many reposts it's gotten so far today?

    I agree that we can't make any assumptions about how or when or why any of our voices will be silenced. We are flying relatively blind in a new reality. Of course it's not really that new. There have been narcissistic sociopaths in power for at least as long as people have been scratching pictures on walls. Augustus, Caligula, Hitler, just to name a few notorious examples. y'know.

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  104. Wikipedia has become problematic, too. Hypertext expert Mark Bernstein:

    "Contributing to Wikipedia may now be dangerous. If you cross the wrong people, you may be subjected to harassment and abuse, on wiki and off, until you yield. Anonymous mobs may berate and threaten you. They may ridicule you on Twitter. They may set up web pages to highlight your sexual habits, real or imaginary. They may contact your family, your friends, your classmates, your teachers.

    "You can’t know what these people will care about. One group cares passionately about sexy and violent computer games. There’s another gang that’s absolutely rabid on various points of medieval history in the Balkans. Several intelligence services are thought to be active on Wikipedia, and plenty of PR agencies represent corporate and personal interests of wealthy, powerful, and sometimes ruthless people."—http://www.markbernstein.org/Feb15/TheRiskyWiki.html

    Lots more at http://www.markbernstein.org/Wiki.html.

    The original social media, e-mail, Usenet, BBSs, were all cooperatively run, non-profit, egalitarian networks. Is it possible that this is the only way to run a social media network that does not turn toxic?

    Death of capitalism: news at 11.

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  105. The people who review complaints are foreign contractors who spend less then a minute reviewing the offensive post. If you can somehow contact facebook directly, perhaps you can get this resolved.

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  106. Fascist attitudes in the United States are not new, nor is it accurate to say America's new acceptance of fascism." There are those of us who will pay any price and bear any burden (stolen on purpose) to keep fascism from becoming "accepted by America." Getting banned for 24 hours is the price one will have to pay and the burden to bear from time to time to try and maintained some semblance of freedom for the oppressed in our nation. Hang in there.

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  107. I've reported blatantly racist memes posted by Facebook users a number of times (usually portraying Barack or Michelle Obama - or both, as monkeys or gorillas and I always get the same message back that the post doesn't violate community standards. Really???!!!
    But they ban you...

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  108. Ya know, I have long said that if people would mind their own fucking business the world would be a better place. These weevils who spew their hate want the freedom to do so, but they sure don't want you to have the freedom to call them on it. So damn tired of merchants of hate - particularly those who view themselves as patriots but who would happily silence others. Keep fighting Jim!

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  109. This has actually happened to me twice in the past year. I'm not convinced that the outcome is entirely automated. I've run structured tests and found that banned/not-banned results are somewhat random. I think that there's a bias involved in what gets banned.

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  110. I was put in Facebook timeout for saying: "How would you like to be called a 'cracker'." After being called a "wetback."

    It would appear the NAZIs are winning...

    ...currently. But not for too much longer. We are Veterans and not going to take this lying down. As I have said to those who follow #IWillProtectYou, we protest, subvert the dominant paradigm, RESIST.

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  111. Bizarre. I have posted NUMEROUS things about Nazis, Nazism, Trump et al. being Nazi-like. Haven't been banned yet. Not sure what's going on.

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  112. There is a right of appeal:
    https://www.facebook.com/help/185747581553788/

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  113. Anonymous, the hacker group, is apparently putting together a social network. I bet they don't like Nazis, either.

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  114. This link has additional advice that may be helpful:
    https://onlinecensorship.org/resources/how-to-appeal

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  115. Jim will be back as soon as this case gets reviewed by a real person.

    As he explains, it is due to Facebook's auto-suspension algorithm. In order to quickly remove actual abuse, like rape threats, death threats, pornography etc., their program temporarily removes posts and suspends the user when the number of abuse reports on it passes a threshold that is fairly low. The non-abusive posts are restored and the user's privileges returned as soon as the case gets reviewed by a real person.

    People reporting abuse are always anonymous, to protect them from revenge.

    This system can of course be easily manipulated by trolls who report benign posts as abuse, as a form of harassment. Jim seems to believe that there are no algorithms in place to combat that sort of harassment. There are, actually. Accounts that repeatedly report non-abusive posts as abuse are themselves kicked out, often permanently. I admin several groups, and we have seen thin-skinned oversensitive group members who make a habit of crying "abuse" get permanently evicted by FB. The trouble is that if a large community of users decides to target one popular account, they can tag team, so that no one member of the community gets flagged as frequently crying wolf. It is also easy for evicted trolls to return under another alias.

    With the size of Facebook, it is impractical to expect real people to review all posts in less than 24 hours, and IMO the anonymity rule for abuse reports is a necessary safety measure.

    What I think Facebook should do is something similar to the TSA's prescreened status, where if an account gets suspended multiple times, and every time it is ascertained after review to be innocent, the account should get a special status where any time abuse is reported on that account, it gets exempted from the auto-suspension and goes to the head of the queue for human review.

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  116. I've submitted 3 complaints thus far to FB, will continue to do so throughout the day.

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  117. The people who "reported" you are cowards, plain and simple. I'm glad you have this blog so your voice will continue to be heard.

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  118. Shared your post on my Facebook page. Keep writing. Your community will always stand behind you, and make sure you don't get silenced.

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  119. I know all about rabidly obnoxious members of the Science Fiction Community. and it's okay to state that the ones I've got targeting me at least all have a medically verified mental illness.

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  120. All it takes is one group of idiots to complain and Failbook's automated bots hit the ban button.

    If it's any consolation, I've been in Failbook Jail too, so you're in good company.

    I've shared the posts and will be making a complaint.

    Thanks for keeping on.

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  121. I've not been able to make it onto your friend list (yet!) but I am a loyal follower and this is BULLSHIT. I've copied and pasted the text of your original post and reposted it with a link to this blog - because, of course, when Facebook deleted your post, it also deleted my share of your post.

    I'm sorry this happened to you, but I'll continue to share your posts and copy/paste every one of them if that's what it takes to keep them from being removed from my own timeline, to ensure that your message is still being seen.

    You ever get some space on that friend list, I hope you'll keep me in mind (though I'm probably one of thousands who wishes they were on that list lol)

    Mindy Beaumont

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  122. I sent Mark Zuckerberg a message on Facebook and am sharing the post I received alerting me to this ridiculous action.

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  123. I finally decided to just delete my FuckFacebook account a month ago. I just couldn't stand to witness the level of ignorance and hate any longer (and I'm not the shiniest penny in the pocket but, WOW!)

    There are a few folks & groups that I'll miss but so far it seems to have been a great decision on my part.

    I'll miss reading your Facebook entries but I just keep coming back to SkS to see if you've added to it or I Google you to see if you've added any articles to places such as American News X. Still getting my JW fix!

    Thank you and good luck! :)

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  124. Facebook employee here, and regular reader of your posts. Will see what I can do to have this re-reviewed, as this seems a no-brainer.

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  125. Doesn't Facebook disallow the use of fake names. Obviously the Nazi pretender isn't who he purports to be. That's reportable by Facebook standards, and there is no return of that person under that name.

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  126. Word is flying and people are complaining - I hope we're a big enough community to make them notice.

    O7 CWO Wright!

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  127. A friend of mine posted the article you had commented about on your post. I replied with "We'll stop calling them Nazis when they stop acting like fucking Nazis." So far so good!

    Maybe you need to come up with a phrase which obviously means Nazis but isn't the word Nazis. Like, to the effect of, "people in a particular European country who took control and did really horrible things." I'm sure you can come up with something much better and more scathing.

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  128. I used to think that these sort of people were a negligible part of our society. But now I feel like someone turned on the basement light and the floor is carpeted with these seething cockroaches. Only now they don't scurry off into hidden cracks when the switch is flipped- they stare right back.

    I am genuinely scared for us and I am about as unflappable as they come. But each appointment to the new administration stuns me. He isn't even trying. What's going on? The cockroaches are about to rule the world.

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  129. You'd think that if anyone would have zero tolerance for fascists, Zuckerberg would, I mean the irony is agonizing.

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  130. I am a California attorney. I recently sent an email to you offering to write to Facebook on your behalf for free. I realize your inbox is probably jammed right now, but you might find my email if you search for bforjustice.

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  131. In case no one's mentioned these folks yet, they may be able to help: https://theinternetoffendsme.wordpress.com/

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  132. I had wondered why I hadn't seen anything recently, and just thought of you today when I debated whether someone needed the "airlock."
    I couldn't ever comment on your FB page, but I will share the link to this, and if it gets me "banned" as well, I'll just use the extra time for books and for my own blog.

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  133. Even if those thugs keep you off, Stonekettle is still bookmarked on my browser (and undoubtedly many tens of thousands of others) so keep on truckin'. We're listening (and lovin' ya'!)

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  134. David Gerrold (science fiction writer) shared this on FB, and now so have I! They can't block all of us, can they?

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  135. Just shared on Facebook. We'll see how long it stays up. Keep doing what you're doing. You know you're doing something right when you make Nazis mad!

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  136. I wrote a protest to FB. Not that I have much weight, or any, but every grain of sand helps I think. As for the direction of our nation, it is your job, my job, every sentient persons job to point out the outrageous ass-hattery that is going on now. I'll help in any way I can to get your message out. Keep writing. Best. M

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  137. Can we get the names of their FB pages and continuously flag them as spam and inappropriate material? Let's get rid of them with a little of their own medicine (or poison as the case may be)

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  138. Since I can't wish you Happy Thanksgiving on FB, I will do so here. Hope there is plenty of whatever pie you like best. Best wishes for your family.
    Deb

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  139. My daughter was banned once for pissing some wing nut off. I was so proud. I knew she was mine.

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  140. Jim, your Veteran's Day post made it clear that you don't want to be thanked for your military service, instead I'll thank you for running this blog. Which is more appropriate because I read your blog and thus actually know something about it.

    I agree that the best treatment for Nazis is unflinching exposure -- never back down and never let their vile statements go unremarked or unquestioned. Recently there's been this refrain "You're being unfair, give Trump a chance." Give Trump a chance? He had a chance. It was called a campaign. When it came to facts, he mostly lied. But his insults and viciousness, that I believe.

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  141. Unfuckingbelievable!

    My late Father fought the Nazis in WW2. I stood against the Soviets for the same reason.

    Yet the USA seems to be willfully becoming Germany of the 1930s.

    For all that I have good friends in the USA, for all that I love about the USA I won't be coming back there anytime soon until this cancer is cut out.

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  142. I agree with a previous commenter- keep singing, Jim! I have shared this article on my page as have many of my FB friends. We need your voice, now more than ever. Happy Thanksgiving. 🦃

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  143. Facebook is free because companies post ads to get you to look at their products. If Facebook has no way for you to communicate with them, then go to their sponsors. Every ad you see on your facebook, and everyone of your fans who read your comments, have them supply you with an email address to these companies. Send them an email to 5-7 of the largest companies, and maybe 3 to the smaller or local companies about the banning and how THEIR Company has just lost a 100,000 potential customers who can no longer see their ads on the side of all these facebook pages. Ask them how much money does their market research office figures out to be loss revenue? If you have this large following of "fans" who read your posting, I think this would have an effect in the advertising Department. I really enjoy your blogs.

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  144. Well, if it's any consolation: https://twitter.com/ThinPigMedia/status/801507688521863172

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  145. Shared on Fb from Stonekettle and from David Gerrold on FB !

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  146. You need to sue Facebook. Facebook needs to have it made very clear that this is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

    Please, this isn't just about you. It's not about those in the science fiction fandom community who have been harassing you. It's not about rabid Trump supporters who don't understand what fascism is and simply are foolish enough to fall for his lies.

    It's about one word spoken by a Nazi recently in D.C. A word that should strike not fear but abject terror into the hearts of every free American. A word that signals the end of freedom.

    Richard B. Spencer last Saturday gave a speech to members of the National Policy Institute gathered at the Ronald Reagan Building. No matter what they want to call themselves their self description labels the group Nazis. And he used this word. The fact of the meeting and speech got lots of press, but the word did not. You have to watch the speech to know he said it, and unless you are of German decent or really seriously studied WW II you probably wouldn't even know how horrible the word is, and may even ignore it.

    Carabella correctly just said the Holocaust started with words, and I'll go further and say it started with one word in particular. The word Spencer used in his speech that left me sick to my stomach with terror.

    Lugenpresse.

    If you were to just say "lugen presse" it only translates to "lying press." No big deal huh? But the word "Lugenpresse" capitalized and all one word instead of two has an entirely different meaning. It is used to describe anyone who spoke out against Hitler and his concept of a master race, and once you were labeled Lugenpresse you were walking dead, an "enemy of the people," about to disappear into a concentration camp no matter your race, religion, nationality, or affiliation. They didn't just kill Jews.

    It is a word that signals the end of freedom of speech - the end of all freedoms. It signals their readiness to murder all who disagree with them.

    Think I'm exaggerating? Think it's silly to imagine it could happen again, and that it certainly can't happen here?

    Bet you also thought Trump was a buffoon who couldn't possibly be elected too didn't you?

    You have an opportunity to take a serious stance to uphold freedom before Lugenpresse has a chance to take hold; to perhaps even help stop it from taking root. Please don't squander it.

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  147. Jim, you can get around it sort of. They should still allow you one action.....changing your profile photo. When you change it, you can "describe" it. I've suffered the same fate a couple of times and just stumbled across that little glitch.

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  148. Sorry to hear about this. I will be more than happy to continue linking any and all posts here on Stonekettle to my friends on Fascistbook. I look forward to being banned!

    Keep up the good fight, Jim!

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  149. Keep those posts coming Jim. I'll share them my feed.

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  150. Sorry you got banned Jim, that sucks. Shame there's not a decent way to fight the machine.
    There's one thing I don't understand about your post though - sorry if it's obvious - but why has the science fiction community given you grief? As a science fiction fan myself I don't understand why intelligent, open minded people (which you have to be too consider Arthur C. Clarke an idol) have any issue with you.

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  151. Well, fuck. Jim, I'd like to say I'm stunned and surprised, but sadly I'm not. I think this is only the beginning of 4 years of sheer hell. Thanks for continuing to be a voice of reasonable thought. Happy holidays!

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  152. I went to Gab.ai because of this situation. I am tired of it.

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Comments on this blog are moderated. Each will be reviewed before being allowed to post. This may take a while. I don't allow personal attacks, trolling, or obnoxious stupidity. If you post anonymously and hide behind an IP blocker, I'm a lot more likely to consider you a troll. Be sure to read the commenting rules before you start typing. Really.