The Kid Playing With The Matches.
There’s a moment when you’re busy putting out fires that the thought should occur to you to do something about the child who is setting them.
Eric Renderking Fisk | May 9th, 2019
The Qualifier.
I am someone who creates content for the internet so naturally, I am concerned about the issue of censorship from high-tech firms. But I must state unequivocally that there are some people who deserve to be banned from social media and shunned from society because of their dangerous, hurtful views and calls for violence. Look at the list of people who were banned from Facebook this week and I guarantee that most of them would have been banned and blocked from any of my groups on social media and Twitter feed for what they are now infamous for saying.
One of the people on that list propagated his crazy conspiracy theory that the school shooting at Sandy Hook was staged and the crying parents on television were crisis actors. Then fans of his show took it upon themselves to harass those parents who are still (and I bet will always be) grieving for their dead children. Alex Jones from “InfoWars” has done what I consider irresponsible reporting, his angry and unhinged from reality approach to every conspiracy theory he propagates inspires other crazies here in the hinterland to take matters into their own hands and he should be held accountable for perpetuating genuine lies. [The people who commited those acts should be held responsible for their acts, too. Just so we're clear.]
Men like Louis Farrakhan should be banned from all social media for his bigoted posts about The Jewish people. I went to his Twitter page (I’m shocked he’s still there, too) and his pinned Tweet would have forced me to ban him from my website and all the groups I run if he was a member. Louis Farrakhan is a bigot. Full stop.
There is a short list of people who were banned from Facebook and I’m nodding my head in total agreement that they should be gone for reasons that are obvious. But there is at least ONE person on the ban list, and I have no idea why he was exiled from FB, but more on that in a minute.
My over-arching concern isn't who was banned, but how they were banned; are the rules arbitrary or are they definitive and concise, and is the procedure transparent? Are some people banned only because it’s politically expedient or are they trying to eliminate dissenters and the critics of the digital-age oligarchy?
I also have a problem with the timing of this blanket ban: did they do this to show that they are “doing something about hate?” Why ban these people now, and do it via press releases to the news outlets?
Then I read a news item that Holocaust deniers can remain on Facebook. Why? People who deny the Holocaust (The Nazi’s systematic genocide of 6 million Jews and the extinction of 5 million other minorities) are clearly far more dangerous than someone like Alex Jones.
If I must explain to you further on the dangers of Holocaust deniers, please watch this.
Difference with Distinction
Another concern? In this charged environment, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to wonder if I’m next for the next round of blanket banning from Facebook... I have been visited before by the Department of Homeland Security because of my criticism of The Transportation Security Administration, and according to a former campaign staffer I am on my senator’s “Watch List” (Twice) for publicly calling her a corrupt liar.
According to Facebook, how am I any different than Alex Jones and how is The Fedora Chronicles Network’s “The Metaphysical Connection” any different than his website besides the angry rhetoric? I write and talk about conspiracy theories, I voice my opinion that “The Government” lies to us about important topics, and like him, I have also stated that many of us need to ‘wake up and do something’ about various problems. Is it because I don’t preach hate on my site or on these social media platforms?
But I do. I admit publicly that I “hate” quite a bit. I hate racists, bigots, pedophiles, willful illiterates, and people who cannot tell the difference between a fedora and trilby. I hate quite a lot, but I don’t think I have ever called people to violence. Am I safe because I hate the “correct” people to hate?
Let me just interject here that according to news outlets Facebook will also remove posting links and praise for people like Alex Jones, and will also consider banning those people who violate this new “rule.” Using that logic, could I also face a suspension and ban for questioning merely the way they carried out this ban?
Selective Enforcement.
Now, about that ONE person on the ban list and I have no idea why he was exiled from FB. I spend about 15 minutes trying to figure out why Paul Joseph Watson was banned. I had no idea who he was until I just looked him up and I read this article written by him explaining his situation. I still don’t know what he did, but I’m sure someone will tell me all about it on the FB post about this article. The fact that many of us don’t know why he was specifically banned and what the specific offense was is concerning.
Again, as I stated on Facebook earlier, what was the procedure? What was the exact moment when these banned people posted something on Facebook that was worthy of being deplatformed? What is the actual offense they committed on Facebook that caused them to be banned from Facebook? Because it would be really concerning if they are blocked from Facebook for something they posted elsewhere.
But I get it… I understand there’s a moment when you’re busy putting out fires that the thought should occur to you to do something about the child who is playing with matches. I get rid of people who cause problems on the groups that I manage on Facebook because there is that moment when it interferes with my enjoyment of those groups. When I’m spending more time “putting out fires” and less time creating content or participating in the conversations in those groups, that person is gone. When they become too much of a hassle when they are clearly being mean spirited and bullying, I’m done with them and I don’t give them much of another thought.
I would have far more respect for The Facebook Executives if they actually said “Here’s a list of people who are causing more controversy than they’re worth and they are creating a toxic environment on our platform” with screen captures of the actual post that crossed the line with the actual definition of the actual rule they broke on their platform. I digress...
As a content creator who posts links on Facebook to what host on The Fedora Chronicles, I need to have a greater idea of where Facebook’s boundaries are and keep their “Community Standard Guidelines” close at hand. This is a link that all webmasters, podcasters and other content creators should have bookmarked and referred to it often. [By the way, I didn’t even know where the link to this document was until doing this rant. That that on them, or on me?]
I’m also saying that their guidelines need to be applied and enforced more consistently because there are a lot more people who are espousing hate and calling for violence on their platform. The few people they banned this week are the least of their worries.
This is an important issue to tackle because Facebook has become ubiquitous and has started to cross the line from being just a private company to an actual utility.If Facebook is going to ban people who are breaking their rules, they should also stick to them and be consistant. How they do what they do is just as important as why if we are all supposed to live up to these "standards."
Links (All the articles I read before punching this up...)
Chruch Militant: "Paul Joseph Watson Wants to Sue Facebook: Hints at plans for a libel suit after he, Milo, Alex Jones, other conservatives banned from Facebook" by David Nussman | May 6, 2019
Vox: Facebook bans Alex Jones, Infowars, Louis Farrakhan, and others it deems “dangerous” Jones, Farrakhan, and others just got kicked off Facebook and Instagram. By Emily Stewart May 2, 2019
Vox: The Facebook free speech battle, explained Is Facebook a platform or a publisher? When users are getting banned, it makes a difference. By Jane Coastonjane | May 6, 2019, 2:30pm EDT
Summit News: "CLOWNWORLDFacebook Says It Will Still Allow Holocaust Denial, Just Not Infowars Links Seems fair." May 7th, 2019
AP: Facebook bans ‘dangerous individuals’ cited for hate speech By BARBARA ORTUTAY May 3, 2019
Politico: TECHNOLOGY Facebook wades deeper into censorship debate as it bans 'dangerous' accounts By CRISTIANO LIMA | May 2nd, 2019
Wired: "Facebook Bans Alex Jones, Other Extremists—but Not as Planned." May 2nd, 2019
The Washington Post: "Why Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook won’t ban Infowars and Holocaust deniers," By Hamza Shaban July 18, 2018
The Jerusalem Post: FACEBOOK SAYS IT WILL ALLOW HOLOCAUST DENIAL "We do not remove lies or content that is inaccurate," wrote Joel Kaplan, Facebook's vice president of global public policy. BY BEN SALES/JTA MAY 4, 2019
