In 2014 someone who shares my skin posted a meme with a picture of an early to mid twentieth century dictator with a tiny mustache and the ambitious wife of a former president of the US. The former said: “Society’s needs come before the individual’s needs.” – A. H. (only the meme uses the full name). The latter said: “We must stop thinking of the individual and start thinking about what is best for society.” – H.C. (again, full name used in the original meme.) Note that this was published in 2014. Note that nothing was stated, but the obvious parallel in the though process of the two dangerous individuals was drawn. Skip forward seven years aaaaaannnnnddddd….. 30 day suspension from “going live” or advertising on fascist book. Then they wonder why we make fun of them and don’t take them seriously. Or is it that they think I was actually supporting H.C. instead of pointing out her dangerous thought patterns? Sure, THAT must be it. That’s why they are suspending the accounts of all of H.C.’s supporters, because she is a dangerous individual.
Well, today I get to add a bit to the story, not that it changes my views of Zuckerberg’s social media site and his steamroller approach to those who differ from him in political views. I contested the ruling they made and today was informed that the image was reinstated and did not actually violate community standards. Now, WHY are they going back so far into the past to check for conformity to their “community standards”? WHO really digs that far back on anyone’s profile? Out of the 2,000 or so “friends” on my list, I doubt if 0.001% would be interested in seeing what I posted way back when, even if I use the “Memories” function to bring it up and torment folks with it again today.
The trend shown by the major social media empires to silence opposition is troubling in a free society. We have become a fundamentally unserious people (love that phrase, Lewis!) who in general do now know how to confront differences in opinion in a rational manner. I see this from all sides of the political spectrum with “friends” who only listen to the right, the left or what ever other political preference they have. The ability to listen and analyze has apparently become atrophied by exposure to so many choices of entertainment that people no longer read or contemplate or meditate on the important questions in life.
Back to the point of this post – Fascist Book is about the best description of the major social media site, due to their suppression of views to which they disagree. I can’t help but wonder what they’ll suspend me for next.