For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
As if having to deal with cancer treatment last week wasn’t enough, I spent 24 hours in Facebook jail.
All for checking in to the hospital.
I swear I’m not making this up.
I checked in on Facebook at 5:20 ish last Wednesday morning, noted my location of the hospital and said “Let’s Kick this Pig.”
The phrase originated with Harley Davidson owners ask they started their bikes. It’s also been used in football references and by Kelsey Grammer in Down Periscope.
Several years ago when I was in the hilariously funny Play On! At Chamberlayne Actors Theatre, our director would end every pre-show cast meeting with “Let’s kick this pig.”
Apparently none of those references were sufficient for the Facebook overlords.
I posted when I was on the way home from the hospital. And I posted a graphic for National Dog Rescue Day early Thursday morning.
When I went back to Facebook, I had a notification that my check-in at the hospital “Violated Community Standards.” I was given the option to agree or disagree with that judgment.
Being of sound mind, I disagreed.
Of course I disagreed. An entire medical team spent a good portion of the morning before up my backside.
They did not find my head.
I was immediately thrown into Facebook jail and could not post or comment for 24-hours.
I have to believe it was bot and not a live person because I cannot accept the fact that someone so culturally illiterate might be running our social media.
Even if they are running our country.
Too soon?
My friends, I fear that its perhaps too late. But that’s another post.
I’m not the only person that this has happened to. I’ve heard from friends on the left and the right who have had similar restrictions.
True, I’d gotten a couple of warnings for memes I posted in the past year.
Memes. Both were hysterically funny.
But somebody’s underoos got in a wad.
It’s highly frustrating.
I grew up in the 70s where everything was offensive and we liked it that way.
But because people feared the Orange Man, we’ve all become too sensitive.
Regardless of your politics, Donald Trump was not banned from social media because he said outrageous or untrue things. He may indeed have done that. But he was banned because he was also exposing a good deal of hypocrisy, and our social media overlords, in collusion with left-leaning politicians, couldn’t handle the truth.
We’ve become a nation of cottonheaded ninnymuggins.
I no longer portray a political or social media warrior on Facebook, or anywhere on the Interwebz for that matter. I used to.
I use Facebook for keeping in touch with friends, literally friends around the world. I use Facebook for promoting my writing, for promoting my work as Santa, for promoting the theater.
On the rarest of occasions, as noted above, I’ll post something that hints at politics, but is generally funny in a bipartisan way. Even with that, I’m quite careful.
My check-in at the hospital pushed none of those buttons.
Before it was removed over 100 people had liked or commented, offering prayers and support. That’s all gone.
Sure, I’ve appealed to the Oversight Board. They’ll likely never see it.
Sure, Facebook is free and they can do whatever they want.
Sure, there’s no cure for stupid.
I don’t have a solution. Just frustration.
And a determination to continue to speak out against censorship, even if I don’t like what you’re saying.
Join me. I can’t fight this battle alone.
In other words, “Let’s Kick this Pig.”
Photo by Hédi Benyounes on Unsplash
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
WHAT I’M READING
RANDOM LINKS YOU SHOULD READ
The ‘Wuhan lab leak’ theory looks more credible than ever
New York Post
Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee just released a report citing “significant circumstantial evidence” that COVID-19 originated in a lab in Wuhan, China, and that Washington “may have funded or collaborated” in research leading to the outbreak — suspicions that in recent weeks have become pretty mainstream. Read More.
Fauci is ‘not convinced’ COVID developed naturally: ‘We should continue to investigate’
Audacy
The top adviser to President Biden on the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed that he is “not convinced” the virus has developed naturally. Now, the doctor wants researchers to investigate further into where it surfaced. Read More.
The Post Millenial
Shocking new emails surfaced Thursday revealing former FBI Director Louis Freeh donated $100,000 towards a trust for two of President Joe Biden’s grandchildren looking to pursue “very good and profitable matters.” Read More.
A Lesson From Ernest Hemingway in Why You Should Plan Your Weekends
The Art of Manliness
Hemingway had a zeal for making the most of life, not only in his professional vocation, but in his leisure time as well. Papa always wanted to be where the action was, not just as a spectator but as a participant; he wanted to experience what the world had to offer firsthand, with all five senses. Read More.
Michigan Gov. Whitmer caught violating her own public health guidelines
New York Post
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was forced to apologize Sunday after she was caught attending a party that violated her own health department’s social distancing guidelines. Read More.
Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Bill to Stop the Censorship of Floridians by Big Tech
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
“This session, we took action to ensure that ‘We the People’ — real Floridians across the Sunshine State — are guaranteed protection against the Silicon Valley elites,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Many in our state have experienced censorship and other tyrannical behavior firsthand in Cuba and Venezuela. If Big Tech censors enforce rules inconsistently, to discriminate in favor of the dominant Silicon Valley ideology, they will now be held accountable.” Read More.
PODCASTS I’M LISTENING TO
BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26