Over the past couple of years I’ve sustained a number of increasingly harsh bans on my Facebook account as a result of reports against content that I’ve posted.
The most recent report on my account resulted in a 30 day ban on posting that went beyond any other ban against me, including sending private messages, liking posts or pages, unsubscribing from groups (that others added me to) and so on.
I try to play fair on Facebook because I don’t really want to lose my access and I don’t really want to be a problem user.
This is what Facebook took exception to most recently:
The message in question was one I sent via Twitter that was cross-posted to Facebook. I didn’t feel this a particularly offensive message given that the words “poof” and “dyke” are in common use in Australia and given that Lyle Shelton did admit he was concerned that people might think him gay if marriage equality became a reality in Australia.
One might say that the words “poof” and “dyke” are offensive. They can be, depending on context and who is using them, much like the word “nïgger” can be offensive. I couldn’t get away with reasonably calling someone a nïgger as easily as an African American could. Similarly, as a gay man I have no concern appropriately referring to myself or someone else who is gay (or who is perceived to be) as a poof. In the right context it can even be a term of endearment.
So to my use of the words “poof” and “dyke” on Facebook, it’s hard to think Facebook actually has a problem with them:
So if Facebook permits the use of the words “poof” and “dyke” in its groups, pages and places, what actual justification does it have for slapping a 30 day ban on my account for using these words, in a context that is factual?
Double standards Facebook?
PS. Facebook doesn’t even seem to have a problem with the word “nïgger” appearing in it’s pages (etc):
or “cünt”:
Posted by Michael Barnett 
