Before coming to your substack I watched the interview of you by Del Bigtree. I was so impressed. As you say in this substack, rarely do we hear women speaking out because women want to keep everything mild and not rock the boat. I can understand this from eons of women being tossed out of their home or burned at the stake if they spoke out. I am eager to meet women who speak out as it's also something that I do. I have lost almost everyone but am finding new people who want to live by the truth also. Truth is a funny thing - it upsets people, that's probably because we live in a sea of lies. I probably will upset you as well which I don't wish to do but I don't think we should even stop people from using "doxxing or name calling, personal insults or ad hominem attacks". I think we need to see these too and we need to learn how to respond to them so that we oust them and show their ignorance or simply ignore them. Because I see free speech as the ultimate principle, especially on the internet. The internet is a place that you really can't get hurt (other than through ego) as we are only putting words on a screen. You can't get punched in the face like you can "in real life". The internet is THE place for women to speak out and say anything they like anyway they like because we sure as heck can't do that offline. I will be following everything you do. I hail you as a woman who should be held as a glowing mentor to girls and young women everywhere as there are so few around who don't cave. Can't tell you enough how impressed and gratified I am to have heard about you and I feel optimistic that all will be made up to you for the stance you so courageously take. Much respect!
Jennifer, our daughter, Robyn Baker, trained at Parkettes when you were the US National Champion in artistic gymnastics. (I for one enjoyed your father's dry wit and sarcasm, although you may not agree.) We loved your book, Chalked Up, which described exactly what it was like behind the scenes in elite gymnastics. Now everyone knows. I am glad that you and Bari Weiss have joined forces. You had carved out a great career at Levi's only to lose it for merely speaking common sense. Please know that there are many of us cheering you on.
Jennifer I watched your interview on Fox America Reports today 8/30. I was not familiar with your story until I watched the interview. Your courage is inspiring and empowering. Two words were glaring for me throughout the interview, character and integrity. It's time that we all recognize that wokeness amounts to allowing others to do the thinking, and talking for us.
As soon as people start "naming, shaming, and blaming" -- and the left always does -- I call a halt to the proceedings. You can't communicate with people who do that.
I'm a Boomer, was a kid during Vietnam, and I saw the antics of the New Left. My mother was a Communist who left the party over the Hitler-Stalin pact, so I was sensitive to political orthodoxy from early childhood. Today's "woke" is no different from the New Left. With one difference: the corporate world supports them. We must resist.
Never one to shy from a tough conversation. This is a much needed space you're creating here, Jen. I guess it makes me wonder when these conversations got so tough? When did we stop listening?! I'm personally going to make the commitment to do more to hold back judgment, to engage, to ask questions, to be curious. It's the whole notion of approaching life with a "beginner's mind". I/we need to do more of that.
Aloha. The part about judgments often stumps me. I think we always use our judgment and this is as it should be. What should be called out is bad judgement. But to call out all judgement is probably another method of shutting people down. I think it's imperative to practice good judgement and to practice no judgement is unrealistic for one thing and stops us from using discernment for another. It's a common phrase which I hope gets rethunk.
I love that. I've been trying. As I've learned so much over the last two years by digging beneath the headlines and listening to others with backgrounds different than mine, I've come to yes, see things differently, but more so, i think i've developed more empathy. Even when i disagree. I try to always see the other side. i hope this can be a place for that. Thank you for reading.
I read about your story before landing on this site. I experienced ostracism, character assassination and other forms of retaliation for speaking out against the lockdowns, mask mandates, coercive measures against doctors who wanted to offer treatment to patients with covid that many wanted for themselves, vaccine "mandates," vaccine passports, etc. I blocked many people from my facebook account for name-calling. I called out others for engaging in toxic forms of behavior on my facebook wall, which often resulted in them blocking me. Many who consider themselves to be on the left prefer to demonize someone rather than engage in an honest debate. They worship authorities, "believe in science" and are not capable of skepticism or are unwilling to apply the scientific method in select domains, such as pubic health. Anyone who supported Trump, or opposed the campaign to impeach him were demonized. Anyone who opposed the covid lockdowns, mandates, etc were likewise demonized. I have been part of the far left since the early 1970s, but did not go in for identity politics. Since March of 2020 I have found that many who identify as being on the right wing of the political spectrum to be to the left of most Democrats. I am astonished at how many on the left endorsed censorship, the exercise of "emergency" legislative powers by the executive branch and inroads by politicians and the courts against the right of informed consent to medical treatments. Exemptions from mask mandates for those whose health is substantially impaired by wearing surgical masks were generally written into executive orders for masks, but have generally not been allowed to take effect by the executive branch, especially at health care facilities.
Honor to you for speaking out. I want to say something which I feel may spark controversy in you for bringing it up - but don't you consider blocking people on facebook or elsewhere equivalent to censorship itself? I do. I think there is a huge misunderstanding in our society about free speech. Some think it is relative - that some things should be censored but I say free speech is like pregnancy - you can't be half pregnant. Now with the digital age, we can speak any way we wish as it's only words on a screen. We must remember that. I get lambasted and attacked regularly, I don't like it but I never censor anyone. I have very strict rules about censoring - if someone uses a threat. Only then do I censor and rapidly. If I don't wish to hear from someone I simply tell them. We are in a new situation now where we can communicate across countries in light speed. We need some foundation that we arrive at consciously rather than be subject to obscure codes of civility that are a legacy of the pre-digital age. Curious about your thoughts on this.
I block people on Facebook who engage in name calling, libel, character assasination, regardless at whom it is directed. I object to such conduct because it is malicious, harmful and shuts down civil discussions. I will often issue warnings that I don't tolerate such conduct on my Facebook page before blocking. Those are people with whom I don't want to associate. Many people I know in the real world and on Facebook either blocked me because of my opposition to Russia Gate and Trump's impeachment or criticism of the narrrative and policies of federal agencies in relation to covid 19. I don't block anyone over disagreements about anything.
There is no half-measure with censorship. If someone is rude you can ignore them or confront them. Censoring them only means you buy into censorship, you consent to it. So big tech will do it too. It's so silly that people get all hot and bothered from words on a screen. Free speech is humanity's only "weapon" against armies, billionaires, totalitarians. I know this is hard to comprehend. We are in a new age now, the digital age, and we need to keep words on a screen totally free of censorship. Totally. If you don't like something, just deal with it. Outsmart the person and expose them for their stupidity or whatever. All this blocking is utterly infantile. Learn to disagree by using reason, and that will put people who don't make sense in their place. Free speech is as important as oxygen. It is the ph that psychopaths cannot thrive in. Why would you want to lose that? If you do it, then you consent to it and it will be done to all of us. So learn to deal with things instead of avoid them. Blocking and banning is all about hubris anyway, wanting to lord it over someone else's expression. As you say you get blocked yourself and you probably just disagreed on something. If we cannot hear the expressions of others, then we won't be able to express ourselves either. This is of utmost importance.
I disagree. In my opinion, civil discourse is essential to democracy. There are types of speech that are toxic, the most serious is name calling, character assassination. Speech or writing designed to harm a persons reputation and standing in the community which qualifies as libel and toxic, uncivil speech in general undermines democracy and grassroots organizations, political groups, unions and networks that people establish on social media. I have participated in free speech forums which have been destroyed as mediums for discussion because of no ground rules. An example of a minimally moderated forum has been the Minneapolis Issues Forum, an e democracy project. The only thing that could get you kicked off the forum was well defined abusive language, including name calls, remarks of a personal nature. The moderator is not supposed to exercise editorial control.
In bygone days newspapers, radio and TV were the sources 99% of news and information. There is active government censorship in that realm. Those sources can be sued for libel. They generally don't publish letters to the editor which consisted of name calling and no actual argument.
A social media platform in theory has protection from liability for libelous speech as long as it does not exercise editorial control. The accounts on the platform never had such protection. The US government has established a huge censorship apparatus in order to control the flow of information and opinions, which includes kicking people off of social media platforms for wrong thinking. There are provokateurs working for the government and for private parties and political parties that engage in activities that basically shuts down discussion. As a last resort I will block people on face book for name calling and character assassination. If you attract enough disruptors, they will control your accounts and prevent any civil discussion from happening. I had to react to that by enforcing a rule against name calling and character assassination.
One thing people are doing is equating "real life" with screen life. Screen life is very different as I'm sure you well know. However the rules of the past that apply to "real life" are being applied to screen life and that is a fatal mistake and peril.. Who decides what is "civil discourse"? And who is harmed by it on the screen? Words on a screen cannot harm you like words in real life can. I posit that humans have not come to terms with the new world and new paradigms that change everything. Privacy is another thing that is totally different because there is no privacy in the digital age as everything can be hacked and everything is recorded. People speak as though privacy can be sought and achieved but it's just a delusion. We have to recognize the world is different and the only ones who have recognized this are the controllers of the technology and the globalists. The people go on in blindness thinking the same ways that prevailed prior to this technology. You and people who block and censor think that the little harm in seeing uncivil language on a screen is worth throwing away the ONLY safeguard to your own power and everyone's. You're simply "firing from the hip" without thought and cannot see the big picture. Your offence drives you. And so you discard the only power afforded us which actually does the most egregious harm, much more than to your delicate sensibilities but to our existence as free people. You stick you heels in and defend it all the more when it is addressed, you defend the very thing that will annihilate you rather than understand a new concept for a new time. You won't let yourself understand because you feel you are being attacked rather than know you are being informed. And thus goes everyone's freedom down the toilet. Because so many are like you.
There is a big difference between blocking someone because they have an opinion you don't agree with, and blocking someone for online harassment, who is verbally abusive and tries to shut you up because they disagree with you. At in-person gatherings with a controversial speaker at university campuses, it sometimes happens that a group of protesters shouts down the speaker and breaks up the meeting. I think it is appropriate for the sponsoring group to organize a force of marshals to physically eject any individual or group who tries to break up the meeting. I don't have a problem with campus security providing assistance in order to allow the meeting to happen. Evicting those who disrupts a meeting is done in defense of the right to associate and free speech rights. There are tactics used online that are used to shut down discussion and infringe on the rights of others to speak freely. If this happens on a group or individual facebook account, I have no problem with having the disruptors kicked out of the groups or blocked from the individual page. That is a legitimate way to protect freedom of association and freedom of speech online.
The big problem is the government engaged in censorship in league with social media platforms. Only one point of view on some issues may be expressed in order to manufacture a consensus or the appearance of a consensus. There are organized groups on Twitter and Facebook that file complaints against "antivaxxers" and others who they don't like. You might risk getting fired from your job for openly voicing the wrong opinion. A certain volume of complaints often triggers automatic de-platforming. I have been a target of such campaigns, and a few souls who bragged about participating in a campaign to deplatform me got blocked by me. They can still monitor me via alternative accounts, if they have any, and continue to file complaints that I am spreading misinformation. I have been targeted by groups who also support the censorship regime with tactics designed to shut down discussion in group and individual social media accounts. My right to free speech is violated when a collection of Democrats, socialists and Greens by the dozens, scores and hundreds showered my Facebook posts with comments consisting of name calling and unsupported allegations when I opposed Russia Gate, Trump's impeachment and covid 19 narrative and policies put out by federal agencies. Large scale online flash mobs who respond to certain types of posts are unlikely to be wholly spontaneous acts of individuals, especially when the online flash mob mostly or entirely consisted of members of a clique from a particular organization in the metropolitan area where I reside.
I am well known in Minneapolis, MN as a newspaper and blog writer, past candidate for political office and for public interest litigation in January 2014 that held up sales of construction bonds for a professional sports stadium. I have been participating in the Minneapolis Issues Forum since about 2000. When I opposed the local lockdown orders, the local mask mandate and the local vaccine mandate, the discussion threads were shut down on the pretext that those local government actions were not local issues because the govenment was following CDC recommendations. When I opposed the Russia Gate campaign my facebook page was flooded with comments which consisted of name calling directed at me and at Trump. I deal with offenses such as putting words in the mouths of others, quoting out of context, making assertions with no supporting argument, guilt by association and logical fallacies by pointing them out in a reply. The best way to deal with such debating tactics is to throw them back in the face of those who use them by calling out the tactic. Sometimes the result is civil discussion and sometimes the result is verbal abuse. I don't want to waste any time and associate with people who choose verbal abuse. First amendment protections include both freedom of speech and freedom of association. If someone is engaged in activity designed to prevent me from carrying on discussions on my own Facebook account, and I give them a warning to stop and they do not, I block them.
My Facebook account is 15 years old, currently with 3800 friends, about 4200 in 2017. I decline friend requests from people who use their accounts to carry on character assassination campaigns. They are free to follow my account and comment on my posts. My account is not available for the purpose of engaging in character assassination. Name calling is one of the well worn tactics. I don't make exceptions for any target, even Donald Trump.
My Twitter account is about 12 years old with 360 followers. Facebook informed me that I was being shadow banned many times since early 2020 for allegedly spreading misinformation. I am sure that the same has gone on with Twitter. My following on Twitter stagnated from 2016 to the end of 2022 and then jumped from 250 to 350 in a couple of months after Elon Musk took over. Some of my posts got fact checker tags or were removed, such as the White Coat Summit, Americas Frontline Doctors in 2020, but I don't recall getting warnings that said I was violating Twitter Standards. Shadow banning people with a small following is effective enough.
"Whiny" and "victim-playing" are close to name calling but not quite so I'll let it stand. Appreciate your input. Love feedback on the content (are you challenging the veracity? In what ways?) vs what you perceive as my general character. Thanks for reading!
Jennifer, your actions and words speak empowerment and victory. Nowhere do you exhibit a victim mindset. We applaud your stance. Remember the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people." Soar higher by staying on message.
There is a difference between whining and simply telling what happened. Some things that happened were wrong, unpleasant or unfair. So when the story is told that's in there.
Hi Stan. Welcome to the group of subscribers on this wonderful platform. Hopefully, ur not a troll and have something of substance to say in contributing to the conversation. Your views are ur views and I’m not referring to ur comment, only that I spend my valuable time (as is everyones) reading posts (those I agree with and those I don’t, such as yours), however for those that don’t have anything to actually “say” whereas in providing some insight into their thoughts, it is not only a waste of readers time (but also a waste of ur own) IMO. Again, txs for joining this group and I look forward to some great thought-provoking comments in the future.
He needs to be called out for offering nothing but a dubious opinion. Opinions are fine and worthwhile but mere bloviations if they don't come with substance to back them up.
Your husband and yourself invited me, unknown, to your home and opened my eyes to the fact that we are not alone. I admire your confidence and courage. Thank you,
Hello Jennifer! I wonder how many moms (but of course not only moms) have gotten up every day for 2 years thinking, "I just want this all to be over with," but feeling isolated, trapped; and unable to do much about it.
I'm just finding you but I'm with you!!
Before coming to your substack I watched the interview of you by Del Bigtree. I was so impressed. As you say in this substack, rarely do we hear women speaking out because women want to keep everything mild and not rock the boat. I can understand this from eons of women being tossed out of their home or burned at the stake if they spoke out. I am eager to meet women who speak out as it's also something that I do. I have lost almost everyone but am finding new people who want to live by the truth also. Truth is a funny thing - it upsets people, that's probably because we live in a sea of lies. I probably will upset you as well which I don't wish to do but I don't think we should even stop people from using "doxxing or name calling, personal insults or ad hominem attacks". I think we need to see these too and we need to learn how to respond to them so that we oust them and show their ignorance or simply ignore them. Because I see free speech as the ultimate principle, especially on the internet. The internet is a place that you really can't get hurt (other than through ego) as we are only putting words on a screen. You can't get punched in the face like you can "in real life". The internet is THE place for women to speak out and say anything they like anyway they like because we sure as heck can't do that offline. I will be following everything you do. I hail you as a woman who should be held as a glowing mentor to girls and young women everywhere as there are so few around who don't cave. Can't tell you enough how impressed and gratified I am to have heard about you and I feel optimistic that all will be made up to you for the stance you so courageously take. Much respect!
Jennifer, our daughter, Robyn Baker, trained at Parkettes when you were the US National Champion in artistic gymnastics. (I for one enjoyed your father's dry wit and sarcasm, although you may not agree.) We loved your book, Chalked Up, which described exactly what it was like behind the scenes in elite gymnastics. Now everyone knows. I am glad that you and Bari Weiss have joined forces. You had carved out a great career at Levi's only to lose it for merely speaking common sense. Please know that there are many of us cheering you on.
i do enjoy my dad's wit! Thank you for the kind words!
Jennifer I watched your interview on Fox America Reports today 8/30. I was not familiar with your story until I watched the interview. Your courage is inspiring and empowering. Two words were glaring for me throughout the interview, character and integrity. It's time that we all recognize that wokeness amounts to allowing others to do the thinking, and talking for us.
As soon as people start "naming, shaming, and blaming" -- and the left always does -- I call a halt to the proceedings. You can't communicate with people who do that.
I'm a Boomer, was a kid during Vietnam, and I saw the antics of the New Left. My mother was a Communist who left the party over the Hitler-Stalin pact, so I was sensitive to political orthodoxy from early childhood. Today's "woke" is no different from the New Left. With one difference: the corporate world supports them. We must resist.
I had heard about your experience but only found this article today.
You have been punished for standing up for what you believe in.
You have refused to submit and have suffered for that.
An impressive strong personality.
I happen to agree with your position on this matter... but given your self admitted leftist past it may well be the only thing we could agree on.
Notwithstanding our relative positions you are entitled to your view on this and other matters.
That you have the fortitude and moral courage to stand up for what you believe in despite taking the knocks you have is indeed praiseworthy.
I can’t comment on how Levi felt threatened by your public comments as an employee and decided to terminate your employment.
I’ll support you right to free speech.
Thank you for being such a fine example for us out there to be awe inspired by.
“There simply aren’t enough women calling out the bullshit and I aim to be one.”
I call out the bullshit all the time. Stop by some time.
I call it out too - where do you write? I'd like to read your work.
Never one to shy from a tough conversation. This is a much needed space you're creating here, Jen. I guess it makes me wonder when these conversations got so tough? When did we stop listening?! I'm personally going to make the commitment to do more to hold back judgment, to engage, to ask questions, to be curious. It's the whole notion of approaching life with a "beginner's mind". I/we need to do more of that.
Aloha. The part about judgments often stumps me. I think we always use our judgment and this is as it should be. What should be called out is bad judgement. But to call out all judgement is probably another method of shutting people down. I think it's imperative to practice good judgement and to practice no judgement is unrealistic for one thing and stops us from using discernment for another. It's a common phrase which I hope gets rethunk.
I love that. I've been trying. As I've learned so much over the last two years by digging beneath the headlines and listening to others with backgrounds different than mine, I've come to yes, see things differently, but more so, i think i've developed more empathy. Even when i disagree. I try to always see the other side. i hope this can be a place for that. Thank you for reading.
The time has come to SEY EVERYTHING.
I am all in. Time for an awakening. More power to you Jen. Thank you for leading the way.
Thank you for being the voice of reason. I wish you great success on your new platform.
Thank you!
I read about your story before landing on this site. I experienced ostracism, character assassination and other forms of retaliation for speaking out against the lockdowns, mask mandates, coercive measures against doctors who wanted to offer treatment to patients with covid that many wanted for themselves, vaccine "mandates," vaccine passports, etc. I blocked many people from my facebook account for name-calling. I called out others for engaging in toxic forms of behavior on my facebook wall, which often resulted in them blocking me. Many who consider themselves to be on the left prefer to demonize someone rather than engage in an honest debate. They worship authorities, "believe in science" and are not capable of skepticism or are unwilling to apply the scientific method in select domains, such as pubic health. Anyone who supported Trump, or opposed the campaign to impeach him were demonized. Anyone who opposed the covid lockdowns, mandates, etc were likewise demonized. I have been part of the far left since the early 1970s, but did not go in for identity politics. Since March of 2020 I have found that many who identify as being on the right wing of the political spectrum to be to the left of most Democrats. I am astonished at how many on the left endorsed censorship, the exercise of "emergency" legislative powers by the executive branch and inroads by politicians and the courts against the right of informed consent to medical treatments. Exemptions from mask mandates for those whose health is substantially impaired by wearing surgical masks were generally written into executive orders for masks, but have generally not been allowed to take effect by the executive branch, especially at health care facilities.
Honor to you for speaking out. I want to say something which I feel may spark controversy in you for bringing it up - but don't you consider blocking people on facebook or elsewhere equivalent to censorship itself? I do. I think there is a huge misunderstanding in our society about free speech. Some think it is relative - that some things should be censored but I say free speech is like pregnancy - you can't be half pregnant. Now with the digital age, we can speak any way we wish as it's only words on a screen. We must remember that. I get lambasted and attacked regularly, I don't like it but I never censor anyone. I have very strict rules about censoring - if someone uses a threat. Only then do I censor and rapidly. If I don't wish to hear from someone I simply tell them. We are in a new situation now where we can communicate across countries in light speed. We need some foundation that we arrive at consciously rather than be subject to obscure codes of civility that are a legacy of the pre-digital age. Curious about your thoughts on this.
I block people on Facebook who engage in name calling, libel, character assasination, regardless at whom it is directed. I object to such conduct because it is malicious, harmful and shuts down civil discussions. I will often issue warnings that I don't tolerate such conduct on my Facebook page before blocking. Those are people with whom I don't want to associate. Many people I know in the real world and on Facebook either blocked me because of my opposition to Russia Gate and Trump's impeachment or criticism of the narrrative and policies of federal agencies in relation to covid 19. I don't block anyone over disagreements about anything.
There is no half-measure with censorship. If someone is rude you can ignore them or confront them. Censoring them only means you buy into censorship, you consent to it. So big tech will do it too. It's so silly that people get all hot and bothered from words on a screen. Free speech is humanity's only "weapon" against armies, billionaires, totalitarians. I know this is hard to comprehend. We are in a new age now, the digital age, and we need to keep words on a screen totally free of censorship. Totally. If you don't like something, just deal with it. Outsmart the person and expose them for their stupidity or whatever. All this blocking is utterly infantile. Learn to disagree by using reason, and that will put people who don't make sense in their place. Free speech is as important as oxygen. It is the ph that psychopaths cannot thrive in. Why would you want to lose that? If you do it, then you consent to it and it will be done to all of us. So learn to deal with things instead of avoid them. Blocking and banning is all about hubris anyway, wanting to lord it over someone else's expression. As you say you get blocked yourself and you probably just disagreed on something. If we cannot hear the expressions of others, then we won't be able to express ourselves either. This is of utmost importance.
I disagree. In my opinion, civil discourse is essential to democracy. There are types of speech that are toxic, the most serious is name calling, character assassination. Speech or writing designed to harm a persons reputation and standing in the community which qualifies as libel and toxic, uncivil speech in general undermines democracy and grassroots organizations, political groups, unions and networks that people establish on social media. I have participated in free speech forums which have been destroyed as mediums for discussion because of no ground rules. An example of a minimally moderated forum has been the Minneapolis Issues Forum, an e democracy project. The only thing that could get you kicked off the forum was well defined abusive language, including name calls, remarks of a personal nature. The moderator is not supposed to exercise editorial control.
In bygone days newspapers, radio and TV were the sources 99% of news and information. There is active government censorship in that realm. Those sources can be sued for libel. They generally don't publish letters to the editor which consisted of name calling and no actual argument.
A social media platform in theory has protection from liability for libelous speech as long as it does not exercise editorial control. The accounts on the platform never had such protection. The US government has established a huge censorship apparatus in order to control the flow of information and opinions, which includes kicking people off of social media platforms for wrong thinking. There are provokateurs working for the government and for private parties and political parties that engage in activities that basically shuts down discussion. As a last resort I will block people on face book for name calling and character assassination. If you attract enough disruptors, they will control your accounts and prevent any civil discussion from happening. I had to react to that by enforcing a rule against name calling and character assassination.
One thing people are doing is equating "real life" with screen life. Screen life is very different as I'm sure you well know. However the rules of the past that apply to "real life" are being applied to screen life and that is a fatal mistake and peril.. Who decides what is "civil discourse"? And who is harmed by it on the screen? Words on a screen cannot harm you like words in real life can. I posit that humans have not come to terms with the new world and new paradigms that change everything. Privacy is another thing that is totally different because there is no privacy in the digital age as everything can be hacked and everything is recorded. People speak as though privacy can be sought and achieved but it's just a delusion. We have to recognize the world is different and the only ones who have recognized this are the controllers of the technology and the globalists. The people go on in blindness thinking the same ways that prevailed prior to this technology. You and people who block and censor think that the little harm in seeing uncivil language on a screen is worth throwing away the ONLY safeguard to your own power and everyone's. You're simply "firing from the hip" without thought and cannot see the big picture. Your offence drives you. And so you discard the only power afforded us which actually does the most egregious harm, much more than to your delicate sensibilities but to our existence as free people. You stick you heels in and defend it all the more when it is addressed, you defend the very thing that will annihilate you rather than understand a new concept for a new time. You won't let yourself understand because you feel you are being attacked rather than know you are being informed. And thus goes everyone's freedom down the toilet. Because so many are like you.
There is a big difference between blocking someone because they have an opinion you don't agree with, and blocking someone for online harassment, who is verbally abusive and tries to shut you up because they disagree with you. At in-person gatherings with a controversial speaker at university campuses, it sometimes happens that a group of protesters shouts down the speaker and breaks up the meeting. I think it is appropriate for the sponsoring group to organize a force of marshals to physically eject any individual or group who tries to break up the meeting. I don't have a problem with campus security providing assistance in order to allow the meeting to happen. Evicting those who disrupts a meeting is done in defense of the right to associate and free speech rights. There are tactics used online that are used to shut down discussion and infringe on the rights of others to speak freely. If this happens on a group or individual facebook account, I have no problem with having the disruptors kicked out of the groups or blocked from the individual page. That is a legitimate way to protect freedom of association and freedom of speech online.
The big problem is the government engaged in censorship in league with social media platforms. Only one point of view on some issues may be expressed in order to manufacture a consensus or the appearance of a consensus. There are organized groups on Twitter and Facebook that file complaints against "antivaxxers" and others who they don't like. You might risk getting fired from your job for openly voicing the wrong opinion. A certain volume of complaints often triggers automatic de-platforming. I have been a target of such campaigns, and a few souls who bragged about participating in a campaign to deplatform me got blocked by me. They can still monitor me via alternative accounts, if they have any, and continue to file complaints that I am spreading misinformation. I have been targeted by groups who also support the censorship regime with tactics designed to shut down discussion in group and individual social media accounts. My right to free speech is violated when a collection of Democrats, socialists and Greens by the dozens, scores and hundreds showered my Facebook posts with comments consisting of name calling and unsupported allegations when I opposed Russia Gate, Trump's impeachment and covid 19 narrative and policies put out by federal agencies. Large scale online flash mobs who respond to certain types of posts are unlikely to be wholly spontaneous acts of individuals, especially when the online flash mob mostly or entirely consisted of members of a clique from a particular organization in the metropolitan area where I reside.
I am well known in Minneapolis, MN as a newspaper and blog writer, past candidate for political office and for public interest litigation in January 2014 that held up sales of construction bonds for a professional sports stadium. I have been participating in the Minneapolis Issues Forum since about 2000. When I opposed the local lockdown orders, the local mask mandate and the local vaccine mandate, the discussion threads were shut down on the pretext that those local government actions were not local issues because the govenment was following CDC recommendations. When I opposed the Russia Gate campaign my facebook page was flooded with comments which consisted of name calling directed at me and at Trump. I deal with offenses such as putting words in the mouths of others, quoting out of context, making assertions with no supporting argument, guilt by association and logical fallacies by pointing them out in a reply. The best way to deal with such debating tactics is to throw them back in the face of those who use them by calling out the tactic. Sometimes the result is civil discussion and sometimes the result is verbal abuse. I don't want to waste any time and associate with people who choose verbal abuse. First amendment protections include both freedom of speech and freedom of association. If someone is engaged in activity designed to prevent me from carrying on discussions on my own Facebook account, and I give them a warning to stop and they do not, I block them.
My Facebook account is 15 years old, currently with 3800 friends, about 4200 in 2017. I decline friend requests from people who use their accounts to carry on character assassination campaigns. They are free to follow my account and comment on my posts. My account is not available for the purpose of engaging in character assassination. Name calling is one of the well worn tactics. I don't make exceptions for any target, even Donald Trump.
My Twitter account is about 12 years old with 360 followers. Facebook informed me that I was being shadow banned many times since early 2020 for allegedly spreading misinformation. I am sure that the same has gone on with Twitter. My following on Twitter stagnated from 2016 to the end of 2022 and then jumped from 250 to 350 in a couple of months after Elon Musk took over. Some of my posts got fact checker tags or were removed, such as the White Coat Summit, Americas Frontline Doctors in 2020, but I don't recall getting warnings that said I was violating Twitter Standards. Shadow banning people with a small following is effective enough.
Hopefully your next stuff isn’t quite so whiny and victim-playing.
Hopefully you will offer some evidence rather this unsubstantiated opinion.
"Whiny" and "victim-playing" are close to name calling but not quite so I'll let it stand. Appreciate your input. Love feedback on the content (are you challenging the veracity? In what ways?) vs what you perceive as my general character. Thanks for reading!
Jennifer, your actions and words speak empowerment and victory. Nowhere do you exhibit a victim mindset. We applaud your stance. Remember the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people." Soar higher by staying on message.
There is a difference between whining and simply telling what happened. Some things that happened were wrong, unpleasant or unfair. So when the story is told that's in there.
P.S. I hope ur able to see the irony of you whining (IMO) about what u feel is someone whining (IYO). It’s all so fascinating to me.
Hi Stan. Welcome to the group of subscribers on this wonderful platform. Hopefully, ur not a troll and have something of substance to say in contributing to the conversation. Your views are ur views and I’m not referring to ur comment, only that I spend my valuable time (as is everyones) reading posts (those I agree with and those I don’t, such as yours), however for those that don’t have anything to actually “say” whereas in providing some insight into their thoughts, it is not only a waste of readers time (but also a waste of ur own) IMO. Again, txs for joining this group and I look forward to some great thought-provoking comments in the future.
He needs to be called out for offering nothing but a dubious opinion. Opinions are fine and worthwhile but mere bloviations if they don't come with substance to back them up.
Been following you on twitter for a while now so having you on Substack is great!
Thank you!
Admire your courage.
Your husband and yourself invited me, unknown, to your home and opened my eyes to the fact that we are not alone. I admire your confidence and courage. Thank you,
Jacob
Hello Jennifer! I wonder how many moms (but of course not only moms) have gotten up every day for 2 years thinking, "I just want this all to be over with," but feeling isolated, trapped; and unable to do much about it.
I'm guessing a lot.
so many. myself included.