BS: Facebook Prison Updates

Subject: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 10:59 AM

Here's an update on my Facebook account status. Facebook recently suspended my membership for evidently violating their "Community Standards" and all my posts and albums are now in Facebook Prison for an undetermined time. I can't get any specific info on their concerns and their regular appeal process did not resolve their concerns.

Last week, my wife managed to initiate a chat on my behalf with Facebook help staff (after a three-hour wait) and once they confirmed what happened (the notice and my appeal to confirm my identity) they deferred to the ultimate decision by their “Policy Team” and the person she was chatting with still would not (or could not) provide any specific violations.

This experience reminds me of my early reading of a Franz Kalfa novel.

Facebook offered to download my account “information” which turns out to be only my personal info, not my albums or my posts or responses from others.

We’re thinking now that there is little hope that my account will be restored or as I've quipped "That steamer has left the harbor!" thinking of the Titanic's ill-fated voyage.

I doubt very much if this is an isolated incident. The Bots most likely have disabled thousands of accounts for the same general reasons.

My own account spanned more than 15 years and included 100s of photo albums, some from photos my wife and I took at sea music festivals and other of nautical historical interest (credited to their proper source such as the Library of Congress). There certainly wasn't anything erotic or racist in the imagery and while I had some sharp discussions with some folks about current political matters I wouldn't describe that discussion as bullying; that's not my style of discussion. The fact that I had a recent Facebook clone who I tried to draw their attention to may have triggered this action but I would have thought it was obvious from our home pages which of us were the clone.

There is a remote chance that someone here has a human contact inside META/Facebook Central that might prove helpful, or at least identify more specifically what the concern was that put me in Facebook Prison, without warning. My wife and I have followed up a few leads but so far nothing has penetrated their firewall.

Do feel free to describe your own experiences with Facebook. And if you have suggestions for further follow-up, please post them here or send me an email (which you can find at my website).

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 11:44 AM

I learned of your account disappearing when my Facebook Purity ad blocker and site management browser extension (aka Fluff Busting Purity on the site itself because they block all mention of it) said you were a discontinued friend.

I tried all sorts of ways to see if there was any hint or mention but nothing turned up. A Google advanced image search only ends up with one Facebook link - a video in which you are named (but you probably didn't post) - Charlie Ipcar, grandson of William Zorach, opens the ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating restoration of the pond surrounding his . . .

I find references to you, where another site posted photos you shared and places like the Maine Historical Society, Portland Maine History, etc. Here's that search.   

The Dahlov Ipcar (https://www.facebook.com/DahlovIpcar) seems to be fine.

Do you also post your photos on your own blog or other website?

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 03:43 PM

A lot of my musical activity can be found on my website: https://www.charlieipcar.com/

And a number of the Facebook forums that I co-administered survive because there were other administrators; Cicely Fox Smith, Historic Ship Geeks, and Paddlewheel Steamers of the World. However, my own posts and albums on those forums have all been taken down.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 03:52 PM

Charley, you have my condolences for losing your hard work and time for reasons unknown. Pen and ink remains supreme.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 08:08 PM

Well, I'm pleased that rickety old Mudcat is still functioning.

It was my first forum where I actually engaged in discussions with people I didn't know. It was really scary for me at first but I grew to love this place and made many long-time friends over the years, in this country and abroad.

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 08:28 PM

Yeah, and I still count you as a friend.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: pattyClink
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 10:16 PM

I've avoided Facebook, but was coaxed into making an account just because some clubs now do all their communication on it. After a couple of weeks, when my only actions were innocuous posts like "nice specimen!" or "That's calcite", I was sent a message that I had violated community standards and my account was closed, with no recourse.

I get tired of telling people I'm not on Facebook, but not of staying off their surveillance system, nor of being captive to the whims of an algorithm. And I think it's sad that a lot of valuable information has been donated by people in good faith, embedded in a 'walled garden' which can disappear or be disabled at any time.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 10:42 PM

I've never been on facebook, but have often checked facebook pages when website have not been updated (eg. in covid times) or when an artist wanting a gig at my folkclub only has a facebook page.

In the past few weeks I can only see the last 2 or 3 entries before I get told to sign in so I close the page - that'll learn 'em

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 04:29 PM

I'm thinking that it would be better if I embed my photo albums on my own website in the future, and not depend on the whims and furries of Facebook.

Oh, the inanity!

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 04:56 PM

I only use Facebook for advertising my card models (Millimodels) and find it very difficult to get information that I want from it, such as who is on at a Folk Club.
Unfortunately some clubs seem to only use Facebook for publicity. For that reason they may not have seen me at events as I did not know about them!

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 08:54 PM

One of the members of our club creates a facebook event.

And when only 3 like it ... gloom, desolation

I once saw something years ago about 26 reading/liking it (or did a facebooker screenshot & email me?) & we didn't have that many people in the audience!

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: pattyClink
Date: 26 Nov 24 - 12:08 PM

Sandra, that reminds me of a friend who ran a facebook camping club with over a thousand 'members', and lots of interest in a campout. Only a handful actually showed up.

A rock club which demanded officers be on social media constantly--lost some good candidates, and has had 5 officers quit. Yet few clubs can manage to maintain a real website of their own.

Apparently FB is a good, free, easy way to get the word out about music events, etc. Though shutting out a good part of the population (many young adults shun facebook now, not just geezers) doesn't seem good in the long run.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: mayomick
Date: 26 Nov 24 - 01:30 PM

the Kafkaesque delays are for those in denial or aren't fully aware of the specific nature of their transgressions. eventually the offence you committed against Facebook Community Standards gets engraved into your flesh. Zuckenburg got the idea from Kafka's In The Penal Colony

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Nov 24 - 09:51 AM

mayomick,

I am frankly curious what behavior on my part might have triggered Facebook account termination but I am resigned to not ever knowing. But just maybe we'll figure out some way to pry open the lid to their secret vault. Some might hesitate to do that, fearing what might lie within but Charley Noble has been known to venture where none have gone before, or to alter the timeline if all else fails...

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: DaveRo
Date: 27 Nov 24 - 03:24 PM

There seem to several '2024 Words of the Year' recently: 'brat' and 'manifest' - being two such baffling examples.

But the Aussies have come up with a word I do recognise and endorse:

The Macquarie Dictionary, the national dictionary of Australia, has picked "enshittification" as its word of the year. Gizmodo reports:

The Australians define the word as "the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking."
We've all felt this. Google search is filled with garbage. The internet is clogged with SEO-farming websites that clog up results. Facebook is an endless stream of AI-generated slop. Zoom wants you to test out its new AI features while you're trying to go into a meeting. Twitter has become X, and its owner thinks sharing links is a waste of time. Last night I reinstalled Windows 11 on a desktop machine and got pissed as it was finalized and Microsoft kept trying to get me to install OneDrive, Office 360, Call of Duty Black Ops 6, and a bunch of other shit I didn't want.

Writer and activist Cory Doctorow coined the term enshittification in 2022, and recently offered potential solutions to the age-old phenomenon in an interview with The Register.

"We need to have prohibition and regulation that prohibits the capital markets from funding predatory pricing," he explained. "It's very hard to enter the market when people are selling things below cost. We need to prohibit predatory acquisitions. Look at Facebook: buying Instagram, and Mark Zuckerberg sending an email saying we're buying Instagram because people don't like Facebook and they're moving to Instagram, and we just don't want them to have anywhere else to go."
(link)

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Nov 24 - 05:01 PM

Before the internet great harm or injustice was inflicted by the most powerful human weapons of the lie and rumor. Today it seems the same with digital social medias. Self interest has put the public good and social contracts in the shade. Without civics, civilization suffers in ways big and small.

All hail enshittification.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Dec 24 - 10:46 AM

No real update from the "Bots That Be" at Facebook. I'm not very optimistic that my account will ever be reactivated or if I'll ever now what triggered their negative interest.

However, I'm pursuing several work arounds and don't be surprised if "Charley Noble" resurfaces on Facebook. After all, he's a long time shipmate of mine.

Cheerily,
Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Dec 24 - 07:47 AM

May you find workarounds against billionaire bots, misinformation, and app strategies. From the ashes, Charlie Pheonix will rise.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Dec 24 - 01:12 PM

Thanks for the kind thoughts, Donuel.

I'm not in a hurry to re-emerge on Facebook. It's possible that something may shale itself out if enough questions are raised about their procedures.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 12 Dec 24 - 07:25 PM

A friend here in Scotland has had much the same experience as yours, Charlie, and again no explanation or redress, and he has also lost loads of photos and memories. It’s a nonsense!

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 08:36 PM

Tattie Bogle,

Thanks for the feedback. I feel for your friend.

I do have all the original photos but what is lost is all the discussion.

After the holidays, I'll take another crack at Facebook and see if I can get them to restore my albums with the discussion. If that fails, I'll just use a weird name like "Charley Noble" and start a new account and repost them one by one, by one, by one....

Charlie Ipcar, aka Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Dec 24 - 04:38 AM

Youtube channel similar. Total wipeout, no reason given. Complain & they just say you "nothing wrong with your Gmail account" - go figure!

I am sure it would have been hacked. I hadn't touched it for years (& not change the password!).
Saw a video of someone complaining the same, his sole source of income! He was sure he had answered a "helpful" website/app so he was definitely hacked. With inappropriate content. The point is you cannot then remedy the situation by changing the password removing content etc. All of which screams - Youtube vulnerability that can't/won't be plugged.
With Youtube using more adverts all the time, they just can't/won't allocate resources to address the issue.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Dec 24 - 04:44 AM

I think you have to treat Fakebook for the fake that it is. It is no more than a digital pub with incessant ads everywhere you sit, ephemeral. Dross. I use it to communicate with far flung family, and a couple of related hobbies where images are just too useful, but if more important than that .......................... download

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook Prison Updates
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Dec 24 - 02:00 PM

There aren't humans behind the decisions being made, and I imagine it takes a long time to get the attention of humans (because why hire a bunch of people to do the job when you're one of the most prosperous companies in the world?) when you're in a line for appeals.