I’m taking the day off today and I’m using this post as a kind of Facebook experiment. The column I posted yesterday, “You used to have to do something significant to get death threats,” got only 24 “likes” on my FB page. Typically, a “slow” column will receive 60 to 70 likes, a “good” column will get over a hundred, and a really “popular” column will get upwards of 300.
I read your substack as a subscriber, not on FB. I have been put in FB jail for reposting all sorts of innocent things - words like "die" or "hanging" or any such thing that gets flagged by their stupid algorithms will cost me about 24 hours or so. I never ever use the name of TFG, not only because I can't stand to use it, but because I don't know what kind of response it will get from FB. I've just about given up FB altogether, except to "share" your columns and others as well. As far as I am concerned, it serves just to mine info for Zucker's many paying sponsors and no help at all to me as an individual just wanting to connect with friends and family.
This lovely photo is a great gift from you. Thanks!
Next time put a pretty picture at the top and the heading underneath it. Misspelling "death" might also work. P.S. FB is screwed up. A friend of mine got 30 days in FB jail for calling Rupert Murdoch "a whore and a purveyor of lies". Rupert Murdoch!
A person does not realize how alarming a hate mail or death threat actually is until you receive one. Obama got many hundreds every day of his presidency and 10 each day were serious enough to warrant further action.
Sorry, was traveling and didn’t have time to read your excellent “death threats” column until tonight. I have corrected the oversight. Your comment at the end about hate being a product of pathos gave me something new to consider…isn’t hate even more a product of fear and cowardice? Anonymous death threats left on voice mail certainly are. And I worry that decent, reasonable people won’t run for school boards or public office anymore—if only to protect their families from this domestic terrorism.
the Facebook algorithms are laughably moronic. months ago, when Flynn was talking about declaring martial law, I expressed the thought that he should be taken out and shot at dawn. I got put in FB jail for several days. I then wrote the same post, but substituted "drawn and quartered" (obviously much, much worse than the relatively merciful firing squad), and it attracted no comment at all. so yeah...very, very stupid. a few of my favorite interlocutors on FB have left it, so my activity has been greatly reduced. I realize that knowing what we know now, staying on there is indefensible, so I will not attempt any defense.
Red skies at night, sailors' delight. Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning.. . I did share your column yesterday with four others. Didn't realize comments were so crucial. The current climate--red skies not withstanding--politically is very scary.
Well, I loved the death-threat column, but I would've headlined it, I'll Kill You if You Disagree With This Column, Motherfucker!
Don't be put be put off by the scoreboard, Mr. Truscott. Sometimes it is enough to just be in the game.
Enjoy your day off.
Enjoy the day! To me you’re a national treasure. Thank you.
I read your substack as a subscriber, not on FB. I have been put in FB jail for reposting all sorts of innocent things - words like "die" or "hanging" or any such thing that gets flagged by their stupid algorithms will cost me about 24 hours or so. I never ever use the name of TFG, not only because I can't stand to use it, but because I don't know what kind of response it will get from FB. I've just about given up FB altogether, except to "share" your columns and others as well. As far as I am concerned, it serves just to mine info for Zucker's many paying sponsors and no help at all to me as an individual just wanting to connect with friends and family.
This lovely photo is a great gift from you. Thanks!
I read your article and of course I liked it, but the subject matter was so depressing I couldn't bring myself to hit the Like button.
Next time put a pretty picture at the top and the heading underneath it. Misspelling "death" might also work. P.S. FB is screwed up. A friend of mine got 30 days in FB jail for calling Rupert Murdoch "a whore and a purveyor of lies". Rupert Murdoch!
I receive your column via email. Yesterday's column was brilliant. I always enjoy your skillful writing.
A person does not realize how alarming a hate mail or death threat actually is until you receive one. Obama got many hundreds every day of his presidency and 10 each day were serious enough to warrant further action.
Sorry, was traveling and didn’t have time to read your excellent “death threats” column until tonight. I have corrected the oversight. Your comment at the end about hate being a product of pathos gave me something new to consider…isn’t hate even more a product of fear and cowardice? Anonymous death threats left on voice mail certainly are. And I worry that decent, reasonable people won’t run for school boards or public office anymore—if only to protect their families from this domestic terrorism.
Absolutely stunning photograph by Tracey! Enjoy your day off-it's too nice a day to bitch about anything nasty!
PS-FB does have a algorithm that singles out words like "death", and I've been put into FB jail for using 'guillotine." Go figure.
I like your experiment...somehow remind's me of "Steal This Book":-)
the Facebook algorithms are laughably moronic. months ago, when Flynn was talking about declaring martial law, I expressed the thought that he should be taken out and shot at dawn. I got put in FB jail for several days. I then wrote the same post, but substituted "drawn and quartered" (obviously much, much worse than the relatively merciful firing squad), and it attracted no comment at all. so yeah...very, very stupid. a few of my favorite interlocutors on FB have left it, so my activity has been greatly reduced. I realize that knowing what we know now, staying on there is indefensible, so I will not attempt any defense.
Friday's column packed a punch; I read it via email. It has never trickled into my FB feed.
I do not use Facebook - Godwin's Law.
Stunningly beautiful!
Red skies at night, sailors' delight. Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning.. . I did share your column yesterday with four others. Didn't realize comments were so crucial. The current climate--red skies not withstanding--politically is very scary.