Heather Cox Richardson raised a really good point about the sudden action from social media companies which I hadn't considered:
"While Twitter officials might well be horrified by the insurrection, the ban is also a sign of a changing government. With the election of two Democratic senators from Georgia this week, the majority goes to the Democrats, and McConnell will no longer be Majority Leader, killing bills. Social media giants know regulation of some sort is around the corner, and they are trying to look compliant fast. When Twitter banned Trump, so did Reddit, and Facebook and Instagram already had. Google Play Store removed Parler, warning it to clean up its content moderation."
It’s so frustrating that everyone has waited until the last minute to start taking this moron on. It’s frustrating that they let every single one of those people walk out of the capital and started arresting them after the fact.
the precedence his presidency has set into place makes me terrified for what happens in the future. even if trump is impeached and prevented from running again, this level of corruption and deception has been accepted as appropriate behavior for a president by half of the US. Next time we are likely to be facing someone even worse.
Fleeing to the other side of the world becomes more enticing every day.
It's incredible how all of these pro-business FREEDOM loving idjits forgot how private enterprise works when their faves got deplatformed. They were shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, when private business, Simon and Schuster decided not to go forward with traitor Senator Josh Hawley's book and devastated when Trump and his cronies got booted off Twitter. These same folks are elated when a bakery gets to refuse to make a cake for a same sex wedding. There's a word for what they are and I think it rhymes with shitgocrite. These are often the same people who gleefully vote for "fuck your feelings" representatives in their local elections who then turn around and sell them out to big businesses who then dump toxic chemicals in their landfills and waterways. They watch as they and their kids get sick and often die, then vote for them again.
As for the platforms doing the deplatforming, not only do they see Trump out of office and no longer a threat to them, they see who is coming INTO office in the Presidency and the House and they are probably a wee bit worried about what they might be facing in the coming years. The Squad has powerful reinforcements and they are coming for them.
I think one of the more positive things to come out of this, is that it reached such a level of non-negotiably unacceptable/disgusting that everyone who’s been watching their loved ones get sucked into that cult are finally feeling empowered to expose and turn over their parents, crazy uncles, etc. that participated. It’s being made very clear over here by the community (if not a slower judicial system) that you can’t do that and get away with it in the court of every day living. I don’t really know where I stand on cancel culture, but this part feels necessary.
And that TikTok kid’s performance is on another level. I don’t even understand.
I’m so glad it’s finally happening but it feels like “too little too late.” Freedom of speech is important but I think everyone needs to recognize that it doesn’t mean freedom from consequences. I’m constantly reminded of the scene from the Chevy Chase movie, Christmas Vacation, when he goes on a rant about wanting his boss there wrapped in a bow to tell him what he really thinks of him and his brother in law happily obliges.
It may be cathartic in the moment to spout off and toss ideas around, but words carry weight and we don’t always know the audience and how those words will fall.
I’m just here to acknowledge the incredible comedic chops of that incredibly young child on the Tik Tok vid. I hope Lorne Michaels was watching. The timing, the breathing, the facial expressions, all pure gold. That kid has some WILD entertainment potential in his future. Bravo lil one, bravo 👏🏼
Ugh, of course with the ranting about "banning free speech". Getting dumped from social media is nothing of the sort. When signing up to social media accounts, everyone agrees to the terms of service - he has clearly violated them (well before this ban, so it is far, far to late anyway).
Funny how free speechers often seem to confuse the "right to free speech" with "entitlement to a platform and wide amplification". They feel utterly entitled to our ears and our attention. Same thing with the alt-righters foaming at the mouth about the Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux NZ visit. They weren't denied free speech, and neither was Trump. They can spout their nonsense. Just elsewhere. And it doesn't mean anyone is obliged to listen.
Funny also how cries about "free speech" are, with very little variation, in defense of those spouting hateful, racist, sexist, violent garbage. It's never in defense of marginalised voices.
Did you see Adam Johnson’s wife’s video post? So many golden “Karen” nuggets!! I’m actually quite frightened for the 20th though. Thinking I won’t be getting much work done that day. Hoping the state capital buildings don’t get breached
David - this could be your best writing yet! Makes TICKLED look like “kids work” (that’s an inside joke). Seriously, you nailed it so as a proud American - THANK YOU! As Donnie Jr., Rudolph “the now defamed Mayor” Giuliani and the Inciter in Chief will soon learn along with the 500 who the FBI will identify, hunt down, arrest, prosecute and incarcerate - PAYBACK’S A BITCH! Bobby
David - I really was being sincere when I said this was so thoughtfully conceived, well written and poignant (even including humor which really is SO NEEDED AND NECESSARY NOW) - that as an American - I was so moved. Well done, my friend! Bobby
Nicely done David. I imagine he is becoming increasingly hard to be around as he starts hitting acute stages of withdrawal. He may just wither away before long with the oxygen that keeps him going cut off. Probably some major scary tantrums before then though.
Hi there! The guy crying on Twitter made me laugh and laugh! So thanks for that. Seriously tho I believe we are witnessing the fall of an empire (ie America). At long last that tantruming lying toddler in the white house has been banned from social. Better late than never I suppose but yeah, too little too late. Happy New Year by the way!
There is so much wrong with all that happened during this POTUS inspired insurrection that it is hard to know where to start, so I applaud your synopsis. Yes, the social media platforms are a bunch of gonadless twats who actually allowed ALL of this to occur, and in attempt to save their own arses, have now removed a powerless man's profiles. Woopdee farking doo. No applause from me for that - and I hold them equally accountable for all that occurred, and that WILL occur around this white supremacist nationalistic neoliberalistic anti-everything-but-me crap. As for Trump, may he burn in hell along with his little eejit wah wah wannabee somethings. It is all now too late to stop some other nutter from upping and trying it again, with the foreknowledge of Trumps dumb mistakes, and also knowing that Congress, the Senate, and indeed the entire American constitution is unlikely to be able to hold any of it to account until it is all over bar the crying. No matter what they do with or to him now, the damage is done. My utter fury/grief on behalf of the many millions of decent American citizens is currently overwhelming me. Thank you for this voice of calm reason David, in the face of what feels like impending doom. It is, as you say, all too blardy late now. *angry face emoji*
I feel weird about it all. I’d love nothing more than to be super stoked about his banning.. but it feels too much like these platforms are simply fleeing the sinking ship. It would have meant so much more if he was stood up to at the beginning. If anything I’m angry at them for diminishing the potential internal celebrating we could have had!
Ps David, I’ve started following the greatest Instagram page called bodega cats of Instagram. Highly recommended if you haven’t already found it. 😍🥰
Heather Cox Richardson raised a really good point about the sudden action from social media companies which I hadn't considered:
"While Twitter officials might well be horrified by the insurrection, the ban is also a sign of a changing government. With the election of two Democratic senators from Georgia this week, the majority goes to the Democrats, and McConnell will no longer be Majority Leader, killing bills. Social media giants know regulation of some sort is around the corner, and they are trying to look compliant fast. When Twitter banned Trump, so did Reddit, and Facebook and Instagram already had. Google Play Store removed Parler, warning it to clean up its content moderation."
It’s so frustrating that everyone has waited until the last minute to start taking this moron on. It’s frustrating that they let every single one of those people walk out of the capital and started arresting them after the fact.
the precedence his presidency has set into place makes me terrified for what happens in the future. even if trump is impeached and prevented from running again, this level of corruption and deception has been accepted as appropriate behavior for a president by half of the US. Next time we are likely to be facing someone even worse.
Fleeing to the other side of the world becomes more enticing every day.
It's incredible how all of these pro-business FREEDOM loving idjits forgot how private enterprise works when their faves got deplatformed. They were shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, when private business, Simon and Schuster decided not to go forward with traitor Senator Josh Hawley's book and devastated when Trump and his cronies got booted off Twitter. These same folks are elated when a bakery gets to refuse to make a cake for a same sex wedding. There's a word for what they are and I think it rhymes with shitgocrite. These are often the same people who gleefully vote for "fuck your feelings" representatives in their local elections who then turn around and sell them out to big businesses who then dump toxic chemicals in their landfills and waterways. They watch as they and their kids get sick and often die, then vote for them again.
As for the platforms doing the deplatforming, not only do they see Trump out of office and no longer a threat to them, they see who is coming INTO office in the Presidency and the House and they are probably a wee bit worried about what they might be facing in the coming years. The Squad has powerful reinforcements and they are coming for them.
I think one of the more positive things to come out of this, is that it reached such a level of non-negotiably unacceptable/disgusting that everyone who’s been watching their loved ones get sucked into that cult are finally feeling empowered to expose and turn over their parents, crazy uncles, etc. that participated. It’s being made very clear over here by the community (if not a slower judicial system) that you can’t do that and get away with it in the court of every day living. I don’t really know where I stand on cancel culture, but this part feels necessary.
And that TikTok kid’s performance is on another level. I don’t even understand.
I’m so glad it’s finally happening but it feels like “too little too late.” Freedom of speech is important but I think everyone needs to recognize that it doesn’t mean freedom from consequences. I’m constantly reminded of the scene from the Chevy Chase movie, Christmas Vacation, when he goes on a rant about wanting his boss there wrapped in a bow to tell him what he really thinks of him and his brother in law happily obliges.
It may be cathartic in the moment to spout off and toss ideas around, but words carry weight and we don’t always know the audience and how those words will fall.
I’m just here to acknowledge the incredible comedic chops of that incredibly young child on the Tik Tok vid. I hope Lorne Michaels was watching. The timing, the breathing, the facial expressions, all pure gold. That kid has some WILD entertainment potential in his future. Bravo lil one, bravo 👏🏼
Ugh, of course with the ranting about "banning free speech". Getting dumped from social media is nothing of the sort. When signing up to social media accounts, everyone agrees to the terms of service - he has clearly violated them (well before this ban, so it is far, far to late anyway).
Funny how free speechers often seem to confuse the "right to free speech" with "entitlement to a platform and wide amplification". They feel utterly entitled to our ears and our attention. Same thing with the alt-righters foaming at the mouth about the Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux NZ visit. They weren't denied free speech, and neither was Trump. They can spout their nonsense. Just elsewhere. And it doesn't mean anyone is obliged to listen.
Funny also how cries about "free speech" are, with very little variation, in defense of those spouting hateful, racist, sexist, violent garbage. It's never in defense of marginalised voices.
Did you see Adam Johnson’s wife’s video post? So many golden “Karen” nuggets!! I’m actually quite frightened for the 20th though. Thinking I won’t be getting much work done that day. Hoping the state capital buildings don’t get breached
David - this could be your best writing yet! Makes TICKLED look like “kids work” (that’s an inside joke). Seriously, you nailed it so as a proud American - THANK YOU! As Donnie Jr., Rudolph “the now defamed Mayor” Giuliani and the Inciter in Chief will soon learn along with the 500 who the FBI will identify, hunt down, arrest, prosecute and incarcerate - PAYBACK’S A BITCH! Bobby
David - I really was being sincere when I said this was so thoughtfully conceived, well written and poignant (even including humor which really is SO NEEDED AND NECESSARY NOW) - that as an American - I was so moved. Well done, my friend! Bobby
Nicely done David. I imagine he is becoming increasingly hard to be around as he starts hitting acute stages of withdrawal. He may just wither away before long with the oxygen that keeps him going cut off. Probably some major scary tantrums before then though.
Hi there! The guy crying on Twitter made me laugh and laugh! So thanks for that. Seriously tho I believe we are witnessing the fall of an empire (ie America). At long last that tantruming lying toddler in the white house has been banned from social. Better late than never I suppose but yeah, too little too late. Happy New Year by the way!
There is so much wrong with all that happened during this POTUS inspired insurrection that it is hard to know where to start, so I applaud your synopsis. Yes, the social media platforms are a bunch of gonadless twats who actually allowed ALL of this to occur, and in attempt to save their own arses, have now removed a powerless man's profiles. Woopdee farking doo. No applause from me for that - and I hold them equally accountable for all that occurred, and that WILL occur around this white supremacist nationalistic neoliberalistic anti-everything-but-me crap. As for Trump, may he burn in hell along with his little eejit wah wah wannabee somethings. It is all now too late to stop some other nutter from upping and trying it again, with the foreknowledge of Trumps dumb mistakes, and also knowing that Congress, the Senate, and indeed the entire American constitution is unlikely to be able to hold any of it to account until it is all over bar the crying. No matter what they do with or to him now, the damage is done. My utter fury/grief on behalf of the many millions of decent American citizens is currently overwhelming me. Thank you for this voice of calm reason David, in the face of what feels like impending doom. It is, as you say, all too blardy late now. *angry face emoji*
I feel weird about it all. I’d love nothing more than to be super stoked about his banning.. but it feels too much like these platforms are simply fleeing the sinking ship. It would have meant so much more if he was stood up to at the beginning. If anything I’m angry at them for diminishing the potential internal celebrating we could have had!
Ps David, I’ve started following the greatest Instagram page called bodega cats of Instagram. Highly recommended if you haven’t already found it. 😍🥰
Another great article, David. Sums the whole thing up beautifully.
The woman who was trampled to death was carrying a Don't Tread On Me flag. If that's not poetic justice, nothing is.