Twitter Suspension - Podcasting and Vegas!

It looks like I’ve been suspended on Twitter. I’d planned to just wait it out, but I’ve received tons of messages and emails about it, which is surprising and very kind.  Thank you!  So I thought I’d share some info.

No reason has been given for the suspension and I’ve initiated the appeal process with Twitter.  This can take days, weeks, or could result in permanent suspension. I imagine it’s all a pretty automated affair.

I’ve a suspicion they’ll come back and inform me I’ve been reported for abuse (something similar seems to have happened to prominent video blogger Thunderf00t for annoying the right people).  Obviously, anyone who’s followed me for some time will know that any complaints of abuse could not have been sincere – or accompanied by a single valid example.  It’s a comfort to know that I’m annoying the right people enough to the point that they feel silencing me is a worthy endeavour!  I can’t be certain who’s responsible, but who cares?  It’s all a bit dull, isn’t it?

Obviously genuine abuse online is very serious & a deeply unpleasant thing, and it is good that Twitter takes a strong stance on it.  It’s just a shame that Twitter’s automated process is so deeply flawed.  We now have an online environment where members of ISIS can tweet endless selfies with various dismembered body parts to no consequence, yet a handful - or perhaps even one person can have me suspended on false charges.

It seems Twitter suspends first and asks questions later.  But what are you going to do?  There are real problems, and then there are Twitter problems.  It’s amusing to think that some prominent bloggers actually make a career out of this sort of online ‘nontroversey’.  Shall I rage on about harassment now?  Censorship?  Bullying? Use it as evidence that there’s a concerted effort to silence men online? Perhaps not.

To be honest, the trolls couldn’t have chosen a better time. I fly out to Vegas this week, so had planned to have some twitter/podcasting downtime.  Who’s been to Vegas?  Any suggestions for things to see? Hit the comments!  Talking of ‘deep rifts’, follow my backup account @GSpellcheck and I’ll tweet you some pictures from the Grand Canyon. I’m incredibly excited!

Podcast:

The podcast will be completely unaffected by this silliness – and I have one episode left to release for September, which should arrive this week.  Make sure you’re subscribed in iTunes, Stitcher or your preferred podcasting service.  If you rely solely on my twitter feed for new podcast episodes, I’d suggest joining the mailing list on this blog and I’ll email you when new content is available.  Alternatively, you can just like my Facebook page.

I can’t say this enough, but thank you for all the podcast support.  I’ve recently surpassed 150,000 downloads, which is absurd.  This has far exceeded my wildest expectations from when I first started last November.  All you wonderfully generous patreon supporters mean a lot to me.  Speak to you soon.  Do I bet on red or black?