An opportunity in disguise

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So for the time being, while Facebook verifies that the name I’ve been using on my account is indeed me and has been me since 2007 (actually since 1996 when I got married), I’ll be posting here or from Twitter.

How does this technological SNAFU happen?

Not a SNAFU, for one. Malicious intent for another, but I digress, read on.

Earlier today I was discussing race and how a reporter from an Ohio Fox affiliate called Lady Gaga’s performance at the Oscars “jigaboo”. She claimed she thought it was a term of praise, right after she claimed she didn’t know what it meant.

Because that’s what anchor-people do – they use words they don’t know on air because it makes them look smart and worldly. I think she’s a “bubblehead”, which I know isn’t a term of endearment or a racial slur.

Anyway, I was discussing it on my Facebook page, as one does, and we’d gotten up a pretty good head of outrage before someone (also from Ohio) claimed it was just a word and “no big deal”, before falling on the old saws of “reverse racism” and something else I can’t remember because I can’t get into my Facebook to reference (more on that in a minute).

Anyway, I bade the gentlemen farewell forever out of my life and had moved on to things like work and  other hot topics like #AskHerMore (which we agree should be #AskHerOnce). I’d even moved on to my regular daily activities because my life really doesn’t revolve around FB, but I do like the social connection.

A few hours later, I discover that it’d been brought to Facebook’s attention that I’m not using “an authentic name” (a real name) and until further notice, my account has been shut down until it’s proven I’m me.

That’s right, the name I’ve been using on Facebook since I logged on in 2007, my legal, married name isn’t authentic. It’s funny how I was having a conversation about names just last week – I’d point you to the post, but alas …

This happened because someone reported it. You can do that, report someone for having a fake name or pretending to be someone else.

Someone probably mad I unfriended a bigot, and the bigot (or a bigoted friend) got his Underoos in a bunch and this was the best shot.

Because he or someone he knows is a coward and hates to lose.

Yes, I know, correlation is not causation, however I’m not one for coincidences and there is nothing else I can be reported for. I’m not nasty, or mean. I don’t post nudity or violent images. I’m pretty a-political, simply because I really don’t want to know your political leanings.

Those things tend to ruin a friendships.

Like calling someone out for being a bigot and that person retaliating in the most childish way possible.

Racism is an ugly thing. Discussing racism turns seemingly intelligent people into idiots – race-baiting, mouth-breathing, deflecting morons who become vindictive trolls. Racism makes people scared they’re losing ground on something intangible but paramount – like their personhood or identity. Couple that with a dash of misogyny, and you have little rage machine. A teeny, tiny, inadequately-sized rage machine.

I mean, god forbid these scared little mice become a minority because it’s probably just awful to feel marginalized and ignored and rejected as a human being without thoughts and feelings. What would their black friends say? What about reverse racism?

So that means that this blog will be active again. There is still #40DaysOfBento to post and other neat things I might find. It’s a big internet, and I like to stay busy. It could take days or even weeks for Facebook to sort out its problem and I can’t possibly stay quiet that long.

It means a minor timesink has been temporarily lifted and I may get a lot of things done for the next week or so..

It means I am deeply disappointed in the bigoted ass and his trolling friends, and this is how he decided to deal his inability to handle rejection. So, “Joe”, how about we just stay out of each other’s way until you’re hit by a bus.

Everyone else, see you back here later!