DrRadfem aka Venice Allan has been blocked from Twitter

right to speak

I challenged a petition posted on Facebook regarding permanently banning the odious Katie Hopkins. This was a post from a woman's officer in my local CLP. Everyone acknowledged she had mental health issues. I may find KH odious, but she does have a write to speak.

I didn't write it, but I found the poster more odious for posting the petition.

I know it's controversial, but freedom of speech is important. I'd rather judge what KH says, then disregard it, rather than ban her from speaking.

Who cares if it's you or not?

Apparently it's fine for grown men to dress up as school girls.

So there's no reason why Venice should have been suspended for asking if it was you.

No that's not what I'm saying.

I had nothing to do with the picture or posting it. That was one of your friends, @ZewoHewo on Twitter. They sent me the photo to harass me with. So I made fun of that by sarcastically saying it was me. At which point someone must have taken that to Venice and told them it was me, not reading the blatant sarcasm in the post.

If you want to call this catfishing? Fine. But it wasn't me that did it, it was one of your own.

Catfished yes.

Women being targeted makes them look bad.

Got it.

So you're saying Venice was catfished.

Nice. That's low.

Hey friends,

Saw you were chatting about me earlier. Would just like to let you know everything you said isn't true but your willingness to believe it exposes your bias.

The pictures Venice believes we're me were sent to me by a TERF - amongst others - as an attempt to upset me. They're just randoms from the Internet. So I made fun of their attempt by saying they were ruining my family moment.

Don't be so gullible in future. It really makes you look bad.

Sorry the talk upthread about someone called Cursed and some teddy bears that this is all about - who is cursed? Is there a link?

It's not a labour party colleague presumably? Although we have had HP poledancing etc and labour party cool with that, maybe men dressed up like little girls is AOK now as well.

Who is what with some teddy bears?

Best way to understand it is to see how it is being used right now.... of course if you happen to have been blocked by one of the 'TerfBlocker' type accounts, that's harder to see the full picture.

I meant it as I read that initially as they can't (stop you).

Red
I read that initially as they can't (stop you). But reading it again are you saying you can't set up another account? If I use a different computer/phone and log in from a different location or use a vpn, how can they link it to another account? I'm not a techy and my amateur techy DH is out at the moment, so I may have missed something obvious.

I don't see how individuals can be permanently banned.

I help run and moderate a small hobby forum. Over the years we have had a number of prolific trolls who come back time and again.

Some are pretty rubbish at tech and you can catch them out because they use the same IPs but most just use VPNs and change their IPs constantly. They usually get banned in the end anyway because of their behaviour but you can't stop them reregistering and coming back often with multiple accounts.

I suppose the issue for people like DRRADFEM is that if you do end up on a list of permanently banned users you can no longer use the site and be upfront about who you are.

This would be an issue for anyone who tweets from a position of having credentials in a specific area so for example Hadley Freeman has a twitter platform as a well known journalist which is how she gains followers and a significant voice. If she was perma-banned nothing can stop her coming back but she could only do it anonymously which reduces her status to pretty much nothing.

Not that I think twitter are going to be banning prominent blue tick users for the most part but it would affect individuals who have built up significant followings but are not famous or public figures in any official capacity.

It makes me uneasy because it has the potential to seriously interfere with political organisation depending on the bias of the companies that own the platform and any group that may have influence with them.

How can they prevent new accounts being created? What stops you from setting up a new account with a new email and fake name? I realise you would lose all your followers and have to start from scratch, but I can't see how they can keep anyone off the platform.

Simple answer. You can't. Ask a techy.

I think twitter is a poor medium for debate anyway. I only started using it recently to support Venice, the Man Friday thing and a Women's Place but there are an awful lot of angry nutters there and I doubt anyone changes anyone's opinion. It's an echo chamber. Is there somewhere better to go? Mumsnet is fine but very self selected

I agree. Twitter is really awful.

I actually feel less admiration for people like jk Rowling and Mary beard because of all the time they waste on it.

I am glad I am not on it.

How can they prevent new accounts being created? What stops you from setting up a new account with a new email and fake name? I realise you would lose all your followers and have to start from scratch, but I can't see how they can keep anyone off the platform.

Twitter's guidelines are evolving... there is a new policy coming in which will prevent new accounts being created if an individual has been permanently suspended.
Those who understand the guidelines are best able to use them (and also potentially shape them...) it is all is moving quickly.

@DrRadFem I've asked to follow your account. If you ask me TRAs are a load of scheiters.

DrDina - welcome to Mumsnet! Good to see you here.

DrRadFem - I've asked to follow your new identity on twitter, and my account might look a bit flaky - it's very new, and I'm following only a few people, and I've made no tweets. Deleted my last account a few days ago as it had my RL name attached. So just in case you think my account is a spying sock-puppet...it isn't.

Thank you, @Datun for drawing my attention to the tagging function -yay!

Venice, I have followed you since you stuck your head above the parapet on an intersectional feminist FB group I lurk on. I am so sorry that you are being targeted in this way, and grateful that you are out there telling the truth so publicly and uncompromisingly (and with such humour and flair -I was laughing out loud over the washing up bowl, watching your account of the email exchange with Heather Peto on YouTube the other week). Go you!

Venice - DrRadFem, I mentioned your situation on Twitter. I have 431 likes so far and a lot of angry people. We're with you!

DrRadFem! Venice, I spread the word about Twitter. As you know I’m a social psychologist and use my real name and credentials to discuss what’s happening to women’s rights due to current Trends. I’ve had my job threatened twice and was in Twitter jail last month. Because I can speak with genuine authority about these issues, I won’t be surprised to be thrown off Twitter, too. We’re going to have to launch a Discrimination lawsuit, I believe.

twitter.com/scarlettstuff/status/977298820244692992?s=19

She's back let's see if we can get her even more followers than last time