Unfortunately, I recently got in trouble with Facebook.
If you have been following my blog for the last month, you probably know I was doing watercolors of a new take on an old holiday song. I posted all my posts in this series on Facebook, too. I was especially happy because my mom really enjoyed the project.
It was titled “12 Days of Sl*gM*s”. (You’ll see why I am leaving out letters shortly.)
Two days ago, Facebook informed me that my posts violated their community standards. I was confused. So, I read through all their community standards. But I can’t quite figure out how Sl*gM*s violates any of them.
The only thing I could figure out was that perhaps they thought I was making fun of, or being disrespectful of, Christmas.
Of course, I would never do such a thing. I’m super jazzed about Christ and Christmas.
Also, my parents who love Christmas loved Sl*gM*s, too. We had a lot of fun chats about it over the holiday. They watched me draw and paint the last few sets of pictures over Christmas break at their house and really enjoyed it.
I was pretty frustrated about Facebook’s decision at first. But I also find a lot of humor in the fact that of all the possibly offensive things they could have taken on at Christmas time, a bunch of festive slugs was one of the major “Facebook threats” they “had” to resolve.
Mom and Dad thought it was funny, too. So in the end, the project still gave us a good laugh. It did so both in its initial execution and also in the fact that it was deemed a Facebook threat of some sort.
But a threat Mark Zuckerberg did indeed deem it. And Facebook deleted all my posts. They also temporarily suspended my Instagram account over the issue.
I wanted to let you know this mainly because I decided to delete all the posts about it in my blog as well instead of fighting Facebook over it. I couldn’t get my Instagram account back until I did that. So, I wanted to let you know why all the posts were gone.
But I am going to post some of my favorite paintings from the series below.
Thanks for enjoying it with me. Hopefully I won’t get in trouble for the pictures in this post.
Published by shellypruittjohnson
My name is Shelly Johnson, and I am a writer and philosopher with a Ph.D. in philosophy. One of my primary personal and philosophical interests is how we can learn to love ourselves and each other better in order to cultivate personal and political resilience. I teach ethics and a variety of other courses at a local college. I am the author of the blog Love is Stronger. I am also the author of three logic and critical thinking books for high school and middle school: _Argument Builder_, _Discovery of Deduction_ (co-author), and _Everyday Debate_, published by Classical Academic Press. You can reach me at shellypruittjohnson@gmail.com.
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Shelly – I am so sorry and dismayed to read this. I salute your good humoured response but how anyone could think your charming series was anything but celebratory and creative is beyond me. It was a series created with love to bring us good cheer and it did for me.
Friend, thank you so much! It has been discouraging, but I am learning some stuff through the process, so hopefully all will turn out well.
I really respect your good-humored response as well. That’s so frustrating! Slugmas was harmless! And hopefully you won’t get in trouble with the Facebook police again.
Brendan, thank you so much! It is still frustrating, but I am trying to learn things from the process. I appreciate your kind commiseration.
What in the world?! How in the heck can a few watercolors of slugs doing cute things be offensive?
Very odd… if you get more details, I’d be interested to hear what the issue turns out to be.
Thanks for sharing your fun and funky art with the world! ?
Katherine
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Katherine, thank you so much! I have no idea what is up with FB, but it is both funny and frustrating. Thank you so much for your kind words about my art.
I too have been loving this series. I’m sorry you had to delete it, & I understand why it’s not worth fighting over. It’s such a shame though.
Nik, thank you so much for your kindness! FB is weird, Man.
We live in a crazy world Shelly! I loved your series and I’m glad I had the chance to see it. And I’m glad that have managed to find some humour in the situation. I don’t like Facebook much, and this makes me like it less! Hugs to you and the slugs! 🙂
Ann, I really appreciate your kindness! I am definitely frustrated right now, and it does make me angry with FB. I plan on finding some good in the midst of it.
Who needs fakebook anyways! Hopefully you will publish your content and have it for sale on bookstores before next Christmas.
Jason, that is so kind! i am working on publishing, and I can’t promise anything by next Christmas, but we will see! I must find an agent first. Thanks for your very kind comment.
I don’t do Facebook, and now I know why. Extraordinary. Have these people no sense of humour? I guess we all know the answer to that one!