I Violated Facebook's "Community Standards"

 Greetings,

In the course of a message yesterday (15 March 2022) I had the occurrence to violate Facebook's "Community Standards" in specific regard to violence. This was the second time that it occurred and using the same word in the same context. It would seem that either a) the human monitors of Facebook cannot read context, or b) the monitors of these standards on Facebook are totally automated. I will lay further claim to that second part later on in my explanation and in the course of my story below.

In the first incident, on 4 March 2022, there was image of an elder lady running with the caption that read "I run so I don't stab people in the face with a fondue fork." or something similar. In response to this, in jest, as the author and person who placed the meme would have known, I replied: "Ironically, that's why I stab people in the face, so I don't have to run." Seconds later I was picked up for violating the "Community Standards in regard to violence. It asked whether I disagreed, I did, it summarily rejected my claim, and posted the following which I screen-shot.

I then posted the same screenshot as a "status" to which I got zero response from Facebook. I had a good laugh about it for quite a few days as friends responded to it. I don't believe the post has even been removed. 

It would seem that their monitors can read text, but can't read the same text when it is contained within an image. This is where I would clearly claim that they are using a text-based selector looking for certain words or phrases, rather than actual individuals. I laughed this breach off, did not bother following it up.

Now for the important background material for those who have not read my Bio. I am involved in fencing, which means that I put on a fencing mask, gloves and pick up a sword with a rubber blunt on the end and then go out with friends and then we learn the best ways to strike one another, based on treatises from the Medieval and Renaissance period. I do this quite a bit, and have become relatively proficient at it. I have been know to say that I don't run because I want to think that I have developed the capacity to have learnt to stand and fight, hence the comment made. A few of my friends have also been cautioned about posts in jest about "going out and stabbing friends" and similar comments.

All this leads up to the second violation of these Community Standards which are variably enforced as noted previously, (no problem with words in images). It would seem that Facebook has something against fencers because as soon as you mention "striking", "thrusting", "stabbing" or even "swords" in some instances, Facebook comes down hard on you. This makes it difficult for the fencing community, both sport fencers and historical fencers alike to socialise on Facebook and talk about what they do. This is actually how my second breach came about.

I said, "Fencing is the best thing for COVID... You wear masks, and if anyone comes within 1.5m, you stab them." In each case, I have had emoticons with laughing faces to make sure it was understood that it was in jest. It would seem that the monitors can't read emoticons or language, or intent either. So, being my second "offence" against the Community Standards, and  Yes, I disagreed with the decision, which was summarily ignored. I was banned from posting for 24-hrs and my feed will be limited for a month. 

This is even more ironic because the idea for the comment came from an image which I downloaded straight from Facebook...

This time I took it to the Oversight Board because if a person cannot talk about fencing without getting this treatment, then something needs to be done. I indicated in my submission that their restriction of certain words and phrases restricts the fencing community, an international one, from communicating and that maybe they might find another way of communicating if Facebook was not going to be accommodating. I also pointed out that my comments were in jest, that clearly such violations are monitored by bots and not by human beings. I don't know if it will do anything, but I have to try and will be making submissions every time this occurs over a fencing-related comment from now on.

The other choice is to play within the rules of Facebook all the time and deliberately censor fencing words that might be taken to be offensive or violent, and when people ask, I will explain the situation and make my protest in this fashion. I think a combination of the two will be best because as this post proves, I doubt that I am going to hold my "tongue."

Cheers,

Henry.