It’s easy for me to say, since I don’t have your influence in twitterland but don’t give in. When we are forced to comply, to lie, we chip away a part of our soul, as James Lindsay discusses so eloquently in his podcast on surviving struggle sessions.
If you change your approach, I'd be curious to see what you do next. Because I'm starting to feel like the more time we all spend in this digital public square (and online in general), the more we're being conditioned to self censor. None of us should feel hesitation about saying certain things -- online or in the real world. So where do we go from here?
I am definitely self censoring both online and in reality. We realized how dangerous the righteous were when a neighbor and husbands coworker angrily said he hoped the unvaxxed would all die and at least lose their jobs so his seniority would go up. He clearly thought we were on his side. I felt powerful knowing his true feelings and knowing he had no knowledge of who I really am. Won’t he be surprised if he ever has to find out….
I never thought I’d see people wishing death on others outside of the internet. I just figured it would be the kind of thing people would say when they could hide behind a pseudonym and avatar. But I heard it in a Walgreens of all places. It was early in the pandemic and some old dude had his mask below his nose. The cashier told him to pull up his mask or he wouldn’t serve him. The old guy apologized and said he didn’t realize it had fallen down. The cashier then said, “People like you make me sick. Anyone not wearing a mask needs to be shot.” Even after the old guy left (who stayed silent through the whole thing), the cashier kept going and going. He told me that anyone not complying deserved to die. I can’t even imagine the kinds of things he was saying when the vaxx got rolled out.
After that, I decided to keep my opinions to myself until I knew what side of the aisle the other person was on. It really scared me to hear someone say that so freely. And then I started thinking, what if someone got shot for not masking or vaxxing. Leftist groups and politicians would probably bail the person out of jail and treat them like a George Floyd-level hero. We’re living in really dark times.
Jan 3, 2023·edited Jan 3, 2023Liked by Theo Jordan
American society isn't over. The vast majority of people know this is nuts. The problem is that there is too much money to be made by mutilating kids and the medical-industrial-complex is probably paying Twitter to censor people. Musk has made some improvements and revealed a few things, but it's not enough. Before he bought Twitter, I was banned for saying that the women who have been complaining about Trudeau feeling them up should slap him. Still banned.
No idea where you live but I live in San Francisco. If I see indications in this town that people are refusing to put up with all this shit, it's happening everywhere.
We're Cassandras, you and I, in our own ways. At least I see myself that way.
If it's perceived as "gloomy" or if it unsettles a hope someone has, whatever one says won't be heard or taken on board. Story of my life, and it will be until I'm dead.
We need much more of this candor and bluntness. The gloomy part was our present reality, not you. You aren't gloomy, you're just real. It's tragic that real has become rare.
You're welcome. However, I was born a girl and am now an adult woman. Just a few years ago, I just replied I am a female or didn't bother correcting anyone. It didn't matter back then; after all, this is online. However, in today's craziness, it does matter.
My apologies, CJ. A quick glance at your profile would have informed me of that. I always asumed you were male off the name "CJ" alone, which feels pretty dumb in hindsight. 😳
It is sad that you have to add that second part now. But alas... *sighs*
What's up, buddy! I appealed, yeah. But now it's just stuck on that screen. Gator was there for like a year. I received a ton of support today which was really cool. We'll see what happens. I'm playing around with some new ideas. Make this a spark! I was feeling kind of over saturated on Twitter anyhow.
But looking at your totally benign tweet, which echoes the DSM-5, which others shared, and you shared, I think, this suspension fits Jack Dorsey’s twitter way more than Elon’s. I hope they get back to you. There’s be tons of us boosting your signal out there. Keep the faith, and explore just talking on Substack. I use mine for fiction read-alouds, and it feels soo good.
Good idea. I noticed they had a voice feature on here. I'll play around with it this weekend. I have a few audio ideas bouncing around my head now that I have this nice mic.
And yes, my suspension is ridiculous! How can we not be allowed to call a mental disorder from the DSM-5 a mental disorder? It means we're no longer allowed to acknowledge reality. Deeply deeply troubling.
~8 years ago, a woman made a site dedicated to fighting this. she was not alone, but if you want to disentangle the contributions on the left [and understand why many of these women could only be published by RW sites], start here: https://sexandgenderintro.com/how-did-we-get-here/
It is beyond frustrating. I hope you win the appeal but if you don't, stay. Your voice is original, smart, clever, often funny and important. This crazy ideological censorship will eventually pass (when people start to wake up to what they are actually supporting).
Thank you. I appreciate your kind words and support. We need all hands on deck right now, so I'll find a way to continue contributing, one way or another.
I’ve been suspended 5 times since Elon took over. Once for the very same gender dysphoria observation. The other times for sarcasm which I damn well know they understand. Remember, Elon has a “trans child” which is one step away from transhumanism. Elon’s tactic is to uphold select “conservative” views and shadow ban or outright ban others. He’s no friend of humanity.
It’s easy for me to say, since I don’t have your influence in twitterland but don’t give in. When we are forced to comply, to lie, we chip away a part of our soul, as James Lindsay discusses so eloquently in his podcast on surviving struggle sessions.
Hear hear!
If you change your approach, I'd be curious to see what you do next. Because I'm starting to feel like the more time we all spend in this digital public square (and online in general), the more we're being conditioned to self censor. None of us should feel hesitation about saying certain things -- online or in the real world. So where do we go from here?
Excellent point. I need to chew on this all.
I am definitely self censoring both online and in reality. We realized how dangerous the righteous were when a neighbor and husbands coworker angrily said he hoped the unvaxxed would all die and at least lose their jobs so his seniority would go up. He clearly thought we were on his side. I felt powerful knowing his true feelings and knowing he had no knowledge of who I really am. Won’t he be surprised if he ever has to find out….
The silver lining! I'm glad to have seen all of these cards. We'll come out of the other side of this much wiser and mucn stronger.
I never thought I’d see people wishing death on others outside of the internet. I just figured it would be the kind of thing people would say when they could hide behind a pseudonym and avatar. But I heard it in a Walgreens of all places. It was early in the pandemic and some old dude had his mask below his nose. The cashier told him to pull up his mask or he wouldn’t serve him. The old guy apologized and said he didn’t realize it had fallen down. The cashier then said, “People like you make me sick. Anyone not wearing a mask needs to be shot.” Even after the old guy left (who stayed silent through the whole thing), the cashier kept going and going. He told me that anyone not complying deserved to die. I can’t even imagine the kinds of things he was saying when the vaxx got rolled out.
After that, I decided to keep my opinions to myself until I knew what side of the aisle the other person was on. It really scared me to hear someone say that so freely. And then I started thinking, what if someone got shot for not masking or vaxxing. Leftist groups and politicians would probably bail the person out of jail and treat them like a George Floyd-level hero. We’re living in really dark times.
Theo,
James Lyndsay just retweeted this tweet from @shelley_curious:
“@Theo_TJ_Jordan got grabbed again by TwitPolis so please read and RT while he is out in the cold!“
Awesome! TYVM for letting me know.
THEO DO U SECRETLY LIKE ARBY'S
LOL! I've become dangerously addicted to beef 'n cheddars.
American society isn't over. The vast majority of people know this is nuts. The problem is that there is too much money to be made by mutilating kids and the medical-industrial-complex is probably paying Twitter to censor people. Musk has made some improvements and revealed a few things, but it's not enough. Before he bought Twitter, I was banned for saying that the women who have been complaining about Trudeau feeling them up should slap him. Still banned.
It sure will be over unless that vast majority you're confident in starts making itself visible.
By speaking out. We need a LOT more Theos out there, and a lot fewer cowardly nanny goats.
The vast majority are cowardly nanny goats. They're not going to save you, or us, or American society, simply by existing silently.
That's a realistic assessment, not a vague hope.
No idea where you live but I live in San Francisco. If I see indications in this town that people are refusing to put up with all this shit, it's happening everywhere.
Great to hear! We need people to find their balls on this issue, fast.
Well said, Josh. Gloomy, but dead-center.
We're Cassandras, you and I, in our own ways. At least I see myself that way.
If it's perceived as "gloomy" or if it unsettles a hope someone has, whatever one says won't be heard or taken on board. Story of my life, and it will be until I'm dead.
We need much more of this candor and bluntness. The gloomy part was our present reality, not you. You aren't gloomy, you're just real. It's tragic that real has become rare.
No worries. It has happened many times before. I am not offened. Mis-gendering is NOT a crime or an insult.
You're welcome. However, I was born a girl and am now an adult woman. Just a few years ago, I just replied I am a female or didn't bother correcting anyone. It didn't matter back then; after all, this is online. However, in today's craziness, it does matter.
My apologies, CJ. A quick glance at your profile would have informed me of that. I always asumed you were male off the name "CJ" alone, which feels pretty dumb in hindsight. 😳
It is sad that you have to add that second part now. But alas... *sighs*
I missed you on Twitter. I didn't know until today you were in T-Gitmo. I'm CJ there.
Ahhh, I hadn't put two and two together. Thanks for your support, brother.
What the hell, Theo? I thought Twitter had sort of grown up a bit but I guess not. Have you appealed? Anyone advocating for you? Theo Olson here.
What's up, buddy! I appealed, yeah. But now it's just stuck on that screen. Gator was there for like a year. I received a ton of support today which was really cool. We'll see what happens. I'm playing around with some new ideas. Make this a spark! I was feeling kind of over saturated on Twitter anyhow.
But looking at your totally benign tweet, which echoes the DSM-5, which others shared, and you shared, I think, this suspension fits Jack Dorsey’s twitter way more than Elon’s. I hope they get back to you. There’s be tons of us boosting your signal out there. Keep the faith, and explore just talking on Substack. I use mine for fiction read-alouds, and it feels soo good.
Good idea. I noticed they had a voice feature on here. I'll play around with it this weekend. I have a few audio ideas bouncing around my head now that I have this nice mic.
And yes, my suspension is ridiculous! How can we not be allowed to call a mental disorder from the DSM-5 a mental disorder? It means we're no longer allowed to acknowledge reality. Deeply deeply troubling.
~8 years ago, a woman made a site dedicated to fighting this. she was not alone, but if you want to disentangle the contributions on the left [and understand why many of these women could only be published by RW sites], start here: https://sexandgenderintro.com/how-did-we-get-here/
It is beyond frustrating. I hope you win the appeal but if you don't, stay. Your voice is original, smart, clever, often funny and important. This crazy ideological censorship will eventually pass (when people start to wake up to what they are actually supporting).
Thank you. I appreciate your kind words and support. We need all hands on deck right now, so I'll find a way to continue contributing, one way or another.
I feel you, Theo.
Ugh! I know you do, my friend. Maybe we can hook up one night and chat about it live. I'm all mic'd up now!
How I would *love* to talk to you for real.
:) Let's do it!
I’ve been suspended 5 times since Elon took over. Once for the very same gender dysphoria observation. The other times for sarcasm which I damn well know they understand. Remember, Elon has a “trans child” which is one step away from transhumanism. Elon’s tactic is to uphold select “conservative” views and shadow ban or outright ban others. He’s no friend of humanity.
B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B Bird Bird Bird its a dirty word.....
Bird Bird Bird Bird the dirty word.....
Bird Bird Bird Bird prompting the absurd while not allowing the sane to be heard....