Facebook kicks me out
The good news: Mom came home last night after a week in the hospital. That means a whole lot more than the bad news. I'm very grateful for all your kind wishes on her behalf.
The bad news: when I returned to Mom's house with her groceries this afternoon I tried to log into Facebook and got this message: "Upon investigation, we have determined that you are ineligible to use Facebook. Unfortunately, for safety and security reasons, we cannot provide additional information as to why your account was disabled. This decision is final."
No explanation, no appeal. The only possible reason I can imagine for them deeming me ineligible is the same reason MySpace deleted my personal profile in 2007: my nearly 20-year-old felony conviction. According to info on Facebook's Help page: "Convicted sex offenders are prohibited from using Facebook. Once we are able to verify a user’s status as a sex offender, we immediately disable their account and remove their account and all information associated with it." I have blogged extensively about my 11 years in prison (from 1993 to 2004), and it has never been a secret. I have been also been active on Facebook for 4 years (since December 2007) and never been a threat to anyone's safety or security.
I'm not sure what exactly to do about this. At first I was in shock. Then I began crying, feeling an incredible sense of loss. Then I became angry at the injustice. Now I'm feeling a bit numb. I'll try to write more soon. Please know that I love you.
The bad news: when I returned to Mom's house with her groceries this afternoon I tried to log into Facebook and got this message: "Upon investigation, we have determined that you are ineligible to use Facebook. Unfortunately, for safety and security reasons, we cannot provide additional information as to why your account was disabled. This decision is final."
No explanation, no appeal. The only possible reason I can imagine for them deeming me ineligible is the same reason MySpace deleted my personal profile in 2007: my nearly 20-year-old felony conviction. According to info on Facebook's Help page: "Convicted sex offenders are prohibited from using Facebook. Once we are able to verify a user’s status as a sex offender, we immediately disable their account and remove their account and all information associated with it." I have blogged extensively about my 11 years in prison (from 1993 to 2004), and it has never been a secret. I have been also been active on Facebook for 4 years (since December 2007) and never been a threat to anyone's safety or security.
I'm not sure what exactly to do about this. At first I was in shock. Then I began crying, feeling an incredible sense of loss. Then I became angry at the injustice. Now I'm feeling a bit numb. I'll try to write more soon. Please know that I love you.
Posted by Jesus Crisis at 12/22/2011 9:51 PM 
Categories: News and Politics, Prison
Tags: John Burroughs Jesus Crisis MySpace Facebook Sex Offender Prison
Categories: News and Politics, Prison
Tags: John Burroughs Jesus Crisis MySpace Facebook Sex Offender Prison
Bullshit. Total Bullshit.
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absolutely heinous. i'm outraged.
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John, this is sad news and I can't imagine what you are going through. For many of us, scattered around and separated by distance- facebook is a way to stay connected to each other and stay strong as a community. So many of us will miss you there, and are so very grateful for the support you have given. Please know that you are on a lot of people's minds tonight and our hearts go out to you because we understand that it goes beyond the account issue. It cuts to the heart of what you try so hard to do. Peace, John. And best to you, your mom, family, and hang in there.
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We love you, too, John. That will never change.
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I'm so sorry, John. I've written to FB and told them how your presence on FB has benefited the poetry community and how we will all be harmed by the disabling of your account.
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I will no longer be on Facebook. I cannot support a social network that discriminates like that. I wrote them and told them that what they are doing is horrible.
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I was wondering what happened... I'm sorry to hear it... Trying to think about what to do?... you need to be visible to do your work john...
Perhaps a petition drive on Fb... to get your profile back... you need to be there..
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absolutely heinous. i'm outraged. hang in there john....you are loved
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oops i thought my first response didn't go through....anyway...ditto everybody else here...i'm in too much shock to write facebook tonight but they will get an earful first thing in the morning. i like chris's petition idea....
big hugs dear one....and really glad to hear that your mama is feeling better...
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facebook just turned into a casino district parking lot with broken street lights. It feels incorporated. "Blood on the streets in the town of new Haven"- We'll try to get you back on, john. Until then, I'm on your blog like white on rice.
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John, this makes me physically I'll. I will be contacting FB through every channel I can rustle up. This is so deeply wrong. I send love and admiration to you, with my promises to hammer away at FB. Hugs to you and your family, and especially your mom on the mend. W.
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=( John!!! This makes me so sad =( We're all here to support you.
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what cat, wrex and nat said....and please know that folks on facebook are outraged and grieving and missing you tonight, dear john....we shall foment revolution on your (and our) behalf...xxoo
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John I am so very sorry this has happened. I am also extremely angry about it, and you're right: I have no idea what can be done about it. I looked and there seems no way to write Fb a message that would get through. you have many friends. I know I am not there, and not one of your "close" friends, but I value your presence and your work. I do NOT value the fascist attitudes that cause this sort of BS to happen to good people. I will keep trying to contact Fb and I've already shared the message i read from Chansonette. What is right WILL prevail
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I wrote Kathy last night asking how to go about the petition idea.. have not heard anything back yet...
but will post something here or by e-mail when I do.
My first thought would be for you to open a new profile- perhaps a press profile... to have a presence there at least.. but I suppose my main concern is that it will happen again.
Facebook seems to rely on a vigilante form of justice... with no recourse to challenge a ruling. Which has always seemed to me patently unfair. It relies on people self policing the place and reporting each other. And if the practice is considered unreliable and dangerous in real space then it should be considered unreliable in cyberspace.
And as with other sex offender "laws" ( because this appears to be what you think is the cause- above)
they are enforced with a not just a blind eye to their impact but also without regard to the individual or the offense. Everyone is treated the same without consideration of circumstances.
It's a "scarlet letter" law.... as Shelley said discriminatory..
establishing yourself elsewhere is essential though.. you need to maintain an online presence John... there are other viable growing social networks... perhaps once the shock starts to wear off you will feel the urge to not let the dark in others beat you... please continue to let your light shine John..
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I just found this out and thank God you still have Crisis Chronicles. There has to be a way for all of us who love you to fight Facebook. Let's all keep the ideas flowing here. You have so many of us who know you personally through the poetry readings and publications that think this is totally
reprehensible. I can imagine this as a newspaper article, a TV discussion so tell Facebook everyone we are not going down without a FIGHT! This could be breaking news tomorrow. So lets share ideas here. You will NOT be forgotten!!
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John, I knew there was something missing on facebook--your presence--but after watching "The Social Network," I'm not surprised by the summary decision. It's not what one would call a democratic engine. So there's your particular fight to return to facebook, which is worthy, and the larger fight, which is whether facebook can become something larger than its mission to commodify everything, even our very personal lives--with our own complicity.
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Dear John. I am shocked at what has happened. I was looking for you last night and thanks to Christina got the heads up. I will do whatever anyone can think of to support you. I certainly hope this is not the end of you on facebook, but I will certainly continue to follow you here. I think it's total bull shit. You have done NOTHING inappropriate on facebook. I think you should be judged by what you do not by what may or may not have happened 20 years ago. So sorry this is happening because I am really missing your page.
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John, your fb page epitomized how a social network can be utilized to uplift and inform. We'll get you back on.
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Not trying to be rude or disrespect the other kind people here, but I will send you my message in private.
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john, i woke up thinking of all the wonderful stuff you do on facebook 90% of it for OTHER poets....and what a nexus he are....and how this is where you promote your publishing and your wonderful events (again...for OTHER poets)....and how this whole mess from the beginning has shut down so many of your options as a man in the society and how beautifully you have found ways to flourish and grow and spread your love and light in spite of it all....it's a horrible loss for you and for us and i hope that as people find out what facebook has done and rally around you ON facebook and AT facebook something can shift and we can have you back in the venue you used, as William says, so beautifully to uplift and inform. In the meantime I have changed my profile picture to the one you took of you, Dianne and me when I visited in june...and i'm hoping others will do something similar so that your face is all over face...book....as we figure out how to redress this unconscionable injustice.
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John I am so sorry. I am devoid of words. Peace be with you my brother.
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This is what a police state looks like.
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Hi John, I am very sorry about this. I hope we can find a way to get you back on!
I think the policy is a bit unfair and condemning people in such a blanket way is unfair. (I personally don't believe in condemning anyone, anyways.)
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Well spoken, Kathy.
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John, So sorry to hear about this. Thinking of you and wising you peace.
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Wow I will say it backwards woW hugsssssssssss
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Same thing happened to me a few years ago with Paypal. They cancelled the account without warning, and when asked merely referred to the Terms of Service. No help at all.
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John, I'm so sorry to hear about this! I'll try to do whatever I can to help. Diane is gathering the troops as I type this! Hugs, S
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I have to agree with Nathan. BS to the nth degree! You are in good company however, they have even banned whole towns!
Effin in Ireland is banned http://www.asiapacificnews.net/story/201559671
Also the act of breastfeeding and other social networks http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/facebook-bans-european-social-network-for-violating-its-policies/2643
Hang in there big guy and have a Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas, John. And fear not. We, your friends, love you and we will fight to get you back on facebook! You really class up the joint.
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John, I can't tell you how sorry I am to hear about this horrible event. I just wanted you to know that I support you and have posted a short note on G+. It might be helpful for you/for all of us, if you could connect your work there... hang in there... lots of people support you.
love and hugs, Paulette C T
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I have nothing more to add than what's already here.
You are loved.
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working on finishing up a petition to pass around for people to sign hoping to encourage Facebook to reconsider their policy and perhaps reinstating your account John. Just running the wording past a few people to see if it is adequate and appropriate... hopefully we will have it out to circulate on Fb by Monday or Tuesday.. if you would like to see it please let me know.. in the past you've been unhappy about me going ahead and doing things without consulting you.. and you've not responded to the e-mails I've sent you regarding it.
I want to help .. not make the situation worse. But it would be nice if you could get your original profile back with all of its content. You've lost a lot of work and history there... tragic I think. And I know you have a lot of people who support you and what you are trying to do... perhaps showing that support will be of help to you.
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Ah, dear friends, I am grateful for your kindness, outrage and support. It's been a crazy week and I've not yet decided what to do or how much I want to bother with Facebook from here on out, but for now I've repurposed my old, long unused levy/Lorca fan page so I can at least back up my data for the Poets of Lorain County FB page and let people I don't have any other way of easily contacting know what happened. I'm also working on finding a way to recover my old profile's data, though I've half resigned myself to the strong possibility that it is lost for good. In the meantime, maybe I'll see you at http://www.facebook.com/lorcalives
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Are we in the stone ages? Next, they will be burning us all at the stake!! This irks my soul, I cannot STAND this injustice...I have your back a long with all of your family and friends.
Love & Peace,
Janet Caldwell
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I'd be curious as to who brought it up to them in the first place. Even if you're open about your past, Facebook doesn't just automatically start investigating stuff like this on their own.
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I am curious, too. I don't believe it would be anyone who really knows me or who has had much experience with me in person or online. Maybe it was a new friend who was startled to discover I had been in prison and for such a charge.
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Hello John! I am shocked at what has occured! I have been your FB friend since 2007 and have enjoyed all of your posts, poetry and pictures! You have been a daily inspiration and have learned so much about poetry through your links, library and posts! What a tremendous loss for you and all of us!I am so sorry this has happened to you and if there is anything I can help you with let me know! This is a mourning the loss of all these years of the heart and soul you put into your pages. Hope they will reverse this stupidity!
Peace and love, Lucya
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<3
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Hi John, Just checking in to say hello. Hope you are going okay. I'm still really mad about all this as most of us are. Narrow mindedness is nothing new sadly and it's not going away in a hurry. But you are part of a community that seeks to be open minded and just plain bloody decent. Hang in there mate!!
Paul
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Thanks again!
I am now temporarily camped out at http://facebook.com/lorcalives
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