Facebook: I am the victim of abuse and you punished me

On the 25th of July 2021, Facebook has given me a warning that only I can see and I am not happy. 

Not happy at all. 

This is an unjust action and after so many of this kind on my pages, posts, ads etc. it feels like persecution. 

I was the victim and they punished me. They made me pay. Again. 

I wrote two other posts regarding this and I will keep writing until this wrongdoing is fixed. 

• https://authorcristinag.blogspot.com/2021/08/open-letter-to-facebook.html
• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dear-facebook-ceasefire-end-persecution-i-am-pacifist-gherghel

I am tired of being punished based on reports made by people that want do to harm on purpose, just because I didn't reply to their messages, I didn't press the like button, didn't fall in their arms when they showed ill affections and such. 

Every time someone gets upset with me, they report me to Facebook. 

It's not my content they report, it's me. 

It's personal. 

Every single time my content was blocked, hid, removed unfairly etc. coincides with a situation in which I was either abused or harassed. 

After I've been maltreated - both in private or in public - Facebook partnered with the bully. 

In 2018 Facebook marked my author page as spam and remove all its content without warning. 

It took me months to have it reinstated. 

https://authorcristinag.blogspot.com/2018/05/spam-content-removed-facebook-blocks-my-blog-links-authorcristinag.html

This has happened after I refused the 'advances' of a fellow author. 

He wasn't in a good place and asked for my help. I wasn't in the position to help, so I've pointed him where he could find help. 

But he wouldn't leave me alone. 

One day he's asked if he could sleep with me in his imagination. 

It wasn't appropriate and I made it clear as politely and kindly as possible. I didn't want to encourage him. Play with his feelings. 

He was so, so offended. 

Jumped at my throat. No mercy. 

Can't remember what he said... He couldn't hurt me then, I was grieving my father. 

There wasn't any room in my heart for more pain. 

I wish I've kept those messages and public comments. 

I could have reported him, but I didn't even consider that. He was in pain, I understood and left him in peace, after I blocked him, of course.  

Didn't want to risk another fallout. 

The next thing I know, Facebook removes all the content of my author page (where he contacted me). All of it. 

Years of hard work. 

Then it blocked another page, and another and so on. 

I kept writing and asking what was going on. Why? 

No answer. 

During my 11 years of membership on Facebook, I was harassed, bullied, abused, defamed way too many times. 

I am not the only one, in fact, I am sure that I am one of the millions who had to endure Facebook's oversights. 

I won't stand for it this time. 

I am going to keep publishing until this goes away. 

I am a pacifist, I support and spread love, I encourage forgiveness and compassion. 

I am a good person to the core and my posts don't infringe any rules. 

I am tired, so tired of being abused by frustrated and evil people. 

Stop, please, stop. 

We are living in a world where the survival of the fittest is believed to be a good 'natural' selection. 

Darwin's evolution theory doesn't make much sense to me. 

I am not smart enough to understand what led this brilliant man to such conclusions.  

 

But I do agree with him: I am not fit for this society. 

I am not fit for Facebook, and I am not fit for the world. I shouldn't be out there, in public, to the mercy of the evil. 

But I am a writer in a virtual reality. 

I need to be able to share my work with people somewhere. 

I denounce all Facebook actions on my accounts as abusive and discriminatory. 

Mistakes can happen, and they happen, Facebook, but you excel at making them. 

When you block my content and give me warnings based on absurd reports, you partner with the bad guys, the ones that harassed and bullied me. 

Because no good person would report my activities on Facebook. 

There would be no reason for that. 

No reason at all and you can verify that. 

Investigate my account. I officially invite you to do so. 

Show me the crime you are accusing me of. 

I am a respectful person. 

I am the victim and you are making me pay not twice, but 100 times more than the abuser.  

I am tired. 

It's 4 in the morning and I can't sleep because I am so, so very tired of being punished for being and doing good. 

Exhausted. 

I am a pacifist, Facebook, but I won't bow my head and cry in silence again. 

I want my cry to be heard this time. 

I'll keep writing and never stop denouncing your wrongdoings on my account. 

I am a reasonable person, I know you are trying to make Facebook a safe place, but you are very far from doing it right. 

Stop the persecution. Stop it now, please.  

Take the warning off. 

Is there a lawyer out there who would be willing to give me advice on this? 

 

I am so, so, tired. 

I am a full-time carer, I should be sleeping, resting, charging my batteries for a new day at work. 

Instead, I am here (5am now - England's time), writing about a silly thing. 

A silly thing that harms my reputation and hinders me from helping others. 

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Happy Day, Mother Earth!

 Happy Birthday, Mother Earth! 

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. 

First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.

- Wikipedia 

But Mother Earth should be cared for and celebrated every day. 

We wouldn't exist if it wasn't for her (it). Yet, we hurt her without any regret. 

Some are aware of the harm they do to it many times a day, but they take any positive action towards earth anyway. 

Some others are completely and utterly oblivious of the consequences of their lack of respect and consideration towards the planet we live on. 

Which ones are worse? 

All. Each of us. 

Luckily, lately, there are many who fight to defend the earth from ultimate destruction. 

I am not a member of any of these organisations or groups, yet, but I do my bit each day. 

And you can too: 

• never waste water 
• plant trees
• seed flowers to help the bees survive 
• don't kill animals for fun or for profit. Save many from extinction 
• don't pollute. Walk or cycle more, instead of using a car. Unless, of course, it's a car that doesn't harm the planet 
• recycle all you can
• don't litter and so, so much more! 

Saving the planet is up to us. Each and every one of us. 

To learn what more you can do, go to https://www.earthday.org. 

EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for our planet. 

This year theme is: Restore our earth. 

Many Happy Returns, Mother Earth! 

Read a lot more: 

• https://www.un.org/en/observances/earth-day
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day
• https://iliveisuffer.blogspot.com/2015/04/earth-day.html

Photo credit: Pixabay

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Immigrants are humans too - Stories of prisoners of geography

I am a Romanian-born woman with a dream bigger than me.
I write books hoping to make a living from it.
It's not easy. Not at all.
But what's easy nowadays?
Better yet: what was ever easy?

I love my country and my language, I respect the traditions, I long to see the street I grew up, the house I was raised in... I long to see my parents, my sisters and brothers all together.
But I live in England now.
Romania is far, far away...
Not only in terms of physical distance as... of the way I fell about my roots.

I left my country when I was 24.
Italy was my destination.
Italy... one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
I learned so much.
I cried so much.
I was so unfairly treated.
And why?
What have I done?
Have I been a bad person?
No.
I was ... a prisoner of geography. Nothing else mattered.

I wrote books about that period. Ten Years in Italy, Three Weeks a Human is one of them.
But I also write about immigration on my blogs. You know that.

I am glad that happened... what happened in Italy otherwise I wouldn't be here.
And I want to be here... in England.
I love living in England.
But I am not sure for how long now... with the Brexit going on.

Yet. "Dum spiro spero. While I breathe, I hope."
I hold no grudge to anyone.

Being good is a decision, not a consequence. 

A friend of mine asked me once why have I left my country. What have I dreamed to achieve?
My answer was: Hope.

I am an immigrant and a human just like you. I have hopes and dreams and I want to achieve them. I have this right. My nationality doesn't define me.
What other people do is their responsibility, not mine.
Right?


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May the universe be always on your side.  

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A Great Way to Remember - Cristina G.

Some time ago, my colleagues and I got an email from my team leader inviting us to have a picture together for the company calendar.
I always loved calendars and I liked the idea very much.
However, as the participation was optional, I decided not to take part as I don't really like being in the centre of attention.

That is something coming from a writer who craves for international recognition, isn't it?
Anyway, although I'd like to be famous, and I will be, I am yet to learn how to handle the reflectors' lights.
To be honest, I never liked being photographed. I am terrified of the idea. I believe I am not photogenic at all.
Thinking that you are better in real life than in photograph isn't it somehow arrogant?

I am not referring to photoshopped photographs. In those, we are all super perfect and forever young.

Anyway, I wanted to know my teammates' thoughts on the matter.
So I spoke with them and it seemed that none was very eager to be immortalised on a calendar.
That made me very sad.
I took some time to reflect on it.

I thought that it would be amazing to have pictures with all my colleagues from around the world.

I imagined myself old and decrepit holding the future calendar in my hands remembering names, places, and situations that made me laugh... or cry.

It seemed such an easy way to remember...

I asked myself how could I not take part when I like the idea so much?
What was the real reason for my refusal?
Was I upset with someone or with something in my company?
Bingo!
I was indeed upset because of a very unfortunate incident happened in the past.
An occurrence that gave me an awful amount of distress.
A situation I thought (still think) was not handled properly by the people in charge of it.
They did their best to fix something that was very difficult to fix. However, I suffered and I lost a lot because of it.
I didn't know what to do so I isolated myself from most, even if I cared for many of my colleagues.
Years after, I am still haunted by that terrible experience.

But refusing to participate in a collective calendar was not fair.

The idea brought by Caroline, one of my dear colleagues I had my training with, was great and I appreciated it a lot.
I couldn't wait to see the final work.
So I discussed it again with some of my colleagues. I told them that we should be united at least once.
"One day we will regret not doing it."

Every team had a different month, of course.
We were lucky and got February,  the month of love.
Our outfits and looks didn't have to be fancy or weird.
As long as we had hearts, teddy bears and red roses... everything was cool.

So we dressed up a little and when the day came, almost all my colleagues took part.
All women (all different) and a huge teddy bear.

Johan, the brilliant photographer, has been very patient and gave us a lot of free will. We did whatever we liked and the result was great. I thought. Johan doesn't agree. I think he's too modest.

Caroline was present at our photo session too. I hugged her to express my positive feelings about the whole project thought by her.

Caroline was sweet enough to make me have the photo of her team to use in this post.
I really love their month, but I love mine better.
No hard feelings, dear Caroline. Alright?

The conclusion of this post is that you should always allow others to take pictures of yourself in different hypostases. Especially in the work environment.
One day you will feel grateful for the opportunity.
The years pass fast and the memories fade away even faster.
Many people deserve to remain in your heart.
A photograph is a great way to remember. It's a tangible proof of the past.

Thank you, Caroline.
Thank you, Johan.
Goodbye BPA quality.

I will hold you in my memories forever.

***

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Happy Valentine's Day to everybody who Loves!

That's everything I want to say.

All of us have the right to love and to be loved.
Regardless of the age, skin colour, nationality, religion, gender and so on.

If two or three people are in a consentient (consenting) relationship, who are you to judge?

Freedom is our given right!

Taking advantage of vulnerable people, abusing the powerless (children, elderly, animals) is abominable. That's illegal, immoral and totally wrong.

Love and you will be loved. 

Read my others posts on these topic.

Have a Fabulous Love Day!

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