Back On Facebook! (I Think)

Update 12/2: Some people are telling me that they can’t see my Profile link; that it’s saying ‘Page Not Found’ on Facebook. Please leave a comment below if you’re not seeing it. Trying to get to the bottom of this…

I’m back on Facebook – with new profiles. You can add me here or here – or, when in doubt, both. More on that in a moment.

So after all this time, hundreds of direct emails to Facebook from friends, and a Reactivate Mike Morrell’s Facebook Account! group on FB, I heard precisely nothing from the Powers that Be from America’s most popular social networking site. I tried creating a new profile with a different email address than the one associated with my disabled account, and my IP address was banned. I seemed to be backed into a corner with nowhere to go.

So I tried one more email to Marissa and company. It went like this:

Hi Marissa,

My apologies if some of my friends are getting agitated and venting their frustration. I know that you don’t make the rules – you only try to enforce them to the best of your ability. I’m wondering if you could get me in touch with someone who might have the ability to help me out. On November 14, my Facebook account (at http://facebook.com/zoecarnate) was disabled. It appears that some of my friends have written you to request its reinstatement. Many of them have received an email reply that included this:

“If you’re writing on behalf of a friend, please ask your friend to write to us directly, so that we can confirm their identity for account security purposes.”In the spirit of your request, I am writing you again to request that you please reinstate my Facebook profile as-is, or move the friends on my profile to my ‘fan’ Page (which has also been disabled, as I had no other administrator).Once again I’d like to appeal what triggered my deactivation. I know your time is very valuable, so I’ll be brief. On November 14, I messaged eight people I know. These eight people had been recommended by mutual friends of ours as people I should be friends with on Facebook. I could not add them directly, as for some reason my ability to add people has been disabled for nearly a year now. (My guess is because I was too close to the friend limit – I had around 4990 friends). Because I messaged these people ‘too quickly’ (I was saying essentially the same thing to all of them), I triggered your failsafe. Looking at the FAQ/appeal process however, I discovered that I engaged in none of the behavior that this failsafe is meant to prevent – I wasn’t spamming anyone, and I wasn’t sending unsolicited messages to strangers. I was contacting people I already know (in real life, actually) to invite them to connect. I had to do this with my own grandmother about a month previously. I would like my account reinstated because its how I keep in touch with thousands of people I care about. From my Facebook profile, friends and colleagues coordinate anti-human trafficking initiatives, plan sustainable food programmes, and discuss the news and books that are important to us. We would like our communication back. I’ve done nothing wrong; I haven’t violated the spirit of your guidelines.

If the larger issue is not this particular infraction, but your wariness of people having 5k friends, I understand your concern and would be willing to have these friends moved to my ‘fan’ Page, scaling my actual profile to more immediate friends and family. I will keep both updated frequently, so hopefully my existing Profile friends won’t feel they’re getting the short end of the stick.

I’m willing to do whatever it takes, and work with you in whatever way, to ensure that these misunderstandings won’t happen again. Please give me a call at (678) xxx-xxxx if you’d like to talk about this directly.

Thank you for your time,

Mike


Mike Morrell

http://twitter.com/zoecarnate

I wrote this several days ago, and have heard nothing from them about getting my original accounts back. And as I said, I couldn’t initiate any new accounts on my IP address. Thankfully, a friend who wishes to remain anonymous ‘jump-started’ a new account on my behalf and handed me the reins. This was a few days ago; I didn’t publicize my new account because part of me was wanting to wait and see if FB would disable it, too – but that’s probably just me over-personalizing what is in fact a very impersonal system. So, I’m back.

There are now two ways you can connect with me on Facebook:

My Page
My Profile

I’d like to make a request: You add me. Both times in the past when I’ve gotten in trouble with Facebook it’s when I’ve used legitimate Facebook features but did so ‘too fast.’ So while I probably could use their Friend Finder feature to re-connect with most of you in a matter of days, Facebook’s system interprets people adding at that volume as evil robot spammers. So if a thousand or so of you add me, I’m much less likely to trip up the system (and you won’t get in trouble for adding little ‘ol me). May I impose on your further? If you and I had a lot of friends and connections in common, would you post a link to my new Page/Profile (or better yet, this blog post) in your Feed so others I was connected with can know how to re-add me? And if you really have time to kill, please liberally use the Suggest a Friend feature that shows up when you add me, so that I can reconnect with the old gang. Whew! Digital connection is so arduous!

Another request, and I don’t even know how to ask this without sounding like a complete jerk: Since my Profile friends cue filled up so quickly the last time (I had 5k friends in about 18 months after joining Facebook), and I don’t want to even break 4,000 this time (because profiles just run a lot slower at that kind of volume, plus the FB system starts breathing down your neck), if its all the same to some of you, add me on my Page rather than my Profile. Pages can have twenty gazillion friends and, for whatever reason, they don’t slow down. I promise to update both Page & Profile with the same information, links, and zingers; hopefully, they’ll both have the same level of lively banter and conversation that you’ve come to expect. You will have equal access to me at both Page and Profile; it is only I who will have less access to you if we connect via my Page. (Maybe it’s best that I don’t see your drunken party pics anyway, eh?) And please know that if you add me on my Page, I won’t think of you as my ‘Fan’ – because that’s just silly. I hate, hate, hate that I even have to put this request out there – I really wish Facebook would allow for a united platform that allowed consenting adults to connect in any quantities, and in any way they wished, but alas – it’s just not that way right now. And please – when in doubt, just add me via my Profile. I don’t plan on turning anyone down as long as I’m under 4k friends. But really & truly, I’m going to be using my Page and Profile in the exact same way from now on.

One last request: If you don’t feel too cheesy doing it, add me via my Page even if you add me via my Profile. Because one huge advantage Pages have over Profiles is that I can message all of you in one fell swoop, in a way that won’t get my account disabled. I promise never to abuse this feature – if I message you once a month I’ll be surprised – but I’d like to be able to get in touch with you quickly if I find out about something really cool – like 12 free Christmas albums.

Wow. I feel ridiculously self-conscious talking about all of this. Hopefully this is the last time in a good lonnnnng time that you’ll hear me carrying on about my social networking activities. Because social networking, like 1950s children, are best seen (used) not not heard (about) – can I get an amen?

Okay – see you around Facebook, and elsewhere. Selah.

19 Responses to Back On Facebook! (I Think)

  1. Frances December 1, 2009 at 7:30 pm #

    Hi Mike,
    I’ve managed to get on to your fan page, but your profile page registers a ‘The page you requested was not found’ notice. Something wrong there?

    By the way, your letter to Marissa is so gracious and humble. Beautiful spirit. Applause. May God bless you.
    Frances

  2. Ira December 1, 2009 at 8:24 pm #

    But Mike — I am your fan. There’s no shame in that, is there?

  3. Becky December 1, 2009 at 8:31 pm #

    I don’t do fan pages for people on matter of principle so I’ll add to your friends page.

    AND you really need to do a major clean of your address book – what about sending out a group email asking folks IF they still want to be connected to you or not. I think these blocks (it’s happened twice – remember MySpace) is caused by some folks in your email list who complained to MySpace and Facebook.

  4. John December 1, 2009 at 9:15 pm #

    You should tryout myspace.com …it’s much better. 🙂

  5. zoecarnate December 1, 2009 at 9:22 pm #

    That’s really odd, Frances – I haven’t heard that from anyone else.

    Shucks Ira – I suppose that’s all right. 🙂

    Great point, Becky – and actually I’ve pruned a few thousand already. My goal in 2010 is to create a 100% opted-in list for the redesigned zoecarnate when it launches.

    John – tell me more!! What is this Space of yours that you speak of?

  6. tripp fuller December 2, 2009 at 12:27 am #

    Can I be your fan and friend? I don’t want to be the stalker type of friend-fan combo. I was thinking more of the ‘that’s my boy’ type of fan. That way I say to world, go “team morrell” and still be like “what’s up Mike. You finished that book on food yet?”

  7. zoecarnate December 2, 2009 at 12:53 am #

    Yes, you can! When in doubt, do both. 🙂

  8. Steven December 2, 2009 at 7:59 am #

    I also get the same message as Frances – but I’m happy to be a “fan”.

  9. Dan December 2, 2009 at 6:09 pm #

    Mike,
    What’s this line about?:

    “Because social networking, like 1950s children, are best seen (used) not not heard (about) – can I get an amen?”

    Some of your best ‘fans’ are children of the 50s, and do we have stories we can tell you!!! hehe

  10. zoecarnate December 2, 2009 at 6:14 pm #

    Oh – I was being silly, and using a tortured cliche – ‘Children should be seen and not heard,’ an idea not heard much since waaay back when.

    I love children of the 50s – like my parents for instance. 🙂

  11. ~Katherine December 2, 2009 at 7:09 pm #

    Kudos to you, Mike. Whew. Love ya!

    P.S.: I hope you don’t feel self-conscious just because FB is inhuman. :/ Nothing you did made it that way.

  12. jonathon December 3, 2009 at 11:24 am #

    Something I’ve noticed with all social networks, is that the tools they provide users to automate adding friends, automatically violates their own policies.

    [There are two major social networking sites I can’t do anything on, because I imported my address book, using their tools. )

    jonathon

  13. queermergent December 3, 2009 at 6:17 pm #

    Glad you are back, Mike! i get their need to protect from spammers/robots, but geesh, to be so impersonal and not be able to get in contact with them is ridiculous. there are plenty of companies that have customer service. i guess because FB is free this is why, eh?!

    best Regards,
    EP

  14. Jason December 6, 2009 at 10:52 pm #

    Mike,

    I too have been recently disabled since Dec 2, 2009.

    I was trying to add someone i thought i knew and so i emailed them and asked them to be friends…well short story it was the wrong person simply by the spelling of the last name. I guess they reported me and the Facebook gods disabled my account.

    here is what i wrote to facebook and what i received back from them….

    Dear FaceBook Disabled-Account Support Staff:
    I tried to login in the past couple of days onto my FaceBook account and found out that it was disabled. I then sent the Disabled staff a email asking for a review and a possible appeal on 2 Dec 2009. I could and would have corrected my actions if I warned first.

    I have always complied to the Terms of Use of FaceBook. My sincere’ apologies if I unknowingly violated any of them, it was not my intention to violate these terms.

    As FaceBook is a useful networking tool for a retired Navy veteran like me, I have many friends from the Navy and High school that i keep in touch with.

    I would greatly appreciate if you would please reactivate my account.

    Hi Jason,

    One of Facebook’s main priorities is the comfort and safety of our users. Your account was disabled because you engaged in behavior other users reported as harassing in nature. It is a violation of Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities to harass users on the site, whether through unsolicited messages, friend requests, pokes or other features. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final.

    One of Facebook’s main priorities is the comfort and safety of our users. Your account was disabled because you engaged in behavior other users reported as harassing in nature. It is a violation of Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities to harass users on the site, whether through unsolicited messages, friend requests, pokes or other features. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final.

    Thanks for your understanding,

    Craig
    User Operations
    Facebook

    Mike – maybe you could assist me?

    Thanks
    Jason

  15. leah December 15, 2009 at 8:02 pm #

    done, done (and done)! I have only 400 FB friends and my newsfeed keeps getting bogged down yet I want to hear about everyone all the time!

  16. Cathryn September 17, 2010 at 10:43 pm #

    come on mike. post the thingy fund raiser for Andrew.. we need some serious HELP!
    thanks bud!
    xocat

  17. Nishu kumari June 24, 2011 at 12:30 pm #

    Please opened my id.

  18. rahulsihag July 28, 2011 at 1:00 pm #

    how open my facebook account please tell me.my account is displayed

  19. dp ry January 5, 2012 at 5:43 pm #

    I too have been recently disabled since 2011

    I was trying to add someone i thought i knew and so i emailed them and asked them to be friends…well short story it was the wrong person simply by the spelling of the last name. I guess they reported me and the Facebook gods disabled my account.

    here is what i wrote to facebook and what i received back from them….

    Dear FaceBook Disabled-Account Support Staff:
    I tried to login in the past couple of days onto my FaceBook account and found out that it was disabled. I then sent the Disabled staff a email asking for a review and a possible appeal on 2011 I could and would have corrected my actions if I warned first.

    I have always complied to the Terms of Use of FaceBook. My sincere’ apologies if I unknowingly violated any of them, it was not my intention to violate these terms.

    As FaceBook is a useful networking tool for a retired Navy veteran like me, I have many friends from the Navy and High school that i keep in touch with.

    I would greatly appreciate if you would please reactivate my account.

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