Today I was removed and banned from the Facebook group "I am Antifascist."
I'd like to say a few words about this, not out of anger, but because I'm disappointed by how things have turned out.
The trigger was a discussion about a post by an administrator who asked in the publicly visible group which cities the members came from. I found such a question problematic in an open group. Not everyone immediately thinks about what personal information they're disclosing online and what the consequences might be. Therefore, I clearly pointed out that I considered such a request ill-considered.
I was then told that no one was obligated to answer. That's certainly true. Nevertheless, I believe that administrators bear a special responsibility and should be aware of the signals and incentives they send in a large public group.
During the course of the discussion, the content of a private message I had previously exchanged with a female administrator was brought up publicly. This bothered me far more than the original discussion. For me, private communication doesn't belong in a public debate.
When I criticized precisely this, I was ultimately removed from the group.
When I criticized exactly that, I was finally removed. Anyone who knows me knows I have no problem with discussions. I expect respectful interaction and the opportunity to express criticism without private conversations being made public or critical voices simply being silenced.
For me, antifascism isn't just about opposing right-wing ideologies. It also includes data protection, mutual respect, a sense of responsibility, and the ability to withstand criticism.
Perhaps others see things differently. That's their right. However, for me, a bitter aftertaste remains. Not because of a disagreement itself, but because of the way it was handled.
It's a shame. From a group called "I am Antifascist," I would have expected more openness to critical questions and a fairer approach to one another.
| Dorena Verne: I think I'll leave the post as read-only... 2 minutes ago |