Facebook shuts down CNY radio host's homage to suicide pilot

Syracuse Post-Standard ^ | February 19, 2010 | Dave Tobin

[drjimmy]

Hours after a pilot’s suicide plane crash into a federal building in Austin, Texas, local talk-radio host Jon Alvarez created a tribute Internet page for the dead pilot. In less than a day, Facebook, the social networking Web site where Alvarez created the page, took it down and issued him a warning: He could lose Facebook privileges if he violated its policy again.

“The Joe ‘Take my pound of flesh’ Stack fan page” included the killer’s manifesto, which is an angry rant against big government, big business and the Catholic Church. It quickly drew about 40 fans, Alvarez said. He didn’t check it again until Friday morning, when he discovered the page had been shut down.

“This guy was making a sacrifice to others who were having problems with the IRS,” Alvarez said. “We at least owed it to him to make note of his thoughts.”

[drjimmy]

This guy is or was a Freeper. Very uncool.

[Talisker]

Free speech restrictions, liberal California Facebook style. There ain’t no totalitarian, like a young, hip, rich, sold-out Silicon Valley totalitarian. They don’t call it the World Wide WEB for nothing, you know.

[JoSixChip]

You may not like it, I don’t. But everybody has a right to an opinion and to express such.

[ReyTurner]

Why is there not freedom in this country?

[Red in Blue PA]

Why is there not freedom in this country?

Ironically, this is the exact sort of thing which caused the guy to fly the plane into the building.

One more thing. We are now inculcated with the idea that "violence is never the answer". I am not advocating violence, but if this idea had existed in the 1700's, we would never had been a sovereign nation.

[babygene]

“Why is there not freedom in this country?’

That’s over the top... You can have a blog and post whatever you want. Just not on facebook’s blog site.

[GreenAccord]

You guys aren’t seriously denigrating Facebook, a private endeavor, for removing what was obviously a horribly insensitive posting/page? The government is the entity that cannot deny free speech. Facebook can do as it pleases and no one can claim their rights were violated.

[Realman30]

I might not agree with what you say but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.

Does this apply to Conservatives?

[ReyTurner]

What a joke. It is thought control or else. BS.

[trumandogz]

I do not recall Facebook being mentioned in the First Amendment.

[Realman30]

That’s over the top... You can have a blog and post whatever you want. Just not on facebook’s blog site.

Are you sure about that? I wouldn't put it past a liberal to delete a blog he/she found offensive.

[ReyTurner]

What was the clear line of rule that was violated. Give me the OBJECTIVE rule,not the subjective vacillating non defined,ambiguous criteria that no one can ever understand?

[Conscience of a Conservative]

You may not like it, I don’t. But everybody has a right to an opinion and to express such.

So you support Facebook's decision to express their opinion by taking down this page, then?

[Realman30]

I do, it’s follow the section that gives a woman the ‘right to choose.’

[trumandogz]

Perhaps it has something to do with Facebook not being part of the Federal Government.

[Nik Naym]

Facebook is obviously owned by someone or some entity. Since that someone or some entity is not the Government, they can pull anything down from the site that they want, for any reason or no reason.

AFAIK, they are not under contract with their “facebookers” or whatever they are called who, by the way don’t pay to use the place.

[drjimmy]

So you support Facebook's decision to express their opinion by taking down this page, then?
Do you support Jim Robinson's decisions to express his opinion when he removes posts or bans posters from his website?

[JoSixChip]

"So you support Facebook's decision to express their opinion by taking down this page, then?"

Actually yes, I can take my business elsewhere.

[babygene]

“Are you sure about that?”

Yea... I’m pretty sure. It would be illegal as well.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

Do you support Jim Robinson's decisions to express his opinion when he removes posts or bans posters from his website?

I do. And even if I didn't support his decision to do so, I would certainly support his right to do so (facebook's too).