#Twitter #Suspension of @LtlRedX

I first noticed I was unable to access LtlRedX on March 24, 2013. It was confusing because there was no error message stating the account was suspended, it simply appeared that it no longer existed. I attempted to reset my password but was still unable to access my account. At this point I contacted Twitter support and reached out to a person I follow and have great respect for. My initial support request to twitter is pictured below along with their initial reply.

Copied/Pasted directly from Email:

Re: #8321449 Twitter Support: update on "I can't access my account!"

I have not received any emails stating my account has been suspended I am just trying to understand why I am unable to access the account. Please help me figure out what the problem is!

On Mar 24, 2013, at 5:58 PM, Twitter Support wrote:


##- Please type your reply above this line -##

Hello,

We understand that you're contesting an account suspension. Please be sure to read this entire email; you will need to take further action in order to reopen your ticket and trigger a review of your account.

Twitter suspends accounts for a variety of reasons:

• If your account was suspended for aggressive following behavior, you should have received an email notification to the address associated with your Twitter account. You'll need to confirm that you've removed all prohibited following automation from your account, and will stop any manual aggressive following behavior. To expedite your appeal process, please review our Best Practices page if you haven't already, and then reply to this ticket with a confirmation that you understand our policies and will not engage in any prohibited following behavior.

• Please take a minute to review the Twitter Rules.

• If you received an email from admin@twitter.com saying 'you're being suspended' or that we're going delete your account, you're safe; the email is fake. More information here https://support.twitter.com/articles/204820-safety-fake-twitter-emails

• While we strive to avoid mistakes, it's also possible that your account was suspended in error. If after reviewing the Rules, you have no idea why your account was suspended, just reply to this email indicating as much, and we'll take another look at your case. Our apologies if the error turns out to be ours.

Thanks,

Twitter Support

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responding to this email will reopen this ticket and put your ticket in queue for support. If you do not reply, your case will be closed. Note that you need to reply from the address this mail was sent to. If you use an alias (such as username+alias@gmail.com) to manage your account, ensure that your reply comes from the alias address or your ticket may not be seen by our support staff.

Please note, we cannot accept email attachments at this time; please include all information in the body of your request.

Your request summary is:


LtlRedX, Mar 24 03:58 pm (PDT):
Regarding: Suspended account
Subject: I can't access my account!
Description of problem: I tried to access my twitter account today but it appears it no longer exists. I tried to re-log in & even change my password but nothing works. Help!!
Full name: Xxxxx
Twitter username: @LtlRedX
Email address: x....x@xxx.com
Phone number(optional): xxxxxxxx
Message-Id:MX1JSHCQ_514f84fab0926_4859c4e87015614b4_sprut

Typical canned response. Of course I replied, still being confused and not yet certain that my account was actually suspended. I have pasted the images of the email replies from Twitter below, here is that communication Copy/Pasted directly from the email:

Hello,

This account was suspended for sending multiple unsolicited messages using the @reply and/or mention feature. These features are intended to make communication between people on Twitter easier. Twitter monitors the use of these features to make sure they are used as intended and not for abuse. Using either feature to post messages to a bunch of users in an unsolicited or egregious manner is considered an abuse of its use, which results in account suspension.

For more information about these features, please visit our @Replies and Mentions help page:

http://support.twitter.com/articles/14023

Your account will be unsuspended within 24 hours. Please note that it may take an hour or so for your follower and following numbers to return to normal.

Be sure to review the Twitter Rules, as repeat violations may result in permanent suspension:

http://twitter.com/rules

Thank you,

Twitter Support
support.twitter.com
@support

Message-Id:MX1JSHCQ_5150a546b6a25_372bb286c5211f0_sprut

My reply:

Re: I can't access my account!
I use the @ reply to thank people for following me & RTing things I've said, neither of which meet the definition of posting "messages to a bunch of users in an unsolicited or egregious manner". Twitters unfair & egregious suspension my account was uncalled for & caused me stress. I expect a review of this procedure and a better explanation as t how am I to avoid this situation in the future. Thanking people is NOT spamming them.

On Mar 25, 2013, at 2:28 PM, Twitter Support wrote: This account was suspended for sending multiple unsolicited messages using the @reply and/or mention feature. These features are intended to make communication between people on Twitter easier. Twitter monitors the use of these features to make sure they are used as intended and not for abuse. Using either feature to post messages to a bunch of users in an unsolicited or egregious manner is considered an abuse of its use, which results in account suspension.

I tried to send that reply but received this error email as a result (also pictured below):

Update on closed request failed: Re: I can't access my account!

You tried to update a request that has been closed. Please submit a new request at http://support.twitter.com/forms. You can also visit our help center at http://support.twitter.com for self-help solutions to common problems. Thanks!

Seriously?! I'm not allowed to reply?! So I was left with opening another ticket to which they replied:

#8341750 Twitter Support: update on "Account Suspended Unjustifiably"
Hello,

If you're writing in about LtlRedX being suspended, this account is not currently suspended; please review any previous communications from Twitter for clarification about what the reason for the suspension may have been.

If you are writing in about an account other than LtlRedX being suspended, please refile the ticket from the suspended account.

If you are writing in about an issue other than your account being suspended -- including if you believe your account to have been deactivated or compromised -- please refile a ticket via the appropriate form; you'll find the forms at https://support.twitter.com/forms.

Thanks,

Twitter Support

Unbelievable! Not an answer, but I suppose I should be thankful they even responded this time. *eyeroll*

Fast forward to my latest suspension (for what I still have no idea) my submission:

Re: #8937474 Twitter Support: update on "@LtlRedX Suspended 2nd time in 2 weeks"

@LtlRedX has been suspended for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. I feel this is egregious, arbitrary and a case of censoring! I do NOT maliciously use @ replies! I contact my senators & representatives as is my Constitutional 1st Amendment RIGHT! Twitter is impeding my 1st Amendment rights by preventing me from exercising them! I DEMAND you reinstate my account!!

Obviously I'm upset and at this point have thrown politeness out the window. HOWEVER it appears this was submitted 3 times. I don't recall submitting my request more than once so I have no idea what happened to cause the multiple submissions. In the interest of honesty here are the second & third submission subject lines:

Re: #8937477 Twitter Support: update on "@LtlRedX Suspended 2nd time in 2 weeks"

Re: #8937485 Twitter Support: update on "@LtlRedX Suspended 2nd time in 2 weeks"

Anyway, their reply to each was the same:

Hello,

We understand that you're contesting an account suspension. Please be sure to read this entire email; you will need to take further action in order to reopen your ticket and trigger a review of your account.

Twitter suspends accounts for a variety of reasons:

• If your account was suspended for aggressive following behavior, you should have received an email notification to the address associated with your Twitter account. You'll need to confirm that you've removed all prohibited following automation from your account, and will stop any manual aggressive following behavior. To expedite your appeal process, please review our Best Practices page if you haven't already, and then reply to this ticket with a confirmation that you understand our policies and will not engage in any prohibited following behavior.

• Please take a minute to review the Twitter Rules.

• If you received an email from admin@twitter.com saying 'you're being suspended' or that we're going delete your account, you're safe; the email is fake. More information here https://support.twitter.com/articles/204820-safety-fake-twitter-emails

• While we strive to avoid mistakes, it's also possible that your account was suspended in error. If after reviewing the Rules, you have no idea why your account was suspended, just reply to this email indicating as much, and we'll take another look at your case. Our apologies if the error turns out to be ours.

Thanks,

Twitter Support

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responding to this email will reopen this ticket and put your ticket in queue for support. If you do not reply, your case will be closed. Note that you need to reply from the address this mail was sent to. If you use an alias (such as username+alias@gmail.com) to manage your account, ensure that your reply comes from the alias address or your ticket may not be seen by our support staff.

Please note, we cannot accept email attachments at this time; please include all information in the body of your request.

Your request summary is:


LtlRedX, Apr 19 06:13 pm (PDT):
Regarding: Suspended account
Subject: @LtlRedX Suspended 2nd time in 2 weeks
Description of problem: @LtlRedX has been suspended for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. I feel this is egregious, arbitrary and a case of censoring! I do NOT maliciously use @ replies & anyone saying I do is lying! I contact my senators & representatives as is my Constitutional 1st Amendment RIGHT! Twitter is impeding my 1st Amendment rights by preventing me from exercising them! I DEMAND you reinstate my account!!
Full name: Xxxxxx
Twitter username: @LtlRedX
Email address: x....x@xxx.com
Phone number(optional): xxxxxxxx

Weird, I am unable to find my reply, could it be I didn't actually reply? Hmm....

On April 21st, I submitted another support request, Twitter's reply:

#8972848 Twitter Support: update on "Why have I been suspended again & why am I still suspended >24hrs l8r"

Hello,

We understand that you're contesting an account suspension. Please be sure to read this entire email; you will need to take further action in order to reopen your ticket and trigger a review of your account.

Twitter suspends accounts for a variety of reasons:

• If your account was suspended for aggressive following behavior, you should have received an email notification to the address associated with your Twitter account. You'll need to confirm that you've removed all prohibited following automation from your account, and will stop any manual aggressive following behavior. To expedite your appeal process, please review our Best Practices page if you haven't already, and then reply to this ticket with a confirmation that you understand our policies and will not engage in any prohibited following behavior.

• Please take a minute to review the Twitter Rules.

• If you received an email from admin@twitter.com saying 'you're being suspended' or that we're going delete your account, you're safe; the email is fake. More information here https://support.twitter.com/articles/204820-safety-fake-twitter-emails

• While we strive to avoid mistakes, it's also possible that your account was suspended in error. If after reviewing the Rules, you have no idea why your account was suspended, just reply to this email indicating as much, and we'll take another look at your case. Our apologies if the error turns out to be ours.

Thanks,

Twitter Support

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responding to this email will reopen this ticket and put your ticket in queue for support. If you do not reply, your case will be closed. Note that you need to reply from the address this mail was sent to. If you use an alias (such as username+alias@gmail.com) to manage your account, ensure that your reply comes from the alias address or your ticket may not be seen by our support staff.

Please note, we cannot accept email attachments at this time; please include all information in the body of your request.

Your request summary is:


LtlRedX, Apr 21 05:23 pm (PDT):
Regarding: Suspended account
Subject: Why have I been suspended again & why am I still suspended >24hrs l8r
Description of problem: My acct was suspended over 24hrs ago, I contacted twitter & replied to the email but I'm still suspended. Why?
Full name: Xxxxx
Twitter username: @LtlRedX
Email address: x....x@xxxl.com
Phone number(optional): xxxxxxxxx

My reply to that:

Re: #8972848 Twitter Support: update on "Why have I been suspended again & why am I still suspended >24hrs l8r"

I have read & understand Twitters terms of service but still do not understand why I was suspended. Please explain which rule I broke & with what tweet. As I see it, I tweeted Senators who voted against an issue dear to my heart, that is expressing my 1st amendment rights. Suspension for expressing my first amendment rights is unconstitutional. If this is not why I was suspended, please point out specifically what I did to deserve this. I am a social activist and feel action against this account is a form of censorship. Please reinstate my account.

A bit more cowed at this point because I have now been suspended for several days.

As of 12 noon Monday 4/22 LtlRedX was finally reinstated. With no response from Twitter & no clue from them as to why it was suspended in the first place, I am left to speculate that I was being punished for contacting Senators voting against Background checks.

Update!
Finally a response from Twitter at least 3hours AFTER my account was reinstated! Looks like I was right, my suspension was for contacting Senators who voted against background checks. Unfuckingbelievable!! Read for yourselves!

Hello,

This account was suspended for sending multiple unsolicited messages using the @reply and/or mention feature. These features are intended to make communication between people on Twitter easier. Twitter monitors the use of these features to make sure they are used as intended and not for abuse. Using either feature to post messages to a bunch of users in an unsolicited or egregious manner is considered an abuse of its use, which results in account suspension.

For more information about these features, please visit our @Replies and Mentions help page:

http://support.twitter.com/articles/14023

Your account will be unsuspended within 24 hours. Please note that it may take an hour or so for your follower and following numbers to return to normal.

Be sure to review the Twitter Rules, as repeat violations may result in permanent suspension:

http://twitter.com/rules

Thank you,

Twitter Support
support.twitter.com
@support

Message-Id:R1KWGBES_5175977c7a11c_533c8f00702240eb_sprut

Seriously unbelievable! Twitter thinks they are above the constitution! They believe they are here to protect senators from those they represent. Absolutely unbelievable. Do I need a civil right attorney? Anyone know a good one who would like to take a case against Twitter?

#FBI #BostonMarathon Press Releases

Having watched the horror at the Boston Marathon unfold and the subsequent manhunt/investigation successfully bring the suspects into the spotlight as well as the eventual conclusion, I've decided to post the FBI's chronicle of updates here for my own reference.

http://m.fbi.gov/#http://www.fbi.gov/news/updates-on-investigation-into-multiple-explosions-in-boston

ConnectTheLeft & UniteBlue

The recent controversy over UniteBlue & ConnectTheLeft has spurred me back to my blog in an effort to track as much information on the controversy as possible. I will be posting links to as many sides to this story as come across my twitter feed in an effort to keep up with the timeline as well as sort out both sides. I hope this effort will allow clarity and aid in finding the truth.

This is the first tweet about the controversy that I saw in my timeline: @catsrimportant: OMG. So there's a @UniteBlue and a @UniteRed and they're both owned by the same consulting firm-ready for the astroturf wars! #UniteBlue #p2

Which lead me to this: One Hashtag To Rule Them All? http://t.co/3copPFsCmX v @karoli

I directed this tweet to UniteBlue & 140Elect to get their side, I did not get a response: @LtlRedX: @140Elect @UniteBlue What do u have to say for yourselves? How do you answer to the charge you are playing us against ea other? @UniteRed

The rest of the tweets & links posted were found in no particular order but all contain related information:
@Karoli: Here's my problem. If #uniteblue stole @EileenLeft's #CTL list, why would anyone give them posting access? http://t.co/dRxfcNQ0qj

http://ow.ly/1SP2wH
http://ow.ly/1SP3zG

Article linking @140Elect to Buddy Roemer:
http://140elect.com/content/140electroemerpressrelease.pdf

I will be updating this post as I locate more posts, links & information regarding this subject. To reiterate, this blog post is intended to be a way for me to sort thru the information coming to light regarding the controversy between UniteBlue & ConnectTheLeft. If it aids others in forming opinions, that is a side effect.

Update: Now having been suspended twice in 2 weeks after this controversy began, I am becoming more suspicious. After my initial suspension, I gave in and joined #UniteBlue. Was this a mistake? Maybe. I have since been suspended a second time within 2 weeks of the first. Fortunately I have a backup account, @LtlRedX2 BUT this backup account is also now in the UniteBlue database. Will I have to start from scratch I rebuild my Twitter profile? Time will tell. The backup account has a fraction of the followers of my main account.

Cut to today. My suspicions led me to Google UniteBlue & I came up with this article from Politicol: http://www.politicolnews.com/the-unite-blue-debacle-on-twitter/ It seems I have been caught in a spider web.

Update (don't remember the date): @UniteBlue has listed me on multiple lists. Why? I tweeted to the account & asked. I have not received an reply to date.

Update 4/28: Noticed the @UniteBlue twitter account unfollowed @LtlRedX, interesting.. Found this article on Google
Is #UniteBlue trying to Unite Red?
http://insuremekevin.com/2013/03/28/is-uniteblue-trying-to-unite-red/

Referencing my previous posting about being listed, I still have not received a reply to my question but I did find this post thru a Google search on the subject: UniteBlue’s Lists: Are They a Progressive Pyramid Scheme? http://rmuse.p2blogs.com/2013/04/06/unitblues-lists-are-they-a-progressive-pyramid-scheme/

And this post from Daily Kos: #UniteBlue on Twitter. What's the controversy all about? http://m.dailykos.com/story/2013/04/03/1198853/--UniteBlue-on-Twitter-What-s-the-controversy-all-about Which is an invitation for input leading up to an interview with Zach Green. I noticed one of the commenters (scroll to the bottom of the post to find it) linked a screen shot of 140Elect advertising their willingness to sell a database of Democratic voters. Presumably referring to UniteBlue: It does look like he's trying to sell the database http://screencast.com/...
I agree that it may not be particularly valuable since many twitter users don't provide real names or emails but some do so it's likely to be worth smth.
FG Apr 3, 11:35a

As mentioned above, my main Twitter account @LtlRedX has been suspended multiple times in the last month or so, disturbing to say the least but I know I'm not alone in this. And I have discovered in twitter conversations with others that it seems to be an ever increasing trend. Here UniteBlue addresses the issue:http://uniteblue.com/info/suspendedI have 2000+ followers on twitter and as mentioned have been suspended multiple times so it appears their data is either out of date, wrong or completely made up.

5/2/13: Publicly tweeted to UB asking for explanation as to why they both unfollowed & listed me. No reply but they have re followed me again. They're apparent unwillingness to answer my inquiries increases my concern with being listed. Latest inquiry: https://twitter.com/ltlredx/status/329942701128708098