So I appealed this "permanent read-only mode" and my account was semi-restored shortly after, but the feed is still limited to show zero posts. And without the feed the platform is worthless except for DMs. I find myself in a weird X echo chamber. Like a prison made of glass where people can see what I write but I can't see what they write on the timeline. AKA completely worthless UX even after the unban, so far.
The interesting thing here was that during my suspension I couldn't do anything whatsoever but Grok was still turned on. Which was interesting. So I talked to Grok for a second (who claims to not have access to Twitter API). That' was interesting... but basically just told me to appeal, which I already had.
They did not tell me, which made appealing extra weird because it's like... what am I trying to appeal you didn't even tell me. How is this policy supposed to correct behavior again?
The most obnoxious thing about it is it specifically tells you you're in read-only mode. Okay cool, that's fine I'll just read other people's stuff without comments. Nope: feed banned fuck your mother. Why'd we do it? Because fuck you that's why! lol. Would you like to appeal? Granted, but we won't tell you why we did that either and your feed is still broken! Ha. What a joke policy.
It's always an interesting wakeup call and good reminder as to why we are all here trying to build WEB3. No matter how captivating someone is they still have to pay for premium service to get attention these days. "Freedom of speech not freedom of reach!" Hm yeah no that's just one entity picking and choosing who gets heard and who doesn't. Problem... not solved. Same problem: different rent-seeking overlord.
Luckily my Twitter account is near meaningless to me and I waste a lot of time there anyway. It is nice to have a fresh source for current events but it's not like I was putting any actual effort into cultivating a following there. A moment like this stings a lot less for me personally when compared to the average person, and it's still pretty damn annoying; just not devastating like it can be for those who put more stock into centralized agents.
If my account's feed isn't corrected in a few weeks I may have to create a ghost profile and refollow a bunch of people so I can keep my crypto news feed open even if something like this happens again. The audacity these guys have to tell me I'm "not allowed" to do this on the suspension page when they have absolutely no power to stop me. Such hubris. The only question is how hard I have to juke to get past that toothless defense. WEB2 is an unfunny joke.
Hits a bit different this time eh?
Imagine fearing for your life while getting a pied in the face.
Not cool, grandma!
But also funny.
Clown World approves.
Yes this is a world-first for me.
The WEB2 control grid gives the user a complete delusional fantasy of control and ownership because most do not have to deal with these types of arbitrary punitive actions that are dished out with zero explanation or ability to appeal to a 3rd-party arbiter. Crypto isn't yet big enough to show Average Joe the way, but you never know maybe we get there this cycle or the next. Until then we keep grinding WEB3 and dangle the bait of freedom in front of the common man. You can lead a horse to water... but you can't force it to cross the bridge.
