In The Slam Again

Guest Post By Willis Eschenbach

Well, I wrote before about my time in real-world jail. The court said I was guilty of “Disturbing the Peace”, but we called it “Disturbing the War“. Like most things in my life, it’s a curious story … but I digress.

In any case, I’m now in Twitter jail. Here’s what will likely be my last post on Twitter for a while …

You’d think that after forty years or so of intense study of climate, there would be agreement on the major facts of the field … but noooo …

Here are global temperatures from Berkeley Earth, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

So … are we on the verge of reaching 1.5°C?

And here’s the history of estimates of “climate sensitivity”. This is the central number in the debate, the change in temperature expected from a doubling of CO2. Not only is there no agreement … the spread has gotten larger over time. I discuss this in a post here.

Despite the models having estimates of climate sensitivity that are all over the map, they all can do a tolerable job of hindcasting the past … which conclusively proves they cannot be “physics based”. I discuss this in a post called “Dr. Kiehl’s Paradox“.

And on that ludicrously shaky “scientific” basis, they want to totally redo the global economic, electrical, & energy systems at immense cost, while doing huge damage to the poor.

The truth is, this whole movement has nothing to do with climate. They don’t even try to hide it.

This is one of the most arrogant, least scientifically supported naked power grabs in history. Don’t buy into it. They don’t have your best interests at heart.

Stay well, enjoy this marvelous world, laugh at the lunatics running the asylum …

In friendship,

w.

So I went to bed last night, and woke up to find that I’d been suspended from Twitter, ostensibly for a Tweet I made back in May.

I responded to their “support team” as follows:

Dear friends at Twitter, I fear I’ve been greatly misunderstood. I have NOT violated the Twitter rules against advocating violence. I’ve been suspended for the following tweet:

===

“I see that James Comer is going to “take steps” against the FBI for concealing evidence of Biden corruption. Steps? Here’s my simple 3-step plan.

1) Fire every single person working for the FBI.

2) Burn the FBI building to the ground.

3) Salt the earth.”

===

Guys, this was said in humor. It is SATIRE. My apologies if you, or perhaps your algorithms, took it seriously.

Of course I am not suggesting that we that literally we burn down the FBI building and “salt the earth”. I was merely frustrated by the FBI getting away with crimes for which you and I would be jailed for a long period.

And note, even in satire, I didn’t advocate violence against any person. I thought that the last line would make my satirical intent clear.

I mean really, when is the last time that anyone actually “salted the earth”? 2,000 years ago? Surely you cannot believe that that was meant to be serious?

Well, I guess you can believe that, but you would be 110% wrong. I am a peaceful man, I don’t wish harm on anyone.

I ask you to lift this totally improper and unjustified suspension.

I signed up for Twitter Blue to support Elon in his attempts to have a place where people are free to speak their minds, and I politely request you to allow innocent satire such as my tweet to flourish.

My best to you all, and thanks for your work to keep Twitter afloat.

w.

Was I actually suspended for a satirical tweet, or for my very popular posts on the climate scam? We’ll never know.

In any case, I ask everyone who has a Twitter account, please Tweet to @elonmusk to protest this most unwarranted suspension. My Twitter handle is @weschenbach, and their actions are simply wrong. Please link to this post when you tweet a request for my reinstatement, so that folks can understand the issues.

Grrrr …

Regards to everyone,

w.

[UPDATE] This morning, after writing the above, I got the following reply from the Twitter folks, sent at 8.59 AM:

Hello,

We received your request to have your account reinstated. We are reviewing a high volume of requests and appreciate your patience as it may take longer than normal for us to get back to you with an outcome.

If this request is for an account reinstatement under our new criteria, please allow 5-7 days for us to review and respond.

Thanks,

Twitter

OK, fair enough.

Then, I got the following, sent 19 minutes later …

Hello,

Your account was suspended due to violations of our Terms of Service. After reviewing for reinstatement your account will not be restored.

Thanks,

Twitter

19 minutes, after telling me how jammed up they are?

I’m getting the feeling that someone in the Twitter lowerarchy doesn’t like me, and/or that they’re using AI rather than humans … please Tweet to protest this nonsense.

Thanks,

w.

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Izaak Walton
June 16, 2023 5:33 am

I do like the fact that twitter suspended your account but not your subscription. This way at least you get to support a poor billionaire while not being able to post anything negative about him.

Mr.
Reply to  Izaak Walton
June 16, 2023 10:58 am

Be honest Izaak.
You support any and all forms of censorship of individual expression.

Jeff Alberts
Reply to  Izaak Walton
June 16, 2023 6:52 pm

It wouldn’t seem to be legal to prohibit someone from using the service, while still charging them for it.

Williamw247
June 16, 2023 6:51 am

Willis, I appreciate your posts here at Watts Up With That?. I read most of your contributions here, and I’ve learned much from you. Most open-minded readers would agree. You are too valuable to those that advocate for science and truth to get banned for edgy, emotional satire that triggers the censors.

While your post was satire, it was not wise. It gave the Left an impression that you might be “violent”. When your Twitter account is restored, be wise about your satire.

Jeff Alberts
Reply to  Williamw247
June 16, 2023 6:53 pm

Search “trump nazi” on Twitter, and show me how Willis’ posts are anywhere near as vitriolic as any of them.

June 16, 2023 7:09 am

1) Fire every single person working for the FBI.
2) Burn the FBI building to the ground.
3) Salt the earth.”
===
Guys, this was said in humor.”

We know what’s funny. We know what’s not. Twitter got this one just right.

MarkW
Reply to  bigoilbob
June 16, 2023 8:52 am

Is there anyone on the left with an active sense of humor?

Regardless of whether it’s funny or not, do you actually believe that the post was a threat of violence. That’s why Willis was banned, not because it “wasn’t funny”.

Reply to  MarkW
June 16, 2023 9:18 am

It was the kind of threat that Willis could deny. Trumpian.

And “Is there anyone on the left with an active sense of humor?”.

Clue free. Conservative Comedy is an oxymoron. I agree that you try, but…..

Mr.
Reply to  bigoilbob
June 16, 2023 11:01 am

Bet you never got Monty Python either BOB.

Sad.

MarkW
Reply to  Mr.
June 16, 2023 5:02 pm

Left wing humor consists mostly of insulting anyone who doesn’t worship as they do. Bob is a good example of that.

MarkW
Reply to  bigoilbob
June 16, 2023 5:01 pm

Thank you for going out of your way to prove my point bob.

Reply to  MarkW
June 16, 2023 5:51 pm

No. Humor is bad. Humor makes people feel happy. Happiness sucks the oxygen out of the doomsayers, do-gooders, busybodies, and power mongers who comprise the left.

The left have become Puritans by H. L. Mencken’s definition: “People with a morbid fear that somewhere, someone might be happy.”

pkpearson
June 16, 2023 7:32 am

Given that government’s defining attribute is its monopoly on violence, any advocacy of governmental regulation is ipso facto an advocacy of violence. Come on, Twitter, enforce your rules!

June 16, 2023 7:41 am

I was put in Facebook detention for posting a meme that mocked Hunter Biden. Nothing violent, obscene, nor even off color. But there are some people whom you cannot mock.

I’ve never been on Twitter, and refuse to join even if St. Elon is in charge. It’s a waste of time and intellect. But, good luck anyway.

harryfromsyd
June 16, 2023 7:44 am

I am lifetime banned by The Guardian for directly quoting an Australian court judgement which apparently “triggers” their readership.

June 16, 2023 7:59 am

I went to go look at your timeline and saw that your account was suspended.

This is my 2 cents on what is happening…

1) You make a post some Climate Alarmists don’t like.

2) They go back through your timeline and find a comment that can be used to activate and trick the Twitter AI.

3) They then use Bot accounts to report your tweet for violating Twitter guidelines.

4) The Twitter AI wakes up and suspends your account.

5) Then you ask for review and some Twitter employee leftover from the old regime denies it.

That person is hoping you won’t escalate the issue.

Reply to  Willis Eschenbach
June 18, 2023 11:23 am

If I still worked out in Silicon Valley, I’d head over to HQ. I have learned that showing up to talk to someone at a business like that gets a more immediate response.

You could also call the PR department and ask for a meeting. You have written multiple stories about this topic and having read your posts for well over a decade now, I know you have some very legitimate questions you could ask and write about.

So far, I have been linking and tweeting your post about being locked out at Elon Musk. Perhaps if more people do, it might eventually work it’s way up to where action is taken.

Editor
June 16, 2023 8:17 am

w. ==> In regards Twitter jail — You shot yourself in the foot and are now complaining that your foot hurts. The “I was only kidding” excuse doesn’t cut it when advocating burning down the FBI Headquarters (or the White House, or the Capital Building). And, no, they can’t have know whether you were kidding or not. (after all, maybe they are using that “really smart” AI)

John Oliver
Reply to  Kip Hansen
June 16, 2023 9:58 am

I would tend to agree Kip, sometimes we need to just stifle our selves and bide our time. But, it is hard to just sit there and take it when one knows the evil that is taking place there. The FBI is suppose to be the agency you count on when all else fails or is inadequate ( or local jurisdiction corruption) So where do we go for justice and intergritty now.? Or worse the hunt you down and persecute and prosecute you. And few care. Tends to create a crisis of faith.

Editor
Reply to  John Oliver
June 16, 2023 10:57 am

John ==> No objections here — the FBI has been obviously utilized for political purposes (when has it not been?) — but in recent years, it has allowed itself to be used to abuse.

So, should be object to this? Of course we should!

But should we feed the crazed violent mob by calling for destruction of public buildings, or the firing of the well-meaning, hard-working patriots which make up the vast majority at the FBI? Of course not!

Jeff Alberts
Reply to  Willis Eschenbach
June 16, 2023 6:58 pm

Actually there are several. Kyle Seraphin is one I’m familiar with. Not sure of the spelling.

Editor
Reply to  Willis Eschenbach
June 17, 2023 3:15 pm

w. ==> Well, no one can say you don’t have strong opinions.

Such as: Concrete buildings can’t be burnt (despite countless fires in brick and concrete buildings…) — sorta true — the concrete itself doesn’t burn, just everything inside. Then the building falls down…..

Reply to  Kip Hansen
June 18, 2023 11:48 am

There are literally Twitter hashtags called:

#BurnDownTheWhiteHouse.
#KillAllWhitePeople.
#KillAllRepublicans

There’s are twitter accounts named Burn Down the GOP, White People Suck, Kill Republican. Republicans Must Die and on and on.

You can go on Twitter right now and search “Burn down the FBI” and find thousands of comments of that nature.

I won’t spam the thread with examples, but I will provide one to make the point that they didn’t suspend his account because of that month old tweet. The Twitter AI program got activated and the most likely culprits are Climate Alarmists using bots to report him.

fire.jpg
dk_
June 16, 2023 9:07 am

How should one respond when an admired acquaintance is locked out of a cesspool?

Rod Evans
Reply to  dk_
June 16, 2023 9:30 am

That is a very sensible question. Sadly the Twitter fraternity consider themselves and their twitter as the public square. The implication being if you are banned from the public square you have no place and have no voice. Clearly that is an over estimate of Twitter’s place in the world.
There are other ‘squares’ and as you make the valid point, if the square you are banned from is ever more toxic then being banned from it and so active elsewhere, is no bad thing.

lanceman
June 16, 2023 9:32 am

The H1b visa workers that program and train the social media algorithms don’t understand American idioms.

I estimate that the chances of getting assignments in the penalty box reconsidered are somewhat less than 5%.

Tom.1
June 16, 2023 9:40 am

Willis- I would say that what you wrote is a “Modest Proposal”.

Reply to  Tom.1
June 16, 2023 1:53 pm

Its like the old joke about “What have you got when you have a dozen lawyers buried up to their necks in sand?”

gunsmithkat
June 16, 2023 9:48 am

Twitter seems to be totally on the Green bandwagon. I don’t see that changing any time soon after all Elon must be a believer with Tesla as his first claim to fame.

Rud Istvan
June 16, 2023 10:13 am

Focusing just on Twitter. Musk has three big problems:

  1. He bought it for twice what it is now worth. Moreover, Twitter’s expenses are up about $2 billion due debt service, reduced by $1 billion by firing 80% of the employees.
  2. His advertising revenue was halved because advertisers did not unmoderated free speech. They liked it moderated by the feds as disclosed in the Twitter files. Together with (1), says Twitter is in a $3.5 billion annual operating loss hole. Might not survive, in which case a permaban doesn’t matter so much.
  3. HQ is in San Fransisco, where leftist climate alarmists abound. So WE ‘s last post is anathema, hence a low level permaban under false pretenses.
Editor
Reply to  Rud Istvan
June 16, 2023 11:00 am

Rud ==> w. stepped over the line and made a fool of himself and got justly banned. The “they really did it because of my climate views” is self-justifying hogwash — they don’t care about w. or his opinions. He is just not that important.

Editor
Reply to  Willis Eschenbach
June 16, 2023 4:04 pm

w. ==> Twitter policy, right or wrong, about advocating violence is plain and clear, as was their notice to you. That’s the evidence. It is also plain and clear.

If you want to be banned again, make another tweet that suggests that others commit violence against government agencies and buildings. They will ban you again.

What there is no evidence for is that they banned you for some other, unstated, reason.

I support the general idea that overtly advocating violence to others, in a pubic forum where who-know-what-nut-case-is-lurking, should be suppressed. You want to rant and rave and suggest burning down the FBI Headquarters, go to a public park and stand on a soap box — at least you’ll know who is listening. And the listeners will know exactly who is speaking. Had you done that, they might have know that you were “just kidding”.

June 16, 2023 12:57 pm

I’m still locked out of Twitter for tweeting a reply that Kyle Rittenhouse “didn’t do anything wrong” and he clearly acted in self-defense. This was flagged as “encouraging violence,” or something similar.

Rittenhouse was exonerated on all charges. But I’m still locked out until I delete that tweet. Appeals are ignored.

BTW – I’m not defending Rittenhouse. If you go somewhere and think you need to firearm to protect yourself, you need to stay home. To clarify, I live in a constitutional carry state and carry a sidearm frequently. But not because I think I need it. The only thing Rittenhouse did right was bringing his rifle when he expected trouble. He is guilty of poor judgement.

Editor
Reply to  Willis Eschenbach
June 16, 2023 4:06 pm

w. ==> Or for calling out incitement to violence on a public forum.

Reply to  Kip Hansen
June 20, 2023 10:35 am

I certainly incited nothing. I didn’t encourage anyone to act in any way. I merely commented on the facts of the case as known at the time. Tell me, did the jury incite violence when they found Rittenhouse not guilty of all charges?

Bar Code
June 16, 2023 1:05 pm

If you think you can entice me into committing ThoughtCrime, you are mistaken.

Begone, Serpent!

June 16, 2023 2:19 pm

According to Dr Endenhofer, the climatistas are going to punish millions of people, and make billions of peasants suffer, not because the targets can be proven guilty of anything, but because the climatistas hate them and feel they can get away with it.

MarkW
Reply to  Willis Eschenbach
June 16, 2023 5:17 pm

You can say the vilest things about Conservatives, Christians, Jews, etc, and these same people wouldn’t give a damn. Say anything they disagree with regarding any group that the left supports, and you’re banned.

Jeff Alberts
Reply to  MarkW
June 17, 2023 7:32 pm

I reported a random person after searching for “trump nazi”. And Twitter said he didn’t break any rules. So calling someone nazi, fascist, and worse, isn’t, apparently, hateful.

Dena
June 16, 2023 6:01 pm

I moderated on another web site for several years so in my somewhat limited experience, let’s take your post apart and provide a proper judgment.

1) Fire every single person working for the FBI.

I have been fired from a job in my many years of working. I never considered the firing to be violent. I did consider the management to have made a stupid decision and considered them to be incompetent however that is the right of an employer under at will work laws. Perhaps I was right in my judgment because the company no longer exist.

2) Burn the FBI building to the ground.

After getting rid of everybody, how can one commit violence on a person. ANTIFI has shown us through its action that it’s not possible to commit violence on a building. If it was possible, the jails in several of our blue cities would be filled to overflowing.

3) Salt the earth.”

That quote from the bible always bothered me. Salt was worth its weight in gold at times and good crop land was valuable as well. Why do something wasteful like that? Anyway, I see nothing violent there. Every winter thousands of tons of salt are dumped on the roads in snow country. I have never once heard of a road worker being arrested for a violent action.

I judge your post to be acceptable and hereby remove the ban. Unfortunately I am not a twitter moderator and don’t even have an account on that somewhat biased site.

ferdberple
June 16, 2023 6:51 pm

You were banned not for what you said, rather because it provided your opponents the justification.

We live in a world where a casual comment telling another person they look good can get you hauled up for harassment and unwanted advances.

Claims that your remarks have been misinterpreted or taken out of context have no power. In todays world, your words do not mean what you intended. They mean whatever the other person took them to mean.

Reply to  ferdberple
June 16, 2023 10:42 pm

Congratulations. Your corporate sponsored diversity, inclusivity and equity training has been understood completely. The unstated result is secretly defined and whispered at the coffee pot as the 3s’s. Suit up, show up and shut up.

ferdberple
June 16, 2023 7:02 pm

The notion that temperature records remained unbiased as huge cities grew uo around sensing devices is absurd.
The notion that air temperatures can be averaged with oceans temperatures without considering water has something like 1800 times the heat capacity of air is absurd.

June 16, 2023 11:31 pm

Thoughts and prayers.

Hivemind
June 17, 2023 4:08 am

It’s your own fault for using Twatter.

masonmart
June 17, 2023 9:00 am

The real problem in the debate is that people like Nick Stokes want to constantly demonstrate that it’s warming. Well we all know that it’s warmed fairly insignificantly and very beneficially since the end of the LIA . The only question to answer is was this caused, as in all previous warming cycles, by natural variations or can we prove that it was caused by rising CO2 despite this never having been a cause of warming in previous warmings.

Reply to  masonmart
June 17, 2023 7:41 pm

Stokes mission is to maintain the fictitious CO2-temperature correlation at any cost, using any little bit to divert and obfuscate.

Old.George
June 17, 2023 9:20 am

1) Fire every single person working for the FBI.
2) Burn the FBI building to the ground.
3) Salt the earth.”
===
I don’t see satire. I see exaggeration for effect.

(1) Disband the FBI through legislation since it has become a “secret police” loyal to a person or family or families or political party, not loyalty to the people through their Constitution.
(2) Repurpose the old FBI building. It won’t be needed. Destroy all the blackmail data they have; cut off the root of their power.
(3) Make sure another “secret police” cannot be set up.