Summerfield Mayor BJ Barnes, who’s the former longtime Guilford County sheriff and is known for his strong opinions on many things, has been banned from Facebook. Before the ban, Barnes was an avid Facebook user who expressed his views on everything from national politics to how his successor was performing as the county’s new sheriff.
“I was banned the first time after a post about Obiden and how his incompetence was harming the economy, the border and how we were the laughingstock of the world,” Barnes said. “That lasted about a month before one of the three IT people I had working on it finally was able to get me back on with a new page – meaning I lost my approximately 9,000 followers with having to begin a new page.”
Barnes said that new account was very short lived.
“That page lasted one post and about three hours before they blocked me again,” he said. “This time they said it was irreversible.”
Barnes said he was provided no reason other than “community standards,” which Barnes called “a blanket reason with no specifics.”
Barnes, one of the most prominent Republicans in Guilford County, often used his Facebook page to defend former President Donald Trump and promote other well-known Republican political leaders.
The Summerfield mayor said the motivation for the social media giant banning him must have been political since he never engaged in other activities that might get a user banned from the site. He said he didn’t use or allow foul language or racist remarks on his Facebook page.
“I did not ban folks with dissenting opinions, but they banned me anyway,” he said. “I did have many of the local liberals respond on the page – and the dialogue with my conservative friends and them was spirited. My regret is I have many folks who followed the page religiously and would comment regularly and they now wonder what happened to me.”
He said many former followers had called and emailed to ask why he was no longer posting.
Barnes said he’s now thinking of starting his own website to offset not being on Facebook.
Truth Social-Trumps new social media company.
This is left wing censorship!!!
The left thinks it can create truth out of untruth by suppressing the speech of those who point out their untruths.
I’d say it has been pretty well established that Farcebook is an arm of the Obamunist deep state and I’m sure they don’t want all those new illegal voters breeching the Southern Border to see anything on their cell phones that would allude to real reasons they are being invited to violate American rule of law. For me, the social networking platforms are like caffeine in seven up. “Never had it, never will”.
I banned Facebook/Zukerberg long ago.
The Zuke funded more the $400,000,000 to leftist organizations to influence and control mail in ballots in heavily Democrat districts. This was legal for mail-in voters. This scheme enabled the election of two Democrat Senators in Georgia – giving the Left control of the Senate.
In my opinion, anyone trolling Facebook is weak.
If the govt gets complete control of the currency (to digital), we are doomed. Big business, big banks, big brother, will run us ragged.
Hahaha, it was Trump telling people NOT to vote in what he called a fraudulent system that cost republicans the race. Most people were smart enough to ignore the old fool but just enough felt voting was a waste of time based on his statements of fraud that he GAVE the election to the democrats.
If the republicans had won, he would have had to face the FACT there was no fraud and he lost because his is a jerk of grandiose proportions.
And now, he is telling republicans again not to vote again. Given Biden’s awful performance, the republicans should still be able to flip at least the Senate if not the House as well. But…..never underestimate the idiocy of the Trumpers.
Who needs Nate Silver when we have our very own “Chris”?
Chris…your a idiot.
Besides being an idiot he is an independent who as he says was once a “conservative Republican “ but reading his posts l think he is finally a “woke” liberal democrat. God says to be kind to animals and FOOLS
I see your point, but I quoted facts. I disliked Pres. Trump, too. But he was a tough SOB, exactly what I thought we needed. Now look at what we got. You can bend over and kiss yourself goodbye. Look at what it costs to live now. Afghanistan and China. Are you proud to be an American?
Until conservatives learn to post their opinions using polite language without calling people names they will never be able to change the minds of people who have opposing opinions. When conservatives use negative names for the liberals they don’t like when they use negative terms for those they are debating they immediately lose the focus of the conversation, and the points they make are lost.
If people are trying to change minds and win new people to their cause it’s important to educate, to show the other side what their negative issues are and how your side provides better solutions. The conversation should be positive, calm, and supportive no matter what the other person says back until it’s obvious you have come to a point where you can make no more progress.
You can have political, religious, and other controversial discussions on social media without being banned. It takes thought, time, education, politeness, focus. Your goal has to be to change minds, not to make people angry and at odds with each other. This isn’t a us v them issue, it’s about our community and country and doing the best we can for everyone. Stop acting like you’re in junior high school and act like adults, especially if you are in political office.
Dead right.
Aren’t we trying to win over hearts and minds with our comments? Insulting those with whom we disagree will not help win them over. All I try to do with Leftists is to sow the seed of doubt in their mind, through lucid and compelling arguments. You’re not going to flip someone from liberal to conservative in a few paragraphs, but you can make them re-examine their beliefs, if you have been sufficiently persuasive.
We have the great advantage that we are right. Churchill said that if you’re not a socialist when you’re young, you don’t have a heart. But if you’re not a conservative when you grow up, you don’t have a brain. We just need to try to speed up that process by making Leftists think for themselves.
Some Republicans call Democrats snowflakes, idiots, or whatever– you’ve seen em. Some Democrats call Republicans rednecks, racists, misogynists, idiots. Seems to me, the pendulum swings both ways.
Both sides do sling mud and names. Just because someone else calls conservatives or Republicans a name doesn’t mean I should use one back.
I was responding to the article and not to Democrats or their issues. I was responding to conservatives and the mistakes I’ve seen them make on social media, what I see as a major factor in them losing the last few elections, and possibly gaining new voters during campaigns. I was also responding to Mr. Barnes’ specific issue since I do post on social media platforms as a conservative who is registered as, Independent. I have a lot of family and friends who live in Western states that are liberal Democrats so I’ve found I am often in a position of having to post my opinions in a way that is specific, direct, and persuasive without being a smartass to get my point across. Not only have I not been blocked by FB or Twitter, but I haven’t been blocked by my friends, and that’s something considering we’re talking about Bay Area Newsome Liberals! It can be done, it takes creativity and sparkle.
You are half-right. This ugliness knows no bounds, anyone can be, and are, ugly and mean-spirited. Make an argument with facts, not insults. Most people can make a good point about something.
FYI, I’ll ignore your insult. Despite evidence to the contrary, I made it out of Junior High.
Suck ups usually get through school and life
Everyone is entitled to my opinion….
LOL ! Good one.
I wasn’t responding to your comment, I was responding to the article. I figured you’d at least graduated from Jr. College 😉
(See response above to BNC)
Liberals call names and use foul language far more than conservatives do.
Welcome to the club, BJ!
I have been permanently banned by Facebook THREE TIMES. That’s possible because I always used pseudonyms with Fakebook. I established 3 identities, the last of which mocked them mercilessly. There is no way I’ll ever allow them to know my real identity and make money off me. I simply don’t trust them. They’re chronically left wing.
My transgressions seemed to be that I won arguments with Leftists. I never used foul language or racial epithets. I just humiliated liberals. That’s enough to get you banned, Three times.
I am willing to bet that your ‘humiliating liberals’ is all just in your head. Mostly what I read here from you lacks basis in facts. Mostly just you repeating Republican talking points…which also mostly lack any basis in fact or reality.
Well I humiliated you enough that you had to publicly apologize to me, didn’t I?
I only apologized for making an honest mistake. I am man enough to admit an honest mistake and stand behind my apology. But you are still wrong on public health and have yet to sow a single seed of doubt that I made the right choice to leave the modern republican party.
Vaccines are safe
Trump lost the 2020 election…big
There was no mass fraud during the 2020 election
Masks have an important role during a pandemic
Republicans have lost their fiscal discipline since Reganomics failed
Modern republicans’ are sheep who are easily triggered by different opinions
I don’t personally try to change your opinion. I find conservatives unable to listen to logic as they are used to lies and hate since Trump took power. I just offer a counter point to the BS I regularly see posted here. Makes for a nice break from work during the day.
Best wishes.
Have another beer, Chris!
You’re on a roll.
Your computer IP address is all they need to block you. I was on a couple of years ago for about 6 months, but the incessant ads and recommendations from advertisers were impossible to stop, so I left. I’d advise everyone to get off FB.
Facebook is run by uneducated narrow minded stupid brats. I posted a picture of a beautiful dog with a rose in his mouth and said that he was my page turned and they didn’t post that picture because they didn’t know what a page turner is. I’m a musician and I have persons turn pages for me during a concert. THAT is what a page turner is and they thought that I was trying to post something inappropriate. Don’t waste your time with Facebook, their NOT worth brothering with their website. Facebook gets TOO much credit and attention than they deserve.
BJ Barnes for Sheriff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just look at their stock listing and valuation, and their subscriber dbase. They are preaching to their willing, and growing, subscriber base. Troll-city.
Their is a need for a censor-free social media; but then you get all sorts of ugliness from both sides. So who would decide what to take down. Besides, you can see a full measure of ugliness in the entertainment business.
Short of libel, free speech has to be allowed, whether or not you like it. Just ignore what you don’t like. Stop whining about it.
Yes. Please start your own website…..we need to hear from you!!!!!!
See BJ, I told you your blind support of trump and you wild turn to the far right would bite you in the A$$, trump destroys everything associated with him, good luck.
I quest this means you support the fool in White House and all He has done and is doing to destroy this Nation in the past 10 months!
Think you are right, you can hold these principles, and add your own; without hooking up with a divisive public figure. Ted Budd is making the same mistake right now.
Trump lost the election for the same reason that Clinton did. Many did not like them.
Please let us know when B J gets a new location we can follow
How about sheriff of Guilford County?
Welcome to the club. I was permanently banned from Facebook (with no explanation) back in February.
BJ is only another fish in the sea. Facebook has banned many. BJ, write your books and slowly drift into the Sunset (beach).
Since Facebook has deemed itself the arbiter of TRUTH the solution is simple. Either they stop this practice and allow all users to post, OR they assume liability for all of the scams, frauds, and other con-games that are all over their platform. Either be the arbiter of all truth or of none.
If EVERYONE would just switch to a free speech social media platform, like GAB or a whole slew of other new ones, we could leave fakebook in the dustbin of history. The only problem with the alternate sites is the lack of “friends” because so many refuse to leave fakebook. If everyone would just pick a day, pick a platform and leave en masse, it would solve the problem.
These people believe that liberals are trying to destroy America and their freedom of speech. “With freedom comes responsibility.” Try acting like adults. Try realizing that it is okay for others to have a difference of opinion. You do not have to start a militia and carry a gun everywhere you go. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
Liberals ARE wrecking America.
Hero to miscreants far and wide
Surely there is some good stuff on the Summerfield Nextdoor.
“Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who OWN one”. – H. L. Mencken