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Succession may be a dirty word right now, but it is the natural order of things. It happens in everything from work to your social circle to politics. If you don’t like a situation – you move away from it and have the ability to create your own. This article isn’t about the right to form The Tea Party Community, it’s about the irony of it’s execution. If you’re already accused of mismanagement and poor decision, when you decide to make a statement this big – you should really try not to a) break laws and b) perpetrate exactly the same behavior you claim is the reason for your succession.
The Tea Party Community is a new social network specifically ‘to provide an online safe haven social community for all of the Tea Parties across America to utilize and enjoy’. The creators of TPC cited “liberal censorship” as their reason for needing a mass exodus from Facebook. “Tim Selaty Sr. and his son Tim, Jr. partnered with [Ken] Crow to launch the niche network […] calling it a “safe haven for the conservative movement where we can share ideas and thoughts and express ourselves without fear of retribution.”” (source) No matter your political stance, it’s hard to ignore the faux pas already being made with TPC.
1. Copyright Infringement
The TPC website is a direct copy of Facebook. This isn’t an assumption or a coincidence. “That was intentional,” Crow told Fox News, when asked about the striking similarities. (source) The imitation goes beyond the design. You can ‘like’ a status, ‘friend’ others, create fan pages, etc. (Even using a copy of the ‘thumbs up’ for liking). The TPC Terms of Service is also a direct copy & paste of the Facebook terms with the company name changed accordingly. Anyone who follows social (or legal) news already knows that Facebook goes after imitators like a rabid wolf. Was a blatant copy of the social giant really the best course of action? Definitely not. Politics aside, Facebook will have a solid case against them if they choose to pursue this. Citing liberal driven censorship won’t save you from copyright law.
2. Hypocritical Management
TPC claimed they were unfairly treated by Facebook and basically ostracized for their beliefs. Yet, the TPC website takes this to a new level by strongly insinuating that the site is for conservatives only.
“We encourage all conservatives to join the new community and enjoy all the familiarity of Facebook, without all the restrictions. We also welcome any/all factions of the Tea Party and conservative movement to join us here, and establish their presence. Upgraded and special privileged accounts are available for large conservative groups and non-profit organizations.” (source)
“Most of us are subjected to censorship on Facebook,” Crow told Fox News. “I’ve been suspended there as have many of my friends.” That’s decent reasoning for wanting autonomy in the social world. They certainly wouldn’t be the first group of people to find they need more freedom in expressing their opinions. So, one would assume TPC is built on the opposite: free thinking and freedom of expression just like the 1st Amendment they support. But, it’s not. It’s actually more regulated, and censored, than Facebook. If you post something they object to, your input isn’t deleted: you are.
“You understand and agree that we may review and delete any content that you include in your profile or otherwise post on any area of the website (which may include deleting your entire profile) that we, in our sole judgment, believe (1) violates this Agreement, (2) might be offensive or illegal or (3) might violate the rights of, harm or threaten the safety of any other Member.”
But, contrary to their Terms, it seems that comments don’t need to be offensive or illegal. They just need to be outside the mindset of the modern conservative movement. According to notable members of TPC this is exactly how they want it. Jan Morgan, prominent Tea Party conservative, told Fox News, “I know that when I go there [TPC] and make a post it won’t be censored. It’s not going to be deleted.” And she’s absolutely right… unless they disagree with you. Comments that go against the grain of the general TP thinking will earn you a BANNED profile with matching default photo so that your punishment is public.
Example of a bannable opinion on TPC:
Example of a banned profile:
When it comes to creating your own social network – you have every right to do so. But, TPC would have done well to consider the general reaction of hanging a ‘We Hate Censorship’ sign on the front door of an elitist, gated community. “This helps us begin the organizational process of the Tea Party movement,” Ken Crow said. “We’ve been a little too disorganized. It cost us the election in 2012. We’ve all agreed – never again.” (source)
Never say never, Ken.
It’s hard to respect a political movement when the leaders violate laws. LOL
I was gonna say why the hell do they look like Facebook. Shame on them.
What? Can they really do this?
We need change and reform in our country. The family, small business, and hardworking taxpayers are being taxed to death. Many people wonder if it is even worth it to work anymore. But change and reform come from new ideas and free expression. I think censorship will damage the integrity of the Tea Party and make it more difficult for people to support them.
Both parties violate laws all the time. Politics just annoy me, haha!
I participated over at Tea Party Community for a couple of weeks. I displayed a firm but fair attitude along with being polite and offering gentle humor. My discovery is, my opinion is Tea Party Community is a front organization for a white supremacy group headed by Ken Crow.
This is unfortunate, our family casually knows Ken Crow through rodeo riding events over a couple of decades. Crow was around back when rodeo nationals were held in our home state, Oklahoma. Seems to be a nice man but his Tea Party Community and behaviors displayed by participants reveals a truth we would rather not have discovered.
Okpulot Taha – Choctaw Nation