Assassinated

Last night i was killed off. Not the sort of thing that happens to you everyday is it? No. well thanks to Facebook i no longer exist as a 'virtual social entity' who, through an 'administrator', deemed me in breach of contract.


According to Facebook i have breached this part of the terms of use.

• Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent yourself, your age or your affiliation with any person or entity.

On the assumption that this rule is intended to stop the dark malicious intent of Paedophiles/terrorists/fraudsters/monsters etc one would assume that an 'administrator' would be able to differentiate between the above and those who choose to refer to them selves by pseudonym/alias/nickname etc especially when they are promoting creative exchange and have a distinct artistic nature which is expressed through their names, interests and activities. (for future reference I'm none of the malicious intent types..)

What is more disturbing is that it is frowned upon to misrepresent oneself, that Individuals can not lie about their age, preferences, tastes, contact details....where does the logic and rules of self representation begin and end? Where does my right to change, represent myself end?

The virtual world has, from its inception, embraced the donning of metaphorical fancy dress, 'selves', avatars and altar egos. We can be who want to be, find new voice, communicate with people with whom we otherwise would not do so. And as long as no one gets hurt then whats the problem? whats the difference between a stage name and alias?

Who is Ann Artist? I am everybody i have ever met, everyone who has contributed to me. I am nobody and a somebody. I am us and them over there. Identity is not fixed, static or prescribed, it is not something which we can or should legislate or police. To do so is to enter into a dubious ethical and philosophical trajectory.

FaceBook found itself in trouble sometime ago for the Facebook Beacon. Beacon collected data on Facebook users Internet use for Marketing purposes- however without their knowledge. A petition later forced Facebook to reassess the practice. Reading between the lines there is a clear interest in protecting the integrity of the ID of Facebook users and the purity of the data- according to Facebook:-

"We may share your information with third parties, including responsible companies with which we have a relationship."

In other words selling on your details to other 'responsible' companies for market and commercial (or security?) purposes. (Infact a large proportion of the 'content' you and me put out there doesnt 'belong' to us but thats a nother blog....)

In addition, according to the Facebook privacy agreement:-

"We may use information about you that we collect from other sources, including but not limited to newspapers and Internet sources such as blogs, instant messaging services, Facebook Platform developers and other users of Facebook, to supplement your profile."

Facebook still has my 'ProFILE' locked away behind some firewall on a server in a corporate ivory tower- filed under 'Ann Artist- person unknown/barred from use' (you must request to have your details completely removed). I'm pleased that in my short (but successful) Facebook life i managed to 'give it to the man'. If subverting Identity upsets people and 'the market' that much then lets do more of it! Lets take on Neoist agendas!

Artists have a long tradition of shared identity and have made a valuable contribution to this most creative and culturally subversive act of non conformity - from Marcel Duchamp and Robert Desnos use of Rose Selavy to the 'nom de plume' pan European, bundle of radical individuals and former Watford footballer- Luther Blissett.


Fake identities and personas provide an alternative arena for creative play, they allow us to explore and develop...ask any fancy dress enthusiast.

Facebook, if your collecting information from other sources on me and should some 'administrator' choose to add this blog to my bulging top secret file, then this last sentiment is for you.....

Fuck you- all of you, from all of us

Love and kisses

Ann Artist