WELL known Limerick blogger Bock the Robber was removed from Facebook this week shortly after launching a new wave political activism through ‘The National Interview’. The National Interview proposed that the public become the interviewer as politicians canvassed during the upcoming general election campaign. “Shortly after the group started, Facebook cancelled my account without warning and at the time 700 people had signed up to participate in the movement and people are still signing up on my website,” Bock explained to the Limerick Post.
He had 800 fans on his Facebook page before it was cancelled.
“I looked through their reasons for account cancelling and it referred to hate speech, pornography and posting racist comments none of which appear in my posts or groups”.
Although he admitted that his posts often contain a lot of anti government sentiment, he feels he is hardly unique in that sense.
“It’s unlikely that there has been any political interference but it seems a mighty coincidence that it should happen now, somebody must have flagged my account”.
Despite the unsettling social networking experience Bock is determined that The National Interview takes place during the coming General Election Campaign.
“Most people have a camera or video device in their home so when an election candidate arrives at your door, switch on the video, point it at them and say, ‘I’m going to ask you a question and I’m going to video you. I’m going to upload your reply to Youtube and Facebook.
“If they’re on your property they can’t stop you, but that’s part of the fun -ask them a prepared question that is important to you.
“The reaction will depend on the politician, the more arrogant may become boisterous and ask you to switch it off and some could scuttle off, but keep recording,”
Tongue in cheek, he says: “Let the likes of Pat Kenny and Vincent Browne do their interviews, no reason why we shouldn’t do the interview too”.
The blogger has queried Facebook’s decision to remove him and he said he does not intend to open another account on Facebook until he receives a valid reason.
Meanwhile, a group has been established on Facebook by followers of his website entitled, ‘Bring Back Bock’.
