Facebook partially documents its content recommendation system
Algorithmic recommendation systems on social media sites like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have shouldered much of the blame for the spread of misinformation, propaganda, hate speech, conspiracy theories and other harmful content. Facebook, in particular, has come under fire in recent days for allowing QAnon conspiracy groups to thrive on its platform and for helping militia groups to scale membership. Today, Facebook is attempting to combat claims that its recommendation systems are at any way at fault for how people are exposed to troubling, objectionable, dangerous, misleading and untruthful content.
The company has, for the first time, made public how its content recommendation guidelines work.
In new documentation available in Facebook’s Help Center and Instagram’s Help Center, the company details how Facebook and Instagram’s algorithms work to filter out content, accounts, Pages, Groups and Events from its recommendations.
Currently, Facebook’s Suggestions may appear as Pages You May Like, “Suggested For You” posts in News Feed, People You May Know, or Groups You Should Join. Instagram’s suggestions are found within Instagram Explore, Accounts You May Like and IGTV Discover.
The company says Facebook’s existing guidelines have been in place since 2016 under a strategy it references as “remove, reduce, and inform.” This strategy focuses on removing content that violates Facebook’s Community Standards, reducing the spread of problematic content that does not violate its standards, and informing people with additional information so they can choose what to click, read or share, Facebook explains.
The Recommendation Guidelines typically fall under Facebook’s efforts in the “reduce” area, and are designed to maintain a higher standard than Facebook’s Community Standards, because they push users to follow new accounts, groups, Pages and the like.
Facebook, in the new documentation, details five key categories that are not eligible for recommendations. Instagram’s guidelines are similar. However, the documentation offers no deep insight into how Facebook actually chooses what to recommend to a given user. That’s a key piece to understanding recommendation technology, and one Facebook intentionally left out.
One obvious category of content that many not be eligible for recommendation includes those that would impede Facebook’s “ability to foster a safe community,” such as content focused on self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, violence, sexually explicit content, regulated content like tobacco or drugs or content shared by non-recommendable accounts or entities.
Facebook also claims to not recommend sensitive or low-quality content, content users frequently say they dislike and content associated with low-quality publishings. These further categories include things like clickbait, deceptive business models, payday loans, products making exaggerated health claims or offering “miracle cures,” content promoting cosmetic procedures, contests, giveaways, engagement bait, unoriginal content stolen from another source, content from websites that get a disproportionate number of clicks from Facebook versus other places on the web or news that doesn’t include transparent information about the authorship or staff.
In addition, Facebook claims it won’t recommend fake or misleading content, like those making claims found false by independent fact checkers, vaccine-related misinformation and content promoting the use of fraudulent documents.
It says it will also “try” not to recommend accounts or entities that recently violated Community Standards, shared content Facebook tries to not recommend, posted vaccine-related misinformation, engaged in purchasing “Likes,” has been banned from running ads, posted false information or are associated with movements tied to violence.
The latter claim, of course, follows recent news that a Kenosha militia Facebook Event remained on the platform after being flagged 455 times after its creation, and had been cleared by four moderators as non-violating content. The associated Page had issued a “call to arms” and hosted comments about people asking what types of weapons to bring. Ultimately, two people were killed and a third was injured at protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin when a 17-year old armed with an AR-15-style rifle broke curfew, crossed state lines and shot at protestors.
Given Facebook’s track record, it’s worth considering how well Facebook is capable of abiding by its own stated guidelines. Plenty of people have found their way to what should be ineligible content, like conspiracy theories, dangerous health content, COVID-19 misinformation and more by clicking through on suggestions at times when the guidelines failed. QAnon grew through Facebook recommendations, it’s been reported.
It’s also worth noting, there are many gray areas that guidelines like these fail to cover.
Militia groups and conspiracy theories are only a couple of examples. Amid the pandemic, U.S. users who disagreed with government guidelines on business closures can easily find themselves pointed toward various “reopen” groups where members don’t just discuss politics, but openly brag about not wearing masks in public or even when required to do so at their workplace. They offer tips on how to get away with not wearing masks, and celebrate their successes with selfies. These groups may not technically break rules by their description alone, but encourage behavior that constitutes a threat to public health.
Meanwhile, even if Facebook doesn’t directly recommend a group, a quick search for a topic will direct you to what would otherwise be ineligible content within Facebook’s recommendation system.
For instance, a quick search for the word “vaccines” currently suggests a number of groups focused on vaccine injuries, alternative cures and general anti-vax content. These even outnumber the pro-vax content. At a time when the world’s scientists are trying to develop protection against the novel coronavirus in the form of a vaccine, allowing anti-vaxxers a massive public forum to spread their ideas is just one example of how Facebook is enabling the spread of ideas that may ultimately become a global public health threat.
The more complicated question, however, is where does Facebook draw the line in terms of policing users having these discussions versus favoring an environment that supports free speech? With few government regulations in place, Facebook ultimately gets to make this decision for itself.
Recommendations are only a part of Facebook’s overall engagement system, and one that’s often blamed for directing users to harmful content. But much of the harmful content that users find could be those groups and Pages that show up at the top of Facebook search results when users turn to Facebook for general information on a topic. Facebook’s search engine favors engagement and activity — like how many members a group has or how often users post — not how close its content aligns with accepted truths or medical guidelines.
Facebook’s search algorithms aren’t being similarly documented in as much detail.
Political Calendar: Week of February 5, 2023
Send notices of your events to [email protected]. Editor’s Note: Due to the covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and CDC recommendations for social distancing, many events are still being held virtually online. We are doing our best to update the calendar, but you should check with event organizers prior to attending any event to confirm the status.
Political Calendar for the Week of February 5, 2023:
Monday, February 6, Noon: Democrats of Greater Tucson ONLINE MEETING February 6: Featured speaker is elections expert Benny White on debunking election conspiracies. Register in advance. Meanwhile, you can also watch more than 130 Videos of Candidates and Speakers at of Greater Tucson.
Tuesday, February 7, 8:30 a.m.: Environmental Lobby Day at the State Capitol, sponsored by the Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter. We will be meeting in person at the legislature, but also livestreaming the speakers and making every attempt to connect people to meetings with legislators virtually and in-person. We will have a program in the morning, tables with information on various groups and actions, and we will be meeting with legislators. Please RSVP Here.
Tuesday, February 7, 7:00 p.m.: State of The Union Address before a joint session of Congress.
Wednesday, February 8, 5:30 pm.: Legislative District 21 meeting. Meet the second Wednesday of each month. For more information, please contact Jacqui Bauer, Chair at [email protected]
Thursday, February 9: The Yuma County Democrats meet the second Thursday of every month, currently on Zoom due to the Pandemic. Meetings are open to the public. For information on how to attend sign up for our newsletter or email [email protected]
Thursday, February 9, 5:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Nucleus Club meeting, at the DoubleTree – Reid Park Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson. Meet the second Thursday of each month. Non-members will be asked to make a contribution of $20 at the door or in advance. For more information, contact Nucleus Club at Pima County Democratic Headquarters (520) 326-3716.
Thursday, February 9, 5:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Disability Caucus meeting, at Direct Center, 1001 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson. Monthly meeting of the Disability Caucus. Open to the public. For more information please contact Contact Carol Brown (520) 325-9874.
Saturday, February 11, 9:30 a.m.: Tanque Verde Valley Democrats meeting. Featured speakers are Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Pima District 1 Supervisor Rex Scott. Usually meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information visit our web site. Tanque Verde Valley Democratic Club.
Saturday, February 11, 10:00 a.m.: Mule Mountain Democrats meeting, at the Community Y, 26 Howell Avenue, Old Bisbee. Meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information e-mail Sandy Hummingbird at [email protected], or visit our web page Mule Mountain Democrats.
Saturday, February 11, 10:00 a.m.: Coconino County Democratic Party meeting, at the Murdoch Community Center, 203 E. Brannen Avenue, Flagstaff. Also on Zoom. Meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information please call (928) 214-0393 or email [email protected], or viit our web page coconinodemocrats.org.
Saturday, February 11, 1:00 p.m.: Sun City Democrats of Oro Valley meeting, in the Navajo Room of the Activity Center, 1495 Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Sun City. Meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information lease contact Maureen Salz [email protected].
Saturday, February 11, 3:00 p.m.: Green Valley Democrats fka Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area meeting. For more information please see our Facebook page or greenvalleydemocrats.org.
Special Announcements:
Green Valley Democrats Current Events Discussion Group
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.: Green Valley Democrats fka Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area meets on Zoom at 10:00 – 11:30. To join the Discussion Group please send your name to [email protected]. Join us at the weekly meeting of the Democratic Headquarters Current Events Discussion Group. We’ll talk about some of the major events of the previous week, including but not limited to political topics, and try and go behind the news for a deeper understanding. For more information, please contact Jean Vickers [email protected].
Drinking Liberally
Third Wednesday of each month, 6:00 p.m.: Drinking Liberally at The Shanty, 401 E. 9th Street, Tucson. We need to know by the morning of each meeting approximately how many folks will attend. Please RSVP to [email protected]. Informal but thoughtful conversation. As a reminder, The Shanty does not serve food (yes, there is popcorn), so please feel free to bring your own or order in, all allowed at The Shanty. There is no obligation to order anything–but as a thank you to our host, I hope everyone will order at least one drink(alcoholic or otherwise).
Sunday, February 12: Lincoln’s Birthday.
Sunday, February 12, 4:30 p.m.: Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Kansas City Chiefs v. Philadelphia Eagles.
Monday, February 13, 5:30 p.m.: Legislative District 19 meeting. Meet the second Monday of each month. For more information please contact Chair Matthew Boyd at [email protected]
Monday, February 13, 6:30 p.m.: Democrats of Oro Valley meeting. Meet the second Monday of each month. For more information see our Facebook page or demsov.org.
Monday, February 13, 7:00 p.m.: Democrats of the Highlands at Dove Mountain meeting, in the Dove Mountain Clubhouse Catalina Room II, 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd., Marana. For more information see our Facebook page.
Tuesday, February 14: Valentine’s Day/Arizona Statehood Day.
Tuesday, February 14: MLB Pitchers & Catchers report (earliest report date).
Tuesday, February 14, Noon: Democrats of Rim Country meeting, at Tiny’s Family Restaurant, 600 Arizona Hwy. 260, Payson, AZ. Meet the second Tuesday of each month. For more information please email us at [email protected]
Tuesday, February 14, 3:30 p.m.: Saddlebrooke Democrats meeting, at SaddleBrooke Activities Center, 64518 E. Galveston Lane (Saddlebrooke). Meet the second Tuesday of each month. For more information please contact Steve Groth at (520) 385-6686 or check our web site. SaddleBrookeDemocrats.org.
Tuesday, February 14, 5:00 p.m.: Democrats of the Picture Rocks meeting, via zoom. Meet the second Tuesday of each month. Contact us by email at [email protected] for more information.
Tuesday, February 14, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 23 meeting. Meet the second Tuesday of each month. To access the Zoom link for these virtual meetings, please join our email list. Join us for our monthy happy hour on the last Friday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Email contact form.
Wednesday, February 15, 6:30 p.m.: Marana Dems & Friends meeting. To request the Zoom meeting invitation send an email to: [email protected]. Meet the second Wednesday of each month. Visit our Facebook Page.
Wednesday, February 15, 6:00 p.m.: Graham County Democratic Party meeting. Meet the third Wednesday of each month. Meet via Zoom. For more information. please visit our web page, or visit our Facebook Page.
Wednesday, February 15, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 17 meeting. Meet the third Wednesday of each month. For more information please contact Larry Waggoner, Chair at [email protected]
Wednesday, February 15, 6:30 p.m.: Copa City Democrats meeting, location varies. For more information please contact Constance Jackson at [email protected]
Thursday, February 16, 10:00 a.m.: Democrats of the Red Rocks Breakfast on Zoom. Free. Register in Advance. Meet the third Thursday of each month. Visit our web page.
Thursday, February 16, 6:30 p.m.: Yavapai County Democratic Party meeting, details TBA.
Friday, February 17, 6:00 p.m.: Gila County Democratic Party general meeting, at the Gila Dems Office, 110 E. Bonita Street, Payson, AZ. Meet the third Friday of each month. For more information please visit our web page, or Facebook Page, email us at [email protected], or call our office 928-363-1808.
Saturday, February 18, 10:00 a.m.: Pima County Democratic Party African-American Caucus meeting, at Grace Temple Baptist Church, 1020 E. 31st Street, Tucson. Meet the third Saturday of each month. The caucus is not exclusively for African-Americans, all are welcome to join. For more information please contact Connie DeLarge at [email protected]or (520) 241-8408.
Saturday, February 18, 1:00 p.m.: San Tan Valley Democrats meeting, meet virtually. Meet the third Saturday of each month. Please email group for details: [email protected], or phone: 480-630-9092.
Saturday, February 18, 1:30 p.m.: Copa City Democrats meeting. Meetings are every third Saturday of the month. Receive the link through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2963579027298825, or email Tony at [email protected]
Monday, February 20: President’s Day (observed). George Washington’s Birthday.
Tuesday, February 21: Mardi Gras.
Tuesday, February 21, 10:30 a.m.: Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona meeting, at Rothery Education Center on Fry Boulevard, Northern most building closest to Veterans Park, Sierra Vista. Meet the third Tuesday of each month. For more information email us at [email protected] Visit our web page. Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona.
Wednesday, February 22, 11:30 a.m.: Democratic Women of the Prescott Area meeting, New Time and Place! The Resort at Prescott. Details TBA. Funds raised through this event support Democratic Women of the Prescott Area. Cost of Luncheon $25. Cancellations for reservations must be received 24 hours in advance! Attendees will be billed if they cancel on the day of the event. Meet the fourth Wednesday of each month. Visit our web page.
Wednesday, February 22, 5:00 p.m.: Legislative District 19 meeting. Meet the fourth Wednesday of each month. For more information please contact Matthew Boyd, Chair at [email protected]
Thursday, February 23, 9:00 a.m.: Tucson’s La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo Parade.
Thursday, February 23, 6:30 p.m.: Casa Grande Democrats meeting. Meet via Zoom, so please call this number or send an email to this contact information to receive a registration link: (520) 251-8247 or [email protected] Meet the fourth Thursday of each month. Please visit our web page.
Monday, February 24: MLB Cactus League Spring Training games begin. Schedule.
Saturday, February 25, 10:00 a.m.: Northern Cochise County Democratic Club meeting at the Raphael-in-the-Valley Episcopal-Lutheran Church, 730 S. Hwy 80, Benson AZ.Meet the Fourth Saturday of each month. For more information please contact Kathy Suagee at [email protected]om. Visit our web page Northern Cochise County Democrats.
Tucson Peace Fair and Music Festival
Saturday, February 25, 11:00 a.m.: The Tucson Peace Fair and Music Festival returns this year. Stay tuned for event info: https://www.tucsonpeacecalendar.org/peace-fair/.
Saturday, February 25, 2:00 p.m.: Cochise County Democratic Party virtual meeting, RSVP Here.
Monday, February 27, 6:00 p.m.: Legislative District 20 meeting. Meet the fourth Monday of each month. For more information please visit our LD 20 website.
Tuesday, February 28, 4:30 p.m.: Democratic Club of the Saddlebrook Ranch meeting, at 59680 E. Robson Circle, Oracle. Meet the fourth Tuesday of each month. Pease contact Matt Nelson at [email protected], or (651) 414-1334.
Tuesday, February 28, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 18 meeting. Meet the fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information please contact Larry Bodine, Chair at [email protected]
Saturday, March 4, 11:00 a.m.: Greater Huachuca Area Democrats meeting virtual on Zoom (soon at a designated restaurant in Serra Vista). Meet the first Saturday of each month. For more information, please email [email protected], or phone (520) 329-2253.
Wednesday, March: International Women’s Day.
Wednesday, March 8, 5:30 pm.: Legislative District 21 meeting. Meet the second Wednesday of each month. For more information, please contact Jacqui Bauer, Chair at [email protected]
Wednesday, March 8, 6:30 p.m.: Marana Dems & Friends meeting. To request the Zoom meeting invitation send an email to: [email protected]. Meet the second Wednesday of each month. Visit our Facebook Page.
Thursday, March 9: The Yuma County Democrats meet the second Thursday of every month, currently on Zoom due to the Pandemic. Meetings are open to the public. For information on how to attend sign up for our newsletter or email [email protected]
Thursday, March 9, 5:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Nucleus Club meeting, at the DoubleTree – Reid Park Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson. Meet the second Thursday of each month. Non-members will be asked to make a contribution of $20 at the door or in advance. For more information, contact Nucleus Club at Pima County Democratic Headquarters (520) 326-3716.
Thursday, March 9, 5:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Disability Caucus meeting, at Direct Center, 1001 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson. Monthly meeting of the Disability Caucus. Open to the public. For more information please contact Contact Carol Brown (520) 325-9874.
Saturday, March 11, 9:30 a.m.: Tanque Verde Valley Democrats meeting. Usually meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information visit our web site. Tanque Verde Valley Democratic Club.
Saturday, March 11, 10:00 a.m.: Mule Mountain Democrats meeting, at the Community Y, 26 Howell Avenue, Old Bisbee. Meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information e-mail Sandy Hummingbird at [email protected], or visit our web page Mule Mountain Democrats.
Saturday, March 11, 10:00 a.m.: Coconino County Democratic Party meeting, at the Murdoch Community Center, 203 E. Brannen Avenue, Flagstaff. Also on Zoom. Meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information please call (928) 214-0393 or email [email protected], or viit our web page coconinodemocrats.org.
Saturday, March 11, 1:00 p.m.: Sun City Democrats of Oro Valley meeting, in the Navajo Room of the Activity Center, 1495 Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Sun City. Meet the second Saturday of each month. For more information lease contact Maureen Salz [email protected].
Saturday, March 11, 3:00 p.m.: Green Valley Democrats fka Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area meeting. For more information please see our Facebook page or greenvalleydemocrats.org.
Sunday, March 12: Daylight Savings Time begins. Check your TV schedule.
Sunday, March 12: Selection Sunday for NCAA Basketball Tournaments.
Monday, March 13, 5:30 p.m.: Legislative District 19 meeting. Meet the second Monday of each month. For more information please contact Chair Matthew Boyd at [email protected]
Monday, March 13, 6:30 p.m.: Democrats of Oro Valley meeting. Meet the second Monday of each month. For more information see our Facebook page or demsov.org.
Monday, March 13, 7:00 p.m.: Democrats of the Highlands at Dove Mountain meeting, in the Dove Mountain Clubhouse Catalina Room II, 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd., Marana. For more information see our Facebook page.
Tuesday, March 14, Noon: Democrats of Rim Country meeting, at Tiny’s Family Restaurant, 600 Arizona Hwy. 260, Payson, AZ. Meet the second Tuesday of each month. For more information please email us at [email protected]
Tuesday, March 14, 3:30 p.m.: Saddlebrooke Democrats meeting, at SaddleBrooke Activities Center, 64518 E. Galveston Lane (Saddlebrooke). Meet the second Tuesday of each month. For more information please contact Steve Groth at (520) 385-6686 or check our web site. SaddleBrookeDemocrats.org.
Tuesday, March 14, 5:00 p.m.: Democrats of the Picture Rocks meeting, via zoom. Meet the second Tuesday of each month. Contact us by email at [email protected] for more information.
Tuesday, March 14, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 23 meeting. Meet the second Tuesday of each month. To access the Zoom link for these virtual meetings, please join our email list. Join us for our monthy happy hour on the last Friday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Email contact form.
Wednesday, March 15, 6:00 p.m.: Graham County Democratic Party meeting. Meet the third Wednesday of each month. Meet via Zoom. For more information. please visit our web page, or visit our Facebook Page.
Wednesday, March 15, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 17 meeting. Meet the third Wednesday of each month. For more information please contact Larry Waggoner, Chair at [email protected]
Wednesday, March 15, 6:30 p.m.: Copa City Democrats meeting, location varies. For more information please contact Constance Jackson at [email protected]
Thursday, March 16: First Round games of NCAA men’s basketball tournament, March Madness begins.
Thursday, March 16, 10:00 a.m.: Democrats of the Red Rocks Breakfast on Zoom. Free. Register in Advance. Meet the third Thursday of each month. Visit our web page.
Thursday, March 16, 6:30 p.m.: Yavapai County Democratic Party meeting, details TBA.
Friday, March 17: St. Patricks Day.
Friday, March 17, 6:00 p.m.: Gila County Democratic Party general meeting, at the Gila Dems Office, 110 E. Bonita Street, Payson, AZ. Meet the third Friday of each month. For more information please visit our web page, or Facebook Page, email us at [email protected], or call our office 928-363-1808.
Saturday, March 18, 10:00 a.m.: Pima County Democratic Party African-American Caucus meeting, at Grace Temple Baptist Church, 1020 E. 31st Street, Tucson. Meet the third Saturday of each month. The caucus is not exclusively for African-Americans, all are welcome to join. For more information please contact Connie DeLarge at [email protected]or (520) 241-8408.
Saturday, March 18, 1:00 p.m.: San Tan Valley Democrats meeting, meet virtually. Meet the third Saturday of each month. Please email group for details: [email protected], or phone: 480-630-9092.
Saturday, March 18, 1:30 p.m.: Copa City Democrats meeting. Meetings are every third Saturday of the month. Receive the link through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2963579027298825, or email Tony at [email protected]
Tuesday, March 21, 10:30 a.m.: Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona meeting, at Rothery Education Center on Fry Boulevard, Northern most building closest to Veterans Park, Sierra Vista. Meet the third Tuesday of each month. For more information email us at [email protected] Visit our web page. Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona.
Wednesday, March 22, 11:30 a.m.: Democratic Women of the Prescott Area meeting, New Time and Place! The Resort at Prescott. Details TBA. Funds raised through this event support Democratic Women of the Prescott Area. Cost of Luncheon $25. Cancellations for reservations must be received 24 hours in advance! Attendees will be billed if they cancel on the day of the event. Meet the fourth Wednesday of each month. Visit our web page.
Wednesday, March 22, 5:00 p.m.: Legislative District 19 meeting. Meet the fourth Wednesday of each month. For more information please contact Matthew Boyd, Chair at [email protected]
Thursday, March 23, 6:30 p.m.: Casa Grande Democrats meeting. Meet via Zoom, so please call this number or send an email to this contact information to receive a registration link: (520) 251-8247 or [email protected] Meet the fourth Thursday of each month. Please visit our web page.
Saturday, March 25, 10:00 a.m.: Northern Cochise County Democratic Club meeting at the Raphael-in-the-Valley Episcopal-Lutheran Church, 730 S. Hwy 80, Benson AZ.Meet the Fourth Saturday of each month. For more information please contact Kathy Suagee at [email protected]. Visit our web page Northern Cochise County Democrats.
Monday, March 27, 6:00 p.m.: Legislative District 20 meeting. Meet the fourth Monday of each month. For more information please visit our LD 20 website.
Tuesday, March 28, 4:30 p.m.: Democratic Club of the Saddlebrook Ranch meeting, at 59680 E. Robson Circle, Oracle. Meet the fourth Tuesday of each month. Pease contact Matt Nelson at [email protected], or (651) 414-1334.
Tuesday, March 28, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 18 meeting. Meet the fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information please contact Larry Bodine, Chair at [email protected]
Thursday, March 30: Opening Day of 2023 MLB season.
Friday. March 31: Cesar Chavez Day.
Saturday, April 1 – Sunday, April 2: Phoenix Pride.
Saturday, April 1: NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four games, from NRG stadium, Houston, TX.
Monday, April 3: NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship game.
Wednesday, April 5: Passover begins.
Sunday, April 9: Easter Sunday.
Saturday, April 15: MLB’s Jackie Robinson Day.
Tuesday, April 18: Tax Day.
Tuesday, April 18: Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Saturday, April 22: Earth Day.
Dundee businessman’s fury after Facebook account hacked
Man Recalls A Dating Catastrophe When He Invited A Felon He Met Online Over To Hangout
There exists a subreddit where people explain stories by setting the precedent of, “Today I F–ked Up,” called “r/TIFU.”
One man shared how he messed up by inviting a girl over to his place, not expecting the night to take a turn for the worst before he had to go to work the next day.
His second date turned into a night of horror after his date started drinking during dinner.
In order to provide some context, he explained how he met the girl on Facebook Dating and had gone on his first date with her over the weekend.
“I did notice that she only smiled with her top row of teeth in the pictures and figured that her bottom teeth might be effed up, but didn’t think much of it,” he explained, already pointing out potential red flags. “She had trad wife energy and I was into it.”
He explained that during their first date, he had learned a lot about her, including her history of battling eating disorders which explained the messed up teeth.
He learned that she doesn’t drink often and that she lives with her parents because she’s preparing for surgery that will require a lot of physical therapy.
“This is all a red herring — nothing about this TIFU has to do with the teeth,” he explains. “I wanted to mention it because I was so focused on this that I didn’t pick up the other red flags.”
After inviting her over for dinner on Thursday, the plan was that her father would drop her off at his house because her car had been wrecked and he would drive her home later.
“She also tells me that she is a felon like 1 hour before we hang out. Okay…” he continues. “‘Don’t worry, it’s just 3 DUIs and it’s over with.’ Thanks for telling me? [No, really, I should’ve paid attention to this red flag].”
When she arrives at his house and after pleasantries, he starts cooking a shrimp curry soup and she asks for a drink.
Taking a look at his cabinet filled with alcohol, she selects his most expensive bottle of tequila and immediately throws back two shots of it.
“Biggest f–k up: I presume that EVERYONE is good at self-regulation of their drinking,” he explains. “It’s just what I believe — we know if we are getting toasted or not and it’s intentional.”
As adults, it’s not presumptuous to assume that other adults are responsible enough to be able to manage how much liquor they consume — there was no way he could predict what would happen that night.
“I join and catch up with 2 shots. I get a seltzer for myself and she grabs a cocktail. And another one. 4 drinks in 40 minutes for this 110 lb person. I assume she’s good at holding her liquor.”
By this point, the woman is “beyond drunk” while he’s barely tipsy, so he denies her sexual advances and allows her to pass out on his bed with a trash can next to her while he goes to watch some TV or play video games — opting to check up on her from time to time.
When he comes back to check on her, he noticed she had peed in his bed.
“I attempt to rouse her and alert her she has soiled herself (and my bed). She wakes up and asks me why I’m waking her up and then tries to flirt with me,” he continues. “I then notice she’s soiling herself. Again. Actively. While trying to seduce me.”
He attempts to get her on the toilet and relieve herself, giving her water to drink so she can sober herself up as well, but she’s reluctant to do either.
Instead, he offers her towels and eases her down onto a fuzzy mat he has in the bathroom while he spends the next five hours (until 4:30 AM) cleaning everything that she soiled.
At 5 AM, he decided to try and get some sleep since he was working at 9 AM, but she woke up an hour and a half later confused, naked, and embarrassed.
She eats the shrimp from the soup he made, drinks another 4 oz of gin (at 7:30 AM), and tries to join him on the couch where he was trying to get some shut-eye.
He decided the best course of action from here on out would be to get in contact with her parents.
Freaking out, he leaves her “catatonic” on the couch, and decided to try and call her parents using her phone — fortunate enough that he remembered her birthday in order to use it as her passcode.
“I explain every single detail of the happenings of the night and they are mortified,” he writes. “I tell them I have work and they need to come get her now.”
An hour later, her father arrives at his house and starts yelling at her — which he quickly cuts short because he doesn’t want yelling in his house.
Since his daughter is unable to stand on her own, her father picks her up and she starts to protest — peeing on her father and the man’s couch once more.
After putting her in the car and collecting her things, the father came back to the man and explained, “She was almost 1 week sober. And this happens. Not your fault, son.”
Suddenly, everything made sense to him — the DUI, the drinking, and everything that he knew about her.
Hours later, her mother texted him, apologized, and told him that she would be there later to pick up her daughter’s clothes.
Had he noticed the red flags sooner, he may have been able to prevent her from relapsing, but there was no way he could have known.
If you know someone who is struggling with drug addiction, reach out for help. SAMHSA’s helpline is available 24/7. 1-800-662-HELP (4357), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889.
Isaac Serna-Diez is an Assistant Editor who focuses on entertainment and news, social justice, and politics. Keep up with his rants about current events on his Twitter.
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Key Notes on Building Your Brand via Your Social Profile Visuals [Infographic]
![Key Notes on Building Your Brand via Your Social Profile Visuals [Infographic]](https://articles.entireweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1675063183_Key-Notes-on-Building-Your-Brand-via-Your-Social-Profile-400x240.png)
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