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Ban Reason: Universal Monk (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/yepowertrippinbastards@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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So I started a piefed account, mostly for my writing so that dbzer0 (and Lemmy) wouldn’t have to put up with all my weird fiction stories all the time. Plus, I wanted to check out the biggest Piefed space, piefed.social, because I'm excited about some of the new concepts they are bringing to the table.

I created a writing community, a Socialist community, and a Green Party community there today.

Nothing outrageous or controversial. I posted one news article in each of the Socialist and Green Party communities, and a couple to my writing comm.

The Socialist and Writing communities were local only, so they wouldn’t even show up in the larger Fediverse. I only posted in my own communities. No controversy intended, none created.

I just got banned, almost immediately after starting the communities. The reason in the mod log says: "Universal Monk".

The admin, @rimu@piefed.social, hasn't replied to my DM asking why (yet). I guess being me is reason enough. I feel so famous! Or maybe infamous?

I'm still a libertarian socialist tho! Piefed.social and Lemmy ain't gonna change my mind.

Oh, I already know how the votes (down) here are gonna go! But doing my part in adding content to Lemmy anyway; being the change I wanna see. No regrets! :)

EDIT: I'm posting this here, and I've repeated it in this thread. Just in case piefed.social banned me on the assumption that I’m “conservative” because I’ve posted links to conservative news articles… then, by that same logic, shouldn’t I also be considered socialist and anarchist because I post so much socialist and anarchist content? I actually post way more socialist content than anything else. And there is nothing in my fiction writing that is conservative at all. My entire post history is public, it doesn't take much effort to see that I post practically anything I find interesting.

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[-] _cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Not gonna lie, I find that pretty funny.

We’re probably gonna be starting our own piefed in the future, so you’ll be able to sign up there.

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Once we have our own piefed, that's gonna be my new perma home! Can't wait!

[-] VerilyFemme@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 3 days ago

Bullshit. I admit I've had my disagreements with you, and am unsure of your intent. But making you a persona non grata??? Ridiculous.

[-] DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz 11 points 3 days ago

Maybe I'm thinking of another user but don't you have many universalmonk accounts across many Lemmy instances? Is it possible another of your accounts was already banned? If that's the case then perhaps it could be seen as ban evasion if you post from another account.

[-] Blaze@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 3 days ago
[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

And I still don’t see what all the controversy is about. I post just about anything I read that I find interesting. Funny how everyone overlooks the hundreds of posts I’ve made about science, socialism, anarchism, third parties, college, education, math, and more. I’ve started conservative communities, mixed-politics communities, socialist communities, anarchist communities, death cult communities, writing communities—you name it. My other main account is @UniversalMonk@sh.itjust.works.

Now, using the logic a lot of people on Lemmy seem to apply: if Universal Monk is “conservative” just because I've posted links to conservative articles... then, by that same logic, shouldn’t I also be considered socialist and anarchist because I post so much socialist and anarchist content?

Also, if I were seriously trying to "ban evade," would I really use my well-known and widely disliked username? Obviously not. I usually get banned right away anyway, as my history shows.

Posting links to news articles from across the political spectrum is not a good enough reason for the chaos my name seems to cause.

I’d love to see someone make a pie chart showing the ratio of my socialist, anarchist, and libertarian posts versus anything remotely conservative. You know why that’s hard? Because I’ve posted so much, and it covers so many topics, because I’m a human being with nuance.

Anyone who actually looks at my posting history would see that I lean libertarian-socialist, just like I’ve always said. The real issue is that Lemmy doesn’t like that I’ve never supported the two-party system. Not before the election or now. I never have, and I never will. I still stand by what I’ve said: Trump getting elected was the Democrats’ fault. They dropped the ball, and they deserved to lose. That’s been my view from the very beginning, and it hasn’t changed.

And if anyone has a problem with me posting a lot, or having more than one account on lemmy, then I invite them to check out:

@Blaze@lemmy.dbzer0.com

@Blaze@sopuli.xyz

@Blaze@lemmy.zip

@Blaze@feddit.org

@Blaze@lemmy.dbzer0.com

@Blaze@discuss.tchncs.de

I regret nothing and I won't change my posting habits. Thanks, friend!

[-] Blaze@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago

From the article:

Casey said: 'Free thought, which is actually unique to the West, that’s being washed away by cancel culture and political correctness and thought crimes.

‘Free thought is being washed away, followed by free speech.’

--

He’s right tho when it comes to free speech.

https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/27847487?scrollToComments=true

Do you still stand by those statements?

You link my alt accounts, but none of them got banned.

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I do stand by my statements, that free speech and free thought are being eroded. Hence the reasons I've been banned on some instances. Hence the reason for my OP.

I don't agree with every point in the article (I didn't write it, nor am I the publisher, I just posted a link to the article), but I agree that extremism on both sides of the aisle are eroding free speech and free thought. I've always said that.

The mere fact that you seem to imply that it's ok to ban me because I said that, kinda proves my point.

You link my alt accounts, but none of them got banned.

Because you rarely voice controversial opinions. Being neutral is safe. Having or even posting links to opinions that may not match most of Lemmy, is a really good way to get banned. As this section of this thread is showing.

But I was mostly showing all your alt accounts because people are quick to bring up that I have alt accounts, so I was showing that's it's not uncommon. And not a bad idea. Different instances are going down all over.

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Most usually would usually note that with a generic "ban evasion," which is often times incorrect as well, but that wasn't used in this case. And would have taken the same amount of time to type as "Universal Monk."

I'm working on transferring all my fiction writing to piefed, and since piefed.social doesn't like me, I've started putting my writing on Feddit.online now. The admin there, @Jerry@feddit.online is awesome! I talked to him about me being there to make sure it was ok. He's been super cool about everything. Great piefed instance and great admin. So at the end of the day, I'm fine with his piefed being the only piefed instance I'm on.

I just wish there were a way to transfer all my writing to my community on there without having to repost them, and bore Lemmy with seeing my stuff be posted all over again. :/

[-] Quokka@quokk.au 4 points 2 days ago

You've always been welcome on your quokk.au account.

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

It's an awesome instance, from what I've seen of it so far!

[-] Quokka@quokk.au 3 points 1 day ago

Thanks, and to answer your other question no, I do.

[-] codexarcanum@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 3 days ago

I can't say I generally agree with you a whole lot as i recall; but you seem a nice enough person and you're an active poster, which like, forums need to stay alive!

Certainly a ridiculous ban reason, you're hardly the most controversial poster out there, but yeah it must feel pretty wild to be internet infamous!

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

but yeah it must feel pretty wild to be internet infamous!

It is kinda weird. I tried to introduce my gf to Lemmy (she hated it), but as I was showing her around, she did a search for "Universal Monk" in the search bar. Obviously lots of results cuz lots of people hatin' on me. The first thing she reads is a thread called, 'I'm calling for the Fediverse to ban Universal Monk.' Which is basically a post with over 300 comments of people saying the most ridiculous shit about me.

So she reads that and a bunch of other comments about me, and sees all my bans. She turns to me and says, "What the fuck?! You're the most boring guy in the world. How is this possible?" lmao

[-] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 days ago

I thoroughly standby my opinion on the items we've disagreed on, but that doesnt make me loathe you or anything... We just have a different opinion. Mine, of course, is the right one, but that's a different matter 😀

Not entirely sure what you could have done to piss them off aside from them seeing your name and seeing red....

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 3 days ago

We just have a different opinion. Mine, of course, is the right one, but that’s a different matter

Oh, man, I thought my opinion was the right one. Dammit!

Thanks, friend. :)

[-] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 days ago

Well, I gotta point at PTB on this one, despite generally being okay with preemptive bans.

I'm not saying that an admin shouldn't be able to do this; they take the risks and hassles of making the fediverse function, so they get some leeway before PTB can be fully applied.

But there is still a range of ways to execute this kind of decision that aren't cool. Making it personal is right at the PTB side of that range.

As an example, if I wanted to ban you from southsamurairocks.edu because I didn't agree with your beliefs, and the hassles that might come from them, or your reputation, I think it would be my obligation to give that as the reason, not just the fact that it's you. It crosses the line from making a measured policy decision into just being a dick without the guts to just be a dick outright and honestly.

Like, if we had beef, and that's why I ban you, I'm going to publicly state that I don't like you, and thus don't want you in my instance. Not just be snarky by using your name as shorthand for it.

It's the smugness of it that makes it PTB instead of a legitimate preemptive ban. Nobody has to let anyone onto their instance if they don't want to. But you gotta be up front and detailed about it if you don't want to be the asshole.

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Good points. Mods, I give a little more leeway to. I expect a bit more informative reasons from admins giving instance bans. It makes me think that the admin just assumed bad stuff because of my rep without any actual proof or research. Especially since I posted nothing controversial on his instance.

[-] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 4 points 3 days ago

That's a new one they aint even censoring speech, just out right people lol

Thank god Fedi is a big place lol

[-] TherapyGary@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Lmao

Obv BPR 😤

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I just wanna point out for everyone who actually may think that, it wasn't to provoke a reaction. It was literally so I can have all my fiction in one place (decided to move my writing the piefed instance, feddit.online, now).

I didn't post anywhere or anything controversial. I posted a green party news article about trees, a socialist article about energy, and then 2 or 3 of my short fiction stories.

[-] TherapyGary@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Oh I don't really think that- sorry, I thought the emoji would make it clear. I still don't know how much (if any) of you is a character/schtick like Chad McTruth, but I have a soft spot for you regardless bc we got shat on relentlessly together in a few threads for voting third party

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Oh, sorry! thank you for saying that. I'll update my comment. I didn't notice the emoji! And yep, I do remember you getting beat up for the same things I was getting beat up for. But we made it, we are still here. Good on ya, friend!

As for Chad McTruth, his level of sarcasm/parody or whatever, is way way too advanced for me. I legit can never figure out who's he's making fun of. He's fucking good at what he does. I am not nearly clever enough for his kind of thinking.

[-] db0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 days ago

I honestly don't know what you've done to piss the libs off quite that much. Not even some of the hardcore tankies get so instabanned.

[-] Blaze@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 days ago

UM used to post conservative articles in the past

Allegedly, it was to "post political posts of all angles to that sub, including conservative articles", but some people interpreted this as trolling/sea lioning

[-] eugenevdebs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 days ago

Then why is he on an anarchist instance, supporting the socialist parties and hating Trump?

[-] Blaze@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 days ago

From the article:

Casey said: 'Free thought, which is actually unique to the West, that’s being washed away by cancel culture and political correctness and thought crimes.

‘Free thought is being washed away, followed by free speech.’

--

He’s right tho when it comes to free speech.

https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/27847487?scrollToComments=true

Maybe UM had a change of mind since a few months ago, but there was definitely a time when he was posting straight far right stances

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I still stand by the fact that I think extremism on both sides of the duo-centric political spectrum erode free thought and free speech. I've always believed, and said, that Lemmy should be open to a diversity of opinion, even conservatives. Even if I don't agree with everything they say, I see no reason that people shouldn't be allowed to post their articles.

I'm a libertarian socialist, as I’ve said many times, and I’ve posted far more links to socialist, anarchist, and libertarian articles than to conservative ones. I haven’t written any conservative articles, I’ve only shared links

But I have written original socialist content.

So again, if the logic is that I’m a conservative simply because I’ve posted links to conservative viewpoints, then shouldn’t that same logic apply to the hundreds of socialist and anarchist posts I’ve shared?

Not only have I linked to leftist content, I’ve also written original articles for Lemmy about socialism, supported digital piracy, and highlighted the work and biographies of lesser-known but respected socialists and anarchists.

If I were truly conservative, why would I put so much effort into promoting socialist and anarchist causes in a positive light?

The reality is that I see value in diversity of opinions. And I'm shocked that an educated audience like Lemmy's are so opposed to that.

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I also posted socialist anarchist content in the past. And to copypasta what I said elsewhere in this thread: Using the logic a lot of people on Lemmy seem to apply: if I'm “conservative” just because I’ve posted links to conservative articles… then, by that same logic, shouldn’t I also be considered socialist and anarchist because I post so much socialist and anarchist content?

Not to mention I have posted way more socialist/anarchist content than links to conservative news articles.

The truth is, I'm not a fascist; I'm a narcissist. If I read something and think it's interesting, I rush to Lemmy and post it, no matter the quality. :)

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 days ago

Breitbart isn't just "a conservative source," it's far right propaganda disguised as news.

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I think some of their opinions are interesting, and it’s not like they’re posting illegal content. When you see it's Breitbart, you already know what you're in for. There are plenty of left-leaning propaganda sites disguised as news too. It’s not unique to the right.

What really frustrates me is the lack of popular socialist news outlets. I wish we had more of them, so I post what I can from the few that exist.

I’m not mad that Breitbart is popular, I’m mad that socialist sites aren’t just as popular or well-funded. That’s the real issue for me.

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Right?! They don't even give a real reason now. Just putting "Universal Monk" as the ban reason feels so lazy to me. And honestly, back before the election—when I was supposedly so controversial—nothing I said or posted even came close to the shit I see people saying on Lemmy now.

If anyone goes back and looks at my posts, where I supposedly caused all that "trouble," it’s laughable compared to the hardcore stuff people say today. Like people were legit pissed that I liked the Green Party and then the Socialist party. People ended up writing programs to track me, asking for investigations into me (still happens, someone just asked a guy to write a Lemmy program to investigate me a few days ago), noting times I posted, telling me that I would die on the war front in Russia, saying that I was trying trying to destroy Lemmy, etc.

And look at Lemmy now, baby! lol

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Oh, and I'm sorry in advance for the messages you're probably about to get once people notice I'm still on your instance. Maybe they've calmed down by now though.

[-] eugenevdebs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago

He called out that supporting genocide is a bad position to claim the moral ground on. That's why the turbolibs hate him.

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[-] outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 days ago

No opinion on deservedness, i don't see any reasoning here, but it is funny, and i do believe moderation should be funny.

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Just in case anyone out there thinks that I'm exaggerating about the venom spat towards me and some background of why piefed.social was so quick to ban me without looking at anything, this is from two days ago. Notice a different mod asked someone else to use their custom program to "investigate" me. It's a public comment made 2 days ago, but I blurred names of poster and the mod since they aren't part of my original complaint. I think this is allowed just for background of how far some Lemmy people go. If not I can delete, and I can also send the actual link (it's a public comment) to mods.

I'd love to see the results of this "investigation!" lol

[-] eugenevdebs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 days ago

I've always found that those who claim to be doing an investigation of users/instances never really show anything.

"This account is a bot" "This instance is vote manipulating" "This user is paid by a government."

You're probably never going to see any data about it, because they have none.

[-] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 4 points 3 days ago

Fake pretext to cover up poor conduct.

[-] UniversalMonk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Agreed. Not only that, but any 'investigation' would be everything we already know. "Oh, Universal Monk posts a fuckton and some of his links are to news articles that annoy people. And he refuses to change his mind about shit. The fucker."

Ok, cool!

[-] eugenevdebs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago

HOW DARE YOU POST CONTENT ON A PLATFORM WE WANT TO GROW AND HAVE YOUR OWN MIND?

MODS!!!

this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2025
13 points (65.1% liked)

Ye Power Trippin' Bastards

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20 users here now

This is a community in the spirit of "Am I The Asshole" where people can post their own bans from lemmy or reddit or whatever and get some feedback from others whether the ban was justified or not.

Sometimes one just wants to be able to challenge the arguments some mod made and this could be the place for that.

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All posts should follow this basic structure:

  1. Which mods/admins were being Power Tripping Bastards?
  2. What sanction did they impose (e.g. community ban, instance ban, removed comment)?
  3. Provide a screenshot of the relevant modlog entry (don’t de-obfuscate mod names).
  4. Provide a screenshot and explanation of the cause of the sanction (e.g. the post/comment that was removed, or got you banned).
  5. Explain why you think its unfair and how you would like the situation to be remedied.

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Expect to receive feedback about your posts, they might even be negative.

Make sure you follow this instance's code of conduct. In other words we won't allow bellyaching about being sanctioned for hate speech or bigotry.

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