So, i’m going to be completely frank here. Aren’t I always? I joined a Facebook Atari VCS group earlier tonight, on September 10, 2023, and merely an hour later, I was banned for posting something. Remember how I said that I had felt nothing but LOVE & ACCEPTANCE from all areas of the Atari VCS Community? Well, I found a snag in that proclamation. The Facebook group I joined is called “AtariVCS & 2600+ Fans – Official” and it’s run (rather questionably, I should say, by a Facebook user named Andrew.) I’m not telling you his full name or anything, I don’t want any harm to come to the man, but… Christ.
So, first things first… I had been looking for a new VCS Facebook group to join for a bit. I finally joined one earlier tonight, the AtariVVCS & 2600+ Fans – Official page on Facebook. Right away, I posted that Atari had re-released their official Atari VCS USB PC Mode Drive w/ 64 GB. This item was highly sought after in the Atari VCS community since Atari had only posted it once last year and it was literally sold out within hours. This device allows a user of the Atari VCS console to ‘add’ another drive to their VCS & it was preconfigured to setup Debian on the drive once inserted – it essentially automates the free process that Atari also outlines in its own document on the web here:
https://support.atari.com/hc/en-us/articles/17386500806427-PC-Mode-
Anyway, I posted about that thumb drive being up for sale, and notified members that it was up for sale at atari.com for $29.99 and that I didn’t want to spam but I also have a YouTube page about Atari, here’s the link to my FB page. Almost immediately, this moderator, Andrew, flagged my post & said ‘no self promoting here.” OK. Just… trying to get the word out and perhaps also draw some traffic to my ATARI VCS focused YouTube and FB Pages. Nothing wrong with that, right? I mean, we’re all in this TOGETHER, this FIGHT to GET THE WORD OUT about how AWESOME the Atari VCS is… right? …right?!
No.
Andrew took the post down. I resubmitted a similar post, free of all the messaging about me having an Atari based page or anything, just the link and here ya go, hi to everyone, new to the group, that’s it. Well, through literal shock and awe, he took about an hour to approve that post for some reason. About an hour later, after others had commented, said “Thank you Bro!” and told me ‘welcome to the vcs club!’ and ‘we love your page, thank you’ etc etc.. Andrew decided to flag THIS post after simply commenting: “Most of the users here would find using such a device to be inappropriate for their needs. It’s not powerful enough for us.” Something to that effect. I was again… floored and shocked. I responded that I agreed, that an external solution or SSD upgrade might be better for SOME, but some find using this Atari produced USB easier.
Facebook then sent me a notification saying THAT post had been flagged AGAIN, and that my “engagement is limited” on that Facebook Group. After taking several pics on my iPad of the harassing behavior, I left the group, and at the same time, ironically, I got a notice saying I was banned, as well. WOW. BANNED??? I reported it to Facebook for harassment.
The moral of the story? NOT ALL Atari VCS members and groups are super friendly, supportive and encouraging. Apparently, there is one that exists on Facebook that adds to the division and hostility that is hiding in broad daylight within the Atari VCS social media communities. Please avoid that one I described above. Avoid it like the plague. Silly little gatekeepers and people who like to cancel people who dont mean any harm, who are contributing to the love and support for the Atari VCS… all down the drain because of one guys’ stupid ego. For an already extremely divided and small community such as the greater Atari community, I’m appalled to see groups like this still exist, with hundreds of members, who are locked from saying or doing anything on the page that the mod doesn’t personally like. Talk about communism! It’s right here, folks.
Anyways, avoid that site. More later!
And remember, its much easier and healthier to love and accept rather than hate and divide. Which path you take is your choice. Just remember that hate breeds hate and it creates hateful ripples. Love does the same, and the feeling is much more nice.
BCB
Ballistik Coffee Boy. 
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