Though I recently watched my colleague, Amanda Slavik wrestle with Facebook from afar (to learn more about this, please take a look at Slavik’s article entitled, Seeing Light ~Second Life Blogs Blocked by Facebook~ Tips and Tricks), I never thought that something would happen to me that would cause me to evaluate my interactions in a Facebook closed group. Nonetheless, it happened and now I am wondering why Facebook has such a limited way to report the alleged wrong doings of others–particularly in groups that ban individuals for unwarranted reasons.
In terms of what this has to do with me, I recently joined a group called The Jassy Correia Case: Discussion Group By Sleuth Society. This group’s primary focus is to gather and share information related to the Jassy Correia case. Jassy Correia was a 23 year old single mother who had ventured out to a local Boston nightclub to celebrate her birthday, but was later murdered by a 32 year old man that lives in Providence, Rhode Island. This group, like all the other Sleuth Society groups are ran by the following individuals: Laney Jane, Courtney Gill, and Bri Meyer.
In terms of why I joined this group: Correia’s death resonated with me because she was the second woman abducted while visiting a Boston nightclub. Though I have called Boston my home since 2008, I have never heard of incidents related to Boston women being abducted while out celebrating at local bars and nightclubs. This greatly alarmed me because these young women were simply out on the town, and instead of getting to their own homes safely, they were abruptly taken to indulge the pleasures of men that look at women as objects rather than people.
Be mindful that the first woman who was abducted from a local nightclub was found alive, and was found right around the corner from where I live. I was there when the cops located this woman, and I was there when they arrested the assailant responsible for her abduction.
Because Correia was not found alive, I particularly wanted to stay informed about this case…particularly out of fear that this could happen again. For this reason, I joined the Jassy Correia Case: The Sleuth Society Discussion group on Facebook.
While interacting with the members of the group, I learned a lot about the Correia case and was also able to successfully share a few articles as well as Correia’s legacy page. However, everything I shared had to be evaluated by the administrators and moderators of this group. While I initially did not have an issue with this, I did have an issue when these same administrators/moderators deleted an article I requested to be posted, then posted it as if they were the ones that found it.
The article in question was this one: FBI and Boston Police Seek Identities of Four Individuals Who May Have Information Relating to the Kidnapping of Jassy Correia. I requested that it be posted as soon as I heard it announced on the news on Wednesday, March 28, 2019; and I had made the request around 5 PM EST. I remember because I specifically researched it right after I heard the announcement on the news, and wanted to relay the information to the group as soon as possible.
While it was initially posted in the general Sleuth Society group within a few hours, it was not posted in the Jassy Correia group. Though this concerned me, I figured it was merely overlooked and did not immediately see it as an issue.
However, it became an issue the following day because the administrator of the Jassy Correia group…an administrator by the name of Laney Jane posted the link I had provided to the group the next day…without citing that I posted said link first for approval. In academic circles, this is a big NO NO because it is imperative to cite the source that has provided the information in the first place. Failure to do so is considered a form of plagiarism, which can get you thrown out of universities and a hosts of other intellectual constructs.
I politely emailed Laney Jane and asked why I was not given credit for providing the link, since I asked a day prior for it to be approved. Rather than civilly answer the question, Laney Jane asked me if I was “mad” about not getting credit first. I told her that people do not get mad, and explained that I am more interested in intellectual courtesy and professionalism versus me getting credit. If a group can defile itself in such a way that it cannot give credit where credit is due, it is my belief that it is violating intellectual property rights and should be dismantled.
Rather than behave like a leader and dialog constructively about her role in not acknowledging where the link came from, Laney Jane blocked me from responding to her and kicked me out of the Jassy Correia Case: The Sleuth Society Discussion Group.
This group’s alleged aim is to help others better understand the circumstances surrounding Jassy Correia’s demise, and to mobilize members of the community to actively assist in this investigation. By taking credit for the painstaking research of others, then muting them from the dialog process, the administrators of this group are dishonoring this group’s established premise.
Because I was banned from the group, I am unable to report this issue with Facebook. This is something I also find problematic because there should be some kind of process in place to question the validity behind blocking someone from a group, as well as the administrators that are a part of this group. This, as well as the ways in which Facebook community members can initiate complaints to Facebook administrators needs to change as well.
It is my hope that in writing about this experience, that word will spread of the shortcomings attributed to the Jassy Correia Sleuth Society group. I also hope that Facebook will keenly consider my suggestion and implement new ways to not only present concerns and complaints, but will do it in such a way that is sensibly diplomatic and swift in its processes.
Because I still want to be of service to Jassy Correia’s family, I have provided some additional information on how to contact the FBI Boston Division’s Violent Crimes Task Force, as well as information related to Jassy Correia’s GoFund Me page. Please see the text below for more information.
If you have any information about the Jassy Correia case, please contact the FBI Boston Division’s Violent Crimes Task Force at 857-386-2000. Tips can also be electronically submitted at tips.fbi.gov.
Also, Jassy Correia’s family has set up a GoFundme page aimed at raising money for Correia’s two year old daughter. To donate, please go to Jassy Correia’s GoFund Me page by clicking on the following link: Jassy Correia’s GoFund Me Page.
