PSA: I got banned from a local history group for picking a side in a monument debate

Our town has this old statue of a guy from the 1800s, and the Facebook group for local history was split. One side said we should add a new plaque with more context about his past. The other side said the statue should just be taken down completely. I posted that I agreed with adding the plaque, because at least it's a start and cheaper than removal. I gave the example of a similar case in Richmond last year that cost the city over $20,000. The mods said my post 'incited conflict' and banned me after 48 hours. Has anyone else been kicked out for just stating a preference in a heated group debate?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_oliver1mo ago

Adding a plaque just whitewashes the real problem.

tylerr3916d ago

So you're saying a plaque never actually fixes anything, right? I had a buddy who lived in a small town where they put up a plaque and everyone thought it was the end of the story... until the next city council meeting rolled around and the same arguments started up again. People just pointed at the plaque and said "problem solved," but nothing changed with the roads or the funding or anything real. The plaque basically became a way for the town to pat itself on the back while the real issues just festered underneath. Feels like a lot of these gestures are more for show than substance, you know? It's like putting a bandaid on a broken leg and calling it good.

maxmurphy1mo ago

Read an article last week about a town that did the plaque thing. They ended up having the same fight again two years later and took it down anyway. Maybe a start just kicks the problem down the road. Your ban is pretty weak though, for just stating a cost fact.