Journo: I Reported Someone For Tweeting 'Learn to Code' At Me & Twitter Suspended Them 'Within 20 Minutes'

Chris Menahan
InformationLiberation
Feb. 05, 2019

NBC News reporter Ben Popken announced Friday on Twitter that he reported someone for "abusive behavior" because they tweeted "learn to code" at him and Twitter responded by suspending the account "within 20 minutes."

"'Learn to code' was tweeted at me by a sketchy account," Popken tweeted. "I reported it as abusive behavior as part of targeted harassment. Twitter suspended the account within 20 minutes."

"Journalists if they tweet 'learn to code' at you don't stay silent, take a moment to report it," he said.

"Learn to code" was tweeted at me by a sketchy account. I reported it as abusive behavior as part of targeted harassment. Twitter suspended the account within 20 minutes.

Journalists if they tweet "learn to code" at you don't stay silent, take a moment to report it. https://t.co/RXgqqV2ptw
— Ben Popken (@bpopken) February 1, 2019

"Twitter will review it and if they determine it violates their rules against abusive behavior they will take action," he said in a follow-up tweet.

Twitter will review it and if they determine it violates their rules against abusive behavior they will take action.
— Ben Popken (@bpopken) February 1, 2019

Incidentally, his post got "ratioed" to hell by what journos will no doubt soon be calling "comment mobs."

Hang in there bud. There are Soldiers in Afghanistan looking for you to set an example of bravery for them to emulate.
— Kevin Gianunzio (@GianunzioKevin) February 5, 2019

Thoughts and prayers during this challenging time
— Beau but 2019 (@INukeYou) February 5, 2019

Learn to code
— K8🐾 (@kqteisgr8) February 5, 2019

Acquire knowledge of electronic cipher
— ubiquitouschickennugget (@ubiq_nugget) February 5, 2019

Imagine being this sensitive but also wanting to be taken seriously.
— Jake (@The_Captain2213) February 5, 2019

Now I understand the WaPo commmercial, this is bravery, you guys are the heroes. You showed incredible strength in reporting that account
— Ben (@thethriftygene) February 5, 2019

01101100 01100101 01100001 01110010 01101110 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01100011 01101111 01100100 01100101 pic.twitter.com/pIjjVQ05Tw
— Problematic dissident. (@CollinsKaranja3) February 5, 2019

(That's binary for "learn to code.")

It goes on like that for another 4,700+ comments. I guess he's going to have a lot of reporting to do!

Incidentally, Popken was responding to a ridiculous propaganda piece from Talia Lavin which said the learn to code meme was part of a "brigade attack" by "far-right trolls":

I wrote for @newrepublic about “Learn to Code,” how to spot a brigade attack, GamerGate and the calculated use of plausible deniability by far-right trolls: https://t.co/w5EFIhLjRm
— Talia Lavin (@chick_in_kiev) February 1, 2019

Lavin is best known for leading what many would describe as a "brigade attack" against ICE agent Justin Gaertner, a combat-wounded US marine, who Lavin falsely accused of having a "Nazi tattoo" of an "Iron Cross" on his arm.

Lavin "resigned" from the New Yorker shortly after it was revealed the tattoo was actually "the 'Titan 2,'" which was "the symbol for his platoon while he fought in Afghanistan."

Justin Gaertner is a combat wounded U.S. Marine who continues to serve his country as an ICE computer forensics analyst, helping solve criminal cases & rescue abused children. The tattoo shown here is the symbol for his platoon while he fought in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/BaOBxaAMHS
— ICE (@ICEgov) June 18, 2018

Per Gaertner, the tattoo on his left elbow is “Titan 2,” the symbol for his platoon while he fought in Afghanistan. The writing on his right arm is the Spartan Creed which is about protecting family and children. pic.twitter.com/qs8H3tkd6l
— ICE (@ICEgov) June 18, 2018

This is the "heroism of the journo" the Washington Post's Super Bowl ad captured so well.

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