We the People believe that providing a feature which actively facilitates the expression of support and approval while neglecting to provide an equally convenient mechanism for voicing the converse sentiment violates the spirit of the First Amendment and is therefore at striking variance with one of the most treasured values this nation—and by extension all nations and governments modeled on the concepts and principles set forth in the Constitution of the United States—was founded on, to wit the equal and unfettered freedom of expression.

Facebook’s “Like” feature, in its current form, is akin to an election featuring ballots which display the pre-printed name of exactly one candidate with a check-box next to it and some empty space below where one may write in the name of a challenger. Needless to say, any election this blatantly skewed towards one particular outcome would be more reminiscent of countries like Cuba and North Korea than of a Western-style democracy.

By reducing the expression of approval to one click while keeping in place the burdensome process of having to string together an entire sequence of letters to form at least one internally coherent word in order to communicate anything other than “liking” something, Facebook’s “Like” feature, in its current form, clearly discriminates against the following groups:

1. Facebook members who are strapped for time

2. Facebook members who are semi-literate, i.e., those who, on account of incomplete education, can read and click but not write

3. Facebook members who, due to illness or injury, are physically able to read and click but not type

4. Facebook members who, upon keyboard failure, are forced to communicate via mouse clicks only

5. Facebook members who are generally lazy and thus tend to gravitate towards the simplest option available, irrespective of whether or not it reflects their true position

In light of the above, we petition Facebook to honor the American way and either

(a) eliminate the “Like” feature

OR

(b) add an equally convenient “Dislike” option.

We are looking forward to a swift resolution of this matter and for Facebook to move closer towards its presumptive goal of becoming a truly shining city on the cyberhill.

Thank you.  

(Facebook members CLICK HERE to join this petition!)

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