Trigger Warning

I’m about to break a rule and kinda-sorta talk politics. But it’s for a good reason.

There was a post that came up on a FB Writer’s Group that I belong to that really stirred the pot. But the OP wasn’t doing it on purpose. It was a simple post asking for advice about a novel idea that was in her head. She wanted advice on writing erotica set in 1800s Virginia on a plantation. Advice like: where to get information on culture, dress, food, locations, language, etc. You know, WRITING ADVICE.

OMG

It was a shit-storm of epic proportions! The “advice” ranged from:  Don’t. It’s trash. How can you write something about slave owners and slaves? Why are you writing about rape? Don’t make it interracial. Don’t write about slaves. Write about the plight of slaves.

Reread the OP post.

Nothing in the post was about ANY OF THOSE THINGS. NOTHING.

As I read and reread the comments, replies, etc. I was shocked. I was also saddened. I even commented about the fact that she didn’t mention ANY of those things…big mistake. Huge. I was called out on that in ALL CAPS. God forbid I defend a post asking for advice!!!

And, then, being the person that I am, I dwelled on it. And the more I dwelled on it, the madder I became. We are supposed to be writers. We are supposed to the ones to defend all forms of speech, to be the ones to push buttons, push society’s standards, question authority.

Boy, was I wrong.

The OP even stated that she is opposed to all forms of censorship. No matter the subject matter. That books should never be banned.

But, the sad reality of today is this: If something has the possibility of hurting someone’s feelings (real or imagined) you should immediately shut it down.

You know who censored books? Who banned books? Who burned books? Anyone in power that didn’t agree with the book’s subject matter. Whether it is about sex, religion, politics, or society’s rules—if the one in power doesn’t like, it’s gone.

NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

Free speech isn’t about protecting the speech we agree with, it’s about protecting the speech we don’t agree with. Period.

Hitler did it. Mao did it. Stalin did it. Mussolini did it. Lenin did it. Castro did it. President Chávez and President Maduro did it.

The US has done it.

Writers need to come together and support each other, not harass or punish someone because of what they are writing.

Here’s an idea…

If you don’t like it, don’t read it. SIMPLE AS THAT.

Or…if a post bothers you…SCROLL ON BY.

Why is this a difficult ability to master?

When did we become so scared of ideas? Of different viewpoints? Of words?

And it’s not the ones you think are doing this. Nope. It’s the ones screaming for equality. Calling those that express different ideas than they have called Fascists and Nazis.

What they need to do is pick a history book and read what those “Rulers” did in their country. They were the Fascists, Nazi, and Dictators.