Posted by
Tzimisce on Thursday, August 21, 2008 12:44:57 PM
I’m perplexed by the idea of an author being angry that you email them about something they wrote. I can understand if they’re mad at your argument, but to be upset at the simple fact that you took the time and energy and passion to read and respond to their piece? It makes no sense to me. Shouldn’t they be happy that you actually took the time to study their column?
Personally I like getting email. That said some ninety percent of the letters I get could be called “hate mail” but I enjoy it anyway. At least I know they read my article. And to think that I inspired them to think about it and write me back leaves me feeling like I’ve done my job. Yes I’ve gotten a few really scary, threatening letters over the years. But outside of that I don’t have a problem with people who disagree. I would certainly never suggest that they should be silenced simply because they don’t see eye to eye with me.
This goes hand in hand with something else: I always leave my email addy for people to write. Even if my email address wasn’t included, I still wouldn’t be mad if someone tracked it down to write. Over the years I’ve emailed a few people who acted like I called their house at dinner time while they were eating with their family. Why take it so personal? If your email is anything like mine you get about thirty junk letters a day. It’s no big deal – you just check the box and hit delete and it’s gone. End of problem.
If you’re writing something that is going to inspire passion in people, get ready for them to respond. It just comes with the territory. Isn’t it just a touch obnoxious that someone thinks they can write something and then acts like there shouldn’t be any rebuttals or responses? Everyone has a right to free speech/press, not just authors writing for popular publications.
This goes hand in hand with something else – I never put anything in my credit line that I consider sacred. There is a reason that I try to include a partial list of works and cursory summary of what I do. I’m proud of my record. I also always try to include links to other writing samples and other stuff I’ve done. People are invited and welcome to judge for themselves.
It’s bizarre to me that someone would write a credit line and get mad that a reader went to study. If you don’t want it to be known why did you write it?
Yes I have an agenda – everyone does. Yes I have passions – again everyone does. In my particular case it is a bit starker since my interests lead me to write blogs like this one. What do you think I’m going to say when I read stories about the Government considering regulating bloggers?
I also work in film and radio. What do you think I’m going to say about free speech/press issues? What do you expect me to say about the “Fairness Doctrine” and other attempts to regulate speech on the airwaves? I look at these things as my bread and butter and you’re dang tooting that I’m going to care when someone comes in and suggests silencing me for whatever the holier than thou reason they’re espousing.
But these biases don’t necessarily disqualify me from being a good source on the issues. And bias doesn’t necessarily disqualify anyone else – either inside or outside of a particular subject. And this is essentially what the First Amendment’s speech and press protections are about. It’s the basis of our republic and it’s okay to use irrational thoughts and feelings to come to political opinions.
The beautiful part is that the internet has made the flow of ideas even smoother still. A short ten years ago snail mail letters and intrusive phone calls were the only way to talk to authors. Today messages can be typed out and sent in minutes. This is a good thing.
You shouldn’t condemn people who take the time to read what you’ve laid out and you shouldn’t take it as a put down that people, even ones who disagree take the time to write. You should wear it as a badge of honor.