A couple days ago, I thought it was enough to satirize the whole StopTheGRBullies site with my A Modest Proposal post.
But now I think it’s important to make a personal statement on the issue.
I’m appalled by the STGRB site. They have personally and specifically identified the people they believe are the reviewers they don’t like and then slyly implied that it would be good if bad things happened to them.
I don’t care if you believe in your heart of hearts that some reviewers are mean author bashers. I don’t care if you believe that George RR Martin IS your bitch. You can believe those things all you want. You can even say them and write about those beliefs. The minute you collect and post home addresses, real names, and the locations where those people can be found, then you have left the realm of expressions of opinion (however ill founded) and crossed firmly into speech that is very likely illegal.
The SGRB site is wrong. The motives behind it are ugly and petty and ludicrously transparent. I don’t believe for a second that these people aren’t authors. Of course they are. And they are NOT some kind of merry band of do-gooders protecting authors from harsh words.
I am appalled and inexpressibly sad and angry.
There are crazy people out there. Just about every author I know eventually gets emails from jail inmates. I have myself more than once gotten emails from someone who is not sane. I mean that. Not sane and off his meds. But one of them had found out my son’s name. And he was also emailing my agent trying to get my contact information.
I cannot tell you how horrifying it was to think someone like that could find me or my son.
Now think about that SGRB site. And think about some person off his meds finding that conveniently located personally identifying information along with suggestions that those very people deserve to have bad things happen to them.
Even if those reviewers are mean author bashers, how can anyone think it’s OK to do what SGRB people have done?
It’s not.
SGRB: you do NOT speak for me. You don’t speak for me personally and you don’t speak for me as an author. Stop acting like you speak for anyone but yourselves.
And to all the people, authors included, who have actually suggested these reviewers are only getting what they deserve, I sincerely hope you spoke without thinking through the implications.
If you did think it through, then you’re as bad as the SGRB people.
If you didn’t, now’s a good time to apologize, because those are not words you want attached to you as a human being.
Places to Go to Find out More
One of the reviewers targeted speaks out.
Janet’s Dear Author commentary
Tags: On What's right
Well said.
This. +1000
Well said from me too.
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You know, this entire situation is just too effing unbelievable. Every blog I’ve read this week that has addressed this issue is sure that authors are behind the-site-which-shall-not-be-named.
I read the post by one of the victims on the link you provided, and I am shocked, outraged, and disgusted by what is happening to her. But it bothers me, too, that she seems pretty sure who is behind the site, too. I understand she is scared and fears the authorities will or can do nothing. But for goodness sake, I wish she (or someone) would force them out in the open. They are hiding behind stupid false monikers like Lady Athena and Peter Pan. They will continue to hide as long as no one forces them out into the open. If unchecked, they will continue stalking, harassing, and scaring the bejeebers out of those they target.
Who will be next? Where will it end? It seems like these types of incidents are occurring more and more frequently. Maybe I am just naive, perhaps a little stupid, to expect that the authorities should be involved at this point. Someone knows “Lucy’s” phone number. That scares the bejeebers out of me.
I heart this post. And Stacia Kane’s post. And N.K. Jemisin’s tweet about this being an organized batshit cabal. I want to marry all of these words. (Well, not really.. but you know 😉 )
This crap is just not ok. It’s heinous and vile and unspeakably scary. There is NO JUSTIFICATION on this earth that would excuse this behavior. Period.
Sing it, sister!
Ditto, Amen, What She Said, Yeah…
I think I have a crush on you now. Maybe when I get out of prison, we can hook up ‘n stuff?
Berinn:
Of course. It would be lovely to meet you after you’ve paid your debt to society. However, I am planning on moving. Very far away.
😉
OK, now the-site-that-will-not-be-named has made it to the Huffington Post. Unbelievable!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stop-the-gr-bullies/stop-goodreads-bullies_b_1689661.html
Wow. That’s just astonishing to me. I thought after all the outcry about how wrong this is, that the people responsible would back away. But they’re actually bringing it on.
I think they’re nucking futs.
Yes. I couldn’t agree more.