The Politics of Writing
image from spirit21.co.uk
We’ve all heard the admonishment to be careful what you post on Facebook and Twitter. We are reminded that employers frequently check these sites to find out about a prospective employee. Okay. I’m down with that. If all of someone’s posts indicate they are a knucklehead then as an employer I would probably have second thoughts. But, where do you draw the line? Should a person’s politics come into play? Should this affect your writing gigs?
Here’s the story. Back in January, I happened to be on Twitter when the Gifford shooting went down in Arizona. Within minutes, the hate and inaccuracy and idiocy of folks came through in spades. I used it as an opportunity to folks who in my opinion were absolutely too annoying to be in my Twitter stream any longer. Most were relatively unknown to me so unfollowing those folks was painless. For folks with whom I had interacted with in the past, the decision to unfollow was a lot more difficult. Some of those folks I actually kept around.
This scenario changed how I use Twitter. I had avoided any kind of political slant for the most part. Well, I decided to be true to myself and so I now have no problem voicing my political opinion or retweeting things I believe in. I never thought for a minute it would lead to losing a writing gig.
I was a contributor to a blog. Nothing much, a post or two a month. Non-paying gig. The owner hired a managing editor who happens to be one of the folks I had interacted on Twitter with quite a bit. They were also one of the folks who I kept around even though their political views are so out in left field I can barely comprehend it. Not long after the Gifford incident, this managing editor rejected an article I had written for the blog. Even though the article was spot on for the blog audience I was told it wasn’t in the vein they wanted to see for the readership.
Fine. One less blogging obligation.
On the other hand, what the Hell? No matter how screwed up someone’s political beliefs may be, I would never let that compromise my professional integrity.
I guess it just goes to show that you really can never know another person.
What say you? Would you sit quietly while your country goes to hell on the oft chance that your opinions may cost you a writing gig?
About the Author: A writer living in Alaska. A simple man with few passions: My daughter, writing, soccer and now and then a good cigar.
Walker | Aug 10, 2011 | Reply
That’s a tough one. I’ve worked for nonprofits in the past and in retail and learned to keep my personal beliefs and opinions to myself. It’s bad for business, as your post eloquently illustrates. Though I do think there could come a point when I might have to break that and speak up!
Mark | Aug 12, 2011 | Reply
Difficult one, all very subjective. I’ve said before: writing from the heart is powerful stuff. If you rub someone’s fur up the wrong way, so be it. Pretty unprofessional, in my view, that he couldn’t separate your views from the job you were doing on the blog, and canned you. Petty. Adios.
John | Aug 22, 2011 | Reply
I have worked as a chef for over 26 years and on the odd occasion have held my tongue and kept myself under control in the face of verbal diarrhoea from customers. Since the birth of the so called master chef TV series, everybody is now a gifted star in the kitchen. This however does not give the customer the right to disagree with what you as a professional has created and served. Hence the explosion of one chef and the loss of one customer, boy did i feel good after that though……after 26 years I finally was taking no more crap from wannabe hobby cooks or whatever they are.
Larry Czaplyski | Aug 27, 2011 | Reply
I find that with people I care about and disagree politically, I more and more avoid politics. Unless the blog you’re writing for is political, I would avoid politics entirely online.