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Cross-posted from my personal Facebook page
Posted by Shannon Haddock on November 10, 2016 in Uncategorized | ∞
I’m not going to bother with editing this to make it relevant to here. I just need to make some things clear everywhere I can right now. The last paragraph applies to anyone reading this blog too.
I believe whole-heartedly in freedom of speech. I think it’s, possibly, the most important freedom we have. That said, I’ve come to realize that along with your freedom to say things is my freedom not to listen to them.
So, I’ve started unfollowing people who continuously post things that are hurtful to others. I’ve got a dark and twisted sense of humor; I can usually tell when something is intended as a joke. But there are lines, and I’m seeing them crossed a lot lately. So, from now on, I don’t give a fuck who you are. If you cross those lines, bye bye.
This isn’t censorship. That’s when the government takes away your right to express yourself. And if they try that, I’ll be right by your side protesting it . . . even if you’re the goddamned KKK. Because you have the right to express your opinion, even if it is fucking stupid and hateful.
I know: I’m just a liberal crybaby who needs to grow up and quit being a special snowflake. No. There are some people out there who do get furious over nothing, on all sides of any issue. This isn’t that. This is . . . I’ve been avoiding Facebook for most of a year because I couldn’t handle the number of times I was seeing people who held opinions I hold insulted.
I could try arguing. Believe me, I could definitely try arguing. I’ve been told that the difference between arguing with me and arguing with a brick wall is that it will give in sooner — apparently this wasn’t a compliment, by the way. But I have better things to do with my time than try to change people’s mind on fucking Facebook. My stories don’t write or edit themselves, no matter how much I wish they would.
Also, in light of present events, I feel it’s probably a good time to reiterate exactly who I am . . . with a change since the last time, that I’m not going to discuss. Who I am hasn’t changed; I just finally found a word for it. I’m a polyamorous, nonbinary (though feel free to keep using she and her, because I don’t give a fuck about pronouns), bisexual, democratic socialist, pagan (not Wiccan; please don’t call me Wiccan!), space opera author. If you have a problem with any of those things, unfriend me, and get the fuck out of my life.