Opinions are like belly buttons. Everyone has them.
The past few days have been big for the bookish community, primarily bookstagram, although I’m sure there are conversations on Facebook as well. The first wave has come from a well-known author recently announcing that she is going to remove the sex scenes from her books and shift to closed-door instead. Some members of the spice community reacted harshly, and not only did they react, but they are now harassing, defaming, leaving vitriolic comments on this author’s post, and being vile people in general. The amount of temper tantrums and obnoxious, rage-filled rants is only rivaled by what I’ve seen on political posts.
The second wave came on a smaller scale. My friend, Courtney Ranger, posted that spice in books will always be damaging. She didn’t say people couldn’t read spice. She didn’t say everyone who supports spice is awful. She just mentioned her opinion. Like what happened to the author above, some members of the spice community lost their minds.
Both authors have been called pro-censorship. Both have been called crass and derogatory language. Both have had posts made about them, with some comments calling for violence. All because people couldn’t act their age and accept that someone dares disagree with them. We are seeing “respect for me, but not for thee” playing out in a gruesome spectacle.
Dear Book Community, you are very close to losing your minds…and your humanity.
Just because an author removes the spice from her books doesn’t mean she’s forcing “purity culture” (a crutch phrase used by those who are abusing these authors) down your throat. Just because an author says she disagrees with spice doesn’t mean she’s “pro-censorship” (learn how to use a dictionary – look up the real definition). Everyone will have their own opinions, but whether or not you agree with those opinions, and no matter who those opinions come from, we must be civil in how we approach stating our disagreement.
Because when you resort to changing terminology to support your “big feelings”, harass those who disagree with you, and treat those who disagree with you as sub-human, you’ve lost your own humanity.
To my Christian readers and authors, we are called, obligated, to stand up for the truth and what is right. That means we need to take a stand against p0rn in books. That means we need to promote pro-life. That means we need to encourage the consumption of literature that honors Christ. When we stand for what’s right, we need to do so in a way that honors our faith and the One whom we follow. Remember, we can’t shine the light when people can’t tell us apart from the world.
To the book community in general, calm down. Chill out. Act your age. Just because someone decides to follow their convictions doesn’t mean you need to unleash your entire vocabulary of crass language in the comment section. Just because someone says something you disagree with doesn’t mean the world is ending.
It’s okay to have your opinion. It’s okay if someone else has an opinion, too. What’s not okay is you taking every opposing opinion as a personal attack on your existence. If you disagree, scroll on. Or state your side respectfully. Screaming is for toddlers. Not teens and adults. Don’t lose your humanity all because someone disagrees with you.
I personally don’t support authors who use AI covers. I don’t believe closed door automatically equates “clean”. I won’t support books that include a political bent I disagree with. I will professionally call out content in books so other readers are aware. Disagreeing with those authors doesn’t give me license to rampage against them, put up posts declaring how awful they are, or how they’re the downfall of civilization.
With opinions comes responsibility. If you don’t want to lose your humanity, remember that those on the other side are people as well. You can stand up for what you believe in, but you don’t get to go nuclear and be vile, vicious, and abhorrent like those who have attacked the authors I mentioned above. People are willing to converse with you when you are polite. They are willing to have nothing to do with you when you go in unhinged.
Christians, be bold and respectful when professing the truth. General reading community, we all need to count to ten before reacting.
Dear Book Community: Have your opinions. But don’t lose your humanity when someone disagrees.
Madi's Musings 