An Open Letter To Warren Ellis.
Warren Ellis: "Personally? I have an 11 year old daughter. I'm with Warriors for Innocence on this."
Context is behind the link, although in this case that quote is pretty cut and dry.
First of all, upon reading the entry on Mr. Ellis' blog, please note the "We didn't MEAN for THIS (being the deletion of 'survivor/art discussion groups') to happen!" quote from the Warriors.
To you, Warriors, I say the following: When you load a gun, point it at something, and pull the trigger, then you'd damn well better have the foresight to realize that what you're pointing at will get shot. And possibly things behind that something, as well. Further, sometimes actions have other consequences. By proclaiming to the world that certain words and ideas are verboten, do not be surprised when YOUR ideas and words become verboten later down the line.
Now, onto the meat.
Mr. Warren Ellis, you should be ashamed of yourself.
This is no more about protecting the children than any other political group's blatherings to that effect. "Pedophilia" has become a buzzword, along with "abortion" and "race relations" and "Iraq." Quick, pithy little sound bites to rally the people under one easily-controlled banner. Hell, even the name "Warriors for Innocence" brings to mind some crusading, burly man in plate-mail armor, brandishing a sword and hollering atop a snowy white horse.
People can get behind an idea like that, maaaaaan....but then don't realize until it's too late that their Innocent Warrior is calling for the silencing of all forms of expression in the name of protecting an unknown quantity.
Mr. Ellis, the reason I say you should be ashamed of yourself is simple: If only pedophiles were the target of these suspensions, then you'd be absolutely in the right.
But they are not. Read the language of the notification emails again.
"Your journal has been suspended for the promotion and distribution of illegal materials."
Pretty vague, huh? Illegal where? To whom? In what context?
It's especially heinous if the journals in question were devoted to fiction writing.
Mr. Ellis, aren't you a fiction writer? Wouldn't you be screaming "censorship!" at the top of your well-spoken if sometimes profane voice if you were targeted for the ideas and words you put out to the world?
Writing about something in a fictional context does not make you a supporter or purveyor of that something. I point you to the numerous stories of young people in schools being suspended for writing violent fiction. Or reading violent comic books, Mr. Ellis, of which you've written your fair share. More than your fair share, honestly.
In Transmetropolitan, Mr. Ellis, you had Spider Jerusalem out on a crusade to bring truth to a major political campaign, and almost lose his life in the doing. He fought everybody, using his words, YOUR words, in ways that had never been seen before. Do you think these Warriors For Innocence would defend Transmetropolitan? Or, much more likely, would they condemn and villify you for your "violent and subversive" ideas?
These are the people, Mr. Ellis, that would shut you down if they thought you were a danger to children.
Your having a child would not stop them. In fact, it would make them all the more frothy.
These people are not out to stop predators. They are out to stop ideas.
Do not stand with them, Mr. Ellis. Do not stand with people who would destroy you, in the name of a child whom you are perfectly capable of raising yourself. They want to take that responsibility away from you. They want control, sir, just like the teachers and politicians today want control. Do not give it to them so freely. Fight, as I know, and countless other admirers of yours know, you can.
That's all. Thank you for your time.
***
Edited at 4:43 PST for further information.
***
Mr. Ellis himself has commented to my journal (see comments) and pointed my attention at this. So I am pointing it out as well, and nodding in approval to what this second post says. I'd also like to take this time to ask that everybody reading and commenting to this post not make any sort of nasty comments to Mr. Ellis here. He is here in good faith, and I'd hate to see that good faith abused.
(In other words, Bitsy smash puny wankers.)
Context is behind the link, although in this case that quote is pretty cut and dry.
First of all, upon reading the entry on Mr. Ellis' blog, please note the "We didn't MEAN for THIS (being the deletion of 'survivor/art discussion groups') to happen!" quote from the Warriors.
To you, Warriors, I say the following: When you load a gun, point it at something, and pull the trigger, then you'd damn well better have the foresight to realize that what you're pointing at will get shot. And possibly things behind that something, as well. Further, sometimes actions have other consequences. By proclaiming to the world that certain words and ideas are verboten, do not be surprised when YOUR ideas and words become verboten later down the line.
Now, onto the meat.
Mr. Warren Ellis, you should be ashamed of yourself.
This is no more about protecting the children than any other political group's blatherings to that effect. "Pedophilia" has become a buzzword, along with "abortion" and "race relations" and "Iraq." Quick, pithy little sound bites to rally the people under one easily-controlled banner. Hell, even the name "Warriors for Innocence" brings to mind some crusading, burly man in plate-mail armor, brandishing a sword and hollering atop a snowy white horse.
People can get behind an idea like that, maaaaaan....but then don't realize until it's too late that their Innocent Warrior is calling for the silencing of all forms of expression in the name of protecting an unknown quantity.
Mr. Ellis, the reason I say you should be ashamed of yourself is simple: If only pedophiles were the target of these suspensions, then you'd be absolutely in the right.
But they are not. Read the language of the notification emails again.
"Your journal has been suspended for the promotion and distribution of illegal materials."
Pretty vague, huh? Illegal where? To whom? In what context?
It's especially heinous if the journals in question were devoted to fiction writing.
Mr. Ellis, aren't you a fiction writer? Wouldn't you be screaming "censorship!" at the top of your well-spoken if sometimes profane voice if you were targeted for the ideas and words you put out to the world?
Writing about something in a fictional context does not make you a supporter or purveyor of that something. I point you to the numerous stories of young people in schools being suspended for writing violent fiction. Or reading violent comic books, Mr. Ellis, of which you've written your fair share. More than your fair share, honestly.
In Transmetropolitan, Mr. Ellis, you had Spider Jerusalem out on a crusade to bring truth to a major political campaign, and almost lose his life in the doing. He fought everybody, using his words, YOUR words, in ways that had never been seen before. Do you think these Warriors For Innocence would defend Transmetropolitan? Or, much more likely, would they condemn and villify you for your "violent and subversive" ideas?
These are the people, Mr. Ellis, that would shut you down if they thought you were a danger to children.
Your having a child would not stop them. In fact, it would make them all the more frothy.
These people are not out to stop predators. They are out to stop ideas.
Do not stand with them, Mr. Ellis. Do not stand with people who would destroy you, in the name of a child whom you are perfectly capable of raising yourself. They want to take that responsibility away from you. They want control, sir, just like the teachers and politicians today want control. Do not give it to them so freely. Fight, as I know, and countless other admirers of yours know, you can.
That's all. Thank you for your time.
***
Edited at 4:43 PST for further information.
***
Mr. Ellis himself has commented to my journal (see comments) and pointed my attention at this. So I am pointing it out as well, and nodding in approval to what this second post says. I'd also like to take this time to ask that everybody reading and commenting to this post not make any sort of nasty comments to Mr. Ellis here. He is here in good faith, and I'd hate to see that good faith abused.
(In other words, Bitsy smash puny wankers.)