Thread by @bfry1981

1-THREAD🧵Some fun facts about my experience writing for a certain Star Wars fan site, the toxicity of extremists on the right and left in fandoms, on lies, distortion, and general fairness, civility, and how to (not) engage with people when you have an issue

2-I wrote here and there for close to 3 years for this parent company, including 1 long deep-dive for its Game of Thrones site, a piece I was proud of that generated a lot of discussion/traffic about the issues in Season 8 of the show. But most of my content was about Star Wars.

3-In my early days writing about Star Wars, I had one particular editor. For a number of reasons, from her style to her content, it was clear that, like me, this person was on the political left, but that she was way more focused on certain aspects of representation that I was

4-There is nothing wrong with that. I applaud anyone seriously, thoughtfully, and intelligently pushing to see underrepresented voices better and more often represented. However, I would hardly be the first person to note that this can be done poorly, in a careless way. #Disney

5-In particular, we have the awful Star Wars Sequel trilogy and some other Disney Star Wars content. Pandering and corporate demographic box-checking all around, but some racism too (Finn's treatment, on Chinese posters and in in VIII, IX)

6-I was harsh in my criticism of Disney Star Wars' Sequel Trilogy. This editor obviously liked some of what I was criticizing in the trilogy. But like any good editor, she put her opinions aside and allowed me a voice and engaged respectfully when there were differences.

7-Just kidding. She steal edited some of my work to tone down criticism of Disney or remove some of my opinions entirely. Literally just made the substantive, opinion-oriented changes she wanted to make to my work to fit in with her views, then published. No prior discussion

8-I wrote a detailed, respectful e-mail calling out this type of inappropriate behavior. To credit, she responded respectfully and in detail, but totally deflected "The article was edited for brevity and clarity." Which was patently false. My further reply, taking extra care:

9-No response, but very shortly after, this person left her editor role. She had been professional and helpful before in posting other content, and I replied: "Thanks for your efforts _!" No response. ANYWAY, her replacement was an amazing person and my best editor on SW stuff

10-When she (new ed), in turn, moved on, I was sad because I had really enjoyed her engagement. And when she had an issue (not personal, but professional) with a choice of topic or something, she let me know. How it's supposed to work. How professional editors behave.

11-Then, the current editor arrived. Until very recently, through the entirety of our actions, I found her professional and helpful. I never once received any negative feedback from her, complaints, etc. I even received recent praise "Hiya! Loved your article" June 5

12-That's just one example. I can no longer access our Slack chats but pretty sure another line of praise there. I have all our e-mails, and they are invariably cordial, often she expresses excitement about what I will write. Again, not ONE complaint, warning, anything.

13-There were times when I last-minute thought of something just before a Kenobi episode would air, & I worked to finish before it aired, hit her up last minute. I NEVER felt expressed entitlement, let alone demanded anything. I expressed hope it wasn't too late & apologized...

14-Apologized for the last-minute nature of the request and understood that it might not work out in time. This was consistent, too. My final submission was an about 6,000-work critique of the Kenobi series (I feel it's pretty epic, but also fair; coming soon)

15-We exchanged a few messages once she started reviewing. On slack, I went on a bit of a rant (a paragraph) about image quality in the series. I did not hear back. I then saw soon after (1, 2 days?) she was apparently sick. I messaged her to feel better soon (not to "hurry up")

16-I also e-mailed "Sorry to see you are out sick, get better soon!" Brian. I also had noticed she helped organized a Star Wars fans' pro-choice collaboration. I, too, am pro-choice, and I congratulated her on that effort on slack & retweeted her tweet on it. Still no response.

17-Again, none of this is in dispute. All is on the record, a lot of which I possess. Only cordial (even enthusiastic) & professional conduct from her to this point. NEVER any negative feedback or complaints or any clue there were any issues. Then, I get this doozy of an e-mail:

18-Before getting into inaccuracies, exaggerations, & distortions, let's dive into the Orwellian blatantly hypocritical insanity that is by far the most offensive part in principle: "Our chief goal at _ has always been to establish active communities around each of our sites.

19-We accomplish that through our content, primarily, and that is, in part, why we welcome and encourage opinionated content from all points of view. Some of your work, however, has challenged other members of the site and left them feeling uncomfortable.

20-Some of the criticism you've included in your work has crossed outside of their comfort level." This sound like a parody skit of snowflakes overreacting. but it's real. Most offensive is the gall to write "we welcome and encourage opinionated content from all points of view"

21-Yeah, "all points of view" except the ones we don't like and that aren't 100% in line with our views.🙄 Because, again, I am not coming at Star Wars as a member of the reactionary right, but a lifelong member of the left (1st vote was for Gore in 2000!) who cares about quality

22-& I have always deeply appreciated well-executed diversity & stories highlighting marginalized perspectives. I called out Trump early for his racism and fascism, and have written at length about systemic racism in the U.S. and oppression elsewhere, especially the Middle East.

23-I never knowingly targeted any of the writers on the site, nor any content on the site, in any of my writing for the site (and I believe elsewhere) for negative commentary or criticism. I may have targeted others in my content with whom they agreed, not not they themselves

24-So idea that my content APPRIVED by editors "challenged other members of the site" is snowflakism in the extreme. "Challenged" here simply means I expressed views they did not like ("left them feeling uncomfortable)." Um, that's what happens when different views are expressed

25-I literally write work that challenges audiences & asks them to question their beliefs & assumptions. That's often the job of journalists, not just to cater to an audience & feed them their own views regurgitated. I called out Republicans, Bernie Fans, Israelis, Palestinians

26-You name it. And guess what, I didn't write to cater to staff sensitivities on this Star Wars site, I wrote for fans to express views that were often different or at least more in-depth. I literally wrote about cultural trauma as a theme in Mandalorian dorksideoftheforce.com/2019/12/13/man…

27-I put far more time into such articles (I haven't seen anyone write longer articles for the site) than a typical article. I was precise and careful in my phrasings. Still, had ANY staff engaged with me directly to complain, I would have heard them out. That never happened once

28-You can see for yourself, all that content is here. I seriously dare ANYONE to find something that "challenges" you so deeply, makes you so "uncomfortable," or goes past your "comfort level" so much you NEED to see me run outta town behind my back dorksideoftheforce.com/author/bfryden…

29-with ZERO attempt to engage me or voice any concerns to me directly, but trying to have me removed as a contributor. And guess what? Unless you're a ridiculous extremist, there is nothing so awful there that warrants such a secret purge. But THIS content listed as main reason

30-As for other charges, "impatience on your part, expecting your content to be reviewed immediately in some cases" these are false. After writing thousands of words, yes, I was eager/excited for my work to be reviewed & politely express desire for speed, esp. when time-sensitive

31-But I never expressed a demand or "impatience" (just earnest enthusiasm), any read of my communication in that regard is a willful misreading: "hope you don't mind the short-notice" May 26; "Sorry for the short notice" June 7 " I am hoping tonight is possible to post" June 27

32-last charge: "some difficulties understanding why certain edits were made" what does this even mean, yes, sometimes clarification can be asked for. & I had editors literally editing in mistakes/typos or changing meaning/tone of my words, it's normal to engage on such things..

32-It is possible staff saw some of my external content or Tweets & did not like them, and complained, but that doesn't jive with the e-mail. What is clear is my big Obi-Wan submission was being looked at by my editor, days went by, I heard nothing from her, then got that e-mail

33-Eventually, it became clear that it was likely this editor who just hated my draft & saw fit not to professionally, respectfully (& for the first time) express issues she had with me/my content, but to go above to see me run out, along with other like-minded I never heard from

34-I'd've been happy to engage w/ anyone who did have issues, but not 1 person ever did engage me thusly (when I first started in 2019 I ruffled a few feathers by not knowing procedures & accidentally tasked several eds at the time time, & apologized; the only negative feeback!)

35-Remember, our exchanged had only been cordial/pleasant/professional up to this point, when she ceased all communication & had me purged. I appreciated my work w/ her to this point. But looking at her Twitter, she has a mission to block negative feedback & doesn't tolerate it

35-She is quick to block & dismiss. If you're not from a certain point of view/perspective, you views aren't welcome and you should not even express them because "Star Wars doesn't owe you anything." Literally: dorksideoftheforce.com/2022/06/24/act…

36-I am partially sympathetic to this and have expressed a similar general principle, but differently. Like the e-mail, there is this blatant contradiction in her article. In other words, if SW is not advancing certain causes of today (which I generally support), that is bad

37-Star Wars, apparently has a responsibility to do this (if done well, great, but a requirement??). But if you're a fan upset about quality, writing, blatant pandering, buzz off. Like the e-mail I showed, it's "you're allowed to have your opinion unless it goes against mine."

38-I tried engaging with her on my situation. After a long period of silence, I wrote: "_, did you have some sort of problem—personal, professional, or otherwise; anything you would care to share—with my latest draft? Respectfully, Brian" Two days of illuminating silence passed

39-The last time I engaged with her on Twitter was to support her pro-choice Star Wars project. Now, I chose to respond, was trying to see Tweets about her telling angry Star Wars fans to "move on" & this came up in search; I retweeted/liked a response to her

40-I then wrote my own responses, two tweets: if you search for our handles, these are all that will come up:

https://twitter.com/NoobicusMaximus/status/1349350406099521536

I clearly wasn't agreeing with her, but no fair, rational person would conclude I was being disrespectful, nasty, harassing, rude, sexist, etc.

41-Again, since she went silent & moved to have me purged, I only wrote that 1 e-mail asking if she had a problem, did that retweet, & wrote those two tweets. That's IT. No reasonable person would consider this harassment or stalking, but she blocked me & posted this smear:

42-Truly pathetic. I did not engage in aggressive, vulgar, or hateful language. I have plenty of e-mails with her being cordial & appreciative. She never voiced any concerns to me, but sneakily had me purged then misrepresents my communication when I respond to her aggression

43-She claims this has nothing to do with my opinions, yet that is precisely what the Orwellian corporate e-mail emphasized and led with. I have my e-mail making clear I was not demanding anything, but politely requesting while acknowledging the bad timing on my part.

44-"rude" & "disrespectful?" How? In months of correspondence not once was there even a hint she felt this & no fair reading of our messages could conclude this. This is a smear. 1 e-mail, 1 retweet, & two tweets (one citing her work), all substantive, direct ≠ harassment/stalk

45-If she thins she can push me out stealthily & that I have no right to respond, she's wrong. "I can tolerate a lot"-apparently not! This is not an accurate representation of our interactions, e-mail & slack prove it. Only a very warped person would behave this way

46-Timeline:
I submit draft.
I check in to see if she's started editing, voice a bit of complaint about the show's visual quality.
I tweet & express support for her pro-choice efforts.
I wish her better health when she's sick.
I hear nothing for days, then get e-mail.

47-CLEARLY the draft rubbed her the wrong way (indeed, it is very different from her own views espoused in the article of her I cited and only saw after I had submitted). With a few minor edits (I can't access exact version she had), here's that draft: dropbox.com/s/shs057zx5vq1…

48-Again, I had no complaints about this person before this incident. She had always been pleasant. She never gave me on word of negative feedback, complained about how I interacted w/ her, expressed pleasantness, eagerness to review my work, appreciation of my work ALL recently

49-After almost three years of putting a LOT of effort into my articles, for her (and whomever else) to not express any issue with me, then have me ousted as a contributor with no chance to respond or defend or engage, is just a shitty way to treat people. No matter who you are

50-Now, don't go giving her hate. Feel free to respectfully express dissenting views (not that she responds well to that). She is an accomplished/passionate person & has a right to her voice, as do I. & she's right: writing is a privilege, but so is editing. Works both ways.

51-&, like too many people, especially women, I can tell from her Tweets she gets a lot of misogynistic hate that crosses the line. Shame on those folks. But her warped view I disrespected her is wrong. I only challenged her views publicly after she disrespected me behind my back

52-& had me purged. I was never disrespectful to her while we worked together & I have the e-mails to prove this. They have the Slacks but those prove the same. I don't appreciate being slandered, misrepresented, and coldly treated after almost 3 years of giving my best effort

53-& I get it. Looking how lefty reviewers are hating on Pratt's Terminal List (1st thing I've ever seen him in, so not a fanboy), many people need a straw "white entitled man" to attack (plenty real ones out there). She turned me into that unfairly because of her own projection

54-I am truly sorry she's suffered online abuse she's tired of. That's not me. I never did that. Conflating substantive challenges w/ "harassment" & "stalking" isn't cool. Ruining a 3-year relationship over nonsense is sad. No one should allow themselves to be treated like that.

55-Mature adults engage with each other if they have a problem. Entitled Millennials who cannot stand people who aren't like them & go to HR to remove people they slander w/out even trying to engage is a problem at NYT, WaPo, many places. No room for that bariweiss.com/resignation-le…

56-I don't always agree w/ Bari but she was right in that letter. Now it's happened to me, on probably the least important site I've ever contributed to, but it was fun. Now, it's ruined. Corporate culture needs to be more tolerant, not less, encourage more direct engagement.

57-That is not the case at @FanSided's @DorkSideOForce. I thank everyone who treated me well for the privilege of sharing my superfandom there, & appreciated my last editor until she turned on me unfairly w/ no warning & not an ounce of respect. Toxicity works many ways, sadly

58-Going back to that Orwellian e-mail about "uncomfortable," "challenged," "comfort zones": this is a exactly what the anti-"critical race theory" & "don't say gay" laws channel. This contradicts basic journalism & freedom of expression & we're not talking about hate speech

59-The only time in my career I have ever received an e-mail like that or been treated so duplicitiously was by a Russian government-aligned think tank when they didn't like what I had to say about sanctions (see full e-mail exchange and article in link) realcontextnews.com/u-s-settlement…

60-In conclusion, when a Star Wars website behaves like the Russians or the bigot-wing of the @GOP...

61-PS-For sake of transparency (as opposed FS crowd), I forgot that I had tweeted, then quickly deleted, a reaction to that editor's take on (Spoilers for Kenobi!) Beru being "strong" in final episode for not running away, an irresponsible decision that nearly got Luke killed.

62-As noted, I am all for quality representation. But "fans" that take most any X type of person on screen regardless of how insane the writing/plot is, who firmly place representation over quality, will only encourage studios to emphasize representation even more over quality

63-1 of the reasons I love The Boys is it is BOTH a show that excels at representation/humanization AND one that skewers the pandering corporate culture of "representation" that lazily checks boxes to appeal to demographics all for marketing. Please stop falling for this nonsense