Knowing Where to Draw the Line

When it comes to politics, I try to avoid discussing it with other people. I respect other people’s decisions and choices and I won’t cut ties with them based on who they vote for.

 

But it’s when they start to act on the negative and hateful ideas pushed forward by certain politicians where I draw the line.

 

Until now, I have not had to do this. I know other Trump-supporters online who have posted things, but they never actively started being racist, homophobic, misogynistic liars towards others in real life. However, with the spate of so much hateful and racist content being posted on social media, it can be a sign that this is someone to avoid.

 

This is especially true if we work in the same field.

 

I have zero interest in working with two-faced people. An example is someone who is being hateful, homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist and ableist to others both on and offline, but sweet and kind to me. Would I want anything to do with such a person? Hell, no!

 

And because I work in publishing, this sentiment rings especially true.

 

I have come across verifiable information from trusted sources of authors in different writing communities who, ever since Trump’s win, have allowed their hate to show itself online. These people not only posted pro-Trump things online, but they are also rude, condescending, spiteful and hostile to anyone who speaks out against it. And they don’t care if they are seen as racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, ableist and hateful for what they have posted online. Sadly, some of them have taken pride in showing this despicable side of themselves in all its glory.

 

I don’t know about you, dear reader, but in a world full of so much hate, I choose love. I choose compassion, kindness, understanding and acceptance. I still choose these things even though I have family members who voted for a man who is the exact opposite of all of those things! My father-in-law is a Trump supporter, and I let his wife know that, no matter who they vote for and who wins the election, I still love them.

 

But that love can only go so far.

 

If anyone starts acting on all of those negative things about Trump towards people, then I cannot associate with them. And I certainly don’t want to do business with them.

 

For this reason, I have let my business partner know about these two authors who have been acting so cruelly towards others because of their online political rhetoric. We at Twisted Dreams Press are very careful in who we decide to work with. We don’t accept just anyone. And Twisted Dreams Press will continue its efforts to publish the work of marginalized voices, as well as works of fiction which may eventually be made illegal due to the new presidential administration.

 

Jennifer Horgan, the owner and CEO of Twisted Dreams Press, stated: “Twisted Dreams Press believes in inclusivity and embraces diversity when it comes to accepting stories to publish and author signings. But we have a zero-tolerance policy for any type of hate shown towards others for any reason.”

 

I will also continue to support other authors online despite who they chose to vote for. In most cases, I really don’t know whose side they are on. It doesn’t matter to me, though. My connection with them is all about their writing and their books, not politics. It is their actions as a whole I care about and not their political views. I will overlook their posts which align with their political views (and feel sorry for those who believe in certain conspiracy theories being floated around), but I won’t overlook anything hateful they may post.

 

Full disclosure: I have posted online content about what can be expected under the new administration and certain posts about Trump. But the content I posted was nothing except the TRUTH about the man who will become president in January, 2025. For this, I have been unfriended, unfollowed, and blocked. This even happened on Twitter (X) by an author whose book I was sharing about. He blocked me, and I guess it was because of something I posted about Trump that I suppose he didn’t like. (I guess blocking me was his way of thanking me?? LOL) I guess they can’t handle the truth. But if I see authors posting hateful content online? Bye-bye.

 

There is absolutely NO excuse for treating other people in a hateful way. And, FYI: Anything you post online which is homophobic and/or transphobic falls into the category of “hateful content.” And there is no reason it could ever be the right way to treat others, even if they “deserve” it. (Save that for your stories, writers!) Posting something like that online is a reflection of how you feel towards people who fall into that group. And it will be an automatic block from me.

 

Just because Trump believes that it is okay and acceptable to be racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, ableist, dishonest and manipulative towards other people, particularly the citizens he is in charge of leading, that doesn’t mean it is okay and acceptable for the rest of the country to act this way.

 

You are responsible for how you act towards and treat other people. You can choose to be kind or choose to be hateful. You really do have a choice.

 

And if you choose to be hateful, and all of those other terrible things listed above, then I don’t want to associate with you or have anything to do with you – in any way.