Published writing, whether in the form of literature, a news article, an essay, a blog post or an email, must be owned by the author. After all, it will be a permanent record of that person's ideas, experience, convictions and philosophy.
Those in the business of writing (authors, journalists, bloggers, etc.) come to understand this fact and personally read and re-read their material before it is published. Subsequent to that publication, their writing (and its implications regarding the author) will often be questioned or criticized and may become fodder for lawsuits or various forms of social persecution. In that respect, the willingness to produce published content (whether fictional or not) requires a certain degree of courage.
Unfortunately, those who publish via email, text or tweet, do not often understand the permanence and potential consequences of their comments. Then there are those who publish anonymously, refusing to accept personal responsibility for the content of their pronouncement. Both of these scenarios are especially disturbing for those of us who respect the published word.
Those in the business of writing (authors, journalists, bloggers, etc.) come to understand this fact and personally read and re-read their material before it is published. Subsequent to that publication, their writing (and its implications regarding the author) will often be questioned or criticized and may become fodder for lawsuits or various forms of social persecution. In that respect, the willingness to produce published content (whether fictional or not) requires a certain degree of courage.
Unfortunately, those who publish via email, text or tweet, do not often understand the permanence and potential consequences of their comments. Then there are those who publish anonymously, refusing to accept personal responsibility for the content of their pronouncement. Both of these scenarios are especially disturbing for those of us who respect the published word.
