One of the greatest issues I face, as a Poly man, is the issue of acceptance. I live closeted in the community I reside in, because (even in 2015) the region of the United States I call home is almost as religiously conservative as the Deep South. The online world has become my outlet, for it is the one place that I can truly be myself.
Sadly, the narrow-mindedness of the offline world persists, even in the digital world. On Twitter, there have been recent suspensions of writers who specialize in writing erotica and whose focus is the same as mine. These suspensions thus far have been focused upon nudity in either the header or user avatar, but they are too focused to be a sweep of the entire Twitter community, judging by the proliferation of pornstars and other explicit porn accounts.
This is extremely troubling, as it is another sign of the spectre of censorship that darkens the digital realm. More and more, there is pressure from conservative organizations to "make the Internet safer." For the most part, well-meaning, it nonetheless is the tip of an iceberg that is a grave threat... the creation of a non-neutral 'Net.
Net Neutrality is a hot button topic for many. Something to consider is the fact that the online world is the last bastion of expression for many living in more-repressive offline communities. The infringement upon Net Neutrality raises the precedent of censorship, and that slippery slope can easily lead to tyranny.
Right now, authors of erotica are targeted on Twitter. What's next? A purge of advocacy groups that promote reproductive responsibility? Web pages for the Poly community? How about the groups that strive to protect and promote the LBGT community?
In the meantime, the sex industry continues to expand on the Internet, unmolested by these so-called bastions of decency. Hate groups continue to spread their messages of vitriol and intolerance. And narrow-minded rhetoric paralyzes the government of the oldest representative democracy in the world.
I ask you this: what is more important? Curtailing artistic expression on the Internet, or solving some of the clear and present dangers to the stability and well-being of the entire world? Stifling creativity, or working together to eradicate the offenses against civil rights that persist to this day?
For shame. Target something worthy of being targeted. Allow artists to continue to shine a light into all corners of our world. Even the ones you may not want to admit exist.
© Tortured Cyclone 2015
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