There’s a reason we favor print over online publishing. Social media is a ruse – connecting us in theory but dividing and isolating us in practice. It induces a mob mentality, but without all the fun of actually being in a mob. We have decades of data to prove this now.
Our mission demands that we respect individual writers and artists of all kinds. So we eschew the functions of these tools that tribalize and reduce human beings to convenient labels.
Social media is for marketing. Plain and simple. We recognize that, while on these platforms, you’re either the author of advertising or the object of advertising (or both, really).
Thus and so will we be such. 🙂
We will use these tools to spread awareness of the magazine and its contents, including authors, artists, and events. We’ll also use them to network and recruit. But beyond that, ehhhh.
So, if you’re wondering why we’re silent on an issue or ignoring someone/something, this code is probably a good reference.
If you have thoughtful criticisms of our articles, authors, etc., email us at [email protected]. We’ll usually reply there. If your thoughts are exceptionally well-put, we’ll offer to publish them.
We anticipate violating one of these rules at some point, and when we do, please feel free to remind us of our code. As always, we welcome your thoughts, and we’re grateful for all our readers, whether they’re happy with us or not.
Our 4 Social Media Rules
- We will not respond to negativity on social media. While we appreciate thoughtful criticism, these spaces have proven to be counterproductive for debate. Instead, please email us at [email protected]. Not only are we more likely to respond, we may even publish your opinion, if it’s particularly well-composed.
- We will not engage in discourses where people are labeled according to their race, sexual orientation, gender, or their religious or political affiliation. While worthy of exploration in print and in person (mob scenarios excepted), these topics are inevitably gamed and hacked by bad-faith actors online.
- We will not engage with political topics on social media. That is the purview of our authors, not our brand directly.
- We will never apologize on social media for platforming artists or authors, no matter how divisive or even morally repugnant their opinions on any given subject may be. We are selecting works because we believe they are thought-provoking or aesthetically interesting. We are not judging sinners from saints.