Thank you for this Ed 🥰 Starting off the new year with firm boundaries and prioritizing lifting up those who deserve to be heard after so long being pushed out and down 💕
Happy New Year, Hylia. You’re a great voice for the community. Thank you for having the courage to speak for others. Let’s help make this a better year than the last.
Really appreciate this open and personalized discussion. These things matter. They matter a lot. As do people like you. In solidarity with you, good sir!
This is so well put. I'm not across the details of what happened but I don't have to be to see glimpses of the hate even today. From comments deriding skin color and culture to gender and sexuality.
There's too much hate and often it's met with more hate. It feeds the furnace until the only thing you see is the hate. How is a generation going to grow if all they see is this? It's tiring and I'm tired.
It is tiring, my friend. Unfortunately a loud minority can make it seem like there’s only hate in the world. Their voices get amplified online and affirmed by big media. I’m hopeful, though, that we can deemphasize hate and amplify the voices that bring a brighter future.
I love this. I am a late-diagnosed neurodivergent, late-to-the-party bisexual woman (who mainly presents as cisgender). But right now, as far as outward looks go, I’m embracing my “I’ll present however I want to” era. 😅
There are parts of the LGBTQ+ community I will never understand first-hand. But I will not tolerate hate. I am open to being corrected when I make mistakes. I aim to give everyone the acceptance I never had—and still don't have in some circles of my “real life”.
Imposter syndrome is real for me, after a lifetime of masking. And the fact that I am married to a heterosexual, cisgender white guy. But I told my therapist once, the reason I love him goes beyond gender. He’s one of the only people who accepts me, the only truly safe person for me. And maybe that’s co-dependance. *shrugs* but oh, well.
It occurred to me as I was editing my novel: When I write about love, I’m really writing about safety. About vulnerability. Being truly seen and not dismissed. Because deep down, that’s what I crave.
Dear gods, look at the novelette I just left you. 😂 But all this to say, thank you for your acceptance, understanding, and willingness to learn and empathize.
Cool piece Ed, I’ve had a very similar experience of Substack to you by the sounds. Being the old boring vanilla cis white guy and really trying to absorb others experiences and understanding.
It really sucks that this stuff still goes on. Super proud of the community for sticking up for themselves and saying no though.
Thanks for this, Ed 🩵 I shall not bore you by talking too much again hurhur.. so just.. thank you for summarising it so clearly. Have restacked the post.
Freedom of speech, not freedom from consequences. Well said.
I am so proud to call you my friend. I have not seen anyone address this issue with all of its complexities while also setting a clear boundary against hate. There is no gray area. This is exactly the way privilege should be used.
I want you to know this went straight to my heart and was exactly what I needed to hear because there are still people who tolerate hate (or think we can somehow cure it) still enjoying our company and the writing in the fiction community and it pains me every day to have to share this space with them.
You have said exactly what needs to be said and I will not stop until this gets read far and wide in the community and people start to reflect on their actions and their tolerance. You make this community a better place.
Thank you. I’m proud to call you my friend, too. Your voice matters deeply to me and to our community.
I hope this encourages everyone to reflect on the past year and remember that we become what we tolerate. We shouldn’t tolerate hate or it will eventually consume us.
Happy New Year, Tim. Thanks for the long, thoughtful comment. It’s frustrating that they’re trying to erase decades of progress. I truly thought we would be starting a new era this last election cycle until the votes came in.
Seeing some parts of the community turn on itself has been even more of a set back. But, I’m hopeful that it is only a set back.
I don’t think the majority is well represented on big media or online spaces. What we see is just the loudest voices because hate is too easy to amplify.
Well said, Ed, and I'm right there with you. That whole situation sucked, and I still miss Birdie.
Thanks, Walt. I didn't know Birdie well, but I can feel the void left behind when I come across a post or comment and when people tell me about her.
Miss her too 😔 she was one of the few who spoke kindly to me
I miss Birdie, too 😭
Thank you for this Ed 🥰 Starting off the new year with firm boundaries and prioritizing lifting up those who deserve to be heard after so long being pushed out and down 💕
Happy New Year, Hylia. You’re a great voice for the community. Thank you for having the courage to speak for others. Let’s help make this a better year than the last.
Really appreciate this open and personalized discussion. These things matter. They matter a lot. As do people like you. In solidarity with you, good sir!
Thank you, Gregory!
This is so well put. I'm not across the details of what happened but I don't have to be to see glimpses of the hate even today. From comments deriding skin color and culture to gender and sexuality.
There's too much hate and often it's met with more hate. It feeds the furnace until the only thing you see is the hate. How is a generation going to grow if all they see is this? It's tiring and I'm tired.
It is tiring, my friend. Unfortunately a loud minority can make it seem like there’s only hate in the world. Their voices get amplified online and affirmed by big media. I’m hopeful, though, that we can deemphasize hate and amplify the voices that bring a brighter future.
Great message for the new year 🩷
Happy New Year, Happy!
Ed New Year, Ed!
😂
I love this. I am a late-diagnosed neurodivergent, late-to-the-party bisexual woman (who mainly presents as cisgender). But right now, as far as outward looks go, I’m embracing my “I’ll present however I want to” era. 😅
There are parts of the LGBTQ+ community I will never understand first-hand. But I will not tolerate hate. I am open to being corrected when I make mistakes. I aim to give everyone the acceptance I never had—and still don't have in some circles of my “real life”.
Imposter syndrome is real for me, after a lifetime of masking. And the fact that I am married to a heterosexual, cisgender white guy. But I told my therapist once, the reason I love him goes beyond gender. He’s one of the only people who accepts me, the only truly safe person for me. And maybe that’s co-dependance. *shrugs* but oh, well.
It occurred to me as I was editing my novel: When I write about love, I’m really writing about safety. About vulnerability. Being truly seen and not dismissed. Because deep down, that’s what I crave.
Dear gods, look at the novelette I just left you. 😂 But all this to say, thank you for your acceptance, understanding, and willingness to learn and empathize.
We need more guys like you in the world.
Thanks for the novelette 😁. And, thanks for standing with me. Love has many forms. Safety and being seen are great expressions of it.
Cool piece Ed, I’ve had a very similar experience of Substack to you by the sounds. Being the old boring vanilla cis white guy and really trying to absorb others experiences and understanding.
It really sucks that this stuff still goes on. Super proud of the community for sticking up for themselves and saying no though.
Thanks, Alex. It seems like it takes way less energy to try and understand than to hate.
Thanks for this, Ed 🩵 I shall not bore you by talking too much again hurhur.. so just.. thank you for summarising it so clearly. Have restacked the post.
Freedom of speech, not freedom from consequences. Well said.
I am so proud to call you my friend. I have not seen anyone address this issue with all of its complexities while also setting a clear boundary against hate. There is no gray area. This is exactly the way privilege should be used.
I want you to know this went straight to my heart and was exactly what I needed to hear because there are still people who tolerate hate (or think we can somehow cure it) still enjoying our company and the writing in the fiction community and it pains me every day to have to share this space with them.
You have said exactly what needs to be said and I will not stop until this gets read far and wide in the community and people start to reflect on their actions and their tolerance. You make this community a better place.
Thank you. I’m proud to call you my friend, too. Your voice matters deeply to me and to our community.
I hope this encourages everyone to reflect on the past year and remember that we become what we tolerate. We shouldn’t tolerate hate or it will eventually consume us.
Happy New Year, Tim. Thanks for the long, thoughtful comment. It’s frustrating that they’re trying to erase decades of progress. I truly thought we would be starting a new era this last election cycle until the votes came in.
Seeing some parts of the community turn on itself has been even more of a set back. But, I’m hopeful that it is only a set back.
I don’t think the majority is well represented on big media or online spaces. What we see is just the loudest voices because hate is too easy to amplify.
I agree on hope. More love for 2026.