The Big No-No’s of Writing

Writing might symbolize freedom of speech, but there are some things writers, and people in general, don’t need to speak about…

Over the course of my public writing career, and still now, plenty of people have offered up advice about what I should write about. These conversations often start out with a line like, “Hey, I bet your readers would love it if you wrote about (fill in the blank), or perhaps a comment along the lines of, “Man, you really need to say something about (fill in the blank).”

While I do keep an open mind with requests, I also take them with great hesitation. Sometimes the suggestions are things I might write about, but more so, they are usually related to one of two things:

Religion or Politics

I was going to say that I’ve learned my lesson about writing on these two topics, but I obviously didn’t since I’m writing about it now, but this is really more of a gripe, so it’s okay.

As I write this, election season is ramping up in the USA. Everyone has something to say during this time. Unfortunately, much of what gets spewed from writers during this time is who I need to vote for, or what is wrong with one candidate or another, or why we’re all going to die if we don’t vote the way someone else feels.

I’m sorry, but as much as I love reading, and as much as I am easily swayed by a lack of logic or facts, your political post is probably not going to persuade me to vote for someone else. Nor is the obnoxious robo-call at 8:00pm, your junk mail that fills my recycle bin, or your uninvited visit to my home on a Saturday morning when I’m trying to relax. Coincidentally, the same holds true if you are trying to get me to question my faith.

My political views and religious beliefs are for no one else but me.

When someone asks me, “Who are you voting for”, or, “What religion are you”, I tend to defer the conversation to something else because I know where these conversations are going. I can visualize the other person casting their reel with this bait, just waiting to reel me in with whatever it is they disagree with and to tell me why they’re right and I’m wrong.

Reversing the conversation, I know this may seem like a crazy concept, but you will not see a political yard sign in front of my house, nor a politician’s bumper sticker on my car, or a t-shirt promoting someone. Why? Because if you are going to be swayed by a t-shirt, sign, or bumper sticker, you probably shouldn’t be voting. Plus, I don’t want to listed to people questioning me as to why I believe what I believe.

AND, if you think approaching me randomly on the street or showing up at my house to tell me the all reasons why your church is awesome is going to make me change my heathen ways, you are mistaken again. I am not open to emotional pleas, but I am open to facts. Lay out a fact sheet for me and maybe I’ll evaluate it, but don’t be a used car salesman trying to convince me. I like to believe I’m an educated man who is capable of making my own decisions, but my decisions are based on observable and measurable facts, not because you told me so.

Believe what you want, but keep it to yourself. I don’t think that’s a crazy concept, but it’s rude to try to impose your beliefs on someone else (Is it rude of me to say that it’s rude to rude?). It’s even ruder when you say, “No thanks, I’m good”, and you are then verbally attacked or argued with because you’re not going along with them. (Wait. Am I trying to persuade you right now to think how I’m thinking?)

I firmly believe politics and religion should be prohibited from open public conversation because all it does it divide people (but I also enjoy a little hypocrisy once in a while too).

I’ve seen far too many friendships end because of these two things. The only other thing I can think of that might be equally as annoying and divisive is multi-level marketing scams. I’m had to separate a few friendships because of that (and Amway) over the years. We know it won’t stop though because people are very passionate. When you get passionate about something, it’s natural to try to persuade others.

When I say I learned my lessons about writing on these topics, what I’ve learned is that you can’t win. When you start writing about things like this, statistically you’re going to anger half of your audience. I don’t know about you, but I want more readers. If I get more readers, maybe I can profit enough from this whole writing thing where I don’t have to work, but initially alienating half of your potential audience just seems like a bad marketing concept and is most likely not conducive to page growth.

Now, I try to write about neutral topics like how pineapple clearly does not belong on a pizza.

Even though I can’t see you right now (I do like the shirt wearing though), I felt your blood start to stir when you read that line. I baited you and you fell for it. This is where writing is powerful. I’ll have half the internet saying, “Yeah, you’re right”, while the other half will be cussing me out telling me how stupid I am (FYI: Pineapple does NOT belong on pizza). But if I say it’s the greatest thing ever, I’ll lose the other way.

You just can’t win…

Here’s the simple solution:

Write your opinions to your heart’s content, but leave it at that. Don’t spend your time trying to convince me I’m wrong. If I am wrong, I’ll be the first to admit it. If not, I will proudly gloat that I’m right.

Remember: If everyone voted correctly or followed the right religion, we wouldn’t have to try to convince anyone to change their beliefs. Choose wisely.

~ Marty ~

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