Regarding We're Fucked
Nine months ago I wrote a review of peterbd’s book We’re Fucked for HTMLGiant. I now regret writing that review and want to apologise for it.
When I first read Janey Smith/Steven Trull’s ‘Fuck List’ (which inspired the book) I perceived it as humorous due to the number of people included in it. At that time it seemed to me that Smith/Trull was using ‘I want to fuck this person’ as a metaphor for ‘I admire this person’s art’. I was happy to see my name on the list because I perceived my inclusion as recognition for my writing. I thought that the length of the list was a positive because it showed Smith/Trull was being inclusive in his support of writers.
My reading of the list was entrenched in privilege. Even if it was a metaphor that did not stop it from being harmful. Sure, the list was inclusive but I didn’t consider that what it was including people in was something that they wouldn’t/didn’t want to be included in. I was unaware of Smith/Trull’s history as a sexual abuser and rapist. That knowledge changes my perspective on the list, and the book inspired by it. What’s more, even if Smith/Trull was not an abuser people would be completely justified in not wanting to be included in these documents.
I believe that everyone should have been asked for consent and shown proofs before being included in this book. I was aware that I was being included. I didn’t realise that many of the subjects were not aware of their inclusion. If I had been more vigilant I would have realised. I should have been more vigilant and I should have realised.
In my review I wrote the phrase “Everybody cums” as a way of praising Smith/Trull’s inclusiveness. I am now disgusted by that sentence. I also wrote the sentence “This book is good.” I was wrong. This book is not good. I regret that I promoted it. I am glad that it has been pulled by Plain Wrap. I apologise to the people that my review was insensitive towards and I stand behind the victims of Smith/Trull and others’ abuse.
Currently I am focused on educating myself by reading as much as I can about these issues. I am doing my best to help by being supportive towards the victims of abuse who have come forward and signal boosting their posts.
