Pros and cons of outing oneself at DU

[carolinayellowdog]

Hey,

I have a new book out, my fifth, and this one is the first to delve into American politics at all. Some DUers might be interested, but the site has gone so crazy lately that I'm fearful of posting about it and revealing my identity. Would like opinions of other writers about the pros and cons of doing so. (I just retired, so no freeper lurker could cost me my job as has happened in the past to a DUer.)

FYI the book is a multigenerational, multiracial family/community history set in eastern NC. The first half focuses on "free mulatto" ancestors in the colonial period who became "white" from 1790 onwards, and concludes with DNA testing results to figure out their likely ethnic mixture. The second half is about the strong Unionist loyalty of their community in the Civil War, and the late-19th-century political alliance between black and white Republicans (the good guys back then) which was destroyed when the NC constitution was revised to effectively disenfranchise black voters. It shows a side of Southern history that is quite relevant wrt the Obama campaign. Tens of thousands of white Southerners knew that their interests coincided with those of enslaved blacks, and took up arms against the Confederacy-- a story that is too often ignored or forgotten now.

Why would or wouldn't you reveal your identity at DU? I don't think I'd sell more than five books by doing so, but it would be nice to discuss the political implications of my research in a sympathetic (?) setting.

CYD

[DavidDvorkin]

1. I write fiction

Some of it has been mildly controversial, but not all that much, so I haven't experienced negative reactions on DU.

I haven't hesitated to reveal my identity, or book authorship, because I'm happy to pick up five new readers, or however many result.

[petgoat]

2. What's the worst that can happen? nt

[carolinayellowdog]

3. Nasty racial/sectional arguments could erupt

since it happens a lot here lately. In some ways DU is an ideal place to discuss a book about poor Southern whites fighting on the same side as blacks in the Civil War and then allying with them politically thereafter. It also involves a twentieth century biracial family, my own, something that makes me identify somewhat with Obama. Again, I bet there are many DUers who can relate to this story. But I think I'll wait until we have an official nominee and the atmosphere has improved here. A dedicated vocal minority of people are expressing hatred and denunciation of all Obama supporters and that's not a good setting for any kind of nuanced discussion of race.

[PunkinPi]

4. Hey...

Danville isn't your audience. The "'world's a stage and all.'". Think of what you typed, "It also involves a twentieth century biracial family, my own, something that makes me identify somewhat with Obama."

You can't lose. And Obama can't either! :)

[OneGrassRoot]

5. Interesting question.....

BTW, I'm in NC, too. :)

Given the scenario you pose here, I might post at DU and reveal my identity. However, I have found it so interesting when Googling my name in the past - when I have revealed it for some reason at DU (years ago) - that it shows up on Google hits. NOT good hits. Free Republic hits mocking the posts.

I do a decent amount of ghostwriting. Not antagonizing the potential audience (general fiction) is always foremost in my mind. So, for something that has nothing to do with politics, I would stay far away from revealing my name. For the storyline as you present it, it could be beneficial and, regardless of the comments, promote discussion about your book. That's always good. :)

I wouldn't only be concerned about discussions within DU but how those discussions may find their way into innocuous Google searches.

Hope that made sense. I'm not with it today. ;)

[sybylla]

6. But groups are only visible to donors at DU

I see your concern, but revealing your identity within this group isn't the same as outing yourself in a regular forum post.

[Orrex]

7. Not true!

Even non-members can view Groups; to test this, log out and see if you can still get to the Writing Group! And non-donor members can even post to Groups, but they can't start new threads.

[sybylla]

8. Actually, my son's log-in does/did not allow the groups to even show

on the list of possible links. His account is a non-donor account. So he could not view a thread in a group even if he wanted to as the forums are not available. Only, perhaps, a thread posted in that moment as it progresses through the latest page. But I know when my son tried to add a few groups to his list of 15 forum links a year ago, it wouldn't let him because he was a non-donor and received an error message informing him that non-donors cannot participate in groups. And he has not been able to view links I sent to him to "group" threads. I don't need to log out, I've been there and seen it.

Now, maybe there's a difference between being a non-donating member and just lurking not logged in. And I suppose it's possible the admins changed that since my son had his trouble. I'm only reporting what we were told.

[sybylla]

9. Just had my son check

He can view the groups from the link on the main page and can view each thread. But he cannot post without a star. He tried and that was the reply he got.

So if the OP is concerned about trolls ripping him apart, unless they're willing to cough up a little cash to do it, it won't likely happen.

[mainer]

10. I haven't outed myself here. I don't feel comfortable doing so.

I think if you want to talk about writing, it's safer just to do it on a writing website. I like to keep my political life and my professional (writing) life separate. I'm multi-published (a novelist) too, but it's too easy to be Dixie-chicked when the general reading public gets hold of your political views.

[carolinayellowdog]

11. Thanks folks, I'll go ahead and do it

This group is indeed a more supportive environment; I'd forgotten the donors-only policy.

[Kat45]

12. From what I've seen, some trolls do donate a little bit so they'll have total access

They pretend to fit in to DU and then go laugh about us elsewhere on the web. Just thought you should know that.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

13. It opens the door

to too many possibly unpleasant situations. I made the mistake once, long ago, of identifying myself as an author under contract to a major publisher, and I was suddenly deluged by messages from people who wanted me either to read their stuff or introduce them to my agent.

I enjoy the anonymity, and leave the promotions to my publisher. They do a very fine job.

[Orrex]

14. That reminds me--would you read my screenplay?

I'm shopping it around, and it would be just perfect for blah blah blah...


:evilgrin: