Morning All,
We’ve published three more articles this morning responding to a submission earlier in the week by Jack Kilbride, suggesting how feminists should deal with online abuse.
That’s six in total, and we’ve tried to include a range of different perspectives on the issue.
There is one story left to publish, and that is an explanation of how the original story came to be published, and, of course, an apology to our readers.
Yes, I made an error of judgment, also known as a mistake. Yes, I will be issuing an apology. A proper one, with contrition and everything. It’ll be ready when it’s ready, because (a) I’m trying to get it right; because (b) I’m trying to learn as much as I can from the experience first, lest I make things worse; and because (c) New Matilda is currently utterly overwhelmed with submissions, inquiries and the occasional threat of unnecessary medical procedures.
This week, we have an editorial staff of one (Max is away for another week, and Thom is in France covering the climate talks, stories from which, you’ll note, haven’t appeared for the last few days. He’s filing, I’m still trying to get to them, but fresh yarns will be up this morning. A sincere apology to our readers for the delay).
The most recent piece we’ve published this morning, by Xiaoran Shi, is the last submission we’ll be publishing in the series responding to Jack Kilbride’s original piece.
On that front, Jack has taken a rather extraordinary beating (for which I bear a significant responsibility). He’s done that quietly, all the while listening and learning. We’ve tried to balance the need for people to respond and be heard, against the need for Jack to emerge from this with some semblance of sanity.
Being at the centre of a social media storm is a very difficult and confronting place to be. Jack has handled it with humility and maturity. But can I respectfully suggest that that part of this saga – the public flogging of Jack Kilbride – has been well and truly achieved. Time to move on.
That said, we will continue to consider submissions that want to further the broader discussion. And of course, we’ll consider submissions that want to have a swing at New Matilda specifically.
Briefly, I understand many of our readers feel let down. I understand people are critical of the delay in my response. But I also know that the overwhelming majority of our readers understand our resources are already scarce. I don’t ‘work’ for New Matilda – I do other things to keep the debt collectors at bay. So I’m trying to balance my clients’ needs against those of New Matilda readers, both of whom I have a deep affection for.
I realize there is also a significant number of people on social media who’ve been chomping at the bit to provide me a thrashing, and that my absence for several days has frustrated that desire, and only heightened the anger. I shall present myself for said thrashing as soon as humanly possible. The code words for the onslaught shall be ‘fire away’.
Regards, A chastened but annoyingly upbeat Chris Graham