Dear Vault members, friends, family, and associated members of the Peanut Gallery,
Your old friend Ben Swank here.... A couple of weeks ago I sent a small letter to a site express my distaste for the manner in which they were using and manipulating our materials which then exploded into a bit of an online kerfuffle. We were accused of censorship, harassment, Big Brother tactics (the book not the show) and generally being really bad people who hate Freedom Of Expression. I'd like to copy and paste that letter here below for you all:
We respect your right to speak freely. We also exercise this right ourselves, which is what we're about to do here. Here goes... We can no longer watch your Tumblr blog exist without pointing out the racism and sexism that is inherent to its content.
We realize that the tone of your site is humorous, and we sure do love to laugh, but the posts on your blog are often no more than literary black face, and it frustrates us to have Third Man-related content used with this mocking tone. Throw in the racist jab or two about Asians and a few dozen decidedly anti-feminist posts, and what we have is a blog full of negative and unproductive contributions to society.
This letter won't begin to address the libel your site perpetuates, of which there is quite a lot.
We can't ask you to take down your parody account, nor would we try, but let it be known that you offend us in every way.
A couple points if I may:
1. I never asked them to remove or censor their content in any way
2. I understand they considered their site a 'parody'. Still offensive. And this is the first time I've ever done something like this. It was the usage of our materials in that way and seeing it spread around the internet that got me to a place where I needed to say something.
I am a person that believes greatly in self expression and privacy. I want fans to have places online where they can discuss anything they like regarding Third Man without fear of our ire or scrutiny. But I've not said anything about this for a few years, but I'm going to go ahead and say this now... There is a strikingly (dare I say eerie) similar tone between those rants on that tumblr site to a lot of comments you see all over the internet whenever articles are posted about Olivia Jean or other female TMR-associated artists, same tone and phraseology that existed on this Black Belles hate-blog that used to exist, and the same tone and language used from this slightly unhinged person who emails me directly 20 or more times a day who thinks she (SHE being the woman sending the emails) is in a relationship with Jack White and who wants nothing more then to ruin Olivia Jean's career. What I'm saying is this could likely be one person working under different names and log ins (we have confirmation from our webmaster and other media outlets and websites that these originate from the same IP address) and what they are doing is embarrassing and irresponsible. This is all just to say that the internet is many things. A lot of those things are amazing, but there's a side of the internet where people can act in an anonymous and abhorrent manner that they would never act in real life and I hate to see other people exposed to, and believe, some of the hate and negativity that is espoused out there in the online vortex... Especially when so much of what is being said is based on falsehoods, conjecture and half-truths.
To be clear I very much encourage open discourse regarding music and criticism. I get that not everybody likes everything Third Man releases musically, we travel in a lot of musical worlds and not everything is for everyone. If this was about music in any way, then I would get it. But myself, I'm not a person who can stand watching cruelty based on racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, or how people look or dress. We all have freedom of expression. I'm all for it. I hope it can remain positive and stimulating, but that's not always the case and sometimes when it gets to be too much I'm going to express my freedom of expression and say so. Just like I'm doing now.
This is likely something people want to discuss further. I welcome it. Please leave comments and I'll check in and reply. I'll also try and make myself available on Vault chat to talk more if people want to.
thanks for your time and understanding,
Swank
Please. Everyone. Please stop. This is not what this place is about. This is one of the only places I can go to get my mind right with the world. And it is becoming unbearable. No one wants to be in chat or say anything, because it isn’t about TMR. These threads are turning into something that is so very sad and unfortunate. I know it is hard to hold back feelings. Trust me. I am doing it now. I could say 5000 negative things to several people, but I am asking you to turn this thing around. Let it go. As always. Peace~love~TMR
Ouize, you didn’t meet me, but since the voices in your head feel like it was “nice” to meet me, I’ll happily volunteer my professional mental health services free of charge. I responded to your manipulation of my 17 year old college educated daughters message that I did supervise to you personally because we took offense at your play on her words. Words that are lyrics she loved. Given to us all to enjoy appreciate and dare I say love?
I haven’t read the entire thread but…. Is this for real? This poor woman is being treated this way? Again, I haven’t read the entire thread but… What’s being done to rectify the situation? Her friends and family are rallying around her, right? Making sure she’s safe and loved? I hope she holds on to her dignity and self respect until this is resolved. I’ve never met this woman but here’s a great, big hug full of love and kindness, darlin’. Oh, and if ‘psycho girl’ is hurting for a date, I can introduce her to the lunatic guy who followed me around and made my life miserable. They sound perfect for each other. Lol. Peace, love and kindness. It’s what this world is in desperate need of.
This thread has certainly brought out the true character of the inhabitants.
Here’s some advice to us all:
Brush your teeth with Rock N’ Roll.
Maybe the internet is not a place for unsupervised children Marci… Govern your daughter at your own risk of her rebellion when it comes to mixing with total strangers because she is out here making decisions without your good judgement in my opinion… Nice to meet you and have a nice day!
Quizze, My daughters Annajean’s post as clearly indicated was a thank you to Mr. Swank expressed in lyrical form. Keep her name off your keyboard and govern yourself accordingly.
Quizze, My daughters Annajean’s post as clearly indicated was a thank you to Mr. Swank expressed in lyrical form. Keep her name off your keyboard and govern yourself accordingly.
Im sorry Swank but maligning your customers seems like bad business especially when you call the minions in to back you up creating more hate in your own community… Its petty at best and faulty reasoning at a minimum when you consider how much bad press is already out there … Do you really think that one individual could be the source of all the negativity? Old school people would call what this thread a bully pulpit and I believe that you do not get 20 emails a day nor should you blame any person for the blind rage of hundreds of petty opinions… Whose good name are you worried about here? Did it help Third Man Records Did it help Jack or Olivia in the Media? Let me just leave the credibility where it lays in the dust here and now so I can honor the hard work of people that I tirelessly and ceaselessly support with my time and money so that my good faith is not tarnished by this tripe and low ball lack of ethics… R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Wow, this is a lot more complicated than I first thought. This is way crazier than my imaginary relationship with Jon Bon Jovi when I was 12 :-(
I saw this more about not liking/rude comments to a certain female tmr employee not sexism-and i’m female. maybe people have different definitions of it-oh well. I def agree with GoodLordJC and Quizze. regardless……..this is all still ridiculous!
crank up the tunes folks!!!!