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
Karen has also posted, a couple of years ago if I recall correctly, that a woman who believed she and Jack were a couple had become legitimately scary to her, Jack and their children. The thought that these “hate blogs/accounts” can be described as eerily similar to the e-mail inundating TMR staff should raise concern. There is a difference between being vocal about disliking someone/thing but true obsession can, and often is, literally life threatening. We do not know the full extent of the obsessing. Seeing people saying TMR should just let it slide raises my hackles but good! Were this just someone being mean and nasty, I would agree that ignoring it may be the best bet. However, from the sounds of it, this goes beyond regular internet nastiness and ventures into mental instability on at least one person’s part. I’m glad it is being addressed and looked into by TMR as I really don’t want to be watching an ID Discovery program on Jack, his family, or any TMR associate. We’ve all jokingly made cracks about stalking Jack at TMR, in Nashville, or when he is on tour but let’s not forget that, while most of us are just having a laugh at our own expense or that of our TMRC family, stalking is a very serious crime that too often has a terribly grim outcome.
Ben, glad you offered a forum for further discourse, though sad these things must be the source of time wasting when time is so god damn precious. Thank YOU for proving you are what you are and you ain’t what you ain’t.
Signed,
Dear Abby
It’s sad that this even has to be said (or written, as it were). You have to draw the line somewhere. Crazy is a good place to draw that line.
Thank you Ben. I had seen a few of those posts throughout the internet and never got the humor and was quite confused why they would choose that subject matter. Anonymity is cowardice.
Haters will hate, looser’s will loose, nothing on you. Small minds think, open minds know. A lot to you for calling them out. Everyone has a right to know what is in there heart, but few understand what that means. Mister Swank,Jack, and TMR please keep going as I know you will. I for one know ,for a long time, that you are nothing but CLEAR AND FAIR. Olivia and Miss Mosshart are Queen’s of women’s gift to Rock and Roll. And Rock N Roll is better for it. Long live Rock N Roll and TMR. God’s speed!
Completely agree with @Alabama_Leigh on “learning to ignore what you don’t like” should apply for both sides, and I respect that you started this long over due conversation, that speaks a lot of freedom of expression. So yeah, for both sides, just focus on what matters, what’s beautiful and God helps the person who is clearly dealing with deep issues…
Who ISN’T in an imaginary relationship with Jack White? Sorry, not to make light of a serious situation, but the obsession runs deep with LOTS of people. As for “learning to ignore something you don’t like”, perhaps that should be upheld on both sides. I’m not defending the Tumblr site, I know next-to-nothing about that, I am addressing things I mentioned before. Other than that, as I also said, you have my respect for getting this conversation going, Mr. Swank, and yes, hippies rule. My autocorrect keeps changing your name to “Mr. Spank”, so I will now take my giggles and bid you all goodnight.
I get notifications from facebook and gmail now when people change my password or log into my accounts from places like Detroit and Houston… I wish I could censor them and stop the harrasment … Last cycle there were people who knew my Vault shipment was delayed before I did and today I tried to see if I got a shipment notification but my password had been changed and my trash had been emptied as if I had taken the time to empty it last time I was logged in there… I dont know what is going on with other people on the internet but my ipad thinks i log on from Detroit and Houston all the time and a person with my same first and last name but a different middle name showed up in Indiana and Detroit too … Now I am recieving DMV registration and insurance at my postal address to a person with the same first name as me as well… These people are serious criminals and its not about freedom of expression when it goes that far… Libel is one thing but fraud is a whole different level of abuse and organized crime
I just read the comments. I wanted to add to @leigh – don’t feel bad, I am also blocked from OJs Instagram. Anyone who knows me, I am not a mean person so I find it unjustified. But I am not a fan of hers so it does not affect my online life. But I do love some black belles, I’m sad they are gone.
Ben, I appreciate your candor. Transparency can go a long way in clearing up misunderstandings. I don’t believe in censorship or deletion for the sake of making things appear better. I personally do not like all TMR artists but I would never harass anyone. Thank you for being upfront