What Would You Do?

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_Eric

What Would You Do?

Post by _Eric »

Let's just say, hypothetically, that I have already been picked up by a literary agency and am in the tedious process of polishing a manuscript for publication.

Let's also say, hypothetically, that the subject of the manuscript was going to receive some serious national media attention brought on by a string of legal proceedings, possibly giving the nonfiction narrative some major publicity.

In this situation, assume for a moment that I have the opportunity to make known some very unpleasant, dark, secrets about a LDS apologist who is beloved by some. Note that I don't particularly want to share these details, but only because they would be extremely damaging to this apologist's reputation and paints them in a very, very negative Nibley-esque light.

It's a relevant aspect of the story that could be omitted, but should it?

Consider:

FARMS flat out attacks and seeks to destroy critic's reputations, not excluding women or those that claim to be victims of abuse. Besides calling abuse victims liars, they minimize the incidents and often blame the accuser (i.e calling Nibley's molestation "incest").

The editor of FARMS, who would be entangled in the hypothetical legal proceedings too, has already (not hypothetically) made intentionally false, libelous statements in order to damage my reputation in conjunction with this subject: Ethics Scenario

The potentially unlucky LDS apologist has never personally attacked me or my reputation publicly, but some of his/her acquaintances have and probably will continue to do so. Depending on the success - again, all hypothetical - of the book, I wouldn't be surprised if he was coerced into joining them.

So, do you let it out and let the chips fall where they may? Or do you do a favor for an apologist who, at best, hasn't done you any?

Keep in mind, this apologist could, quite likely, be commissioned Boyd Jay Petersen-style to review the book and chose to disparage the author, FARMS-style.

Hypothetically, of course.




:cool:
_harmony
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Re: What Would You Do?

Post by _harmony »

I have a few maxims I try to live by:

1.Life is short, eat dessert first.

2. Make every place I stand a holy place.

3. Do no harm. When in doubt, don't.

#3 applies here, I think.
(Nevo, Jan 23) And the Melchizedek Priesthood may not have been restored until the summer of 1830, several months after the organization of the Church.
_AlmaBound
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Re: What Would You Do?

Post by _AlmaBound »

Eric wrote:Note that I don't particularly want to share these details, but only because they would be extremely damaging to this apologist's reputation and paints them in a very, very negative Nibley-esque light.


Interesting inclusion.

Random personal opinion: I doubt your motives.
_Eric

Re: What Would You Do?

Post by _Eric »

AlmaBound wrote:
Random personal opinion: I doubt your motives.



Interesting. Not quite sure what motives you've inferred, but I'll possibly consider your opinion.
_AlmaBound
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Re: What Would You Do?

Post by _AlmaBound »

Eric wrote:
AlmaBound wrote:
Random personal opinion: I doubt your motives.



Interesting. Not quite sure what motives you've inferred, but I'll possibly consider your opinion.


Well Eric, this line is revealing:

I have the opportunity to make known some very unpleasant, dark, secrets about a LDS apologist who is beloved by some.


You have the opportunity to reveal some things about someone else that will harm them - now I understand, and am sympathetic, to the abuses you have suffered from what you see as originating from LDS sources.

However, to pay back skin for skin is not something I think is best.

Someday this fellow might reconsider and apologize - however unprobable that may seem to you, it remains that an apology might be forthcoming.

Right now, I think you are concentrated on giving back equally to what you have been given, and I don't blame you for thinking so; however, I think the better path is to rise above, and to forgive, rather than to exercise vengeance. Because who knows whether the person has wronged you will someday see the light.

I am just an anonymous fellow here, with nothing in this fight, but I have followed your story, and while I sympathize, I do think that the path of forgiveness, however hard, is the right one.
_Eric

Re: What Would You Do?

Post by _Eric »

Well, the key is: it's a relevant aspect of the story. In the process of telling my story, these details could or could not be divulged. It's not about revenge or hurting the apologist, it's about a potential good deed going unpunished.
_AlmaBound
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Re: What Would You Do?

Post by _AlmaBound »

Eric wrote:...it's about a potential good deed going unpunished.


What do you mean by this?
_AlmaBound
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Re: What Would You Do?

Post by _AlmaBound »

Eric wrote:Well, the key is: it's a relevant aspect of the story.


Eric, I'd respect more if you were to say "I just want to reveal the truth."

The inclusion of definitive persons smacks of vengeance, particularly given the history here.
_maklelan
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Re: What Would You Do?

Post by _maklelan »

Eric wrote:Consider:

FARMS flat out attacks and seeks to destroy critic's reputations, not excluding women or those that claim to be victims of abuse.


Both phrases alluding to the same person, of course, although you're trying to make it sound like several people. Is this the kind of literary dishonesty we can expect in your accusations against Dan Peterson? If you are so misleading here and so uncritical with Martha Beck's accusations, I see no reason anyone of any real consequence is going to take your accusations against Dan Peterson any more seriously than they take Scratch's belligerent charges.
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_Daniel Peterson
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Re: What Would You Do?

Post by _Daniel Peterson »

If I'm the "apologist" whose "unpleasant, dark secrets" are to be revealed, I confess that I'm as curious to learn what they might be as anybody is.

Maybe my wife will know. I'll ask her.
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