SF Writer John Scalzi, on the eternal question: Should a writer censor his actual opinions, for fear of alienating his potential audience?
As someone who’s had internet-based virtual poo flung at me for my opinions, even in the marginal-niche field of gaming, the situation he describes is sadly not unknown to me. (Hell, check out this post-2004-election post on this very journal for an example…)
Anyway — read Scalzi’s essay. I agree with his position whole-heartedly.
Money quote:
“The reader who believes a fiction author should keep his or her opinions to themselves is effectively (if generally unintentionally) saying “You exist only to amuse me. You are not allowed to do anything else.” To which the only rational response is: blow me.“