It's time for a bit of history. You see, I started writing and drawing for the same reasons a lot of people take it up professionally at a young age - it was a way to escape from my awful reality. I had a bad childhood, I had a bad adolescence, and while my adult life thus far has been a sight better than either, there are still things I want to escape from or deal with through my craft. Most of the time it ends up as a plot point in one or more of my graphic novels, these days it often takes the form of a satirical web comic...and sometimes, I don't feel like drawing, but simply venting in a blog. All three of these styles offend small-minded people who are more prepared to deal with a punch between the eyes than a proverbial jab at their character, but right now, it's the third one that has gotten me in hot water this time.
I wrote something about an ex on my opinion blog about a year ago, and said ex only now got wind of it...instead of asking me to take it down like an adult, or even a half-hearted apology for making me feel the way that I did, he went straight for the throat and started name-calling, getting his groupies to harass me on his behalf, and threatening legal action...in other words, par for the course for the man of the hour. Still, as annoying as the whole ordeal was, I'd kind of like to see him try to sue me for libel (he doesn't have a case, as a defamatory statement has to be proven false to be considered libel/slander). I could use the publicity, and what's more, I could counter-sue for emotional distress (among other things)...but of course, if he leaves well enough alone, I see no further reason to cast stones in his general direction.
But unless a lawsuit (or hacker) forces me to redact or remove my blog post, I'm not taking it down. For what I have been through, I think I'm at least entitled to my public opinion of a very public person, however negative it may be...and what's more, I've written about a different ex in the past, which prompted another ex-girlfriend of that man to come out and tell her story (which was a lot darker than mine) - I helped someone come to terms with their trauma through my writing, and I refuse to censor a work of mine that could possibly save a life in it's given form.
And again with my comics, stories, and writings - I became a storyteller so that I could change my destiny. In my work, I can be the judge, jury, and executioner of my enemies without having to lay a hand on them in real life. Instead of retaliating physically, like many bullied children eventually do, I retaliate intellectually - and I create art that people are entertained, relieved, and inspired by as much as I create art that offends people.
Until next time,
Sarah Elaine "S.E." Ramírez