My Article Was Suspended for ‘Hateful Content’
It’s easy to say the wrong thing in the most well-meaning way
As regular readers know, I am not a hateful person. I’ve previously said I don’t hate anyone. This angered someone in the comments so much that she told me I was privileged for not harbouring hate.
If you knew how my dad treated me growing up, you might think not hating anyone was quite an achievement. I try to understand where people are coming from and to let things go. Life is too short to hate. It’s not good for your mental health.
So imagine my astonishment to get a suspension for ‘hateful content’ last night. A lady had reported my article on transgender boxing. It was relaying a news item that’s been reported worldwide about a female boxer who’d withdrawn from a match after learning that her opponent was trans.
I thought my piece was sensitive reporting, which stuck strictly to the facts, while allowing for some discussion about what is reasonable in women’s sports, and asking whether we need new categories.
I was even credited for my unbiased reporting by one reader, and a publication owner asked me to elaborate on the story, such was her view that it was inoffensive and would make a good longform piece. I didn’t want to elaborate on the news report, so I published it as it was.
Anyway, the piece mentioned the term ‘biological male’, and Medium told me it’s breach of the rules to suggest that trans women are not 100% female, so I had to remove that term from my article last night, because it was deemed offensive.
Medium explained:
We do not allow content that may undermine the dignity and rights of transgender and/or non-binary individuals. This may include misgendering, dead-naming, claims that transgender individuals are not their gender identity (“trans women are men”), or erroneous claims based on disinformation or pseudoscience.
I replaced the term with ‘not born female’, deleted a reference to a study quoted about male punch strength, and added in feedback from a lady who told me that hormone therapy eliminates any competitive advantage in women’s sport. I may do some research into this, as it’s an interesting topic.
Being more sensitive
So in the last 24 hours, I have been learning the art of diplomacy from the experts. It’s been an interesting lesson. My previously offensive piece is now reinstated, and more diplomatically worded, to be sensitive to everyone’s needs. You’re welcome.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. It has been a lesson in understanding other people’s sensitivities, but it’s also been a lesson in appreciating our modern culture and how easy it is to say the wrong thing, even when you think you’re just sticking to the facts.
I don’t mind changing my choice of words in future, if that makes my work more palatable to others, but at what point do things get so watered down that no one understands what you’re trying to say? And if you can’t say it without offending someone, does that mean it shouldn’t be said at all? Perhaps it does. But that seems like a slippery slope to me.
I was concerned that the whole discussion was going to be shut down. I am a keen proponent of freedom of speech and of being able to discuss things in a civil and respectful manner. It wasn’t shut down, so that’s a good thing.
The lady who reported my post had complained in the comments before Medium jumped in. I’d responded to her and apologised that my piece had offended her, but she didn’t say what I should do to fix it. I think she felt it should be deleted altogether and I should never raise the subject again. I don’t agree.
However, after Medium complained citing the rules, I had a clear issue that needed resolving, rather than a rambling account of how hateful and transphobic I am. To me, the reader’s response was more hateful than my article but she wasn’t the one being accused of publishing something offensive.
I do value constructive and informative feedback from readers — and if my sources have got some facts wrong, I welcome that feedback, preferably with evidence to back up your position, not just opinions. The links to my sources are all there in the copy. No one is infallible.
Hearing about the effects of hormone supplements on strength is interesting and may explain why some sporting bodies allow all women to participate on equal terms in some sports. However, a quick glance at the research suggests that transgender athletes continue to have a 12% competitive edge, even two years into hormone therapy. So the issue doesn’t appear to be resolved.
Furthermore, hormone level tests before matches would be the norm. In this reported case, that didn’t happen. So maybe the lady who withdrew from the match had fair case for her complaint.
Lessons learnt from my suspension
So what did I learn from my suspension? Being diplomatic isn’t enough. You have to be super careful what words you use when discussing sensitive subjects. Some words are trigger words in certain contexts, and are best avoided.
Check Medium Rules if you think there’s a risk of breaking them in reporting on sensitive issues.
Double check that your sources are providing accurate information, and link to additional sources to back up claims. Try to give balanced reporting on sensitive issues, covering both points of view. This gives an equal voice to the other side of the debate, hopefully placating those who may feel targeted by an uncomfortable discussion.
Accept that some people will be offended when you write online, however diplomatic you are, so get a thick skin, be kind and sensitive to readers, and try to do your best to be nice.
We are all part of a community that is generally open minded and it helps if we are all open to hearing different perspectives on difficult topics. Try to engage with others in a way that is sensitive to their feelings, even when your point of view differs to theirs.
Finally, don’t break the Medium Rules!
© Susie Kearley 2023. All Rights Reserved.
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