To Whomever it May Concern

To whomever it may concern,

How many of us actually read the policies when joining a new app or website? Major props to those of you that do, but in all honesty, I usually don’t. Unsurprisingly, when it came to this website, I didn’t. I checked to make sure I held ownership over my work when it was published, and went ahead and joined. Not to say that I regret this decision. As a matter of fact, I have thoroughly enjoyed my use of this website. I haven’t even found it a very apparent way to make money. If I must be honest, I’ve made a grand total, through my four vocal articles, of seventeen cents. Borderline millionaire, right?

Nonetheless, I didn’t read the policies of Vocal when joining. Recently, I’ve come to discover though, that there are some rules binding our writings on here. Significantly to many people, we are unpermitted to write regarding any religious topic, or referring to religion at all. As well as this, writing including the discussion of politics is also forbidden. Following is some of the exact words that were given about the rule regarding religion:

“….Other platforms have unfortunately seen over the past years how divisive and complicated gray areas like religion can make our spaces for all users. That’s why our platform just isn’t a home for that type of content—our policies don’t allow for religious content of any sort in hopes that vocal remains a safe place for everyone.” (help.vocal.media/hc/en-us/articles/360050212773-Why-can-t-I-publish-religious-content-)

I must admit, I didn’t learn this myself. Actually, I was recommending this website to a friend who happens to include religious undertones in her writing. Unfortunately, she decided not to join because she assumed her writing would get turned away for its Christian parallels.

Let’s take a moment to dissect this rule.

It’s clear this rule was made to avoid topics of controversy, and open discrimination made public through pieces of writing. The idea of that is very helpful. However, I’d like to focus on one line in particular. As fellow writers you can all understand the power of words, and what these words are intended to mean:

“Our policies don’t allow for religious content of any sort, in hopes that Vocal remains a safe place for everyone”

So, in this case, discrimination is being avoided by banning any form of religious content. Okay, that makes sense. Ban the freedom of expression for multiple groups of people, to avoid others feeling unwelcome. Anyone else catching this?

You are avoiding discrimination and controversy in fear of what others might think. You are silencing people’s voices, for freedom of expression. Isn’t 2021 all about dispelling our differences for the unity and greater good of mankind? Isn’t Vocal a community of expression? You have a wonderful platform, whomever it may concern. You have the opportunity to help heal the voids between people, and allow for unity, and creativity, so why aren’t you using it to do so?

To be honest, I really do understand the basis of this rule. It makes sense. Vocal is however, a moderated mish mash community of people. And judging by Vocal’s articles on sexuality, and the community devoted to it, the moderators must only exist to avoid discrimination. What kind of ‘safe place’ does this make it here?

* I feel obligated to note that I’m not writing this in discrimination of anyone, their beliefs or the way that they choose to live. *

The way I see it, if you’re avoiding controversy and arguments, Vocal does a great job of that already with no option of commenting on the website. Your moderators work hard every day to make sure that what we write needs to be put out into the world, so why are you turning away what so many groups of people feel close to their identity?

Why are other controversial “unsafe topics” allowed on here, such as sexuality to begin with? Any form of sexuality is a hot topic in this age and could lead to a large amount of discrimination and offense. Why is this allowed, but you don’t allow people to talk about their religion, or even mention their beliefs? I don’t know about anyone else on here but I, personally, enjoy learning about the religions of others, no matter how I might disagree.

I don’t agree with all things on Vocal, but I am grateful to have a platform to share my writing with the world. I want others to always have this platform as well, for whatever they choose to write about. Stop discrimination, not expression.

You ban religion instead of dispelling fear and instilling truth and tolerance. If the moderators really fulfill their job well, why can’t the discrimination you claim to be avoiding be caught in the act and stopped before it reaches the public? Outside of Vocal, people will always discriminate, and there’s sadly nothing we can do about that, but on Vocal, your moderators can stop the discrimination before it’s sent out into the world. Religion is a part of identity. Why should people not be able to express such a significant part of their identity in an activity that they feel close to their heart.

All that’s happening and coming off of this, is more discrimination. Today, whomever it may concern, you lost a customer, my friend, because you tapered her expression of self. You didn’t taper her discrimination of others, you took a part of her identity away with her membership, and that was something she just wasn’t willing to allow you to do. Just imagine how many other customers you’ve lost, and how much expression you’ve tapered because of your no religion rule.

I know that this is probably not going to get sent through. I’m challenging your rules, aren’t I? It’s too borderline, isn’t it? But to me, that’s what writing is all about, sitting on the edge of the cliff, ready to express yourself by jumping through the clouds, and landing on both feet or landing in the cold, hard dirt, and getting up to try again.

So please, for the sake of my friend, and anyone else, no matter their religion (or lack thereof), please consider sending this through. No discrimination, just expression of identity.

No discrimination from me, just expression of MY identity.

You know the difference.

With respect to whomever it may regard,

Signed Rambles 4 You