12. DIRTY ROTTEN APPLES

Let’s talk about generalizations.

Throughout these blog posts you have heard me talk about THE voice over industry and THE voice over community. In fact, I’ve been painting with some broad strokes to get my points across, and there’s a danger in doing that.

Life is too complicated and too rich to capture in all its details, especially on social media where everybody (another generalization) has the attention span of a goldfish.

No matter how thinly you slice the cheese, there will always be two sides. And if your knife is sharp enough, you’ll be able to cut that one slice into even smaller bits as well.

By definition, generalizations create distortions based on deletions because information is always left out and twisted to serve a purpose.

MEA CULPA

For instance, when I spoke of voice over conferences as being echo chambers offering more of the same, I know that that’s not 100% true. I’ve presented at quite a few of them, and I know most of the organizers personally.

I also know they are trying to bring in more diverse voices and introduce new topics. Every conference I have attended has exceeded my expectations but, because I’ve been doing voice overs for so long, very few speakers surprise me anymore. That’s on ME. Not on the conference. Most (another generalization) of these gatherings seem to be more entry level, and what I need in order to grow, is information that can take MY business to the next level….

…preferably held at a quiet venue with less people because my brain can’t handle the stimulus overload of a thousand participants that all seem to be talking at the same time. Again, MY problem. Not the fault of these conferences.

So, when I talk about THE voice over industry or THE voice over community, I’m like a politician talking about THE economy. Think about that for a moment. Is it ever possible to capture something as complicated and always changing as the economy in one word?

Linguists believe that most words are generalizations in and of themselves, and the meaning of these words is ultimately in the mind of the beholder. Not in the dictionary.

THE VOICE OVER COMMUNITY

Having said that, I do want to talk about THE voice over community because -in my perception- things have changed in a not so positive way.

Let’s start here: in my experience, the colleagues I have met online and in person are some of the nicest, most generous and supportive professionals I have ever met. Some have become my friends. When I was in the hospital after my stroke, they even came to visit me and I’ll always remember that.

But as in any community, there are a few rotten apples, and quite a few people think I am one of those apples. Why? Because I have an opinion, and I’ve been sharing that opinion on my blog for at least twenty years. There’s a reason why my blog was doing so well. People don’t like vanilla. They’re attracted to controversy, and I say things as I see them!

Now, my readers are free to disagree with me. I don’t write to receive praise or validation, but the tone of the conversation has changed in the last few years. Not only between voice overs, but in society. The culture has been coarsening. You see it in political debates, on social media… It’s become more and more disrespectful. People talk but don’t listen, and facts don’t matter anymore.

Rather than challenge my viewpoints using verifiable information and logic, I’ve been bullied, called names, and my motives have been questioned and distorted by people who don’t even know me or care to get to know me.

The anonymity of the internet gives these commentators an opportunity to lash out, and escape accountability. And when they came after me, very few colleagues spoke up on my behalf. Even when some in my community accused me of being racist, 99.99% of colleagues were silent.

No one wants to get burned. I get it.

Quite often, I felt alone. People told me in private: “I couldn’t agree more with you,” but they didn’t dare to support me in public.

Voice overs have always been good at paying lip service.

FINDING A FIX

Here’s what you need to know.

When I see certain things that could be improved, I point them out. Not to hurt, but to help. I believe that every organization, every group, and every society benefits from people pointing out flaws so they can be fixed.

Because of that, I’ve gained a reputation as someone who pushes envelopes and likes to stir the pot. Part of me is proud of that reputation. Those who wish to be heard have to speak up, and I’m not afraid to do so. But as I said, it comes at a price.

So, if you willingly go to a place where you might get slapped in the face for expressing what you believe in, would you return to that place again and again to receive more slaps?

You know what? I’m not afraid to debate, but I refuse to be insulted.

I’ve had enough!