Yesterday I read a story from a writer and blogger named James Chartrand. He wrote an article on his blog titled ‘Why James Chartrand Wears Women’s Underwear‘. In the article he proceeds to explain that, contrary to his name and persona online and in business for the last three years, he is a she.
She then goes on to tell the story of how that came about. It includes being in a desperate situation financially, possibly being on welfare with 2 kids to feed.
Her solution, was to turn to the internet where she became a writer under her own name. Business wasn’t great and she decided to use a pen name that would allow her separation from her struggling company. As an experiment she decided to use a ‘male’ name.
I will let you read her story from there if you want to. It will include why she had to ‘come out’ and then a gazillion comments after her story (including a number of my own. Find them and I will give you a prize, maybe).
It got me thinking about deception and lying and when it is ok or not ok. Most of the comments in her story are very supportive of her, basically blaming the sexism in this country (which I am not discounting) for her dilemma. But it wasn’t just a name change, it included a whole new brand identity – her company is called ‘Men With Pens’ and has a macho looking header with a bullet coming through it, and a series of methods to avoid being found out by her clients, including never talking on the phone to them, and of course having all money transactions being through the company name, not her made up male name.
It is an interesting read and I recommend you take some time to do so when you have a chance. I would love to know what you think so come back here after you are done and comment, ok?
Drawing and commentary © Marty Coleman
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” – Sir Walter Scott, 1771-1832, Scottish Author
>I posted about this on my blog as well, asking similar questions – http://bit.ly/7LAgz5
Lying online is a slippery slope. Omissions are one thing (e.g., anonymity or gender-ambiguity), because they put readers on guard. Creating a false persona is not. Would lying about credentials be OK? What about making up war stories to illustrate a point? How about concocting false testimonials? Where do we draw the line. For me, my "line" is a bright line: no lying, period. I may not share the gory details of a client who fired me or a judge who yelled at me or tell you my street address, but if I put words to paper, they will be true.
James says that her deception does not impact the quality of her work. But to me, it undermines her work entirely. If James couldn't find a way to pitch her services and command fair pay without lying about her gender, then how can she help other women market their services – unless she encourages them to lie.