Let Us Not Go Gentle Into That Hash Tag

Of course I want people to take writing seriously. I want them to take it so seriously that they buy all my books and lift poorly-formed passages therefrom for ill-advised tattoos. But hashtags ain’t our ambrosia.

Phoebe Maltz Bovy is, without question, a serious writer. She’s a PhD holder, has written for The Atlantic, and probably has even spoken directly to Ta-Nehesi Coates, which, as a writer, is tantamount to touching the face of God Itself. In a recent article, though, (All Work and No Pay, New Republic) the estimable Ms. Bovy laments writing not being taken seriously as a profession, and then fills up same with a report on people’s tweets.

People’s tweets!

Ms. Bovy, I’m not saying hashtag games are cheapening writing any more than bathhouse wall scribbles are cheapening art, but no one writes an article about the former with snapshots of the latter.

Journalism has changed, which is not to use the more ultimate “died.” Outlets are not in the business of informing us, they’re in the business of getting clicks, a milieu into which tweets fit nicely … but we don’t have to go gentle.

Let us not go gentle, Ms. Bovy.