We’ve had the second request in a short amount of time for TC to remove a story from an archived issue. The first time, I was slightly sympathetic. This time, I’m pissed off.
The new one was not a regular submission; it was a “Best of the Boards,” a way we encouraged new writers. If someone posted something on a board for feedback,he could tick a box saying “I want this considered for BotB.” And we did. And we voted on what we liked best and we published it.
Now this bonehead wants his BotB removed b/c he doesn’t like that it comes up when you Google him. Boo fucking hoo. What writer wouldn’t want a credit from a well-reputed publication to show up when one Googles his name? In my guess, one who intends on submitting the story elsewhere, since it was a work in progress before. Besides, let’s say we did remove it. That doesn’t remove it from the cache, for example. All it does is inconvenience and insult us. This who search engine excuse is bogus.
We’re going to tell him what we told the poetry girl who made the same request not long ago: it’s akin to ripping a page out of a magazine. It alters the work. It might be his story, her poem, etc. but it’s our e-zine and I’m not about to alter it just b/c years later some flake decides s/he doesn’t like the credit anymore.
How bizarre even to make such a request.
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