Jul 29, 2014 / Intermediate

Talking Taboo: Writing About Sensitive Topics

Blogs aren’t blogs without opinions — but putting yours out there can be scary. With a few basic guidelines, you can dive into the most divisive topics with confidence.

Over in the Commons for Writing 201, we’ve been working on finding our angles as writers. I’ve found myself responding to the same question from several bloggers: “I want to write about X, but I don’t want to seem too opinionated. What should I do?”

Hanging your opinion out on a global laundry line can be scary, especially when you’re writing about potentially contentious topics. We often tiptoe around those stalwarts of family dinner table arguments, politics and religion, but any issue on which two reasonable bloggers can differ can be divisive — and therefore scary — to tackle publicly. Human sexuality. Parenting decisions. Food choices. Who should win The Bachelor.

Today, let’s look at some dos and don’ts for writing about sensitive topics in ways that are both constructive and true to you.

First, a deep breath.

Before we delve into specifics, a pause and a deep breath for perspective…

  1. Blogs thrive on opinions. Without an opinion, a blog post is like an encyclopedia article, or maybe a set of assembly instructions for an end table — utilitarian, but not that interesting. We read blogs because we’re engaged by the people behind those blogs, and that engagement happens when we a blogger’s unique point of view resonates with us.
  2. You can’t please all of the people all of the time. Honestly, you can’t please most of the people most of the time, either, and there are days (and topics) when pleasing some of the people some of the time is also a tall order. But you can engage your people most of the time. And who are your people? The ones who are drawn to your voice and perspective.

If you tamp down your opinion, your people can’t find you. You may be tempted to appeal to the widest audience by keeping your blog blandly palatable, but your posts will miss out on the thing that makes blogs so compelling: point of view. Sure, you won’t get hate mail… but you won’t get fan mail, either.

This doesn’t mean you should go out of your way to court controversy, but please don’t be scared of your voice or your opinions. They’re what make you a blogger worth reading.

Dos!

We’re talking about your blog and your opinions — I can’t give you hard-and-fast rules, but there are a few things you can keep in mind when writing about sensitive or controversial issues:

If your opinions did spring fully formed from a magical opinion suitcase, that’s definitely an experience you should post about. Also, you should keep that suitcase somewhere safe.

  • Root your opinions in your experience. Rather than making blanket pronouncements, make your experiences the basis of the discussion. After all, your opinions didn’t spring fully formed from a magical opinion suitcase. Explaining the threads that contribute to your point of view gives us a richer understanding of your position. Acknowledging the ways that your views are products of your experiences also creates a space for readers to share their own stories, whether they agree or disagree.
  • Put your opinions in context. Divisive issues are a great opportunity to draw other bloggers into your post. Sharing what others have already written puts your post into a larger context, which in turn provides more entry points for readers to understand and engage with you. It also builds the connection between your blog and others, strengthening the fabric of the blogging community — good for the individual post, good for your blog, and good for the blogosphere.
  • Give your post a rest before publishing. This is a useful thing to do for any post; it’s easier to see things you could improve or spot typos with fresh eyes. For a post you worry might be controversial, it’s even more important. Taking a break gives the emotion that bubbles up while writing time to settle. After a time-out, you can review your post to ensure that it comes from a place of passionate care, not anger.

Opinionated posts can stimulate lively comment conversations. They may also awaken some trolls — but don’t worry, we’ve got guidance on that, too.

As you develop your voice, you’ll come to a place where you no longer need to keep these tips front-of-mind while writing. In the beginning, when publishing new posts still produces that fizzle of adrenaline, they’ll help you be more comfortable with how you’re framing your opinion.

Don’ts!

Where there are three Dos, there are also three Don’ts:

  • Don’t namecall or denigrate others. Personal attacks may have a few of your die-hard supporters pumping their fists, but that’s it. They don’t sway anyone and they don’t make an argument stronger. Attacks block any conversation with those who don’t agree with you, and may even drive away some of those who do.
  • Don’t share personal details that aren’t your own. Rooting your opinions in experience is a good way to keep a heated discussion grounded, but make sure they’re your experiences. Others’ experiences are not yours to appropriate, unless you’ve been given permission — and even then, you’re not writing from as strong a position (and never know when you might inadvertently misrepresent someone).
  • Don’t namecall or denigrate others. Okay, I lied, that’s only two Don’ts. This one’s important, so it’s here twice. Remember: personal attacks really just make you look bad.

There a lot of subjectivity here and we’re all learning as we go — I’d love to hear from you about a time when you weren’t sure, a time you think you may have gotten it wrong, or the personal guidelines you have for writing about sensitive topics.

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  1. I believe Ricky Nelson wrote a song called “Garden Party”. He said, “you can’t please everybody, you’ve got to please yourself.” I think this is true, even on controversial subjects. Your pointers are good guidelines though.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. I had someone respond to one of my posts by making unfounded accusations , drawing a incorrect conclusion and putting down someone I mentioned in the post – attacking both my family and this professional i mentioned. This was done under the safety of her private blog. Your advise is so important to remember .

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I couldn’t agree more! Too common do I see a blog that just relays information found on the internet. These are the blogs with no attention and no flare. What sets a blog apart from the others in its niche is its voice. Great article.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I completely agree! I recently published a post on religion and had to put in a disclaimer because I know how sensitive the topic can be. But in my disclaimer I put that I won’t not write about topics I’m opinionated on just because they’re taboo.

    I think if you do it in a well-mannered and mature way, taboo posts/blogs can be great for having deep, insightful discussions.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I completely agree!! I’ve often written about subjects some people would think are “controversial” and you have to be careful, well informed and willing to accept criticism and differing opinions 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  11. People pleasing is an illness. If you are confident about yourself and your writing, you will write and state your opinion because you already know that everyone is a critic. I don’t apologize or back down from anything I write or say in person. I write for me. If I’m working for a buck, I’ll write the way my editor wants me to write. If you crumble under criticism, you’re in the wrong business. Taboo subjects? No such thing. Today’s media thrives on it.

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  13. The main thing my readers love about my blog is how opinionated and controversial it is. I’m never rude — although sometimes I use some twisted humor — but because I’m so open, raw, and honest, even followers who don’t agree stick around because they can at least appreciate my views and my willingness to start meaningful conversation.

    The only advice I really have about approaching controversy is to not act like you’re perfect. Don’t get so emotional and passionate that you always think you’re right. You may be right for you, but you haven’t experienced the same things as others. You need to be strong, as in “this is why this is right and wrong,” but also let it be known that “this is why it’s right and wrong for me, and why I THINK it should be for you.” Stand firm but be open at the same time.

    (If anyone is interested, you can get to my blog by clicking on my name.)

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  14. Good advice there. I do not believe in religion, but rarely blog my own views, mainly because those who follow a religion seem to be the easiest to upset. Religion like anything else gets twisted and abused, the abusers are the most dangerous of people and love to create fear and confusion. Unfortunately my views have become one sided so I keep them to myself, one day that may change. It’s a bit like grinding one’s teeth to prevent making an almighty blunder though. I look forward to the day I let it all go.

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  16. Yep, bloggers are certainly opinionated…but that’s one of the best thing about blogging. I especially like the point on connecting your opinion with experience as it helps you get to know the blogger more and also know where they’re coming from!

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  21. I agree. A lot of people dont want to make others know what they think, because of trouble. To be integer causes problems, but a opion can be like a healthy version of glutamat… Max

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  23. I am brand new at word press, and blogging all together, so I thought I would check out some others before I got started. This was the first I have read and it was very helpful. It is a bit scary to dive into, and I definitely agree that making sure your using your own experiences is important. Well written.

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  26. The world is really hard on us Michelle,sensitive topics seem to be readily in our minds the moment we embark into the Street .I agree with you that tackling them need caution and consideration. You may end up triggering a misunderstanding.

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