I Quit
While I had previously expressed my discomfort with seeing inapproprate comments by so called proof-listeners in response to reader recordings, including offensive attacks on accents, my fellow admins were not at all disturbed, and in fact, denied anything untoward has occurred. Even though such comments went against what was, officially at least, LibriVox policy.
When my own recordings were also defiled with, I refuse to quote, but we'll say with language that included ethnic slurs, the coordinator's eventual response was to suggest my records be 'fixed' or replaced with another reader. Which, aside from being grossly offensive--there is nothing to 'fix' about my accent, ever, thank you--it was also against what was the claimed policy.
When I was finally calm enough to communicate, I pointed this situation out to my fellow admins, reminding them that this was offensive and against the words of their own policy. I didn't expect much response other than flaming, as they had already vigorously denied there was any problem.
The response was unfortunately revealing. The consensus was that I was being overly sensitive about comments that were meant well, that there are unacceptable accents and readers had been rejected previously for this reason, and there was no intention of changing anything.
I didn't know until then that readers had actually been told they couldn't volunteer. How horrible. It's so bizarre. Everyone has an accent, and each person's is unique. The gall of it, to tell someone, anyone, that how they talk is wrong, or somehow not good enough. It's so incredibly sick and piggish. Although that is too insulting to pigs.
I can't watch people be abused, and see other people say it's okay, because maybe they didn't mean it. I can't ever be comfortable with people putting down someone for how they talk, and then I saw the admins themselves saying there are unacceptable accents. It's kind of odd, but I wasn't even angry then, just really really sad.
LibriVox is not a place for anyone who could be perceived as different and / or disabled.
So LibriVox is not a place for anyone. Period.
At least I don't belong there.
And now I'm damn glad.
I've returned my claimed chapters, although I am going to try to finish out my BC projects. I don't want to leave my readers to the wolves. *wry look*
So....On my high horse, and away! :)
ps. I'll still be doing free readings, but I'll be doing them independently, as Forbidden Dragon recordings. I've re-released my Velveteen Rabbit solo recording also as a FD audio book. I have a number of future projects planned, including a reading of what caused my break from LibriVox, the irreplaceable and oh so wonderful Dracula. I already have about 40,000 wrds of that recorded.
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