A Journal of Literature, Democracy & Dissidence
In the Samizdat Tradition of Writing against the Machine
A Forum for Examining the Dark Side of the Academic/Literary Established-Order Milieu

Plague of the Small Press

Étre insulté par un con reste un petit plaisir.  Et sans doute est-il moins désagréable d’être insulté qu’ignoré. [To be insulted by an asshole is a small pleasure.  And no doubt being insulted is less disagreeable than being ignored. trans. gts]
        —Michel Houellebecq, prix Goncourt
 

Often, an ad hominem insinuates that there is a connection between the character traits of a person and the ideas or arguments that the person is putting forward; it is an attempt to discredit a proposition by discrediting the person who articulates it.  It involves pointing out characteristics of the person being attacked that the audience, real or assumed, will tend to perceive negatively, and then concluding that because of these negative traits, the person's arguments and ideas, especially those which were the object of discussion, are also toxic. [...]  When an ad hominem is committed, this pertinent link [between the person and his ideas] does not exist. 

        —Normand Baillargeon, A Short Course in Intellectual Self-Defense

The ad hominem argument (shoot-the-messenger-to-avoid-the-message non-argument) is commonly used by angered academics and poets.  In fact, it is so common that one ought to be disturbed by this trend.  Below are only a few of the many instances incurred with my regard. 

So, who is the angry one full of venom?  Not I, my friends, not I!  For I am simply a truth teller, someone who dares say no to a society where backslapping, vacuous flattery, and general kowtow collegiality are monnaie courante.  "A correspondent reproaches me with being 'negative' and 'always attacking things'," stated George Orwell.  "The fact is that we live in a time when causes for rejoicing are not numerous."

Very few literary journals publish negative critique.  Instead, they tend to publish backslapping and self-congratulating commentary. The American Dissident generally will not publish the latter.  It tends only to publish negative critique of itself and the editor in each issue.  Below is a sampling of such critique received from educated poets, editors, academics, etc. The characteristic inability of such individuals to present a logical counter-argumentation is quite disturbing, to say the least. Perhaps it is the shock of sudden inhabitual criticism that deadens their reasoning. By the way, the editor has never stated nor implied that he is a revolutionary, great writer, or brilliant poet.  It is amazing the things people will call you when you simply stand up and speak not their mind, but yours.  As for egotistical, every writer who puts up a website, publishes a literary journal, or sends out his or her writing could easily be accused of it.  That epithet is as vacuous as all the rest.  The following will be augmented periodically.

You, however, seem to purposely avoid this civil tone in your writing.
Their tone [i.e., of the essays submitted to Alehouse] comes off like a petulant child determined to embarrass her parents in public.
Then there’s the problem of all your self-centered anecdotes. 
you’ve turned it into a personal rant. 
Perhaps it’s not the language at all that’s rude.  Perhaps it’s the arrogant tone that resorts to exaggerated name-calling. 
I found some of your responses to other editors are very rude and offensive.
While you are certainly rude in your discussions -- i.e., socially incorrect in behavior, lacking civility or good manners, characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness, and lacking in refinement or grace -- and proudly so, it's no wonder you've never made tenure. 
Your writing isn't very good. 
your poor critical thinking skills.
But for my journal, my aesthetic inevitably shines through.
Get a life.  Get out of mine.
            —Jay Rubin, Alehouse Press editor and tenured college professor, Pomona College, March 2007
 

But the "egregious contradictions" you stand by aren't even contradictions, nevermind "egregious."

This is just more sloppy hyperbole on your part.

Have you carved out a nice little niche for yourself as a crank...

While you may be wrong a lot of the time, you certainly seem sincere.
But it seems you've let your bitterness cloud your logic. 
I'm sad that you're so venemous and illogical in your assaults.  Yes, assaults, not critiques. 
George, trust me on this, buddy, most people would react the same way.  I'm not AFRAID of you.
I would appreciate no more contact from you, especially if it's the kind of groundless, border-line violent hate mail you sent me last time.
            —Jonathan Andersen, tenured high school teacher, February 2007

Your published correspondence with editors and the like just makes you look petulant.
Your defense of your own greatness absolutely diminishes your critique [...] and just makes it all seem self-serving.
You have confused the revolution with your own ego gratification.
I think most of your writing is just embarrassing and sad
            —Jim Hannon, college professor, 7/06 (N.B.:  Hannon approached me, noting how much he loved reading The American Dissident in the Concord Free Public Library... and sent me a submission.  I published one of his poems.  He then went apeshit because I mentioned in his bio that he taught at Anna Maria College in Massachusetts.  His great fear was that someone at that college would read his poem.  Academics are such a cowering lot!  I know.  I've worked with them for over 20 years.)

Your pandering and self-promotion [...]  This bantering outside of closed windows to neighbors who wish you would move away [...] You smell of someone who burns bridges faster than you can light the matches and it is a shame.
          —John Thompson, Mgr. Ed., Midnight Mind, 7/03

Can you send something less strident in tone?
          —Garrick Davis, Ed., Contemporary Poetry Review, 7/03

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