Interesting that between

Interesting that between Monday and Tuesday, Mistress Matisse changed from “if you don’t like it, don’t read it” to offering a way to verify that Alexa Di Carlo is real. The two positions are quite contrary.

I think the first position is a better practical (if not that satisfying) approach. The internet and anonymity, for right or wrong, seem inextricably bound; how else do we “do” virtual? I don’t know what the solution would be to issues of authenticity.

This also seems to lead to questions about gender identity in general – i.e. problems of authenticity. Is the Di Carlo affair something to be placed somewhere on the gender identity spectrum? What is fraud re: gender identity?

Also, the Monica Shores discussion that Mistress Matisse links to reminds me in an odd way of the fights about book reviewers and critics. Online, anyone can review books and offer opinions with no training, education, or credentials. Professional reviewers freak out about that and see the loss of civilization and so on. Shores writes about the non-professional sex writers and amateur workers in a similar way. Another problem of authenticity?

Finally, so much about this controversy has to do with writing and in a sense memoir/diaries. Remember the James Frey fiasco on Oprah with the book “A Million Little Pieces”? Again about authenticity – in writing this time.

Sorry to be so wordy here, but the issues raised by the Di Carlo and James Chartrand controversies, albeit for different reasons, seem to me to be about larger issues that the internet, especially, presents us with and about cultural concerns regarding authenticity.

[I agree with your larger point about personas, Chris. I’m aware of other bloggers who aren’t so much who they say they are, and for the most part I agree with Matisse (and… pretty much everyone in, say, 2nd Life) that if you’re not interested in someone online you can just not read them. In the case of Di Carlo, though, and it think it’s the difference before and after for Mattisse too, is there’s been a behind-the-scenes controversy about appropriated images and, particularly, declarations about what sex-worker customers should expect (in general and not just from her) that other, confirmed sex workers are saying is at least unlikely and at worst setting expectations that are unsafe for them. In the face of those claims it stops being a matter of assumed persona and turns into a matter of questioning authority. Anyway, that’s why I thought Matisse’s proposal for resolution is a good on in this case. And why I think she probably wouldn’t extend it to just anyone who’s authenticity was questioned. —fl]

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