Comments on: “I’m Crazy” rejected by Harmony Printing

By: David

David — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:29:11 +0000

you’re mixing this up with Hiring Practices or something of the like. This company doesn’t instruct Adam on what to create, likewise its silly to believe a publisher doesn’t have right to print whatever they want; You think this company is supported of your tax dollars or something?

“It’s not Harmony’s job to police what their clients or readers see. That’s up to individual readers and the Supreme Court.”
-stupid comment. A private company has absolutely no responsiblity to charity-cater to just anybody who wants to put something into publication, if they were responsible in such a way then the world would be out of trees and full of my younger brother’s erotic fiction. Harmony has every right to pick and choose and fully suit their print material to whatever business strategies they have.

By: Beth Maher

Beth Maher — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:26:11 +0000

I just realized, i’m pretty sure I know Adam. I think we had an art class together. He is/was good friends with one of my bridesmaids.

He’s always been super talented!

Weird, huh?

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 06 May 2009 23:53:58 +0000

On the plus side, no one involved will ever make the mistake of working with Harmony ever again. I’m surprised that Harmony didn’t make him run it past the Privy Council and Star Chamber, as well.

By: Gabby

Gabby — Sun, 03 May 2009 20:13:41 +0000

Whether it’s Watchtower or a Presbyterian Church newsletter, the point still holds. It’s not Harmony’s job to police what their clients or readers see. That’s up to individual readers and the Supreme Court. Their “business decision” also violates the Charter of Rights – another reason this is discrimination plan and simple.

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 03 May 2009 20:05:04 +0000

I should probably mention that I just guessed “Watchtower” magazine, because I couldn’t really think of any other major printing operations for a religious organization.

I’m sure the religious organizations that Harmony meant were, like, the Oro-Medonte Presbyterian Church annual newsletter.

By: Gabby

Gabby — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:33:11 +0000

I don’t understand the “risk outweighs reward” equation, especially when coming from a company that prints Watchtower magazine which, for me, is also a risky client to take on. As a potential client, I wouldn’t enjoy touring their industrial printing house and seeing religious “content” about how I and the people I love will be going to hell being spewed out of the printer. That’s a non-starter argument. All content is potentially offensive depending on the viewer and their beliefs.

The problem in this case is that the content is queer and being homophobic is still socially acceptable, especially in several major ideologies. Hence this = discrimination. If this was the 60s and the printing house had decided not to publish something because it depicted an interracial couple, no one would have trouble calling this discrimination.

By: maryalice

maryalice — Sun, 03 May 2009 04:28:22 +0000

True, but they have to be thinking: there are lots of other printing companies out there who will do it. While it may be discrimination (hell, it IS discrimination) it also sucks to get your neck chopped off when you make the mistake of sticking it out.

This case seems to be a lose lose.

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:16:18 +0000

Just because they’re a business doesn’t give them the right to be discriminatory. In fact, in Canada we have laws about that.

Also, it’s not as though he had a contract with a publisher. Harmony is a printing company; like a high-tech Kinkos. Adam was paying them directly to print his book, and they took his business. Then they rejected his business.

Discriminatory.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:04:19 +0000

risk > reward. it sucks, but they’re running a business, not a charity.