Yesterday, I learned about the plight of Absolute Write an important resource center for writers. Apparently, the site was booted by its web hosting company due to the complaint of someone who made the center’s “20 Worst Literary Agents” list. This person threatened both the site owners and, later, the hosting company with legal action if certain threads about the agent weren’t removed from their forum.

Citing that her email address was republished without her authorization, this individual pressured JC Hosting into closing Absolute Write’s account. Caving in, the hosting company did just that throwing Absolute Write into a tailspin as JC Hosting locked their forum. Unfortunately for Absolute Write they did not have their own message board back ups so years of messages have been lost.

Nine days after the shutdown happened, Absolute Write is gradually returning to its former state, but not without a loss in revenue, tons of aggravation, and a slap at its willingness to stand up for free speech. Fortunately, supporters have caught wind of the incident and are rallying around Absolute Write as the resource center seeks to get back on its feet with a new hosting company powering the site.

Now a word of caution for those of you who don’t respect the freedom of the internet: your actions will come back to haunt you. Today, the list of bad agents that was so prominently featured on Absolute Write’s site has migrated to well over 100 other sites! So, this person and 19 other literary agents on the list are now being publicized far beyond the confines of Absolute Write. In addition, you can be certain that not many people will make the switch over to JC-Hosting after their lack of support for Absolute Write. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if other site managers choose to “beat feet” when their packages renew.

Be careful to back up your files in the event that your hosting company turns tail on you. Threats are one thing, carrying them out is another…I wonder if this person regrets the firestorm now enveloping her business?

For more information about this situation please visit the Freelance Wurk blog.

Ain’t vengeance a bear? ;-)