TOO LATE FOR APPLAUSE | Sam Smith, Author

 When I was younger, I noticed that many children of Hollywood stars were getting recognition for their parents’ hard work and achievements—while the creators themselves were barely recognized during their own lifetimes. Instead, awards and honors were handed out to their children after they had already passed away. Back then, I couldn’t tell if this delay was caused by endless bureaucracy or simply sheer ignorance.

Today, we live in a fast-paced world where everything moves almost too quickly to keep up. Yet, a person’s real effort and life's work are still ignored, waiting until she is dead just to pass the awards to her children. In an age where everything happens instantly, what could possibly be the excuse for this ignorance now?

NO ROOM FOR DOUBLE STANDARDS

 Humans are born in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and appearances. Just as discrimination against someone who is less fortunate in their physical appearance is considered harassment, racism, and abuse, bullying someone for their looks, wealth, health, or status is equally abusive.

I recall writing a post on this topic before, yet unfortunately, I continue to observe the same double standard. Some individuals believe that harassing someone who possesses good health, wealth, or physical appearance is acceptable simply because life was not as generous to them.

The bottom line is simple: No, it is not okay. If you believe racism and discrimination are wrong when directed at you, they are equally wrong when directed at others. Facing hardships or being less fortunate in life does not give anyone permission to bully others.

MY STORY, MY WORK, MY TRUTH | Sam Smith, Author

 Since my book Listen to Shoes was published, I have been subjected to continuous investigations, rumors, false allegations, and harassment by certain individuals attempting to claim I did not experience these events myself. They have gone so far as to accuse me of taking someone else's experiences and presenting them as my own.

​This hostility did not end with Listen to Shoes. Following the publication of my book New Year in Pandemic and Without, the same questioning and unwarranted scrutiny continued. In fact, with every book, article, or public talk I release, these relentless accusations follow me.

​In addition to this, I face another form of ongoing harassment: individuals continuously invent a hypothetical "hero"—an imaginary, extremely wealthy man ( Man)—and demand that I confirm various real-life candidates fit this persona. They push the narrative that this imaginary man is the force behind my creative work, my finances, and every step I take in life.

​What remains absurd is that no matter how many times I clarify and state unequivocally that I am the sole person behind my books, articles, and talks, these bullies choose to continue guessing, accusing, and clinging to fiction rather than accepting the simple truth.

FROM INTERVIEW QUESTION TO EMOTIONAL EXPLOITATION | Sam Smith , Author

 We all know that standard interview question: 'What is your greatest weakness?' It is inherently tricky, and in some work environments, hiring managers later use a candidate's answer as a tool to criticize or take advantage of them. Most of us were taught to answer it strategically—by highlighting a personal weakness while explaining how we are actively working to turn it into a strength.

As long as it remains within a normal professional setting, it is manageable. Unfortunately, I have personally experienced a deeply abusive twisting of this concept. My every action, piece of writing, and personal choice was scrutinized and labeled a 'weakness.' The boundaries were completely shattered when my family—my husband and my children—along with my personal interests and hobbies, were framed as flaws. Every time I expressed passion or joy, it was attacked, and I was relentlessly pressured to 'work on it' and turn it into a strength under non-stop, endless criticism.

To make matters worse, those engaging in this behavior play the role of the weak and helpless party when it suits them, demanding that I fix everything without ever asking for outside assistance—not even from legal authorities or law enforcement.

This leaves me asking: Are these people legitimate figures of authority in our lives, or are they simply a group of bullies using double standards to exploit both our weaknesses and our strengths to solve their own problems?

BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAP | Sam Smith , Author

We all know how vital parents are in raising a child, and how deeply a person's character is shaped in the first seven years of life. As children grow up, a gap naturally forms between generations—accelerated by fast-paced technology and a rapidly changing world—so it is only expected that parents and children won't always be on the same page.

What is completely unacceptable, however, is when children belittle their parents because of their appearance, age, financial status, nationality , accent or level of education. We constantly observe schools and communities teaching children not to discriminate against their friends or strangers—but have we ever truly taught them not to discriminate against the very people who gave them life?

LAW, LIES, AND LANGUAGE | Sam Smith , Author

 We are all familiar with the standard warning police give to suspects: 'You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.' Unfortunately, for a long time now, certain bad-faith groups who disregard laws and rules have twisted my every word—mismanipulating lines from my articles, talks, and books to use against me.

The absurd part is that to them, 'a court of law' seems to mean nothing more than a field of sports, exercise, or twisted in-law dynamics, rather than a system of real lawmakers and legal enforcers. In such an abusive environment, it becomes unclear whether their true goal is to sabotage my work, or to sabotage the rule of law itself.

THE ETHICS OF PATIENT CONSENT |Sam Smith, Author