This is a fantastic idea. I absolutely, positively, 100% need someone like this to put the brakes on my loud mouth and itchy publish finger from time to time. Luckily (I guess) my writing has zero influence, no impact and even less of an audience. That said maybe someday (hope, hope) I will learn how to write, actually begin to do that, and more than five people will agree that something I have written has merit. In theory that sounds great, in reality I have deep concerns that I will blow it by publishing something really stupid simply because I currently have a non working filter, poor judgement, little self control, a temper, and nothing to lose.

Of course the problem is how to implement an idea like this. Assuming (and this is a big assumption) you could get enough people to “volunteer” to serve a term, or a rotation, or work part time or whatever as PPEs, you would then need a way to encourage people to take advantage of said service. Moreover there would no doubt be a bunch of hurt feelings, bruised egos, flame wars, etc. when Johnny PPE tells Joey writer boy that his latest masterpiece probably needs to tone down the section where he suggests that silicon valley tech titans are experimenting on children in public schools. Joey says it is because they are racist misanthropes with a special disdain for the poor and women. He goes on to imply that they are driven by a desire to seek revenge for their childhood bullying and calls them sloppy, dishonest, egotistical, and stupid. Finally he states flat out that he believes the main reason they enjoy experimenting on poor, non white children is because it gives them a ‘hard on”. I mean who would publish something like that? That is why “Joey” needs a PPE.

I love it and I volunteer. I would imagine that normally one would prefer skilled writers or persons with some editing experience for such a position. I am not and have none though I bring tons of experience in the areas of poor judgement and bad decisions.