A curse on all their sites
So MSNBC is no longer asking whether LGF, which reports on the horrors of the Arab world, is a hate site. No one has come out well of this little squabble.
MSNBC keeps changing its tune, according to the number of emails it receives. And it thinks you can disguise an accusation by phrasing it as a question: is LGF a hate site? Bad journalistic practice. If you believe something, say it straight, and provide the factual backup.
The LGF community, to the extent that there is such a thing, has revealed itself as thin-skinned and shrill. Complaining it's being smeared; outraged at even reasoned criticism; prefering an echo to the sound of debate; refusing to take responsibility for the nutcases in its midst. And between them and the idiotarians on the Left, in style of argument if not in content, there's not much to choose.
Charles Johnson, the editor of LGF, has excused himself. I find his content and links valuable. But he's missed an opportunity to cast off some of the frothers who've stuck to LGF. To call LGF a hate site is silly. But to dismiss all sensible criticism as a smear: that's just a cop-out.
Just about the only person to emerge from this sorry little squabble with any credit is Anil Dash. He engaged in discussion on LGF, rather than whining to his commielib buddies. Read his article below, rounding up the whole controversy: there's not an unreasonable sentence in it, apart from the bit at the end where he tells James Taranto to kiss his brown ass.
All you warbloggers out there, or whatever you call yourselves nowadays. You know how you've bemoaned the absence of an American Left with which you disagree, but which you can respect. Well, it's Anil Dash, and people like him. Argue with him, by all means; but to run away, whining smear, that's just embarrassing. Kiss my big brown ass [Dash]#
