The Economist: “This is not a vote in favour of the sort of literary navel-gazing that Mr Wolfe condemned. But it is a warning that it is almost impossible to outdo reality in a country as richly bizarre as the United States. Perhaps writers should leave those unfinished novels locked up in the drawer—and content themselves instead with the humble craft of journalism.”

Recently, Kevin Smith has sidestepped the quotidian reportage to write very candidly about Jason Mewes’ heroin addiction.

Personally, I thought Xeni Sucks was a jejune and solipsistic effort to gain attention. When somebody forwarded me the link, I clicked on it, yawned and then left. Little did I realize that it was “a blog written by a man who virulently hates a female tech journalist, and writes in detail *several* times a day including his violent fantasies about her, and her family (who he names).” It would help if Violent Blue offered specific examples to support her thesis here. Because skimming through the Xeni Sucks site, I can find nothing on it that reflects her findings. Yes, there is a good deal of juvenile (if obsessive) banter which attempts to mock Xeni’s posts at Boing Boing. Yes, the proprietor of Xeni Sucks should probably get a life.

For anyone who believes in women’s rights, I can see why anyone paying attention to the news would be angry. I certainly am. But while I agree that the gender chasm between tech journalists definitely needs to be rectified in some way, does this mean that a journalist’s work shouldn’t be criticized? Even in a childish way?

Looking at the Xeni Sucks site, I see nothing which corroborates Violet Blue’s findings. I see nothing in the cited New York Times article that suggests that badmouthing women is a good thing. And if Violet’s post were broached by a copy editor, it might be construed as unfounded libel.

And there’s still the flimsy reasoning. To offer a corollary, by Violet’s standards, the many posts here calling into question Caitlin Flanagan’s smarts might suggest that Return of the Reluctant is “a blog written by a man who virulently hates a female journalist, and writes in detail *several* times a week.” Does this make me a sexist? Or a women hater? (If so, I marvel at the irony of my Caitlin Flanagan-themed posts, all of them inveighing against sexism, being construed as sexist.) I live in San Francisco. Should I be next in line to get my ass kicked?

(via Metafilter)