9:10: This panel includes Amanda Marcotte, Duncan Black (Atrios), Kevin Drum, Lee Papa (Rude Pundit), Digby and Jesse Taylor.
9:12: They are discussing the use of profanity on blogs and whether or not it is appropriate. Rude Pundit uses it because he says that not enough people were being outraged and offended in the lead up to the war. Digby and Kevin Drum used to use more profanity but over time stopped using it as much. Duncan says using profanity and rudeness was a method to increase whether or not people noticed what bloggers were doing in the early days, but over time he used it less. Amanda echoed what others have said about the fact that their are real outrages happening in the world and outrage over “dirty” words is fake.
9:25: Jesse says that people often interpret profanity as anger, when it frequently isn’t.
9:26: Duncan: Stylistic criticisms are used to replace substantive ones because they can’t do substantive criticism. Media & conservatives will try to marginalize you no matter what you do, profanity is just an excuse to marginalize people.
9:35: Things that people avoid: Lee (killing the president, men raping women), Amanda (anything profanity that denigrates women)…
9:39: Q: Do they ever revise things because anyone is offensive? Generally they say no, particularly on the blogs. Amanda has sometimes revised things, others say only once or twice.
9:43: Lee: “Movements need their pressure-release valves.” Humor, snark, profanity, etc., serve as that pressure-release valve.
