In Defense Of Bloggers

I've never actually seen Bob writing anything for our little dog and pony show, so I'm relieved to read that he does indeed wear pants while at the keyboard. For the record, I am also comfortably attired in a pair of shorts while typing this. You can all relax now.

Rick Morrissey seems to think that it's some sort of badge of honor that he and his fellow journamalists get to walk into a sweaty clubhouse and see A.J. Pierzynski or Ron Artest close up. This makes him "accountable," you see, and if A.J. Pierzynski doesn't like what Morrissey wrote, he can tell him so, face to face.

Morrissey writes:

If you're a sports columnist, you show up in the clubhouse to face the music. It's a matter of fairness.

Let's say I criticize Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski for something he did in a game. And let's say I do it in the Sunday Tribune, which has a circulation of about 960,000.

Isn't it reasonable for Pierzynski to have an opportunity to lash out at me in front of media and teammates in the clubhouse if I've treated him similarly in print? It seems pretty straightforward to me. It's what I was taught to do. It's what nearly all of the columnists in the country do. The honorable thing.

If you say so. Let's say that I criticize Pierzynski here on Jim & Bob's Palatial Baseball Blog, which for all we know has a circulation of about seven. If somehow Pierzynski doesn't like what I said, he can choose from the following menu:

(a) ignore it.
(b) post a comment in response.
(c) state his case to a beat writer of columnist. Frankly, I wish that would happen. We could use the publicity.

See, he still has his chance to respond. He just doesn't have the option of screaming in my face, or for that matter of kneeing me in the area.

Morrissey skates around a major issue of up close contact with the people he or I may write about:

It doesn't mean you're being co-opted by the people you're dealing with, not if you have an ounce of integrity. It means you're being thorough and professional.

Of course it does, Rich. No sportswriter would ever allow themselves to take a positive attitude towards a player, let's call him Mark Grace, who makes their job easier by being a quote machine, or a negative attitude towards a player, let's call him Barry Bonds, who has little or no interest in talking to the media. Never happens. Never, never, never. Sportswriters are all thorough and professional.

Morrissey is right on target with something he says later in the column, however:

But something is happening in our society, and the blog is a reflection of it. So is TV. So is radio. So, for that matter, is Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Civility is going bye-bye. Public discussion is a bloody fistfight. And it's ok to be vapid as long as you're loud.

Want proof? Here. And here. And here. And the list goes on. Warning...you may need to thoroughly scrub your computer, your eyes, and your hands if you actually try to read any of these links.

At this blog, we believe in civilized discourse. If you don't agree with us, don't call us names, tell us why you disagree. Then we'll re-state our case. And you can re-state yours. That's how it's supposed to be done. Those with different viewpoints are welcome here.