Something's in the Air

I've noticed Liberal hacks are fine tuning and revising their blogs following Kinsella's sexist gaffe. Yesterday Kinsella himself on his blog entry had a link to an article which read something very close to "More on my cookies cock-up". It's been edited out so I can't reproduce it exactly. But I remember it because I thought to myself a "cock-up"? Probably not the best choice of words given his recent antics. Today Kinsella's entry has been revised to read "More on dumb cookies joke."

I'm guessing Warren thought better than to use phallocentric language to help this mess go away. Either that or he has received enough edification from all those who've attempted to attenuate his comments that he now feels it's ok to make a joke about it. If Kinsella wants to single out Randy Hillier's regressive social views, he should just do so plainly. But he should be under no illusion that his recent unwitting manifestation of sexism is any less insidious and detrimental to women.

At the same time Derek Raymaker, Warren's sycophantic band mate, removed from his blog all references to women (and on occasion a man) as "douchebags", and was kind enough to replace each reference with the word "psychopath". Seems he's now partial to calling women he doesn't like a "heinous cow". Seems he's also no longer on Kinsella's blogroll. Way to have your pal's back Warren. Raymaker, still voting Liberal?

Hmm, interesting trains of thought. With friends like these women don't need enemies.

I'm also wondering about the netiquette around this kind of thing. As journalism, and other forms of articulation, become less hard copy and more transient, ubiquitous, easily edited and revised forms of human expression, what accommodations must the term "publish" make? Once a post is published what are the ethics around editing and revising that entry? As someone who's not wholly innocent of this either, I think this a very important question.

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Update:

It would appear these guys are really mired in "damage control" mode. First Kinsella cleans up his blog. Next, Raymaker, whose metier is hurling insolent and puerile (thanks for the word of the week Warren) attacks, has, in a delicious irony, suddenly begun moderating the comments on his own blog.

Update 2:

In the old days it was the shredder that went into overdrive in these situations, now it seems all it takes is the click of a button. Derek Raymaker went from referring to Parkdale High Park MPP, Cheri DiNovo, as a "douchebag", which he attenuated with the much more edifying term "psychopath". And now, the blog entry has been deleted altogether. I've kept a record for any out there curious to read it.