Ezra Klein: Sigh

June 28, 2007

Sigh

I thought the word "fisking" had died. Can we please not bring it back? Not only is it ugly and vaguely obscene, but it smears a real journalist who's spent decades putting himself in the sort of danger that the brave warbloggers who courageously insert snarky comments between blockquotes can't even imagine.

June 28, 2007 | Permalink

Comments

I wouldn't bet against pro warbloggers ability to imagine things, particularly their own bravery.

Posted by: ChrisB | Jun 28, 2007 11:22:03 AM

Thank you. I think you're absolutely right about this.

Of course, to follow in Elizabeth Edwards' steps, I think you might want to repeat your request in both Beutler's as well as Yglesias' comments directly.

Posted by: jerry | Jun 28, 2007 11:49:09 AM

I'm confused. Is your objection with the word, or the practice as well? Fisking seems analogous to the line-by-line technique used in policy arguments. Snarky and annoying, to be sure, but completely within bounds.

I actually link the word's homosexual undertones more with Andrew Sullivan than with Robert Fisk when I read the word, as I believe Sullivan was the the most prominent warblogger to widely *ahem* employ the method.

Posted by: sangfroid826 | Jun 28, 2007 2:09:17 PM

the word's homosexual undertones

I don't get it. Of course, I may not be the world's foremost authority on "homosexual overtones," in the same way that fish aren't the world's foremsot authorities on water . . .

Posted by: rea | Jun 28, 2007 3:22:35 PM

The word is purposely meant to evoke fisting (you will excuse me for not providing a demonstrative link). Although the practice is not specific to any sexual orientation, within the medical community the behavior is more commonly associated with gay men.

Posted by: sangfroid826 | Jun 28, 2007 3:36:08 PM

Why the hell is the Wikipedia entry on that term so long and detailed? Who the hell cares that much?

And sorry Sangfroid826, but I thought of "frisking" first and "fisting"...well, not at all until your comment. And since neither implication comports with what the word "fisking" actually means, I'm not sure why anybody uses the term at all.

Posted by: Xanthippas | Jun 28, 2007 3:49:23 PM

Because you're unable to see how the implication comports with what the word means, does not mean implication is not there. The subject of both practices are recipient of considerable unpleasantness. I'm not going to spell out why the one practice is like the other. As Ezra said, it's vaguely obscene. But I wasn't quite so aware of the word's unfortunate political history. So I guess I should stop using it.

Posted by: sangfroid826 | Jun 28, 2007 4:22:03 PM

I guess I'm not familiar with the term, "fisting," either, much less able to associate it with "fisking," but hell, I've only been having gay sex for 35 years, so I probably have a lot to learn.

Posted by: rea | Jun 28, 2007 5:36:25 PM

I've only been having gay sex for 35 years, so I probably have a lot to learn.
Indeed, but there's always google.

Posted by: sangfroid826 | Jun 28, 2007 6:12:30 PM

I've only been having gay sex for 35 years, so I probably have a lot to learn.

Fisting not just for gays!

Posted by: Jason G. | Jun 28, 2007 8:24:32 PM

What I hate about the practice is just how damned lazy it is. Read the piece. Digest the main point. Make your argument. Arguing with every fucking comma may take more time, but it's really only for the lazy or stupid, i.e. those who can't or won't understand an argument before they try to rebut it.

Posted by: MikeJ | Jun 28, 2007 10:35:04 PM

Hell, I'd rather if someone decided to subject Jonah Goldberg to a fisting. It might reach his brain.

Posted by: Glenn Fayard | Jun 29, 2007 1:17:13 AM

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