Andrew Marr attacks ‘inadequate, pimpled and single’ bloggers
Andrew Marr has told the Cheltenham Literature Festival:
“A lot of bloggers seem to be socially inadequate, pimpled, single, slightly seedy, bald, cauliflower-nosed, young men sitting in their mother’s basements and ranting. They are very angry people.
“OK – the country is full of very angry people. Many of us are angry people at times. Some of us are angry and drunk. But the so-called citizen journalism is the spewings and rantings of very drunk people late at night.”It is fantastic at times but it is not going to replace journalism.”
“Most of the blogging is too angry and too abusive. It is vituperative.”
“Terrible things are said on line because they are anonymous. People say things on line that they wouldn’t dream of saying in person.”
But I’m surprised at the Marr assault because he is usually so thoughtful. Aside from the paradox of him indulging in a rant to complain about other ranters, it is the one-sidedness of his argument that is so striking.
None of us who write blogs are unaware of vituperative contributions from people who like to remain anonymous.