“Constantly purging everyone for some evermore exacting standard of ideological purity seems self-defeating and a waste of energy,̶ ̶b̶a̶d̶l̶y̶ ̶n̶e̶e̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶e̶l̶s̶e̶w̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ .”

The core problem to me is that Merlan doesn’t like this “grifter”, doesn’t feel she’s earned her status and wrote a massively long hit piece about a drunken email.
It’s jealous gossip wrapped up as, what, truth-seeking?

I’m trying to see what she did that’s so horrible, beyond calling someone at work fat and some shitty tweets she’s apologised for.

Everyone fails a purity test at some point.
Constantly purging everyone for some evermore exacting standard of ideological purity seems self-defeating and a waste of energy, badly needed…

lol, because everyone on discussions forums is left wing?  You’re being ridiculous.

No, it's not just from Kotaku. I'm talking in general.

You'd have a point in terms of anonymity if people didn't do this shit on Facebook too, usually with their full names and everything plastered on their posts.

But the big issue right now is not hate. It's journalistic and developer integrity.

"These obtuse shitslingers, these wailing hyper-consumers, these childish internet-arguers — they are not my audience. They don't have to be yours. There is no 'side' to be on, there is no 'debate' to be had."

Someone wrote a violent fanfic where Anita Sarkeesian murders the head of Gearbox, with the help of Spider-Man to make it "wacky". I don't think things like that are right, or remotely constructive. Anita herself said that no amount of fantastic elements can justify depictions of domestic violence, so I would assume…

My Facebook feed would suggest that lack of anonymity isn't the only solution.

Five Guys checking in. Here's an idea, stop promoting talentless, narcissistic, douche-weasels like Anita "Koch" Sarkeesian and Phil "Prison" Fish who whine, bitch, deceive, inveigle, and obfuscate their way to notoriety.

Wait? What's that? You mean you said/did something that was not truly indicative of who you are to make a point or get attention? What a crazy thought. I wonder if I could ever apply that kind of wisdom to other peoples actions? Welp? Nope. They're just plain racist. You're almost certainly the only one clever enough…

Actually, I think it's pretty clear YOU are the racist.

That should be obvious. To get silly reactions from people who think simulated racism is more scary than simulated murder. It works. And that's what is scary.

I can't tolerate your tolerance of shit that I don't tolerate.

That is simply untrue. All headlines are, of course, designed to get your attention... but not all headlines are overtly dishonest in the process.

Think of it more as "click-bait-and-switch" because that is generally what people mean when they use the term. Writers can spend all the time they like thinking up elaborate…

Agreed. Just because people misuse the term that doesn't mean the term is never accurate/appropriate. I've read so many bait-and-switch articles here on Gawker, I find it hilarious to see this article here.

Exactly.
My takeaway: Learn how to write attention-grabbing, but accurate headlines.
Yes, there IS something called clickbait, and it's silly and unprofessional.

I read EXACTLY the following:

But but but journalists have been doing it forever, so they can't be blamed!