I used to take abuse in print and dish it out, but now I’ve become more squeamish
A few weeks ago I appeared on the Today programme opposite David Denby, the veteran American film critic. He is the author of a book called Snark in which he takes issue with the nasty, personal tone that characterises a lot of contemporary political discourse, and I had been wheeled out to defend the hacks and bloggers who trade in this tittle-tattle. I cannot complain about being cast in this role, not least because I wrote a very snarky review of Denby’s book for the Wall Street Journal, but I am beginning to think he may have a point.
My change of heart occurred when I opened the Guardian on 27 August. A journalist called John Crace had been given almost a full page in which to launch a bilious attack on me in connection with my plans to start a free school in Acton.
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