Does Andy Marr’s cap fit?

　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…

Terrible things are said on line because they are anonymous. People say things on line that they wouldn’t dream of saying in person.

– Andrew Marr

Surely not!

“Oh dear an overpaid washed-up TV hack has a tantrum. Poor didums, his pal Tony is no longer a force in British Politics and his Party-Labour-are out of office for the next few years.”

(Commenter in ConservativeHome. Fair comment or making Marr’s point for him?

 Professor Roy Greenslade arbitrates. Although a blogger he’s also a very senior hack.

First off, hundreds of thousands — indeed, millions — of bloggers are perfectly respectable, sensible people who, for a variety of reasons, wish to share their thoughts and opinions with as many people as possible.

Now friend, which  are you?

Brian Walker

Former BBC journalist and manager in Belfast, Manchester and London, Editor Spolight; Political Editor BBC NI; Current Affairs Commissioning editor BBC Radio 4; Editor Political and Parliamentary Programmes, BBC Westminster; former London Editor Belfast Telegraph. Hon Senior Research Fellow, The Constitution Unit, Univ Coll. London