On Simon Dumenco’s critique of the pay system at Gawker media:

I think Denton is responsible for creating websites that tend to (at times) spew a lot of hate-filled more-derogatory-and-disparaging-than-thou crap … and I should know.

I’ve been muckraked not just on Gawker, but Wonkette and Valleywag, with a post or two on Jezebel and Defamer. I’ve been ripped to shreds, built back up (passive-aggressively), and ripped apart again. Over the years, their posts have destroyed relationships, almost gotten me fired, humiliated me, enraged me and made me cry.

I’m not sure what’s sadder … that they’ve so frequently fucked with me, or that I keep forgiving them. Or maybe the saddest part, more than anything, is that I genuinely liked most - if not ALL - of the writers as people.

I don’t think they made good choices, but then again, (frequently) neither did I. The difference? I hurt only myself. They hurt a lot of people - not just me - and significantly.

But you know what? I’m really fucking tired of the bloggers ACTUALLY WRITING ON THOSE SITES hiding behind “Denton-made-me-do-it” excuse. NO ONE is making you do ANYTHING. You don’t HAVE to write for Gawker or Valleywag or Defamer or Wonkette. You chose to take that job, and then you chose to write nasty, angry, derisive, bitter crap that didn’t contribute a damn to anything but your own soul’s rot. You chose to dick over your friends, colleagues, and random people who did nothing to deserve your ire, but by doing so, you only dicked yourself over.

The poison put forth by the commenters is about as close to pure evil as I’ve ever seen in writing … but it’s the glee they take in tearing apart human beings with their sad little barbs that has literally made me nauseous. It’s revolting. And it’s no one’s responsiblity but their own.

So, writers/bloggers/commenters/faux journalists of America: STOP BLAMING EVERYONE BUT YOURSELVES … and yeah, that includes Nick Denton.

He can’t force you to work for him.

I should know. ;)