.Adam Serwer is a serious journalist who writes serious things, often about race, for such publications as the American Prospect. Jimi Izrael is the author of a book of pop psychology / dating advice, "The Denzel Principle: Why Black Women Can't Find Good Black Men," and a contributor to NPR and The Root. For three steady, rapidly deteriorating hours, the two men crossed swords on Twitter over everything from Kanye West to domestic abuse to, yes, tautology. Here it is, misspellings and all, with a few Wire annotations in brackets.
Adam Serwer: I think Jimi Izrael could probably learn a thing or two from Dana Goldstein's post yesterday [Goldstein wrote on domestic violence, a subject Izrael has also written on]
Jimi Izrael (thednzelprncpl): I've written that piece on DV [domestic violence], IPV [intimate partner violence], et al... at least three times... but thanks for the link anyways. KNwldge is power.
Serwer: no I've read your blogging on the subject...that's why I recommended the link
Izrael: I blog a quite bit about DV issues. I know that desn't ft into your prescribed narrative of me, but its a fact. Um. Yeah. "The Misogynist" at it again... lol [Izrael wrote in The Root that Roman Polanski should be castrated]
Serwer: a desire to geld Roman Polanski is, at best, incidental to your views on gender.
Izrael: Since you know, what are my views on gender, exactly?
Serwer: I mean I don't know what's in your heart, but I've seen you quote "Gold Digger" unironically
Izrael: Please tell me you are kidding. Please.
Serwer: please tell me YOU were kidding when you wrote this post [Izrael describes five negative stereotypes of black women]
Izrael: Umm. Yeah. I was. DUH. Did u not see the other peice? satire [Izrael lists ten joke Valentine's Day gifts]
Serwer: yeah man. I read your stuff all the time. The humor doesn't really hide the undercurrent of hostility
Izrael: As long as that analysis makes sense to you, that's all that matters, man. If 1 of my student came up w/ that thesis? INSTANT F.
Serwer: well next time one of your students hands in an assignment 120 characters long, you have my permission to fail them
Izrael: 120 Characters is enough room to pose a decent thesis, son. Dnt blame Twitter because u r experiencing a tautological failure. PSA: Make sure u come correct when u fuck w/me. Name-calling is funny. But be an adult & make a real argument, f'r Christ's sake. U have MY permission to get a late pass. Now. Runteldat.
Serwer: in the meantime, I'll just say that if some1 talked about black people the way you talk about women, you'd be rightfully mad. and you wouldn't take satire as an excuse
Izrael: people talk satirze blacks everyday! so what? my students r college freshman. They r smart enuff to know what satire is. Jesus.
Serwer: well I'm not planning on pepper spraying my girlfriend, so I don't know what I'd learn in your class [Izrael advocated pepper spray for men defending against domestic violence, writing, "women instigate these crack-ups more times than we think"]
Izrael: I teach film and lit, but nice try. And if ur gf attacks you all like that, maybe u need to rechoose, Homie. runteldat
Serwer: okay see that's what I'm talking about. Pepper spray was one of your "suggestions"
Izrael: As an alternative to engaging an attack Um. Yeah. Did u actually read that joint or skim it? Try Again. You help me make my points to dummies, man. You should come work for ME. LOL
Serwer: yeah, people are also smart enough to tell who the joke is really on.
Izrael: To using physical force to defend yourself? Um. Yeah, it is. Again, you should really read the whole thing.. Y're not LD are u?
Serwer: yeah pepper spraying your wife or girlfriend is a great "alternative" to "attacking" them
Izrael: it says right there: "Pepper spray - if I woman comes at you with a blunt object or a weapon." What are u hving a hrd time with?
Serwer: are u tryin 2 convince urself or me that u didn't just come up w/ a scenario justifying injuring them without "hitting" them
Izrael: there is nothing in the text that alludes 2 your thesis. Congratulations on another tautological failure. Care 2 go for three?
Serwer: ure not arguing with me, you're arguing with your own writing. And if u thought u were right u would have dropped it already
Izrael: No. I was gving u due, lstning 2 yr argumnt, bt yr thesis kpt failing over & ovr. Now. Go bck and ply with the girls. Run along.
Serwer: but he's not a misogynist. Way to ether yourself.
Izrael: Don't be a ding-dong, Chad. That's not misogyny. It's sexism. Precise language is important.