Protein Wisdom is a popular conservative and libertarian weblog, created by erstwhile academic Jeff Goldstein (a self-described classical liberal), that found itself thrust into the national spotlight after a series of attacks from left-wing blogger Deborah Frisch.
Protein Wisdom is a member of Pajamas Media. As of April 2007 the site has had more than seven million hits. It was ranked the 68th biggest political blog in 2006 by The Truth Laid Bear. Goldstein is noted for his surrealistic posts, best captured in such series as "red pills found behind the sofa cushions,"[1] and "the protein wisdom conceptual series",[2], as well as for satirical items (one of which was picked up by Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post[3]), and discussions of hermeneutics (from an intentionalist stance[4]), with a concentration on how interpretive strategies both inform and reinforce certain philosophical assumptions and, by extension, social policies. Goldstein is particularly critical of identity politics,[5], racialism[6] and contemporary boutique multiculturalism.[7]
He also writes seriously about politics and popular culture, and has posted an ongoing series of original (tongue-in-cheek) poetry.[8]
Jeff Goldstein
Goldstein is a writer living in Colorado. He has a Bachelor's degree from Towson University (MD), where he received a Dean of Liberal Arts scholarship and graduated with both general and departmental honors (with an emphasis on the fiction of Flannery O'Connor); he did his graduate work at Johns Hopkins and the University of Denver, where, while studying fiction writing under (among others) Rikki Ducornet, he taught literature, rhetoric, and writing. He also spent two summers at The School of Criticism and Theory, Cornell University, where he studied under Walter Benn Michaels and Catherine Gallagher.
Goldstein devised and co-chaired an international conference on the intersection between creative writing and literary theory (1996: plenary speakers, Gerald Graff and Marjorie Perloff) that has since become a signature event of the University of Denver English Department (most recently held in Oct 2005).
The Frisch Incident
A left-wing blogger named Deborah Frisch started writing comments at Protein Wisdom on July 4, 2006. Two days later, she wrote "You live in Colorado, I see. Hope no one JonBenets your baby." She then added: "I reiterate: If some nutcase kidnapped your child tomorrow and did to him what was done to your fellow Coloradan, JonBenet Ramsey, I wouldn't give a damn."[9] Outraged bloggers and blog readers sent hundreds of e-mails to Frisch and the University of Arizona where she was an adjunct lecturer in psychology. She resigned and apologized,[10] saying "I don’t think professors* should do that. I crossed the line."[11] A month later, she complained about being stalked by "rabid, crazy, right-wing nutcases."[12] Soon after, Frisch attacked Goldstein again, posting a picture of him as "Count Cockula" and naming his two-year-old. Goldstein then reported Frisch to the FBI.[9] He later obtained a Restraining Order and preliminary injunction against her. Conservative bloggers have reported cyberstalking and other strange behavior by Dr. Frisch since then.[13]
Goldstein temporarily handed Protein Wisdom over to a group of guest bloggers after this incident.
In July 2007, Goldstein took another temporary break from blogging to deal with continued harassment from Frisch.[14]
- In fact, Frisch was apparently not a Professor, merely an instructor, and an adjunct one at that.
References
- ^ Goldstein, Jeff. red pills behind the sofa cushions. Protein Wisdom.
- ^ Goldstein, Jeff. the protein wisdom conceptual series. Protein Wisdom.
- ^ Kurtz, Howard. "Strafing the Speaker", The Washington Post, February 9, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ Goldstein, Jeff (May 16, 2006). Somebody’s been hitting the frozen rum drinks, I see! (UPDATED). Protein Wisdom. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ "Goldstein, Jeff (December 1, 2005). "Defining the terms: racism, feminism, and the problem of identity politics". Protein Wisdom. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Goldstein, Jeff (Jan 17, 2007). "There's no such thing as 'race," (and it's a good thing, too)". Protein Wisdom. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Goldstein, Jeff (September 1, 2006). "The Limits of Boutique Multiculturalism". Protein Wisdom. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
- ^ Goldstein, Jeff. The protein wisdom original poems. Protein Wisdom.
- ^ a b Calhoun, Patricia. "Blog Eat Blog", Denver Westword, July 20, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ Smith, Kim. "UA lecturer resigns over blogs furor", Arizona Daily Star, July 11, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ "Blogger returns to Eugene amid criticism", Associated Press via The News-Review, July 17, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ Hume, Brit. "Professor Goes Postal",
Special Report with Brit Hume, Fox News Channel, July 12, 2006.
Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
(In fact, Frisch was not a Professor, merely an instructor, and an adjunct one at that.) - ^ Deborah Frisch Timeline.
- ^ Goldstein, Jeff (July 12, 2007). Thanks, everyone. Protein Wisdom. Retrieved on 2007-07-13.
External links
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