Yes. That's what makes ethics hard. According to alex, the "critical difference" is anonymity. On this dimension, the sympathetic figure and the big jerk do no

Yes. That's what makes ethics hard. According to alex, the "critical difference" is anonymity. On this dimension, the sympathetic figure and the big jerk do not differ. So if he is correct about anonymity, then they are indeed comparable. The point is to test whether he really believes his stated principle or whether it's merely a convenient justification to criticize big jerks that he dislikes. If you think that's not right, that's fine. Then come up with your own principle separating Emil Michael's journalism proposal from Pando/Valleywag. I'll repeat this exercise - trying to come up with a sympathetic figure on the other side of your principle and see if you still support the conclusions. That's how you test whether your ethical principles are really valid.