Barrett Brown has a list of five points in an earlier article:

1. It is impossible to argue with a crowd of people who are constantly reinforcing each other’s opinions.

2. Large groups of like-minded people, even when presented with facts to the contrary, will nonetheless advance false assertions.

3. The blogosphere cannot only be a useful means of advancing information that might otherwise be left untouched by the traditional media, but may also be a means by which nonsense is incubated, spread, and implemented.

4. It is important to ridicule people who damage the national discourse.

5. The internet is serious business.

All of them are relevant to this discussion. Number 4 is the only one with some fun involved.

It is hard work to call out bigots, especially when people you thought were not bigots tell you you are wrong to do so. Even here at LGF bigots can find support as well as condemnation. The balance is shifting, though. I am starting to believe that if the Repubs don’t kick out the racists, the 2010 elections will give them another wake-up call like the one they ignored in 2008.