Or at least he is according to one Sunny Hundal, who in the comments [over at Pickled Politics wrote]:

“I’m quite disappointed someone like Francis, who used to be the epitome of good natured intellectual discussion, has let himself dragged into the gutter by constantly calling other journalists / commentators silly names. But I expect that what happens when you hang around that dimwitted Will bloke. I expect she [G Henry] got annoyed at his hat:tip because Will is the kind to launch the most stupidest and expletive-filled attacks on anyone who doesn’t follow his narrow world-view.”

…and in another comment about Will specifically:

“You couldn’t make this shit up. I’m not surprised so many journalists hate bloggers. He’s like Devil’s Kitchen. [note –(I Will — have added this link — just for ease of comparison)] Another inbred who spends too much time in his pyjamas railing at the world and smug in his self-righteousness, ready to call others anti-semitic or sexist with ease. Sheesh.”

Our Will is perfectly capable of defending himself, and will no doubt do so in his own inimitable way.

But it looks to me like I’m being libelled by Hundal.

I know I’m a grumpy old man, and occasionally display a lack of civility in my comments about those who could bore for England on matters of religion. But where exactly is this “constantly calling other journalists/commentators silly names”? And, more importantly, where is the name calling in the mocking piece about Madeleine Bunting that was rejected by Comment is Free?

As for Hundal’s reference to intellectual discussion, if “thinker and writer” Madeleine Bunting were to put in the effort and engage in such, maybe people would address her arguments and not be so terribly beastly toward her.

Regarding esteemed Comrade Will, Hundal would no doubt have me dissociate myself from him. Sorry, but I’m not playing. Fellow Drink-Soaked Trots may now and then mock Will for his coarse tongue, but self-righteous and dimwitted are certainly not terms I would use to describe him.

I make no apologies for my drama queen resignation from the Comment is Free writers roster, and to be perfectly honest I cannot even bring myself to read the site most days. Comment is Free is neither blog nor journalism, and commenters there often put writers to shame with the high quality of their responses. That applies also to me and Hundal. Several of my articles have been complete turkeys. I’ll leave it to others to comment on Hundal’s oeuvre.

Comment journalism has in recent years gone down the toilet, and the problem extends beyond the Guardian. Having poor-quality newspaper and online opinion pieces open to instant response leads to often vitriolic comments, which in turn encourage throwaway, contrarian and nasty writing. The result is that Comment is Free and sites with similar grand pretensions have become moral and political cesspits.

Hat tip: Will