dave karpf @davekarpf
Aug 26, 2019
This afternoon, I tweeted a brief joke about a well-known NYT op- Ed columnist.
It got 9 likes and 0 retweets. I did not @ him. He does not follow me.
He just emailed me, cc'ing my university provost. He is deeply offended that I called him a metaphorical bedbug.
Alright fine... here is the email:
(Screenshot of the email from Bret Stephens)
From Bret Stephens, New York Times
Stephens, Bret<
to dkarpf, gwprovost
9:10 PM (59 minutes ago)
Dear Dr. Karpf,
Someone just pointed out a tweet you wrote about me, calling me a "bedbug." I'm often amazed about the things supposedly decent people are prepared to say about other people -- people they've never met -- on Twitter. I think you've set a new standard.
I would welcome the opportunity for you to come to my home, meet my wife and kids, talk to us for for a few minutes, and then call me a "bedbug" to my face. That would take some genuine courage and intellectual integrity on your part. I promise to be courteous no matter what you have to say.
Maybe it will make you feel better about yourself.
Please consider this a standing invitation. You are more than welcome to bring your significant other.
Cordially,
Bret Stephens
(Top of screenshot of Prof. Karpf’s original quote-tweet)
Dave Karpf @davekarpf
The bedbugs are a metaphor. The bedbugs are Bret Stephens.
Stuart A. Thompson @stuartathompson
Breaking-There are bedbugs in the NYT newsroom.