Bret Stephens - 'Bedbug'

Did you know that referring to someone as a "bedbug" sets a new standard of incivility on Twitter?

I didn't realize how explosive the term is.

Bret Stephens of the New York Times has enlightened us.

He was horrified when Dave Karpf, an associate professor at George Washington University, joked about Stephens being a bedbug.

The bedbugs are a metaphor. The bedbugs are Bret Stephens. https://t.co/k4qo6QzIBW

— davekarpf (@davekarpf) August 26, 2019

Oh, the horror!

Karpf explains:

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.

— davekarpf (@davekarpf) August 27, 2019

Karpf tweeted the email from Stephens:

Alright fine... here is the email: pic.twitter.com/A4E5I6CoB6

— davekarpf (@davekarpf) August 27, 2019

Stephens writes:

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 my home, meet my wife and kids, talk to us 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

That is hilarious!

"Call me a 'bedbug' to my face!"

Stephens cannot take a joke.

Of course, Stephens can say President Trump is "either mentally unwell or morally unfit. Maybe both."

Spewing those accusations on NBC's Meet the Press is no problem, but an innocuous tweet about being a metaphorical bedbug is such a personal affront that Stephens felt it necessary to email the offender and cc his university provost.

I question Stephens' mental state and moral fitness.

He made need some medical care or counseling.