The context in which I heard about Gee’s postings and read MacMillan’s article was one of “Blogs in Education”.

I read it on the blog of a then-SJSU professor who was concerned about the implications of Gee’s actions.

If you’re familiar at all with any of the current rhetoric getting bounced around on “blogs in education” then you know there are some folks who will happily cry out “See! No profblogging aloud, because they might talk about their students’ bodies!”

But a posting on a message board for journalists is far different from writing something on your personal blog, especially if you’re an educator.

So that’s the context.

If I write “things in my blog that would sound pompous and pathetic and self-absorbed on a message board,” as you say, then perhaps you’re reading different message boards. I’m certain I sound pompous, pathetic, and self-absorbed everywhere. If I didn’t want to read my own writing, I wouldn’t write.

I assume you saw this already, but just in case,
here’s MacMillan admitting to the factual error and asking what difference it makes.

Here’s Dan Gillmor’s point of view.