Definition and what we're "shooting" for (pardon the pun)

I like that we are working towards a definition of "masturbatory". When you initially started using that word it was, in and of itself, somewhat masturbatory but if we can nail down a hard definition (there I go again) and then use it sparingly (to stop from going blind) I think we might have a new word for Oxford. In fact by Saturday lets do that, come up with a strict dictionary definition. I do some what take issue with your characterization of "masturbatory" referring to something that has no inherent purpose because I think we could all agree that that's not true. However I think I should not delve into this topic much further.

As far as it applies to what we're trying to do here, I think for sure to start this blog is masturbatory, however I think one of the central failings of the newspaper industry as they see blogging as solely masturbatory and see themselves in a much more serious context. I think we need to work hard to make sure this isn't only devoted to our wankery, because I do think we presume to have something to contribute. Whether that is true or not will clearly be borne out by what happens next and I think at least Zach and I do suffer from a certain level of self-importance that has at times been to our detriment. That said, I think that we are starting this in the era Klosterman and Gladwell, writers who think these larger pop-cultural phenomena tell us something central about who we are and I think that this is the conversation we're trying to be a part of. So I don't want to have to stick to hard to a structure if the conversation is moving. I really just want to make sure we're posting as much as possible and I think we could be surprised by where the conversation leads.

In fact, I have one more proposal, I think we don't necessarily have to cut off a conversation if it's evolving at the end of the week. I'm working on my larger piece now, but if we get involved in a conversation I'm sure whoever is working on the longer starting piece that week could save it until the conversation reaches some sort of conclusion. We'll see how it works.

edit-forget the first part of the post, I didn't realize it was already in the dictionary, from 1864 no less! (I am a presumptuous, self-important fool), although I think we could tweak this definition a touch:

Main Entry:
mas·tur·ba·to·ry
Pronunciation:
\ˈmas-tər-bə-ˌtȯr-ē\
Function:
adjective
Date:
1864
1 : of, relating to, or involving masturbation 2 : excessively self-absorbed or self-indulgent
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masturbatory