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If you thought the Defamer/David Cross IMterview was a virtual IMquisition, then you'll probably think The Black Table's 'Rock and a Hard Place' chat with MarketWatch.com's Jon Friedman is the cruelest IMterrogation you've ever witnessed.

This interview was so loving, it could've been conducted by Friedman himself, who, like some latter day Will Rogers of the Wild, Wild Web never met a journalist he didn't like. (He also never met one he didn't help out of a tight spot, like accidentally on purpose criticizing her former employers.)

Here's but a sample of A.J. Daulerio's wet-noodle lashing:

BT: Do you like writing for the web better than print? Or do you feel like less of a journalist because of that?
JF: I love to write for the Web and also for what you called "print" journalism (excuuuuuse me, but I do consider the Web to be a form of print journalism). The Web is terrific because it practically encourages the writer to be creative and put his or her opinions and points of view into stories.

Especially if your point of view is sunny! Yay! Does Greil Marcus like puppies? Who doesn't!?!

ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: JON FRIEDMAN, MARKETWATCH.COM. [The Black Table]
Jon Friedman: One of the Good Guys