Pulling Punches

Is it me, or is there a disturbance in the force?  Something about the tone and content of the blogosphere changed over the last couple of months.

Om and Jeremy sensed it as individuals. Bribery and ads in their first incantations.  There is a lot of talk of money these days, and new entrants are muting us and future bloggers.  The venture-backed stopped blogging a while ago.  Maybe we are all busy making money.  Maybe we don't want to say anything that would prevent us from doing so. 

But my take is that people are pulling punches these days. Even those who thrive on controversy or debate.  Heck, I'll admit I am (and regret it).  Its a shame, as this is just as much or more a defining moment as before.

I might be wrong, as this is a gross generalization. But I have a question for the more elder stateswomen and men of blogging.  Over the last five years or so, you pulled a punch or two when things were changing, something became more formal and context was shifting. 

Has the statute of limitations been surpassed enough to share what that was?  I'm not looking for idle gossip, but there has got to be something you regret not blogging as you intended.  Something we can learn from, just at the time when we need to retain the community that keeps us blogging.