I've spent time pondering on Harlan the raconteur vs Harlan the jerk (what kept popping to mind was Ellison groping Connie Willis's breast onstage at the 2006 Hugo Awards ceremony).

I think it may not be possible to draw a distinction between them, which is what a lot of people seem to be wrestling with. When I was disappointed by his behavior, it was at a distance. Other people got both versions up close and personal, or got just the one but witnessed the other, and I don't think there's any way to deal with that kind of dissonance but acknowledge it. I wish he had been better at being a social conscience without punching down. I'm not sure it's that difficult.