A Times interview with Lena Dunham and Michael Ryss about the latest episode of the HBO program "Girls" includes this rendering of a question by Times reporter Amanda Hess:
Lena, one of the most interesting things about the episode is that you can sense your investment in both characters. You're someone who's been outspoken about lifting women's voices, but you've also been put through the ringer online by strangers.
The Times has been outspoken about its desire to cut back on editing, and it has recently lost generations of experienced editors through a series of buyouts, layoffs, and other departures. Maybe the editors were busy with Oscar coverage, or the more experienced folks don't work on Sunday nights. Or maybe one just got through. But I'm pretty sure the phrase is "through the wringer," not "through the ringer." Like a clothes wringer, which is a mechanical device that was used to wring water out of clothing after washing it, before electric or gas-powered laundry dryers came into wide use.