I don't particularly mind him. He's made mistakes, and has a gob on him, but he's far lower on the cunt scale than people like Paul Merson, Sol Campbell and Thierry Henry.
Not just because they're Arsecunts, but just because I don't find him outwardly offensive. I suspect he's carrying scars from his upbringing, and is possibly bipolar with manic spells.
Canal Digital covered a QPR game some time ago (I think) vs. Spurs, and in the pre-match coverage they ran a 10 min interview, where pundit Mikkel Bischoff interview Barton. That was a clever move, because the two of them were together in the Man City development squad before Bischoffs career went rigobert(song).
Barton was quite reflective of himself (then) and how he and MB had different values, upbringings and mannerisms. He recalled scything down the likes of MB and other dev. players in training and verbally, but mostly because he was young and insecure yet oblivious to their superior talent even then. It was a survival strategy. He even reflected on his playing style, and the reason he's kept it for the reason, that while he may utilised is as a survival strategy as a kid, he realised it worked to a degree even as a senior player. He was basically an open book to the camera and very compassionate to the fact, that MB had his career ended by injuries.
While this doesn't explain his off pitch antics, it gave an impression of a human being, who is very selfaware and plays his act quite conciously.
I'll let be to others to decide, whether that is a compliment to him or nor.