Before landing on this page, you and I were only separated by a mere three degrees. Now we can be one on the web. That's not the definition of technological singularity but it should be.
With this tumblog, I promise kittens and balls of yarn for the kittens to play with. There will be some making out and a lot of hand-holding. I hope that when you are lonely and lost on the outmost corners of the interweb, you can come here and find yrself and feel the good vibrations. You are special and no one can touch that!
Your Pal Mal
JESSICA:: The internet is a cruel place. How do you deal with criticism that may be lobbed your way?
TAO LIN:: I think I view abstract criticism and praise with medium to severe detachment that is at times wry, uncomprehending, or amused. I look at the computer screen with a neutral facial expression while my brain processes that the shit-talking or praising information that is there is not going to concretely affect my life in concrete reality of going to the grocery store, eating watermelon, reading books on my bed, and eating dinner in a restaurant. If someone criticizes my concrete actions in concrete reality, I do take that into account and think about what I have done. For example, if someone says I caused 10,000 people or cows to feel physical pain I will think, “I shouldn’t have caused 10,000 people or cows to feel physical pain, I think,” and then probably do something to prevent that from happening in the future. If someone criticizes my non-rhetorical writing, or if I am feeling really existential and like my life is “art,” then I don’t really think about it, I just think, “There is no good or bad in art,” in a quiet monotone and then do something else.
