Цитаты из книги You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost): A Memoir

And sure, everyone says the best approach to negative comments is “Don’t feed the trolls,” that ignoring negativity is the best policy. This approach is great in theory, but emotionally, it’s HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE.

That early community taught me how wonderful it is to connect with like-minded people. No matter how lonely and isolated and starved for connection you are, there’s always the possibility in the online world that you can find a place to be accepted, or discover a friendship that’s started with the smallest of interests…

From people close to me, to the way my desk was organized, every detail represented being frozen in a situation I couldn’t escape: my life.

I believe the next Oprah Winfrey or George Lucas will not come from a local new desk or college film program. He or she will come from the world of the web. Where the bar to entry is low, and where a group of kids can dream up a story and shoot it in their backyards. Regardless of whether someone gave them permission or…

The internet is amazing because it connects us with one another. But it's also horrific because... it connects us with one another. Whether we want the connection or not. The only real-life analogy I can think of is if a random person were allowed to walk into your home, punch you in the face while you're eating your…

Imagine saying to someone, '' I have a kidney problem, and I'm having a lot of bad days lately.'' Nothing but sympathy, right? ''What's wrong?'' ''My mom had that!'' ''Text me a pic of the ultrasound!'' Then pretend to say, ''I have severe depression and anxiety, and I'm having a lot of bad days lately.'' They just look…

In my childhood world, the sound of a modem dialing up to connect with another computer was the sound of freedom.

I don't need a psychologist to tell me that my love of role-playing games is linked to my childhood quest for self. Link number two: I like killing virtual monsters.

A lot of people mock fandom and fan fiction, like it’s lazy to base your own creativity and passion on someone else’s work. But some of us need a stepping-stone to start. What’s wrong with finding joy in making something, regardless of the inspiration?

I think fan conventions are the epitome of what is fantastic about the internet. And probably why they’ve become so much more popular in the last several years. You’re never weird when you’re surrounded by people who are weird like you, right?