Ooo it looks like I’m the first one to comment! So yeah yeah yeah you!! And omg people who don’t “get” Shalom, well their comments mean nothing! Like, if you don’t get Larry David don’t watch Curb Your Enthusiasm. Can’t make you like it. So basically I’m just here to cheer you on as one of your huge fans. Discovering you and Oldster a few years ago truly has enlightened me. I’m nearly 61 and see an aspect of myself in almost every essay - including Shalom’s! Thank you Sari. Fuck the haters. Embrace the lovers!
I was thinking about Susan Orlean's questionnaire this morning -- I don't know why I always thought she was about five years older than I am. I'm almost 57, and when I read that she is turning 68, it was weirdly like, Oh, there's nothing to fear about the 60s. She is as relevant as ever.
I also loved what she said about the writers at the New Yorker who became more themselves as they aged (Lillian Ross died at 99 and Roger Angell died at 101).
I’m baffled that anyone can be truly offended at Oldster. It’s so…gentle. Which isn’t to say that there isn’t heavy relevant stuff there. But there is so much clickbaity edgelordy crap out there that exists to offend and this is just…real.
I love your comments section. I love that people feel comfortable mentioning how old they are. I love that older people (than me 😊) frequent the comments.
Sari, I am sorry that you felt you had to explain yourself (and Oldster) to the insensitive and mean. Even if there were doubts for some of the readers, the fact that *you* published Shalom’s essay on your Oldster should have been enough explanation. Sigh …
You are right in that everyone is entitled to their disagreement on anything they read, but disagreement can be done in a kind way (and also silently). The joke is on the jerks.
I'm glad you deleted the comments you didn't want to host. Part of the strategy of attack comments is demanding the time and attention, especially of women, to take seriously the way we are evaluated. We don't have to care about how we are evaluated. It's not our job to mediate that. People have the rest of the internet to complain, anywhere but in my house and to my face.
Oh Sari and Shalom, this is just bullshit. I remember noting when I read the interview that Shalom (whom I read separately as well) was very brave with his slams. However, in no way did I think he was trying to undermine the mag and the other authors. Gah... I want to be more positive about people, but we really do just suck a lot. Not always, but when we do, it's a doozy. You guys have so many fans who love you. And as for toxic positivity, I mentioned that phrase to my psychologist recently and she laughed. There's nothing toxic about positivity. Fake it til you make it has worked for many of us.
I think aging, just like starting puberty or going through your 20’s, 30’s, etc- has its parts that outright suck and some that are fabulous for some common reasons. But what makes Oldster great is you are capturing individual experiences of getting older.
It’s not telling middle age and above to go run marathons, model swimwear, start their second or third multi million company, to stop time itself, etc. There are people of various backgrounds, life experiences, work pursuits, temperaments, senses of humor, etc who have contributed to the questionnaire. Shalom has his own unique voice and humor that is needed in this world. Just as yours is needed and all the voices you bring forward. Thank you for keeping it real.
And punk rock is about disruption to old systems and institutions-meaning instead of us going into our collective middle age and beyond boxes and stereotypes- many of us are asking- is aging just one way, one look, one perspective?
I like reading Oldster because it’s less about opinions (of how one should age) and more about what it actually feels like to individuals. Your contributors’ experiences of aging vary and that makes it so worthwhile to me.
I kind of wish I'd come earlier to Shalom's party, because I arrived after the offensive comments were deleted. I have no idea what people could have taken offense to, but I'd have loved to see it. Realistically, though, you're right, a fight breaks out in the comments section and takes away from the real beauty of the piece. My sense is, without reading the hurtful comments, that many people are suffering and alone. They lash out. They probably don't mean to hurt others.
Ooo it looks like I’m the first one to comment! So yeah yeah yeah you!! And omg people who don’t “get” Shalom, well their comments mean nothing! Like, if you don’t get Larry David don’t watch Curb Your Enthusiasm. Can’t make you like it. So basically I’m just here to cheer you on as one of your huge fans. Discovering you and Oldster a few years ago truly has enlightened me. I’m nearly 61 and see an aspect of myself in almost every essay - including Shalom’s! Thank you Sari. Fuck the haters. Embrace the lovers!
I was thinking about Susan Orlean's questionnaire this morning -- I don't know why I always thought she was about five years older than I am. I'm almost 57, and when I read that she is turning 68, it was weirdly like, Oh, there's nothing to fear about the 60s. She is as relevant as ever.
I also loved what she said about the writers at the New Yorker who became more themselves as they aged (Lillian Ross died at 99 and Roger Angell died at 101).
I’m baffled that anyone can be truly offended at Oldster. It’s so…gentle. Which isn’t to say that there isn’t heavy relevant stuff there. But there is so much clickbaity edgelordy crap out there that exists to offend and this is just…real.
I love your comments section. I love that people feel comfortable mentioning how old they are. I love that older people (than me 😊) frequent the comments.
Sari, I am sorry that you felt you had to explain yourself (and Oldster) to the insensitive and mean. Even if there were doubts for some of the readers, the fact that *you* published Shalom’s essay on your Oldster should have been enough explanation. Sigh …
You are right in that everyone is entitled to their disagreement on anything they read, but disagreement can be done in a kind way (and also silently). The joke is on the jerks.
Thank you to you and Shalom. I enjoyed the piece!
Love Laurie’s no nonsense approach to nonsense!
I'm glad you deleted the comments you didn't want to host. Part of the strategy of attack comments is demanding the time and attention, especially of women, to take seriously the way we are evaluated. We don't have to care about how we are evaluated. It's not our job to mediate that. People have the rest of the internet to complain, anywhere but in my house and to my face.
Love the entire essay. And particularly this: "Five assholes aren’t going to take it away from me."
Oh Sari and Shalom, this is just bullshit. I remember noting when I read the interview that Shalom (whom I read separately as well) was very brave with his slams. However, in no way did I think he was trying to undermine the mag and the other authors. Gah... I want to be more positive about people, but we really do just suck a lot. Not always, but when we do, it's a doozy. You guys have so many fans who love you. And as for toxic positivity, I mentioned that phrase to my psychologist recently and she laughed. There's nothing toxic about positivity. Fake it til you make it has worked for many of us.
I think aging, just like starting puberty or going through your 20’s, 30’s, etc- has its parts that outright suck and some that are fabulous for some common reasons. But what makes Oldster great is you are capturing individual experiences of getting older.
It’s not telling middle age and above to go run marathons, model swimwear, start their second or third multi million company, to stop time itself, etc. There are people of various backgrounds, life experiences, work pursuits, temperaments, senses of humor, etc who have contributed to the questionnaire. Shalom has his own unique voice and humor that is needed in this world. Just as yours is needed and all the voices you bring forward. Thank you for keeping it real.
And punk rock is about disruption to old systems and institutions-meaning instead of us going into our collective middle age and beyond boxes and stereotypes- many of us are asking- is aging just one way, one look, one perspective?
Hell no. And thank goodness.
I like reading Oldster because it’s less about opinions (of how one should age) and more about what it actually feels like to individuals. Your contributors’ experiences of aging vary and that makes it so worthwhile to me.
I kind of wish I'd come earlier to Shalom's party, because I arrived after the offensive comments were deleted. I have no idea what people could have taken offense to, but I'd have loved to see it. Realistically, though, you're right, a fight breaks out in the comments section and takes away from the real beauty of the piece. My sense is, without reading the hurtful comments, that many people are suffering and alone. They lash out. They probably don't mean to hurt others.