Letters to the Editor
-
A New Low
The Sloane Crosley piece represents a new low for Salon. The Salon I once knew existed as a sort of ideological cultural opposition to oblivious, supercilious manifestations of pop culture. I might have expected a thoughtful essay analyzing the publication of stories and novels by privileged, connected young and pretty (vacant) white girls as both cause and symptom of the decline of literacy, the irrelevance of mainstream publishing, and also of the public's increasing disinterest in matters literary; but an excerpt offered as something any literate adult could find as anything other than repugnant? It's a joke, right?
Now that Tim Grieve is gone, Glenn Greenwald is all Salon has left. Greenwald, disingenuous pro-Hillary propaganda disguised as thoughtful, serious commentary, and now this -- promotion of the puerile. If Greenwald ever leaves, I wonder who will actually remain to help Joan Walsh clean up the place for new tenants?
Hillary I guess. They owe each other that much.
-
This is a writer to watch
I'm surprised at all the carping about this article. I kept thinking as I was reading this what an entertaining, sharp and refreshing young writer this is. I think it's exceptional stuff, and funny. And no, I'm not her doting uncle. Sloane Crosley should be encouraged to write, write, write. She's brilliant, and I hopes she'll be amusing us all for years to come.
-
What?
Who is Sloane Crosley and why should we care? Another dull person pretending to be a fascinating memoirist? Yawn.
-
Boring
I thought this piece was too boring to read through completely, but I am shocked by the targeted venom in the letters section. People seem angry that she's pretty and white. If the letters section was full of attacks on a writer for being ugly and black would that be tolerated?
-
@ Mizmoon
Umm, I don't think the vitriol directed towards the author is because she is pretty and white.
It seems to be more because she is (or puts herself across as)a vapid navel-gazer...and frankly, over the years Salon has done more to champion such people as "writers" {Debra Dickerson, anyone?} than people who actually have any acuity or depth of writing talent.
Alice Sebold is also pretty (to me, at any rate) and white - but if Salon chose to publish an excerpt from one of her, I'm guessing the response would be quite different.
-
silly...
This cutsie pie article is very silly. The author needs to get over herself -- or be a bit more honest or self-aware.
First, one-night stands are, by definition, not romantic. And, if you are fearful and self-conscious about being thought a "slut," it might give you a clue that you shouldn't continue to romanticize about having a one-night stand.
One-night stands are usually not "planned." They are generally "situational." A combination of time, place, mood, intake of liquor and chemistry.
But the bottom line is this: If a woman wants to get laid, she can get laid. Period. If she doesn't want to get laid, she doesn't get laid. Period.
I am not saying it will be a wonderful experience with a great guy -- but she will get laid if that is her goal.
I could be wrong, but is hard to believe this young woman is as naive as she portrays herself in this article.
-
Not Good
I really like a nice, silly human interest story – especially if it’s about sex. But this story was poorly written and way, way too self involved.
This is the sort of thing I might expect to read in 17 Magazine and I want Salon to be better than that.
-
I think it's sweet
I think it's funny to have romantic notions about something so anti-romantic as a one night stand. But that's a very human conundrum. One that I enjoyed reading about. Thank you.
-
Who cares?
Save it for your MySpace friends, toots.
-
Now it's the headliner?
Is anyone babysitting the site?
I've got nothing against editors helping out their friends per se; I've got nothing against chicks getting published because they have connections. But they really do need to be able to write. Cintra Wilson, another chick with connections, could write; her excerpt on Salon made me choke up, fall out of my chair laughing, then rush out and buy her book. Sloane Crosley, not so much.
To be featured as the headline article for the whole site, an article really ought to have some substance, don't you think? Except for a handful of people who seem to have the patronizing attitude that it's mean to criticize the art of a kid who posted a picture on the fridge, everyone seems pretty much in agreement that this article has no substance.
This isn't a fridge, it's a major news source.
-
The venom is remarkable
One better emerge out of the womb with a cigar in one's fist, cussing, and butt ugly if one is to be taken seriously as a writer or, indeed, as a person.
What does this say about Americans? Am I imagining that in Europe this author's confessions might be taken more charitably?
The animosity probably IS a class and gender thing. The last time I remembered such venom was among catty high school girls.
Maybe some of us cherish innocence.
-
Who cares?
Save it for a MySpace bulletin, toots.
-
For heaven's sake
This was a harmless, charming little excerpt. I quite enjoyed it, even. Salon is a magazine; there are "important" pieces and there are pop culture pieces and there are personal essays like this one. You can read about China or the economy or Jeremiah Wright quite easily without being subjected to anything else. This can be accomplished by reading another publication, or simply by clicking only on the things you want to read. Honestly, it's very simple.
I enjoyed it, but even if you didn't, you have to acknowledge that these kinds of articles do have a place in a magazine like this one. And at the very least, it wasn't yet another whiny sanctimonious diatribe about how hard it is to be a wealthy white suburban mother. I think we can all agree that's a good thing.
-
Yes, Pretty Trite
But as long as the book has photos...if you follow me....I'm so there.