B1C11

This chapter has several forum posts that rise in the back of Crystal's mind as she talks to Road. Forum posts are to Crystal are what Bartlett's Familiar Quotations were to generations past.

Which makes me curious, what are the canonical online texts that you can't stop thinking about? This question is not a synonym for "what are tweets that live rent-free in the back of your mind?" I am not interested in the shortform, short-lived content. I have enough brainrot in my life. I am much more interested in the long stuff. Texts like:

• Issendai's study of estranged parents' forums: A blogger's look at how estranged parents talk to each other online. The thesis is that the parents are delusional. A classic in communities where kids discuss their toxic parents.
• Anonymous's Lorde and Jack Antonoff powerpoint: A powerpoint that makes the case that Lorde's album Melodrama includes hints about her hidden romance with Jack Antonoff, her producer. A classic in gossip communities.
• Paul Graham's entire blog: The gospel of starting startups, written by a founder of Y-Combinator, a famous startup incubator. A classic for tech people.
• YMS's Lion King review: A takedown of the 2019 Lion King reboot. A classic in the "video essays about movies" genre.

What are texts that have gained notoriety in your corner of the internet? Please email me your recommendations at [whatever you want]@midtrilogy.com.