tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post1927582385536073425..comments2024-02-03T05:13:04.437-05:00Comments on Reader of Depressing Books: tao lin: 'is he a fraud,' 'is he a malicious person,' 'can he be trusted,' and 'does he lie to people to gain free cash,' 'the official post'Tao Linhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04807160197099916059noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-60346533089870601462019-11-19T11:52:38.384-05:002019-11-19T11:52:38.384-05:00you're real af tao, forget the hatersyou're real af tao, forget the hatersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-63573628223398592662011-09-12T04:33:35.868-04:002011-09-12T04:33:35.868-04:00Tao Lin writes things that make me feel less lonel...Tao Lin writes things that make me feel less lonely & more ok with being alone, when I'm alone. in my worldview, that's the highest 'achievement' an artist can try for. he seems very diligent & like he 'follows up' on things. I am a good judge of character & I think Tao is an honest person more than he is a dishonest person. ok enough now, that's what I needed to say.Jenn Schafferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17896941766262649632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-40744633308782639822010-08-05T17:56:35.555-04:002010-08-05T17:56:35.555-04:00i entered tao lin's contest.
at the deadline i...i entered tao lin's contest.<br />at the deadline i had the essay with the longest wordcount<br /><br />i did not win<br /><br />details here <a href="http://richardyatesessay.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">http://richardyatesessay.blogspot.com/</a>adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10893740548007878923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-22271204632843157822009-01-01T20:33:00.000-05:002009-01-01T20:33:00.000-05:00Okay, I see that my math, or attention span, was w...Okay, I see that my math, or attention span, was way off. 10% each, not 6 shares that total 10%.<BR/><BR/>That's a good deal.Caleb Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14944476699414053034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-11892097275499798942009-01-01T15:54:00.000-05:002009-01-01T15:54:00.000-05:00All the more power to you. Six $2,000 shares = $12...All the more power to you. <BR/><BR/>Six $2,000 shares = $12,000, and thus for a shareholder to make money your royalties must make $120,000. <BR/><BR/>That's pretty successful. I also think it's possible. That's part of the beauty of gambling. No one is being taken advantage of. <BR/><BR/>If Tao Lin markets well, who knows what will happen, but for some people $2,000 bucks is not so much, and for a writer, $2,000 can buy a lot of time. <BR/><BR/>Good luck.<BR/>http://calebpowell.wordpress.comCaleb Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14944476699414053034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-69226189425397454062008-10-02T19:29:00.000-04:002008-10-02T19:29:00.000-04:00tao is good people. and i am always right.tao is good people. and i am always right.carmichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03782926769375092991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-51445696125157352622008-08-21T03:31:00.000-04:002008-08-21T03:31:00.000-04:00At the end of 2007, in advance of my interview wit...At the end of 2007, in advance of my interview with Tao Lin for ANP Quarterly, Tao and I agreed to trade back issues of the magazine for a copy of one of his books. He sent the book several weeks before I send the magazines and was very patient during this time. In my experience, people who intend to rip you off have a paranoid anticipation of being ripped off themselves, and the fact that he was understanding during this delay suggests that he has a basic trust in other people that can only be achieved by being trustworthy himself.Ethan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13054973469361143951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-56168898137341967062008-08-20T12:25:00.000-04:002008-08-20T12:25:00.000-04:00Mister Lin has worked a single day in his life. At...Mister Lin has worked a single day in his life. At a specific "private library," I had replaced him upon his resignation. <BR/><BR/>Tao had allowed me to sleep on the futon and had earlier in that evening drawn a fish and an inverted cross in a copy of "You Are a Little Bit Happier Than I Am" and gave it to me.<BR/><BR/>Maliciousness? Tao Lin is the sort of male who has something of cruel humor. It is humor and it is the kind in which he would not mind imposed onto him. This diminishes any strain of maliciousness. I think it is not a matter of malicious, it is a matter of thin-skinned individuals being drawn to him and then confused by the ill matched demeanor and humor.Matthew Dorian Corbinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10290726842980369250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-45659004821587726302008-08-19T00:00:00.000-04:002008-08-19T00:00:00.000-04:00one time i was feeling very sad and saw a post on ...one time i was feeling very sad and saw a post on his blog about a free book. i e-mailed him and he was very nice and timely. he also sent me a package containing a book and some drawings! it made my week. he is a very sweet writer.erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11116057021246422456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-89076132769304736362008-08-14T04:39:00.000-04:002008-08-14T04:39:00.000-04:00thank you for saying things 'daryl,' 'pirooz,' 'li...thank you for saying things 'daryl,' 'pirooz,' 'lily,' 'avant bored,' 'gena,' 'connor,' 'icanhazcheeseburger,' 'ronnie, 'prathna lor,' 'steve,' 'ryan call,' 'k. silem mohammad,' 'eric,' 'gene,' 'caroline,' 'mike,' 'stockton,' 'bill moore,' 'mutant, 'matt plummer,' 'leigh stein,' 'nathan,' 'will ragsdale,' 'eu,' 'patrick @ litvision'Tao Linhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04807160197099916059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-65784728528731154392008-08-12T14:12:00.000-04:002008-08-12T14:12:00.000-04:00One time Tao Lin and Helen Kennedy were writing a ...One time Tao Lin and Helen Kennedy were writing a book called "the very retarded giant moth" on a blog. I joined in and posted chapters in the comments section. My chapters were of course brilliant and took the book to a whole 'nother level. Then Tao Lin scrapped the blog and turned the book into a one-page sheet for the Ass Hi line. My chapters were excluded and i was not listed as one of the authors, even tho i helped foster the book's development via the interactive blog.<BR/><BR/>Another time i ordered two books from Tao and everything went fine. I even got a free original artwork, suitable for framing.<BR/><BR/>Just recently Tao put up a new online store, and had t-shirts marked as $2. At least, any rational person would have thought that was the price. So after i sent my paypal money, Tao wrote back saying i had gotten the price wrong, and that he wouldn't give a refund. So i emailed him back explaining my case, and he immediately refunded my $2 plus some cents, which i guess was a paypal fee but i'm not sure. Either way i made a profit on the transaction. The t-shirt price was then adjusted to $500.00<BR/><BR/>So at the end of the day, i'd say my experience has been Tao Lin is trustworthy, you just have to watch him very, very carefully. I would do business with him again (in my opinion!). However my "moth" writing experience showed me that collaborating artistically with him as an outsider to his inner circle and someone who is not a hot young college aged chick, is very risky business. I wouldn't do this again without a contract. In my opinion.Patrick S. @ RedFezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13026849730446843362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-75957301012793522822008-08-10T19:51:00.000-04:002008-08-10T19:51:00.000-04:00He sent me a poetry book and I sent him an octopus...He sent me a poetry book and I sent him an octopus and nice comments were exchanged. He is a good boss.Yu-Han Chaohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01505079062449792986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-73183590683972944842008-08-10T18:00:00.000-04:002008-08-10T18:00:00.000-04:00I Bought Stickers from Tao Lin once, and he not on...I Bought Stickers from Tao Lin once, and he not only sent them immediately, he included an ugly fish cartoon on a napkin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-18240716386668609402008-08-10T01:46:00.000-04:002008-08-10T01:46:00.000-04:00tao, i recited your whale poem at a poetry slam to...tao, i recited your whale poem at a poetry slam tonight and got second place. thank you for helping me get second place.<BR/><BR/>also, you are a very nice human being to share one of your stories with me.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06477445653572479783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-52251797951054883002008-08-09T21:57:00.000-04:002008-08-09T21:57:00.000-04:00I bought a tshirt from Tao that has his face on it...I bought a tshirt from Tao that has his face on it. He sent it to me in the mail with extra things, including part of EEEEE EEE EEEE with "hi leigh" written on it, and hamster drawings. I wear the tshirt approximately once a week. <BR/><BR/>Also, I invited Tao to read with me, and when he said he would I was so excited. He is sincerely polite and kind, and I admire his ambition and work ethic. I'm glad to call Tao my friend.Leigh Steinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260928166145297288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-55132287750771964932008-08-09T20:21:00.000-04:002008-08-09T20:21:00.000-04:00i know Tao from working in nyc and he is not a fra...i know Tao from working in nyc and he is not a fraud, not malicious, can be trusted and doesn't lie to people to gain free cash. he's a delightful person, as most of you already know.davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09335078217015032665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-26312489293566423912008-08-09T07:39:00.000-04:002008-08-09T07:39:00.000-04:00I would like to apologise to Tao Lin for the fact ...I would like to apologise to Tao Lin for the fact that some of my comments on another web site were <A HREF="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13096981&postID=1776646163232715757" REL="nofollow">used in thread to attack him</A>.<BR/><BR/>While my comments were largely well balanced and factual, relfecting my view of the situation as I knew it at that time, they were integrated into and formed part of a highly negative, very personal, wide ranging and totally inappropriate string of personal attacks against Tao Lin. I was disgusted and appalled to have my comments even peripherally associated with such a low level of discourse. <BR/><BR/>I think any artist's work should stand on and be judged by it's own merits. Actions of the parents shouldn't be construed as indicative of the character of a son or daughter, especially so someone like Tao Lin who is clearly an adult, a talented adult, and finding his own way. And the shoplifting crap made me laugh out loud - Tao Lin after <A HREF="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steal-This-Book-Abbie-Hoffman/dp/156858217X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218280683&sr=8-1" REL="nofollow">Abbie Hoffman</A> - at worst political theatre, are people so conformist in the United States these days? I'm American but have lived in Europe since the mid 90's and find the US getting stranger and strange with every passing year. <BR/><BR/>I was and remain personally ashamed to see my own post included in such personal attacks - I would have removed it but I have no control over Tao Lin's blog. <BR/><BR/>I have since read some excerpts from Tao Lin's work, and have purchased two of his books via Amazon. I wish him all the best.Mutanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01472941420698448659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-84790215172665088882008-08-07T17:35:00.000-04:002008-08-07T17:35:00.000-04:00Tao Lin is a very good writer and a bit of a prank...Tao Lin is a very good writer and a bit of a prankster. I am glad I am out of the online zine editor business.Bill Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02136849440287088001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-32922055039898790122008-08-07T11:13:00.000-04:002008-08-07T11:13:00.000-04:00I have bought books from Tao before, I sent him mo...I have bought books from Tao before, I sent him money and they arrived, with really nice pictures drawn in them, and this includes at least one that I ordered months and months in advance. <BR/><BR/>There are two people in my household and we both love to read Tao's books. They make us laugh sometimes and also create a comforting feeling.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11649360732500479886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-24428191651846185202008-08-07T03:09:00.000-04:002008-08-07T03:09:00.000-04:00and here's mine. I live in Malaysia, where importe...and here's mine. I live in Malaysia, where imported books cost a bomb. <BR/><BR/>I mentioned this to Tao Lin by email when I read one of his posts, because he said he would send a book to those who might not like his work or who couldn't afford it. I said I couldn't afford it. I've read his stories online and found them to be good.<BR/><BR/>the book came almost a month later. late probably because of going through the customs and whatnot. it was 'signed' with a picture of a hamster I think, and 5 Britney Spears stickers which I want to paste on random objects and take pictures of, although I do not have a camera.<BR/><BR/>Tao Lin delivers the goods.Mike Wonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03965558388510417414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-78427321743980717472008-08-06T23:53:00.000-04:002008-08-06T23:53:00.000-04:00Here is a poem I wrote calledWHY I WOULD LIKE TO B...Here is a poem I wrote called<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>WHY I WOULD LIKE TO BE TAO LIN<BR/><BR/>another person asked if i wrote allegory<BR/>and i said if people saw a dolphin<BR/>in the water they would not say<BR/>"what is the significance<BR/>of that dolphin". i defeated<BR/>that person also.<BR/><BR/>but tao lin wrote that not me.<BR/>it could have been a poem called Q&A<BR/>SESSION AFTER A POETRY<BR/>READING or a poem called BLOG<BR/>POST but it was just a blog post.<BR/><BR/>one day you come downstairs<BR/>and the rug is gone instead<BR/>there is an empty rectangle<BR/>of dirt i vacuumed<BR/>it because i won't<BR/>live in squalor. actually<BR/>i vacuumed it because my<BR/>mother was coming<BR/>to visit. if the dirt<BR/>is too big i pick it up<BR/>with my hands.<BR/><BR/>i told you i would never use<BR/>my tongue for anything again ever.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>I would never write a poem entitled WHY I WOULD LIKE TO BE TAO LIN if he didn't seem like such a nice young man. I endorse Tao Lin!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05026811030314292837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-86073364227497357782008-08-06T16:08:00.000-04:002008-08-06T16:08:00.000-04:00Tao Lin is a good person who deserves respect from...Tao Lin is a good person who deserves respect from other writers and people, and I am happy when things go well for him. <BR/><BR/>When people shit talk him, I find it funny. It's like old people saying rap music sucks or something.<BR/><BR/>There are enough personal examples above of his character, so I don't need to give personal examples.<BR/><BR/>I deleted my other comment, because I felt anxious about it for some reason. This blog gets a lot of attention, and I don't want a lot of attention.Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09625285521831772770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-14192655795096810492008-08-06T14:32:00.000-04:002008-08-06T14:32:00.000-04:00i was just at the borders on state st. in downtown...i was just at the borders on state st. in downtown chicago. they are selling BED and EEE EEEEE EEEE. borders trusts tao lin.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15599834278163733364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-40589272774069582142008-08-06T14:11:00.000-04:002008-08-06T14:11:00.000-04:00Tao Lin saved me from being killed by a homicidal ...Tao Lin saved me from being killed by a homicidal maniac.<BR/><BR/>Bullets made horrible banging and zipping noises all around my head inside the jeep. The maniac grinned as he leveled the shining greasy gray barrel of his rifle at my face. "Oh my God," screamed Melissa.<BR/><BR/>Quietly Tao Lin crept around the side of the vehicle and made his way toward where the maniac was poised ready to annihilate me.<BR/><BR/>Inside the jeep, Melissa shivered in terror as I sat frozen with the rifle barrel an inch from my nose. "You won't get away with this," I told the maniac.<BR/><BR/>"Perhaps not," said the maniac. "Does anyone ever get away with anything, really?"<BR/><BR/>Just then Tao Lin reached in the open passenger side window and with one deft motion slit the maniac's throat with a hunting knife. The hunting knife had been sitting in the flatbed of a pick-up truck parked next to the jeep. Fortunately.<BR/><BR/>Tao Lin stood looking at all the blood, blood on the maniac, blood on the knife, blood spurting on me and Melissa, blood on the cracked vinyl seats of the jeep. Tao Lin looked at the blood on his hands and blinked repeatedly.<BR/><BR/>"Oh my God," said Melissa.<BR/><BR/>"Oh my God," I said.<BR/><BR/>Tao Lin didn't say anything. He just kept standing there with the knife, looking at the blood. Finally he dropped the knife.<BR/><BR/>"Oh my God," said Melissa.<BR/><BR/>A siren grew louder as a squad car approached the scene. Soon Tao Lin's face was washed in the flashing red and blue lights.<BR/><BR/>I am grateful to Tao Lin for saving my life, and I believe that this account demonstrates his virtuous and trustworthy character.Kasey Mohammadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13353259413006470925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096981.post-7849082380626463532008-08-06T14:08:00.000-04:002008-08-06T14:08:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09625285521831772770noreply@blogger.com