Thread by @DrewHolden360

People are once again bragging about how shitty their existence in Brooklyn is, for the normal reasons.

Nature is healing. nytimes.com/2021/03/11/opi…

There is nothing quite like the young urbanite - usually male - who needs to tell you about the grit and character they’ve developed from living in a shitty walk-up in Bedstuy ($1500/month rent) and eating food out of cans.

The new Steinbecks, all of them.

Accidents of fate have, on three separate occasions, prevented me from this fate. But I would’ve lived in the upper(ish) east side, on account of I am a different variety of prick. But I would’ve taken up cigarettes and written better, surely.

I am choosing to believe that this piece is a deliberate caricature of a certain type of young city person who makes bad decisions so they can brag about being stubborn and therefore committed to something, in which case it is perfect. Without blemish.

I would bet that I have sat on a stoop or a fire escape and smoked a cigarette with this author - either in corporeal or, at least, spiritual form - and had a seemingly profound conversation that would sound criminally stupid in the light of day.

Honestly I love this piece. It’s splendid. It made my day. I’m choosing to believe it is self-aware because that will bring me comfort. Thumbs up.

I am deeply jealous of this piece. I live in DC. I’m supposed to write about Big Ideas and politics and Earnest Things.

This dude is probably writing the next great American novel and I bet it slaps. I am consumed by jealousy.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of self discovery.