A review of You’re Never Weird on the Internet (almost) by Felicia Day. Sort of.

So I just finished this book. I bought it because I had points on Audible I needed to use, so I figured, what could it hurt? She’s that girl from The Guild and Geek & Sundry and Supernatural. Those were okay, so maybe this will be tolerable.



To be honest, I was expecting to hate it. Or rather, I was hoping to hate it. Felicia Day has built her own success, yes, but the odds that she could have anything to say that I’d care about, seemed pretty low. It was going to be just another silly memoir about someone being successful.



Boy was I wrong.



So much of what she talked about mirrors my own life and insecurities. The anxiety and self doubt that haunt artists and creators of all types. Are we good enough? Can we finish? What are we without our art? How do we deal with criticism in an age where any asshat with an internet connection can spew vile things and it’s almost impossible to ignore them. Author John Scalzi once told me not to feed the trolls, and Day agrees that’s the best policy. But she also admits how hard it can be to ignore those pesky fucktards.



Some of her struggles actually had me crying in the car. I’m not afraid to say it. She touched a nerve. It wasn’t the simpering of an injured lion, it was full out girly bawling. I related to what she had to say on a very personal level. It wasn’t just me. Other people feel this way, too.



I wanted to reach out and hug her and tell her she’s awesome. I’m glad she’s still on this planet and her work counts. Ignore the dicks on the internet who haven’t had an original thought or put themselves out there. Do your own thing. We love you for you.



Possibly I’m getting a little melodramatic. If so, I’m sorry. I won’t park in your driveway, Felicia. Unless you provide snacks.



In many ways she not only reminds me of myself, but of one of my daughters. I guess that makes it even more personal. I get really angry when internet jerks say mean things about her. I have absolutely no claim to know her. But when someone nameless attacks her, yeah, I get a little White Knight about it. Just like if someone said something mean to one of my children, I’d punch them in the throat and feed them to my dog.



What’s wrong with White Knights anyway? They’re the good guys. I’m a fat old man, I can be a White Knight if I want to. Don’t judge me.



Well, if you’re not clear about it yet, I loved the book. I think it should be required reading for anyone creative. Or for anyone who lives with or loves a creative person. There’s a reason we’re the way we are, all of us. It helps to know we’re not alone.





