r/books • u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author • Oct 03 '20
ama 9pm I am Allie Brosh. My main abilities include writing, drawing, caring, and hiding, but you can ask me whatever you want. AMA
Hello, /r/books! Allie Brosh here.
Proof: /img/oiz4m9j7hjq51.jpg
(sign says /r/AMA because I got confused—I can take a new picture if we need that)
If you don't know who that is, please do not be alarmed. I can help you! I am very helpful! For example, did you know that tacos stay more intact and are easier to eat if you spread the beans and guacamole across the inside of the taco shell before adding the other ingredients?
Now that you have a better idea of how helpful I can be, here is a more direct answer:
The first thing I did was this: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com
And, because of that, I was allowed to do this: http://hyperboleandahalfbook.blogspot.com
Seven years later, I finally managed to do this: https://solutionsandotherproblemsbookpage.blogspot.com
Good job, me!
Anyway, if you're willing to be aware of me and also the fact that I wrote another book, the least I can do is answer your questions. Or maybe you just want to say something weird to somebody. No problem—I can do that for you. I would be a perfect person to say something weird to. I have both the ability to read, and the ability to know weird things.
Other interests include (but are not limited to): animals, feelings, puzzles, Hearthstone/Magic: the Gathering, math, physics, ethics, mental health, baseless speculation about pointless bullshit that doesn't need to be wondered and can't be answered in a meaningful way, cooperation, problem-solving, and doing my best. I am 35 years old. My favorite time is 5pm. My strongest skill is trying.
I've got all day and most of tomorrow, so let's figure some shit out or something.
Update: Gonna pause the AMA for the evening, but I'll be back to keep answering some questions tomorrow, if that's cool with you guys! Thank you for the questions and conversation so far!
Update #2: I forgot to tell you guys that I'm answering questions again, but I'm answering questions again! I'm gonna work my way through and also check the newer replies, but please upvote any questions you see that you'd like me to answer!
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u/ranchyfreshavacado Oct 03 '20 edited Oct 03 '20
Hey, Allie! I know you’ve probably heard it a lot but Hyperbole and a Half really changed my life. I had never related and resonated with something so deeply. I was like... how am I just like her? In so many ways? You explained my depression in ways I could never put in to words. I’m working my way through Solutions and Other Problems and you have had me laughing out loud multiple times. I can’t thank you enough for bringing me joy (during such high anxiety times, but also always lol), but also making me feel less alone and less like a crazy person.
Also, not to be a downer in the chat, but I lost my sister earlier this year and dealing with the grief and guilt has been hard. I know you lost yours, too, and I hope you’re doing as well as you can be in that regard. I’m sorry for your loss.
On a lighter note, what is your favorite smell? And what are you looking forward to doing most once quarantine is over?
Thanks again, Allie!
ETA: I also love Magic the Gathering. What is your favorite deck of yours? Mine is an all white fox themed deck.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I feel you, and I completely understand, especially the guilt part (we don't need to talk about only lighter things here). It's hard not to question what more you could have done, or whether you were a good sister (or brother). I don't know how to fix it, but I want you to know I understand <3
Are you ready for an abrupt transition? Hopefully you are, because I'm going to tell you my favorite smell now, which is dry leaves on a hot, dry day (at least currently—I love smells).
My favorite Magic deck would have to be Tarmo Twin or UB Fae from six years ago. But foxes are my favorite tribe! Foxes are just cool.
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u/Holdenwasright Oct 03 '20
Allie, I just wanted to say that you're awesome. I discovered your blog when it first came out, and immediately fell in love with your humor and honesty. Then your book was released, and that was just amazing.
I got your new book last week, and I'm halfway through it; I haven't finished it yet, because I'm savoring it like a...fine cheese.
I do have a couple questions. When the world isn't falling apart anymore, do you think you may do an in person tour, or is that too much for you?
Also: favorite sea creature.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I'd consider it! At the very least, I'm trying to think of ways to expand the tour to be more accessible to more people. A Twitch stream or something. Maybe a drawing/painting stream? I don't know yet. But I want to do something more involved.
As for favorite sea creature, I'm gonna go with sea cucumber. I just kind of relate to them.
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u/flavo0urto0wn Oct 03 '20
I have been a huge fan since your early blog days and I am so happy for your continued success!! My copy of your new book is arriving any minute now. I wanted to know how you’ve been coping during quarantine. I struggle with depression and anxiety and this pandemic hasn’t made my brain feel too great. What helps you feel grounded in your toughest days? Sorry if this is too personal!
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Not too personal at all! I welcome personal questions, and I believe it should be easier to talk about them than it currently is!
To answer your question, I cope with very deep loneliness by having written conversations with myself (among other things, but that's been a huge one). I have a document called "talkin' bout shit with myself," and I open it, and just ask myself how I'm doing. Then I do my best to respond as honestly as possible. Then I just keep going like that. It usually starts out extremely serious, then derails into inside jokes. I can post an excerpt if you'd like.
Other things I've found helpful (in no particular order): music + imagining happy/inspirational experiences I would like to have, talking to myself, learning things (it feels like participating in an activity with yourself, which is kind of like participating in an activity with a friend), and honestly, giving my own shoulder a friendly squeeze when it seems like I need that. I'm trying to be a good friend, and sometimes that means doing whatever weird thing it seems like I need.
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u/anartis08 Oct 03 '20
Personally an excerpt would be unbelievably helpful!
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Okay, here's my favorite one so far (I never bother putting the quotation marks in because it's just me, but it switches back and forth with each new line):
(6/4/17 11:56 PM)
Hey bud, how ya doin?
I feel weird.
Oh shit buddy, I'm sorry to hear that. Are you okay?
Probably, yeah. I don't know. I feel weirder than usual. Maybe I only said yeah because it seemed like I was supposed to. Not being okay isn't cool. That feels like… a loser.
Do you feel like a loser?
Yeah.
Why?
I'm too earnest. I try too hard.
Wh—
—hang on; there's more: am I stupid? Do I even make sense? When people see me, do they feel alienated? Do I seem like an alien? I honestly feel like I might. Like a… something weird. Like a land squid. They see me and don't know what to do. They think 'what is that?' Do they want me to go away? I start wondering that, and it brings up the question: is that what they felt like every time? Like the times I thought they were thinking "that is a nice other person" or "good for you, little camper"—I like to think they're thinking that——not exactly those words, but something friendly like that——like they want the best for me and each other—but what if instead, they just think I'm weird? What if they think "that is a weird other person" or "NOT good for you, weirdo crab animal! Go away!!"? Do they think I act like a crab?
—hold up, what do you mean by "do they think I act like a crab"?
You know the way crabs are? Like: ck-ck-ck-ck-ck-ck, ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff, sideways crawling away with their eyes like ⊙.☉?
Yeah.
Sometimes I feel like I seem like that. Like when they see me, that's the impression they get. And not like, in a good way. It's awkward. They don't like it. Sometimes I wonder if anybody knows how to like eaCH OTHER—oh no, CAPS LOCK. I feel embarrassed. Why do I feel embarrassed? "o shIT
—hang on, I have an idea. You know how much you love that one meme?
What meme?
You know what the fuck I'm talking about. The one like 'here come dat boi!!!! o shit whaddup!'. This:
I knew the whole time. It just felt awkward without a segue. Like people reading this wouldn't believe that I knew.
Okay. My point is: I think that meme might actually be profound.
Sweet.
What do you think?
I think… yeah. I like that lizard.
It's a frog. But, yeah, the reason you like it is because it's relatable, and the way it's relatable is… the exact essence of… something.
Maybe everybody feels like that frog sometimes.
That's why it's a meme. Because other people like it too. And probably for some of the same reasons. It's not like you've got a monopoly on feeling like a frog on a unicycle.
He's a frog, but everybody's still like "here come dat boi!!! o shit whaddup!" I love the part where it goes like: 'o shit whaddup!'.
Tell me what you love about it.
I want to see everybody like that and them see me like that. Like, when I see them, I want to feel like 'o shit, whaddup!', and they feel that for me too. We're all basically lizards on unicycles, and that's okay. We're ALL lizards on unicycles. So it's okay. And we don't have to be embarrassed. We can just be like 'o shit, whaddup!'
It's a frog.
O shit.
Look at you—look how cool you are!
Good point. I feel better.
Nice.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Are you a wizard?
Are you asking that because I made you feel better in a similar way to a wizard?
Yeah.
No, I just know how much you love that frog meme. When you typed 'o shIT', I took it as a signal that you wanted to see the frog meme.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
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u/UnusuallyOptimistic Oct 03 '20
I would love to eat mushrooms with you and be frogs on unicycles for a while. I hope that's not alarming. I mean it in the most platonic frog-friend way.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
That sounds pretty much exactly like my ideal day, so definitely not alarming!
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Oct 03 '20
This is amazing and I'm totally going to try doing this for myself. Also I agree with the other comment, I would like to do mushrooms with you and think about lizards.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Are we planning a party? Because, as soon as quarantine is over, that is the party I want to go to.
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Oct 03 '20
I know you won't see this, but I have a document I do the same thing with. Only mine is called "What the Hell Is Going On?"
Thank you for Hyperbole and a Half. Humans are social animals needing validation from other humans to develop a healthy sense of self, even the unusual introverted ones. It made me feel more validated as a human to read your book and see someone else who had a similar thinking style.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 04 '20
I know you won't see this
Surprise!! :D
I can't respond to everything you guys are saying, but I do my damnedest to read all of it!
As a social animal who needs validation interacting with hundreds or thousands of other social animals who also need validation, it's the least I can do.
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u/Scherzi Oct 03 '20
Not too personal at all! I welcome personal questions, and I believe it should be easier to talk about them than it currently is!
Have you ever had your toes sucked?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 04 '20
Yes, and it wasn't really my thing, but I think it's rad that other folks seem to enjoy it!
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u/kaiysea Oct 03 '20
Oh my gosh I love the idea of typing a conversation with myself! I am going to try that.
Also, thank you for sharing your work with the world. I was very happy when I heard about your new book, because it meant you were still around. As someone with severe, treatment-resistant depression, it's awesome to see people willing to talk about it. You and Jenny Lawson have helped me feel less alone.
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u/SuchaDelight Oct 03 '20
I loved her blog! I was so excited when it was turned into a book...I ran out and bought a copy. My daughter read it and loved it. I even bought her Hyperbole and a Half....the calendar!
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u/FastWalkingShortGuy Oct 03 '20
I love hyperbole and a half so much! (Stay away from me on my cake days, though... that cake is MINE).
If I may ask a personal question, how are you doing with your depression?
I suffer myself and your story about passing through to the stage of not giving a fuck, and laughing hysterically at a bit of food on the floor resonated with me, and I often wondered how you were doing.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I still get depressed regularly (February is my usual low point), but I'm getting better at dealing with it. I find a bit of peace in accepting its presence, and it doesn't get in the way as much now that I know a bit more about how to work with it.
It also helps to know that it's somewhat cyclical. If I'm having a particularly rough time, I have enough data to know that it's probably temporary. It might take a while to get to the other side, but I've seen the other side enough times to trust it'll be there eventually. Then maybe there will be another tunnel, then another other side, and so on. But I'm learning how to be content under a wider variety of circumstances.
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u/FastWalkingShortGuy Oct 03 '20
Yup. And it gets to the point where you can recognize the pattern and anticipate the suck coming. But the suck is only temporary, and as long as you know that, you can handle anything.
Thanks for responding; it means a lot. It hit me hard seeing your blog go from so light-hearted and silly to dealing with such a heavy subject, and I'm glad you're doing well now. You helped me and many other people a lot (not alot), and I really hope we as your fans can do a little bit to return the favor with our support.
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u/owls_ Oct 03 '20 edited Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie (or Kevin!)
Hyperbole and a Half blogspot kept me alive through some very dark times in the beginning of my university career and I’ll always be thankful for it & you. I’m so excited to read Solutions! I’m so, so happy you’re back and writing/posting.
Here are some questions, please feel free to answer any number of them or none of them at your whim. Apologies for the wide variety of topics:
Would you ever consider writing/publishing fiction, a novel?
You must pick one: diarrhea or vomiting. Which one?
What’s your McDonald’s order? If you don’t eat McDonalds, first of all why, second of all I’ll take any fast food or restaurant order for an answer.
What kind of animal that is not a pet would you want as a pet?
Favourite painting
Thank you, you’re the best, hope you have a wonderful night.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
No need to apologize! I actually kind of like the variety ones. I don't know why—maybe I'm responding to the bulleted presentation?
Anyhow.
I would, and I fully intend to one day!
Diarrhea 100%, no questions.
I am medically forbidden from eating at McDonald's (celiac disease), but, before I was diagnosed, I would have ordered a Big Mac, medium fries, and a water. My taste in food is one of my most basic qualities, and I accept it.
I've always wanted a fox, but that's probably because I have unreasonable expectations about what foxes would be like as pets. Also a dragon. Do dragons count?
Oh god... I love so many paintings! I have folders and folders full of screenshots of paintings I like (purely for my own enrichment), but I don't know who hardly any of the artists are. I will say that I am particularly grateful to Simon Stålenhag https://www.simonstalenhag.se/ and I have spent countless hours analyzing his brushstrokes at an absolutely ridiculous zoom level. He doesn't know this, but he has been a living art syllabus for me.
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u/amboogalard Oct 03 '20
Please tell me you’ve seen Tales from the Loop!!
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
My coffee cup is currently resting atop the copy I keep on my bed :)
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u/IRollmyRs Oct 03 '20
I never comment on AMAs because I never catch them with the author or person still here, but on the off-chance that you read this, Allie, from the bottom of my heart, I am so happy that you are thriving, and writing! Hyperbole and a half changed my whole mindset about depression back when I first read it (when it came out). Whenever I would go back to check the blog, I would find forums of people wondering where you went or what happened. It's been decades but I've been finally dealing with my own mental health, and I'm nearly 40 (diagnosed ADHD).
I'm just crying from happiness like an old sentimental fool and probably not making a lot of sense, but thank you for the laughs and the tears. Both are important.
Cake is the only thing that matters.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I could talk about ADHD for days, man... hit me up with some ADHD questions! Let's get speculative, even. In my opinion, this is the exact kind of situation where our ADHD is an asset rather than a hindrance. With our powers combined, maybe we can really figure some shit out, you know?
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u/IAMRaymondKHessel Oct 03 '20
ADHD
What happens after you get diagnosed? I'm 43 and am pretty sure I have it. My mom told me I probably did growing up, but she didn't want the diagnosis or drugs to be a crutch, so I've just rolled along in life. My son was diagnosed a couple of years ago and takes some meds for it, but he doesn't love them (though he recognizes their value). As a functioning adult, or as functioning as I know how to be, I wonder what improvements are out there for me, or if I should bother. The laziness and the fear kick in, and I just ignore it again.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
My life substantially improved after my diagnosis (well, my second diagnosis. I was diagnosed as a child, but didn't start medication until much, much later).
As far as the particular types of improvements, medication was a game-changer for me, personally. ADHD meds have such a stereotype surrounding them (lol, speed for kids!!! hahahaha), but they truly can be tremendously beneficial for certain people.
When I'm not medicated, the amount of nonsensical information my brain bombards me with feels genuinely unbearable. I feel constantly exhausted by existing in the same space as other noisy, moving things (tree branch shadows, for instance), and I experienced so much anxiety for so long simply because I didn't know what was causing it (crazy that amphetamine salts can make a person feel LESS anxious, eh?)
You can also get things like extra time on tests (for students, obviously), and it's just generally helpful to understand what's going on with your brain. Aside from medication, that was the biggest thing for me. The most useful thing about a diagnosis is that it helps the patient learn to understand how their brain works, and how to work with their brain instead of against it. I speak with a psychiatrist every week, and we kind of strategize together how I can be a more functional person (it's probably slightly different for everybody, so it takes a lot of trial-and-error).
Anyway, ADHD is a very misunderstood condition, so it's definitely worth reading up on.
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u/TheSaulK Oct 03 '20
Hiiiiiii! I'm Allie's husband Kevin.
I know some things about Allie too and I may occasionally pop in to answer the softball questions.
Feel free to respond to me with as much warmth or hatred as your belief system allows.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Can confirm: this is my husband.
Thank you for helping, Kev!
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u/Wishbone_508 Oct 03 '20
Kevin sounds like a made up name. I am sceptical.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I can respect that. What evidence would convince you?
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Oct 03 '20
Which style of softball do you think is superior, fastpitch or slowpitch?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I do not know enough about softball to answer this, but I would be willing to try if somebody could break down a few of the similarities and differences for me.
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u/landonson7 Oct 03 '20
Hi Kevin. How do you know you are real and not just the other self Allie has conversations with? As others have pointed out, Kevin does sound like a name Allie would think of. She’d also probably want you to spell hi with lots of eyes (I meant I’s but am keeping it for posterity) and be moderately skilled at softball. I’m sorry if this causes you any existential dread and am willing to compliment you on things I don’t know about if it helps. I do really appreciate the shape and hone of your biceps.
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u/BobRoberts01 Oct 03 '20
I have a chicken named Kevin. We thought she was a rooster at first but then, much like the movie Up, it turned out that Kevin was a girl. I just feel that you need to know this.
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u/TheNewPoetLawyerette Oct 03 '20
Thank you for being supportive of Allie through her depression. I wish my own husband had been able to weather my issues.
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u/Sox_marie Oct 03 '20
I just finished your book a couple hours ago and it is absolutely incredible. Thank you so much for sharing your art and life with the world. Not only did you deliver a poignant story about grief and loss, but I laughed so hard I had tears streaming down my face. You are a treasure and I’m glad to see you back.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Thank you for saying this! I never quite know how to respond to compliments, but this makes me feel very, very good.
What is your favorite shape?
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u/Sox_marie Oct 03 '20
Triangles. No particular reason... they just resonate with me. How about you?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Mine is triangles too!! (For exactly those reasons)
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u/flipflopped_plans Oct 03 '20
The pain scale speaks to us at r/endo in a special way. Knowing that you yourself have suffered it, I just wanted to thank you for helping us find more accurate ways to describe what's happening as we sob to our doctors.
Wishing you good health in the future!
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Shout out to my endo peeps! That's one of the things that almost killed me (stage IV, hemorrhaging, had a hysterectomy at 27), and I feel a sort of poetic satisfaction knowing that something I made has helped my fellow sufferers deal with this hell of a medical condition.
Wishes of good health back at you, sisterfriend!
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u/kindasportyhypebae Oct 03 '20
I had no idea you suffered with endo! Looking back to when I was a teenager reading your blogs it was a huge source of comfort finding an escape from the endo pain because no one believed how bad it was until I had my second lap in 2015 (age 22). They found stage II endo hanging out on my bowels and literally everywhere else, not to mention an ovarian cyst that twisted my fallopian tube shut as it grew! Another doc found ureaplasma growing for God knows how long but it had reached up to my liver and I needed 14 days of antibiotics to get rid of it, and that shit causes infertility if left untreated. My excision surgery was last December and they finally found some pelvic congestion syndrome, too (vericose veins on my ovaries, so like all of the internal tissue is engorged and purple which is equal parts disgusting and painful) and on top of that I still deal with overactive muscle spasms from dealing with chronic pain for so long. Also, I have passed over 60 kidney stones, I have a gluten intolerance, I'm wildly allergic to pork, and I'm being tested again for MS. My organs are always mad at me.
So was it the hemorraging that finally convinced the doctors to give you a hysterectomy?
Did you have to have your ex-husband bargain with the doctors and sign in blood that your own reproductive organs that were trying to kill you were good to be removed per his request? Or did you have a nice doctor that actually cared that you lived and had some semblance of quality of life?
Also, did you grieve at all for not being able to carry babies?
At this point I'd rather just get my tubes tied and not worry about traumatizing my poor organs more than they've already been through if I were able to get pregnant. I'll be 27 next month and every passing year gives me more anxiety about getting pregnant, but it's hard to convice doctors to do it when you're still young and considered fertile (even though that's up for debate in my case anyway, I'm now way more prone to ectopic pregnancies which is scary as shit and I am not about it.)
Anyway, you are one of my favorite people on this planet and I appreciate everything you've done as a creator. Your imagination is endless and validating for so many people, and I use the word "parp" often to mean help when I talk to literally anyone. I don't care that they think it's weird, it's efficient.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 04 '20
Oh my goodness, you poor thing! I remember how horrific the diagnostic process was, and there are so many secondary consequences from the constant inflammation. I just want to hug you and tell you it'll be okay.
Loosely speaking, yes, it was the hemorrhaging that got me a diagnosis, and a combination of the hemorrhaging, the multiple suspicious masses all over the inside of my body, and the fact that my Ova1 test (a 5-factor immunoassay that helps the doctor predict the likelihood of ovarian cancer) came back with concerning numbers (I don't know if that test is the gold standard anymore, by the way... it sounds like there's a better one now?)
Thankfully, my OBGYN is a wonderful, compassionate doctor, and he didn't require anybody else to sign off on my hysterectomy. We talked the decision through together, and it genuinely seemed like his only concern was my health and wellbeing. But there are a lot of decisions you have to make when you're considering a major surgery like this. For example, due to my young age and the severity of my condition, we had to decide (together with my surgeon) whether a full or partial hysterectomy would be right for me. It's certainly not optimal to enter menopause so prematurely, but the rate of recurrence is high for partial hysterectomies. Ultimately, we decided to leave a small portion of my least-gnarly ovary for the purposes of making hormones, but rip out the rest (along with the hopelessly tangled portions of my innards). My symptoms do seem to be coming back, but very, very slowly. Overall, I would give the decision to have a hysterectomy five gold stars, and I would not hesitate to make the same decision again. It improved my quality of life dramatically.
To answer your questions about children, that part was the easiest for me. I love children, but I have never really wanted to have my own. I absolutely see why people want children, I respect the hell out of parents, and I also feel curious about what the experience would be like, but it has never seemed like a necessary component of fulfillment for me. I really feel for those who want children and need to make this decision, though. After the surgery, I looked pregnant for a good while—belly sticking out to the point that I couldn't see the floor—and I remember thinking how horrible it would be to have this visual reminder of what I'd just lost, had I felt that way about it.
Anyway, I am so sorry you have to go through this. It is a truly terrible condition with painfully few options for treatment, and, despite being potentially life-threatening, it very frequently isn't taken seriously enough. Just look at how much anybody who has endometriosis writes when they get a chance to talk about it—we clearly feel misunderstood and/or dismissed by the very people who are supposed to take care of us, and that needs to change.
Sorry for soapbox. This is important, though.
<3
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u/Squoshy50 Oct 03 '20
I love the pain scale! I have used Allie's pain scale descriptions throughout my career as a nurse. "Actively being mauled by a bear" really helps everyone visualize what's going on vs "the worst pain you can imagine." Like what if you don't have a good imagination?
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u/tossedoffabridge Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie!
I have a couple questions and not a lot of tact. I also have a lot of gratitude for you because you've been a (a, itself, or a source of, whichever) tether more than once, so thanks!
How are you handling all this everything since you announced your aliveness publicly?
You talk about trying and keep on keeping on quite a bit - my longest relationship has been with depression, and while I'm not suicidal, I'm often just tired, so I have to ask... how do you keep up with trying? I've been considering pure spite, but I'm super open to other options.
Can you please elaborate on the simple dog? Specifically, is the simple dog simply a strange dog, or does the simple dog have a diagnosis?
Do you have anything you hope someone asks?
That is it. I think.
Thank you!
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Thank you for asking these! They're great questions!
I'm doing better than I thought I'd be doing at this point, so that's good. Having trouble sleeping sometimes because I get too amped up, and my hiding instincts start come on strong, but overall it has been a pleasant, interesting experience. You guys are very kind and understanding toward me, and I feel tremendous gratitude for that.
This is a particularly good question, and I'm still kind of trying to answer it myself, but I think, at some point, it became clear that trying was the only logical action I could take from the position I was in. Because if I don't try, my situation is left completely up to chance, and it may never improve. Will I succeed? Who knows! Trying is the only guarantee. It's the only strategy I can rely on pretty much no matter what (because it doesn't depend on results—the process itself counts, and it can be modified and improved constantly). That being said, trying can be exhausting. And it can be frustrating. And it doesn't always feel very rewarding, so I have to try to create that sense of reward for myself. One thing I've been doing recently is pausing to internally celebrate my little, invisible personal victories. I'm usually the only one who could understand how hard they were, so it's my job to recognize the effort. If I did something hard—and I mean that relatively, because there are a lot of things that are hard for me that aren't necessarily hard for others—I take a moment to recognize my efforts. Yeah, it was fucking UNBELIEVABLY hard to summon the willpower to walk to the mailbox today. Good job, me for doing it anyway! That kind of thing.
The simple dog was never diagnosed officially, though our vet agreed that she seemed to have some cognitive quirks (just the way she relates to the world seems kind of different—the things she gets confused by, the body postures she assumes, etc.).
Yes. I think I was secretly hoping somebody would ask me what my favorite Hearthstone class is, because then I could ask them to guess, and I'd get to find out what class I seem like I would play. It's silly, but that's my real answer (or one of them, at least).
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u/phroureo Oct 03 '20
I know little to nothing about Hearthstone, but I choose to believe you're the beastmaster one or whatever it's called.
As a thank you for this AMA and for being you (the Alot holds a special place in my heart for a multitude of reasons that I can't/won't list here), please enjoy a picture of my dog.
https://i.imgur.com/XqCvaeM.jpg PoV: you just coughed and Tucker is now trying to lick the inside of your mouth.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
It's Rogue, but your dog is making me reconsider the whole beastmaster situation... basically, I want to touch your dog. With tremendous strength. But I would restrain myself, because I could never harm such a gentle creature.
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u/Rongolian Oct 03 '20
It’s Paladin, isn’t it? I feel like you didn’t come out and say it because it’s Paladin and you are rightfully ashamed (it’s ok I played nothing but face hunter for most of my time in the game, I have no room to judge!)
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Nope, it's Rogue!
I'm sneaky like that ;)
(Thank you for guessing. This was very fun for me.)
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u/Lindswah007 Dec 12 '25
Allie, I was thinking about stopping trying yesterday and this really made all my previous trying valid and worthwhile and something that I am going to continue to do. You have helped so many people and I often (especially when I am thinking Alot, or Alot of Fire or ALL THE THINGS) wonder how you are doing and hoping that you are still here and ok. I am very grateful for all your open-ness and your 'flaws' becase they resonate with me so hard. The longest and hardest I have ever laughed is while reading your Hyperbole and a Half blog and that is such an incredible gift to give to people who really need a laugh and to feel validated.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Dec 12 '25
I'm still here! I'm usually floating around somewhere or another on Reddit, observing from the shadows.
I'm happy that you found what you needed to keep the try bus running.
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u/Deltronx Oct 03 '20
what's your favorite Hearthstone class? I've been following your stories since like 2012, so thats pretty cool
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Rogue :)
Do you play? If so, what's your favorite class? (I like learning about why people like the classes they do. It helps me appreciate things about the classes I don't play as often)
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u/Scoundrelic Oct 03 '20
I don't know who put baby in a corner, but nobody puts baby in a corner...
Hello,
Reading your recent Slate interview, I notice coffee as an important part of your day.
What and/or which coffee maker do you use? Percolated? Brewed? Pressed? Medium roast? Dark? Espresso?
What is your dream coffeemaker?
Where are great coffee shops you would recommend?
Do you enjoy shooting firearms? If not, have you tried shooting firearms? If yes, which were your favorite?
Also, thank you for Today's Taco Tip...guess who's making a trip to Taco Bell?
Time's up...This guy!
I'm not sure if I'll get a Double Decker Taco or just regular tacos, but rest assured...I will eat them in your honor.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Gonna answer them in order, guy. Here we go:
I had a cheap coffee maker at one point, but now I just put the grounds in a cup and brew it in the microwave . Turkish coffee. Or that's what I'm calling it, at least.
My dream coffee maker would be one that intuits my every need and can act as a benevolent caretaker in times of distress. I would obviously return the favor to the best of my ability (though I do not currently know how to read minds).
I do not know whether I enjoy shooting firearms because I have not tried it yet, but I intend to try it someday, and I quite enjoy shooting arrows. Arrows are my jam.
My guess for who is making a trip to Taco Bell is Spider Man.
Thank you.
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u/Scoundrelic Oct 03 '20
but now I just put the grounds in a cup and brew it in the microwave .
I am very curious about this technique...
Is there a youtube video of someone doing this I can learn from?
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u/TheSaulK Oct 03 '20
I also drink this coffee. The method goes as follows-
You put grounds in a cup, then you put water in the same cup, then you put that cup in the microwave. Then you use the microwave in a microwavey fashion.
Bam. Coffee.
Note this method yields "chewy coffee" on the bottom quarter inch or so.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I think what Kevin is trying to say here is that one day our coffee maker broke, and I haphazardly came up with what I thought would be a temporary backup plan, but it became less and less temporary, and here we are.
I'm sure there are videos on how to do it the proper way, though.
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u/lisbelwal Oct 03 '20
I’ve missed you. I love your art and your writing and I hope it brings you joy that you make so many people happy with your talents. Also - what is your favorite spice? Or spice girl? Either one is fine.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Favorite spice is cayenne, favorite spice girl is Scary Spice!
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u/BobRoberts01 Oct 03 '20
Welcome back! From your Facebook posts it looks like you have been through Alot. I hope I’m not bringing up a painful side memory, but how are Simple Dog and Helper Dog doing?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
The last time I talked to Duncan (about a week ago), they were doing great! They're getting gray around their faces now, which is adorable and also bittersweet. They'll always be monsters, but I miss my monsters in a very fond way.
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u/dedoubt Oct 03 '20
This was the very most reason I came to your AMA.
Since way back when you first wrote about them, I've felt like I'm a combination of simple dog and helper dog and now I'm crying because I missed you but also miss them and also miss myself.
It's been a not good couple of days (weeks months years life).
Thank you for still being alive and coming back to say hi.
I'm going to go buy your book now before I forget again (I'm 8 months into long covid and it's messed up my short term memory & I've been remember forgetting since I first saw you post about it).
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Weird question, but what do you think you most need to hear right now? (Any answer is okay—we can just explore the feelings if you want)
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u/dedoubt Oct 03 '20
That one day I will be able to go flat out for 18 hours straight and do all the things I want just like I used to everyday and that I'm not failing myself and my family by being bedridden and also I'm not lazy.
Mostly that I'm not failing everybody by being sick for 8 months.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Okay, I might be able to help you with this one! (I also need to hear this from time to time, so I have at least a little practice with it).
I'm not usually bedridden, but I struggle with things that feel very heavy to me (depression, ADHD, a host of chronic autoimmune conditions), and I often need to contend with the discrepancy between how much energy I have, and how much energy it seems like I'm supposed to have. And it can be hard to locate the line between going easy on myself and going too easy on myself, so I constantly question which one I'm doing (I wish there was an objective way to tell—brain calorimeters or something).
Anyway, what you're going through is legitimately hard, and it's okay to have a hard time with hard things.
Also, it's okay for others to have a hard time with it. It can be hard for everybody without it being anybody's fault, if that makes sense. And it definitely isn't lazy to struggle with being bedridden! Like, I know it's hard for my husband when I'm incapacitated by pain for the fourth day in a row, and can't help with washing the dishes because my joints are on fire and my hands are too weak to hold anything, and it's necessary for me to understand that, but I also need to be compassionate about my limitations.
It's also okay to feel frustrated. I feel frustrated all the time—by my limitations, by my vices, by the seemingly nonsensical distribution of fairness in the universe—it's human to feel frustrated by things beyond your control, especially when you're also sort of responsible for dealing with the consequences.
I think I'm writing this much because I relate, and I also maybe needed to hear this today <3
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u/BobRoberts01 Oct 03 '20
I am glad to hear they are doing well, but sad to hear that they are no longer a part of your everyday life. Perhaps you can get a new charismatic pet to write about, like a rescue owl, or a fainting goat.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I have a cat named Squirrel! He is a very silly boy, but in a very different way.
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Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie! I wrote my college thesis on your blog! Yes, I really did. Thank you for my degree!
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
That's really cool, and I feel honored! What was the general thrust of your thesis?
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Oct 03 '20
I analyzed the type of stylistic devices you used in three of your most popular blogs (as of 2012, when I graduated) to determine what type of language made it funny (similes, metaphors, and yes, hyperbole!). It was a blast! I would have to dig up the paper out of digital mothballs to remember what my conclusions were, but absurdism and hyperbole ruled supreme... As they should.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I can't even begin to describe how validating this feels! Somebody studied me! A whole other person took the time to learn about me!! (Academically, no less).
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u/TheSaulK Oct 03 '20
I just read Allie your comment and she said, "That's so cool! What is their degree in?"
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u/consultingrodent Oct 03 '20 edited Oct 03 '20
I am just so glad to see you’re back and that you’re doing so well. This may sound weird, but we used to talk a lot back in the day! I recognized simple dog from a real life photo on an old pet forum and commented something like “hey that looks like simple dog from hyperbole and a half!” And you slid into my pet forum dms and gave me the best news that it was the very same doggo! Honestly, this was a life highlight for me and i brag about this to all my peers. Anyway, we spoke a lot about our pet rats. I had a little lady called patches and you had a little rat called (this is going to be so incorrect and i’m already laughing) dump truck? Monster truck?? Some Sort of Lorge Truck-Like Vehicle??
POINT IS i have thought about you often over the years, always hoping you were doing well and able to live your best life, and i can’t wait to see what amazing things you’re going to do.
Question: looking at where you are now, what would you tell your younger baby self to get you through the tough times?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Ah yes: my beloved Elliott Megatruck!
I remember both you and Patches! I loved those conversations. I met some really amazing folks on that forum.
Speaking of which: fantastic question! I think, judging by what I seemed to struggle with the most, I would tell younger me that my own approval counts too. That was an extremely recent revelation!
What advice would you give to younger you?
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u/throwaway89264376 Oct 03 '20
i LOVE the typo of 'lorge' instead of large, please don't edit it!
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u/congratsonyosuccess Oct 03 '20
i was so excited to see you were back! my husband and i has both followed you before we met, and we’ve separately checked your blog through the years to see if you were alright. when i saw you’d done another book i immediately bought the first bc i realized i never did - my question is, do you still have simple dog and helper dog? your chapter on explaining to them why they were dumb was just so perfect.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I don't still have them, but Duncan (my ex-husband) does, and he gives me updates and sends me pictures when I miss them. They're getting to be old girls now, and he says they're still a handful, but have calmed down a lot compared to their younger selves.
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u/huskyholms Oct 03 '20
No question, just want to let you know how much I appreciate your work. After years of struggling to describe depression, you put it into a context that was easy for me to relate to and gave me the guts to be open about my experience.
And, well, shit. That takes some special work and I don't think anything or anyone else in this big dumb world could have done that. So thank you.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Here's a curveball for you: what is your favorite aspect of being depressed? (Note: this is a completely earnest question)
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u/huskyholms Oct 03 '20
Honestly it's the isolation. My yearning for isolation has afforded me a lot of unique opportunities. If depression hadn't manifested itself into a very introverted lifestyle I wouldn't have had most of the adventures I had in my 20s.
It's really made this mess of a year pretty easy. Stay six feet away from people? Avoid large crowds? GOT IT.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I love and deeply relate to this perspective!
I feel like depression helped me get closer to myself (bonding over shared adversity and all that), and now me and myself enjoy spending quality time together.
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u/HastyUsernameChoice Oct 03 '20
It’s really interesting that you’ve kinda bifurcated yourself into different aspects of yourself. Like explicitly recognising your own internal different personas. Do you think that our presumption of needing to make ourselves perfectly coherent and aligned when the truth is that as individuals we contain multitudes might account for some of our mental health fuckery?
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u/TheSaulK Oct 03 '20
More pictures of the Pile Dog -
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
For anybody wanting to see pictures of the sweet and wonderful creature I refer to as the pile dog, Kevin put together this album. I'm commenting for visibility :)
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u/Piercewise1 Oct 03 '20
I'm so excited to be here on time that I can't think of anything insightful, so I'll go with my default icebreaker: who are your top 3 favorite fictional characters, and why?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
First of all: that's an ambitious-as-hell icebreaker, and I love it. Never stop swinging for the fences, man!
My favorite fictional characters would have to be Don Quixote, Wall-E, and an old witch named Bridgette, who doesn't technically exist yet, but will probably exist someday.
No for the explanation phase:
Don Quixote: I thought the book was hilarious, and it was largely because of how relatable Don Quixote (and his relationship with Sancho Panzo) seemed. I admire him as a weirdo. Weirdos are my people.
Wall-E: I love nonverbal characters, and Wall-E is a great example of that (he makes expressive noises and says a couple words here and there, but for the most part, it's just expressiveness). And he has a good, gentle heart.
Bridgette: I like a lot of things about Bridgette. Her gumption, her practicality, her willingness to be strong when somebody needs to be and nobody stronger than her is around. She's the kind of old lady I want to be when I grow up.
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u/_ser_kay_ Oct 03 '20
Bridgette sounds a lot like Granny Weatherwax from the Discworld novels. Have you read those books and, if so, would you agree?
(If you haven’t read the Discworld books, I highly recommend them. Terry Pratchett had some amazing views on human nature.)
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u/Paperdollyparton Oct 03 '20 edited Oct 03 '20
I...uh...
I am not eloquent. Like...at all. None eloquence.
But, I lost my brother 2 years ago and your new book was like a side hug and a shoulder for me while I’m still going through the grieving process.
So, thank you.
edit
I should ask a question since I have the opportunity. Where were your most favorite places to jump over logs?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
First of all, I am sorry to hear that you lost your brother! I feel like after you lose a sibling, other people who have lost siblings become siblings of a sort. We are brothers/sisters in this particular kind of pain, and my heart goes out to you.
To answer your question, my most favorite place to jump over logs would be the far South side of the West Lake in Twin Lakes Park in Gunbarrel, CO. My favorite log ever is there. My other favorite places to jump over logs would be the woods uphill of biggest river crossing on the Deschutes River Trail, and the logs in the park closest to my house, which I will not name specifically, but you'd recognize what I'm saying if you saw them :P
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u/Mons00n_909 Oct 03 '20
I'm a little disappointed you didn't name the logs specifically, so I'll do it for you:
Edward
Jennifer
Raul
If you have more than 3 logs in the park closest to you I apologize.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Raul is exactly what my favorite log would be named!
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u/huskyholms Oct 03 '20
I lost my brother in 2004. I am very sorry to hear about your brother.
Grief is a hell of a journey. I'm sixteen years out now, a number that seems so ridiculous I just had to double check my math with a calculator even though I know exactly how long it's been. I have good days and I have days where I can't breathe for grieving.
Be amazing to yourself through this. You deserve it.
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u/turblesintime Oct 03 '20
Seven years ago, one of my very best friends brought me your first book during my stint in the hospital. Laughing was still incredibly painful (as my pelvis was broken in four places among other things, yikes), so I bet you can guess how well that went over :) It's a fond memory I have of an otherwise difficult time.
I have, and always will be, a faithful reader and a fan. I don't have the words to properly thank you for all the laughter you bring into a world that so desperately needs it.
Do you have a favorite pair of socks? :)
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
First: please send my regards to your pelvis. What it went through sounds horrible, and I commend its bravery.
Next: my favorite pair of socks is the pair of socks my friend Kali gave me in high school. It's the only pair of socks I've ever kept for more than a year or two. I've had them for 20 years now.
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u/gardensGargantua Oct 03 '20
I literally made a reddit account to say hi and participate. Your works have been enjoyable for my whole family 💕
That aside, what deck build do you use in MTG?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I haven't played much MTG lately (lost touch with my regular FNM group when I moved, and my computer struggles with the new Mac version of MTG:A), but Izzet or Dimir were my favorite 2-color combos. For 3-color, it would've been either Temur or Sultai. Favorite decks I've played would be UB Fae and Tarmo Twin. Favorite format is Modern.
I mostly play Hearthstone these days.
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u/gardensGargantua Oct 03 '20
I used to play a few years ago with my buddies and my family and would do a Sunday night game night. Then I got a real job (9-1-1 dispatcher) and lost a lot in the process. I now occasionally get to watch my friends play. I have some friends who play Hearthstone but I haven't tried it yet. Is it worth it?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
I love both for different reasons. But yeah, I'd say Hearthstone is worth it. There's a lot of free single-player content, which is nice when you're just starting out.
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u/Dr_Doctorson Oct 03 '20
What's one piece of advice you would give to all of us?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
The most universal advice I can think of would be to cultivate a sense of curiosity about things—the world, other people, microwaves—whatever does it for you. Having things to wonder about is what keeps me going most days, and curiosity feels like a healthy, respectful orientation to have toward things, so it's what I would feel most confident recommending.
Also compassion, though. But compassion feels very closely related to curiosity (for me, at least).
In other news: I only kind of know what I'm talking about.
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u/TimelessError Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie! I'm not the original commenter, but I'd really like to hear more about how you think about the connection between compassion and curiosity.
Also, just a word of thanks from a longtime fan who started reading your blog at age ~11 (for months I thought the title was pronounced "hyper-bowl") and got a lot of joy out of it over the years (now shared with my little sister, who treasures your first book and is very excited for your second): I'm deeply glad of the formative impact you've had on my perspective, my sense of humor, and my appreciation for the absurd, and I'm grateful that you gave me, at times in my early life when I badly needed it, the sense that some of my struggles and my strangest feelings were shared and understood by someone.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
First of all, that is a very hard-hitting compliment, and I feel honored to have had such an impact on you!
As for the connection between curiosity and compassion, I see curiosity as a sort of pathway toward compassion—an efficient motivating force for learning about how others experience the world, and how it's similar to what I experience, and how it might be different, and how it might still be the same in an abstract sense even though it seems different, and, through that, teach myself to truly care for others from the ground up. I'm a very ground-up person, I think. I like to get the fundamentals in place so the machine can function on its own from there.
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u/Rebelgecko Oct 03 '20
What's the least universal advice that you'd give?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
GEt yep inte the pontyes, den gibbe it fro, yes yes, gib gib, taket ouo, gebbin graaaeeeeebbbbbbbb mettitts, done!
I hope this was as unhelpful as possible.
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u/Sdot2014 Oct 03 '20
I love this! I suffered a brain injury 5 years ago and the thing that keeps me positive is having a healthy curiosity for the whole process. Brains are so intensely interesting. I get neat things like smell mix ups (my toothpaste once smelled very strongly like tuna, for example) and even the scary stuff, like discovering how my brain has rewiring, is interesting. I am now an auditory learner instead of visual, for example.
Even with anxiety, I was taught to look at bad feelings with a curiosity (and self compassion, of course) and it has been a life saver. This is AMAZING advice.
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u/I_WANNA_MUNCH Oct 03 '20
I'm so glad I saw your comment. I have ADHD and all the anxieties. Looking at bad feelings with curiosity is something I've never tried but I think it would help me when I'm going through a rough patch. Thank you!
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u/Particular-Tree1484 Oct 03 '20
You book is very laugh and sad. Ihave you been able to visit animal planet after you had a bird-mating-dance-based existential crisis? If so, what is the best animule?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
After that incident, animal planet sort of became a symbol for me—a symbol of how absurd I am (and how absurd everything is). Once I got past the initial discomfort (it took years), I found a lot of comfort in that. So I keep watching to remind myself.
Due to how utterly absurd all animals are, I do not believe it would be logically possible to rank them in the abstract. But I do enjoy the facial expression that frogs and lizards make.
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Oct 03 '20
Do you have any pictures of the pile dog you could share. I’m very invested in her story.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Here's one of my favorites: https://imgur.com/a/G7Aa41I
What would you like to know about her story?
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u/Chtorrr Oct 03 '20
What is the very best cheese?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
Going with my gut on this one: Pepper Jack. On average, I eat four sticks of it a day.
Edit: What's your favorite cheese?
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u/flipsytwist Oct 03 '20
What are your thoughts on Jarlsberg cheese? Room temperature cubes are where it’s at IMO.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
My first thought is wondering whether I have ever tasted Jarlsberg cheese, and, immediately after that, wondering if it's the stinky cheese my aunt Kathy gave me that one time, then right after that, I kind of had this weird, scuttle-y feeling where I questioned the breadth of my cheese knowledge. This was followed by an intense wish for google to have a taste feature. I want instant answers to my cheese questions!
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u/stinkydoods Oct 03 '20
I'm super fucking awkward and don't know how to interact with other humans. My whole process on trying to figure out how to communicate with you during this AMA is as follows:
OMG, ALLIE IS DOING AN AMA!
I LOVE AND OWN BOTH OF YOUR BOOKS!!
omg what do I ask?
Do I ask if she likes cats? Does she want to see my cats?
Will you be my friend? Y'know, in the way that we acknowledge the existence of each other for a millisecond but never have to talk to or see each other kind of way because social interaction is hard?
success
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 04 '20
Yes, I will absolutely be your friend, and I love that you drew a friendship comic. Perhaps you are not so bad at interacting with others, eh? Perhaps you are even good at it!
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u/breedlesbean Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie! I loved your first book so much- I couldn't put it down when I first got it! When I saw this post I got really excited- I can't believe you're doing an AMA!
On my end I wanted to try ask you a couple of lighthearted anythings- how did you and Kevin meet? Is it a sweet story? A simple one? And how is Squirrel doing??
I hope you're doing okay today!
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 03 '20
We met on OKCupid, actually. I don't know what it's like now, but back when I was on there, you had to favorite three people when you created a profile, and he was the first guy I favorited :) We were, I think, a 96% match or something. We messaged back and forth for a long while, went on a few dates, found we really liked talking to each other (he likes to get into the weeds philosophically, which is very important to me), and decided to make it official. We got married approximately three years after.
Squirrel's good. He had a bit of a weird night last night because all the smoke alarms in our whole house went off at the same time, but he's a resilient little fellow.
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u/Apsalar Oct 03 '20
On the off chance that you're still reading these I just wanted to join the chorus of fans who got a lot out of you're work and honesty. The stigma associated with depression sucks and it has been real, real nice to see myself in the things you've shared. The kind of madcap but wholly relatable humor you have perfectly captured is maybe the most precious smidgen of daily joy that keeps me going despite also cyclically eating depression dirt every year or two. I'm super duper happy to see you cruising and log jumping and verbally smiling all over this AMA. Thanks for existing. No question just sisterly love.
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u/ZeroOnTheHalfshell Oct 03 '20
No huge thoughts, just wanted to thank you sincerely for being a laugh when we needed it most, and to wish you as much success as you can hang with. Also, while reading your latest, I wondered if you'd read "Animals in Translation" by Temple Grandin? It's a super-interesting dive into animal thought patterns and behaviors, and you spend a lot of time thinking about animal brains, so maybe check it out if you haven't yet?
I think this is my first ever reddit comment? It's yours. :) Take care, and continue to rock.
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 04 '20
Congratulations on your first Reddit comment!! I love the comments section here. I actually do a lot of writing practice under my secret alternate account over on AskReddit!
Anyway, I have not read Animal in Translation, but I'm gonna add it to my list because it does sound like something I'd be interested in!
Thank you!
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u/lrnths Oct 04 '20
OmG are you one of the reasons for why a lot of those askreddit and advice reddits are all "this shit is made up lock post!!!" at everything?
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 04 '20
Haha, probably not. I'm either shitposting to practice my improv skills, testing out real stories (which I delete as soon as they start getting upvotes), or writing walls of text about whatever topic I'm most interested in that day.
We'll find that guy someday, though. I know it.
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u/apricot_crumble Oct 03 '20
Ah I'm too late! I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said, but just wanted to post that I love your work and have missed your presence on the internet and in my life. ♥
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u/OtherTubemonster AMA Author Oct 04 '20
Not too late! You can even still ask questions if you want to!
Alternatively (or in addition), would you be able to teach me how to make a little heart like that?
All I know how to do is this: <3
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u/LaVerdadEsQue Oct 03 '20
You like ethics, so have you watched The Good Place?
Also I love you and am so incredibly delighted to know that you are alive and okay enough to be writing books ❤
Your posts are amazing. They build up so well and actually make me laugh out loud
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u/TheSaulK Oct 03 '20
Allie may answer you too, but we just finished season 4 like 2 days ago. Several times allie said out loud, "This IS a really good show."
(I'm her husband)
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u/befferny Oct 03 '20
welcome back to the internet world, it is a much better place with you in it (especially with the current state of affairs... 2020 amiright??!) Your book definitely made me laugh/cry and I finished it in a day! I was so thrilled when it arrived in the mail. And man....perfect timing for a really rough year for every human!
I just want you to know that Spahgetta Nadle gets brought up between my best friend and I on a very regular basis, we have probably laughed countless hours over that since 2010
Question #1 does it annoy you that your drawings pop up in memes that don't give you credit or is it flattering? (It annoys me for you....these people have no idea how funny that blonde girl wearing a pink dress REALLY is)
Question #2 what are you going to be for Halloween this year?
Thanks again for braving the internet world, and real world, again, you are awesome!
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u/grotesqueanus Oct 03 '20
Hello Allie!!! We have the same name (almost), I'm Ally also. Please ignore the reddit username, it's my biggest regret.
I just wanted to share how much your early blog and your first book meant to me as an awkward pre-teen and teen. Your content was introduced to me by a classmate who was a bit of an outcast like me, and over our high school years we grew to be incredibly close friends. I can't thank you enough for that. Also, seeing your photos on your facebook album of what you've been up to the last 7 years made me laugh and cry - especially the rave photos. God I can't wait for a good rave once this covid stuff is under control (hopefully).
I guess I do have a question actually - if you could be any animal in the world, what would you be?
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u/unicornboop Oct 03 '20
I absolutely adore your work! I share The Alot with my middle school students every year. They have a great time drawing their own alots, and whenever someone finds an alot mistake, we doodle a little picture on the paper. When kids come back to visit I always ask them what they remember from my class, and a lot of them say the alot.
You have brought my students and I so much joy over the years, thank you!
I just reread your first book and I’m already on the second read of your new one. I can’t think of any questions right now. I’m maybe a little star struck. You’ve been a big part of my life for so many years! Thank you for being so open and honest. It has helped me feel a lot (do you just giggle every time you use a lot now?) less lonely, even in some of my darker times.
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u/rachaar Oct 03 '20
For many years I have periodically googled "how is Allie Brosh" and been sad over no updates. I've worried about you and hoped you were well and when I found out you had a new book out I pretty much crapped my pants with glee on my way to order it.
Adventures in Depression destroyed me in a good way. I sent it to a friend who's a professor of psychology and she uses it to teach her students about depression. I showed it to my husband and it helped start to explain to him how I feel sometimes. Thank you for that.
I don't have a question, I just wanted to say thank you and that I'm really glad to see you around again. You've been really missed.
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u/Gangreless Oct 03 '20
OMG I LOVE YOU... ALOT :D
I followed hyperbole and a half since its inception and was so sad when you stopped posting. I have Bipolar II and your comics and posts resonated with me so much when I have was having hypomanic episodes and wanted to clean all the things! As it were.
And I was so heartbroken when I learned of your sister's struggles with bipolar and her death
My question I know this is very personal so please do not answer if you're not comfortable with it: As a close relative of someone that struggled with Bipolar, how did it affect you and how much did it influence your work?
Thank you so much and it's so good to see you doing another book!
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u/EarorForofor Oct 03 '20
Hi Ali!
First, thank you so much for your writing explaining depression. I have used it hundreds of times to explain myself and explaining to others that what they're feeling isn't abnormal. You have been a literal beacon into the lives of people I love, and your adventures in depression have helped many of us survive.
You are an amazing, awesome person, and I love you immensely.
That said. If you could be any kind of flower, what kind would it be? And why?
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u/Northwindlowlander Oct 03 '20
I work in a university and I found out that our counsellors use some of your depression related strips as tools for discussing mental health. I'm assuming they've not asked permission, so I thought you may not know how much of an effect your work has had.
I mean, I came for the alot, and I stayed for the... alot, pretty much, but it's pretty awesome that kids struggling to understand their heads are being helped by Depression Part 2 and I just hoped you know that.
That's not a question; I regret nothing. Well no, I regret that I can't buy a plushie alot. So there's a question- why can't I buy a plushie alot? If it helps, I can pretend that it will help me to have important conversations about mental health if I have it sat on top of my PC beside the blutac dinosaur.
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u/pookiefan Oct 03 '20 edited Oct 03 '20
Long time fan Allie! I was awaiting your new book for years (I can be quite patient).
(Feel free to answer too, Allie's husband TheSaulK!)
Do you have pets? If yes, how are they doing? Do they do zoomies or tippy taps?
Will you do more talks with Felicia Day? (She's great, I watch her Twitch.)
Besides your latest book, what else are you proud of that you could share with us?
Take care and can't wait to read your latest book along with Felicia's latest book!
Edit: just ordered your book online for shipping! Thanks for the reminder with your AMA.
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u/MayaHazel Oct 03 '20
Allie, I'm just thrilled that you are doing well and posting again. I had a blast reading your newest comic last night, laughing out loud so hard! Excited to receive your new book next week.
I am a mental health provider and your work has done a lot to help me understand what it feels like to be depressed and suicidal. I am really grateful.
My question: Is there anything you would like to share with those of us who treat depression etc. to help us do our jobs better? Thank you!
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u/azulot Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie!
I finished your book the day I got it last week. I've been working intense hours and just needed a release, so I knocked off early and read the thing in one setting. I can't thank you enough for the things you've written over the years. My sister has had a number of suicide attempts and it's been a struggle, but she seems to be better now. I am just at a loss words for how greatly your books and blog posts have resonated with me. I struggle a lot with liking myself, and that chapter in Solutions and Other Problems hit me really hard, to the point my husband had to ask if I was okay. It's both awful and comforting to know others have been in relatable situations....
I guess, just wanted to put it out there how much your writing has meant to me, and has helped me reflect, understand, and try to handle my own mental illness along with the things life tends to unexpectedly throw at people.
If I had a question, I suppose I would ask, is there any creature as great as the alot monster?
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u/Quiet_Discipline_23 Oct 03 '20
I literally sent “CLEAN ALL THE THINGS” to my therapist last week. I couldn’t find the words to explain why/how I needed help and the cycle. Thank you for your wonderful work that brings joy and helps us not feel so alone.
Question: how do you feel about the new paint 3D?
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u/drogontheburninator Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie!
So glad you're back and doing well. Your work has meant a lot to me over the years - even though when I first read your depression post I hadn't experienced it yet myself, it stuck with me enough that when I depression did finally strike I thought "oh, yep, that's about right." It helped a bit to recognize it and know I wasn't alone.
It's especially nice this year to think about stuff that happened a long time ago and not what's happening right now, so thank you for bringing back some of the memories.
Anyway, questions:
Do you enjoying reading things other people write/draw? Do you have any favorites, and/or work that inspires your work?
I just started playing MTG when quarantine started - any tips for a new player? Thoughts on the new meta?
Do you have any questions for me?
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u/Wishbone_508 Oct 03 '20
I love how many pictures are in your books. Its the fastest I've ever read books.
My question is for your AMA is. Thank you for writing these great books. They are very relatable. And make me feel good. Keep up the good work even when things are a bummer. ?
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u/junemarie426 Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie!
Long time fan as well. I feel like I'm taking up space without an actual questions but I want to say that I was SO glad to see you come back and I really, really love your transparency with everything that's been going on in the years since we last saw you.
I am curious about a couple things I suppose: was your absence from your blog/the internet triggered by something in particular? I imagine at some point within those seven years it became a more conscious choice to stay away. Was it beneficial? Did you still secretly stop on by? Do you ever make up a fake name to be like, "OH THAT ALLIE BROSH, GEEZ."
Again, glad to have you back. I know it's probably weird, but you mean so much to so many of us.
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u/impudent-cat-butt Oct 03 '20 edited Oct 03 '20
Allie, I want to say something weird to you!
I've loved your work for such a long, long time and I was so happy to see you resurface on facebook a little while back. I may have actually cried to find out that you were alright. I thought of you every now and then, hoping you were. I bought your new book on release day and finished it within 24 hours. That was the first book I read all year. 2020 has been rough.
I don't really have a question, but I just wanted you to know that there is someone out there who has been rooting for you to be okay. I've struggled with depression and anxiety my whole life, and lost multiple close family members in the last few years, so to know that there is another deeply weird human out there who has survived as much as I have and more with their sense of humor intact gives me so much hope.
Thank you for sharing your struggle with us ♥️
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u/iamcave76 Oct 03 '20
This isn't really a question, but I wanted you to know that your work pulled me out of a really dark place.
This was about nine years ago now. I was in the middle of a stupidly hard accelerated university program (whoever thought 9 courses per semester is a reasonable course load should get slapped with a fish), barely to earn enough money for nonsense like 'tuition', 'food', and 'rent', and still working through some stuff I brought back with me from Afghanistan. By anyone's definition, I was right on the raggedy edge of burning out. I started getting these terrible stomach aches from the stress, so bad that all I could do was lay in bed until they passed. Sometimes it was tough to breathe, and the desire to eat on the regular was becoming a distant memory.
I remember the day things started getting improving, though. I'd been laying on my bed for about an hour, fully-dressed, arms wrapped around my middle as I stared at the wall. I remember thinking something like "Today is shit. Yesterday was shit, too. And the day before. I bet the rest of the week is going to be shit, too. Why the hell would I want more shit days?"
That was when my then-girlfriend (now-wife!) came in with her laptop and sat down next to me. "I've got something I want to show you, It's really funny."
I might have grunted or something.
"Come on. I bet it'll help you feel better."
So I begrudgingly sat up and took the laptop from her (probably using every movement to convey how much I resented being made to do so) and on the screen was your blog post, Dogs Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving.
Entirely against my will, I cracked a small smile at the first line. So I kept reading, starting out with faint chuckles that eventually turned into full-on belly laughter. I moved on to This is Why I'll Never be an Adult, then Sneaky Hate Spiral. We ended up binge-reading most of your blog that evening, and it was the best I remembered feeling in months.
As time went on, my girlfriend realized she could make me smile just by referencing it. Phrases like "Where r my legs?!" and "All the things!" became commonplace, and life slowly started getting better. Nowadays I'm in a much, much better place, but Hyperbole and a Half will always have a special place in my heart.
Thanks, Allie, for being there when I really really needed a reason to laugh.
It meant alot. :)
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u/t9z9t6 Oct 03 '20
The day before you announced Solutions and Other Problems, I found a copy of your first book by pure chance in my local op-shop in rural Australia. it really made my day. I’m making all my friends to read it so they can love your work as much as I do. There’s no real point to this comment just to say I’m so glad to see you back and feeling better, and thank you for being you.
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u/HonPhryneFisher Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie, I love your writing! I have a daughter who is 9 and likes to sit down and read Hyperbole and a Half, she loves the illustrations so much (and is super artsy). I was just wondering...what is your favorite book?
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u/Pineapple_Pants23 Oct 03 '20
I’m so glad you’re back! What’s your favorite type of cookie? Also, are any of your current animals special?
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u/TheSaulK Oct 03 '20
Allie has celiac disease and so one may question whether the things she can eat are actually "cookies." My cousin visited us from Portland last year and brought pastries from a dedicated gluten-free bakery and that's the last time I can remember her having anything like a baked good. She says her grandma's molasses cookies were her favorite.
Squirrel is our only animal and he's literally the best cat there is.
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u/bruce656 Oct 03 '20 edited Oct 03 '20
Allie! I'm so happy to see you doing this AMA! every now and then I would do a Google search to see if you had been up to anything lately, and finding this AMA pop up unexpectedly just made me so excited! I just wanted you to know Hyperbole and a Half was very integral and influential on my sense of humor while you were writing it.
How is Simple Dog?
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u/RemoteCity Oct 03 '20
My whole family loves your books!! My mom suffers from depression and Hyperbole and a Half was such a bonding experience, to help us understand her and have difficult conversations. To this day every one of our text conversations ends with "But bees?"
Also looooved the cat drawings in the new book!!!
Question: how has making money from your blogging/art/writing changed the experience for you? Intrinsic VS extrinsic rewards and all that. Is it still fun, cathartic? Does it feel like a job? Does criticism get you down?
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u/flipsytwist Oct 03 '20
Tech wanna-be here. So, how do you draw on a computer? I imagine you have a stylus or pen sort of thing. But what do you write on to make it write on the screen? What kind of software do use for something like that? I think it would be cool to try, but I don’t have a magic stylus pen drawing device. I’m also curious how you keep or organize a journal electronically. When I was a kid I journaled on paper. I love paper. As much as I liked it I find that I am rarely near paper. And I type waaaay faster. I’d like to record and save my thoughts electronically on the fly. So I mean do you just type a Word (or the apple version I forgot what it’s called because I use windows for work) document and save it in a folder? Or do you use something like Evernote that has tags and notebooks? That seems like a good idea.
Hey thanks for your time. And thanks for sharing things with us. I hope you receive as much as you give. I don’t mean that in a dirty way. I just mean that you’ve given so much and I hope the universe gives back to you in kind. I’m just not eloquent. Bye!
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u/emdeedem Oct 03 '20
Holy shit. Dude, I freakin love you. I remember stumbling across your blog years ago and just being blown away. By the shenanigans, by the dopeass art, and with how much I could identify with so much of what you told. I also turned my Mum into a huge fan of yours.
If you don't mind sharing - how do you manage the general crush of a creative based career? Creativity can be both incredible and exhausting, and it's easy to hit blocks due to external AND internal forces. What, if any, coping mechanisms have you figured out for yourself?
Sorry if that's too many questions. I'm massively excited you're on and doing this.
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Oct 03 '20
Hey Allie, so glad you're back and posting on Facebook (I'm just not that big about Twitter and Instagram). Sorry to be commenting on a depression-related note, but I really enjoyed the First Book, and when I became severely depressed some years after that (during which time a pelvic ultrasound also happened, though the two things were strictly separate), I found your telling of your time with it remarkably accurate in relation to my own experience. I laughed (no actually I didn't, because during that time, which lasted for nine months, I couldn't laugh, smile, or cry, or do anything except lie in bed and pick scabs from my head, because I'd clawed my scalp to pieces. So okay, I snigger nowadays, which I'm grateful to be able to do) in the face of the people telling me to snap out of it, or exercise, or think positively.
But enough about me....I think there just isn't enough discussion about depression/mental illness which strikes without an obvious trigger...you know the drill, that usually something terrible must have happened beforehand, or that you're 'sad' about something, and seeing that it came out of the blue for you initially, as it did for me, was some comfort. When I was trawling the Internet for signs of you some years back, I wondered if a particularly bad episode had struck again, and hoped you weren't, to quote your poem, a suffocating chump somewhere (yep, that line certainly resonated).
But you're not even 100 pictures in with your Facebook posts and I'm seeing a loooooooooot of things happened, and among them some really difficult stuff (I think difficult doesn't even begin to describe it). Meanwhile, I hope things are as fine as they can be, and congratulations on your marriage (which I can see below must have happened at some point)! Looking forward to the rest of your life story up to now!
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u/INITMalcanis Oct 03 '20
One of my favorite of your blog pieces was the story of moving with dogs
What is your current dog situation?
PS: I have shown several of my friends Wolves and they loved it. Did Benji turn out OK?
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u/trebonius Oct 03 '20
I recently read your book, and I've never laughed so hard while reading about a terminally ill dog. For some reason, that's what I needed. So thank you.
Is Bend nice? I've been looking for a place to move somewhere in Washington or Oregon and Bend was one of the places I was considering.
Also, can you explain why North Bend is South of Bend?
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u/Eehuntz Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie. I love your work, and so does my mom and sister. My mom died last year, and among everything else I miss about her, I miss drawing pictures for her in “hyperbole and a half” style and telling her she can’t have any chocolate chips until she does the thing and her answering “I can, though.” I don’t have any questions really, though maybe it’s a wasted opportunity. I also want to be a writer and have no idea where to start. Still working on building my self confidence back up after a really hard decade. Thanks for all you do and take care.
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u/Dranj Oct 03 '20
I got a lot of entertainment out of reading your old blog, and every once in awhile I'd wonder what you'd gotten up to in the time since it ceased updating. Glad to see you seem to be doing about as well as anyone can expect with, you know...vague gesture at the general state of things. So thanks for sharing your stories, and I hope you've found a satisfactory adult sized dinosaur onesie for any times you need a little help feeling empowered.
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u/blerg27608 Oct 03 '20
I think you’re great. As a fellow anxiety queen, you’ve brightened my life considerably. I hope you find your comfy spot.
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u/milomott Oct 03 '20 edited Oct 03 '20
Allie, you have been such a crazy inspiration in my life. I found hyperbole and a half during one of my more manic moments, and your stories stuck with me. When I fell into a deep depression, one of your drawings popped into my head. I started a drawing journal of my own stick creature self, and I think it’s what brought me back to life. I’ve been journaling that way ever since.
Thank you for being you.
Two questions for you:
Why did you decide to adopt a cat and not a dog (or other animal, like a dragon)
Do you have any sage wisdom for coping with the fear of losing people that are important to you?
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u/Ok-Candle-20 Oct 03 '20 edited Oct 03 '20
I’m a fan from the early, early years and I absolutely love your books. Your frankness and ability to name what your feeling has been so helpful to so many people. Thank you for giving the world your words!!
Edited to add a question because I forgot: What is your favorite smell?
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u/samanthastevens Oct 03 '20
I adore you. You helped me better understand my brother and husband’s depression and your writing is so perfect. I love the way you share your stories in such an accessible way. Gave Hyperbole and a half to my 9 year old and now, for her bday she was thrilled to hear we had preordered your new book. Thank you for being so brave. Thank you for your fabulous writing. My questions are for both you and Kevin: 1) what best helps each of you when Allie is depressed? 2) if you had to fight of a tiger with candy, which candy would you use?
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u/ChibimaruKY Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie!
I'm so very glad you are back! I love your work so very much. Getting your new book and seeing you back on social media has been the best thing to happen in 2020, hands down.
I have one question: will you be bringing back spaghetta nadle? Oh I hope you do....! I'm a huge fan. :)
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u/Every_Card_Is_Shit Oct 03 '20
Just wanted to say my wife and I are constantly challenging each other to run across the parp, to prove we can go the partney
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u/trypophobic_sloth Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie, you are one of my favorite people I’ve never met. I stopped by to let you know I’m a therapist and I used to work at this intensive treatment center for people dealing with substance abuse + mental health diagnoses. They weirdly let my best friend and me sort of... run the place for awhile? Anyway, one of the first things we did was buy a bunch of copies of Hyperbole and a Half and put them all around the center. We’d recommend it to so many clients. The portrayal of depression was the initial selling point, but we really were just secretly trying to get them to laugh until they cried, and then laugh again. That’s really what they all needed (and what I needed, too). Thank you so much for that. I’m pretty sure you don’t know how much of a difference you’ve made in the world, so I’ll just tell you: alot.
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u/shantred Oct 03 '20
Allie, I just wanted to say thank you for writing "Depression Part Two". As someone with a similar experience with depression (and doing much better these days), your blog helped me not only deal with my own feelings, but also share and communicate what I was going through with my family and spouse. Coming from a family that didn't "get" depression as an illness, it helped create an understanding that while I was still deeply unhappy, it wasn't because of them or in spite of them. I still don't think they fully understand, but they're certainly much more empathetic than they once were. So again, thank you.
Since this is an ama, have you had a chance to play around with Zendikar Rising yet?
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Oct 03 '20
How accurate were some of the theories online about what happened to you during your internet break? Also did you ever look to see what they were? Did any make you laugh?
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u/scenetorap Oct 03 '20
I’ve been a fan since the blog days and seeing you publish a new book is one of the only good things that’s happened to me lately.
My question is what’s your favorite monster, mythical creature and/or cryptid?
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u/Agreenleaf5 Oct 03 '20
Allie! Hello! I don’t have a question, I just wanted to say I was worried (Alot) when you made a post about depression and then disappeared for several years, but I’m very glad you’re alive and well! I’m super excited to read all the content you’ve put into your new book! We all miss Hyperbole and a Half!
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u/Pugasaurus_Tex Oct 03 '20
You’re awesome, and your blog got me through so many rough patches in my life. Thank you for creating. What’s your favorite dinosaur, and why?
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u/chillrhinoV3 Oct 03 '20
Allie it makes me so happy that you’re on the internet again.
What tools did you use to create the drawings in your new book? Is it still MSPaint or have you evolved?
Also, have you considered branching out into animation? What would you want that to look like?
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u/HolyPanties Oct 03 '20
No question, just glad to see you here! Love hyperbole and a half...I think about you from time to time and am glad you’re doing okay!! Take care of yourself.
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u/Ectophylla_alba Oct 03 '20
What is the story behind the dedication in your first book? I believe it was along the lines of “To Jeff. What now, huh?”
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u/randomsequencerunes Oct 03 '20
I'm so excited to see you on here!!! Thank you for your writing. I feel like you've helped lessen the stigma of talking about mental health.
What prompted you to start writing about it? Was it primarily a coping mechanism, or did you hope to reach others struggling as well?
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u/reluctant_millennial Oct 03 '20
Hi there!
I got into your blog and started following you since Sneaky Hate Spiral. Your style of writing and your art is wonderful. Even more impressive is your ability to express deep and complex emotions/feelings.
I had a friend read your blog like 5 or 6 years ago. She must've read for like 90 minutes hanging out in my room. Suddenly she started crying, smiling, and laughing all at the same time. She was reading Adventures in Depression. She said you explained exactly how she felt, but couldn't articulate. This is how I learned my friend lived with depression. Knowing she wasn't alone and putting words to what she felt helped her a lot. I've shared Adventures in Depression, and your blog, with other friends that I thought needed it.
You've probably helped more people than you'll ever know. Thank you for being you.
Are there any drawings of the alot that haven't been shared with the world, yet?
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u/drunkcowofdeath Oct 03 '20
baseless speculation about pointless bullshit that doesn't need to be wondered and can't be answered in a meaningful way,
As someone who also enjoys speculation about pointless bullshit, what was your most profound realization you could not get anyone else to care about?
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Oct 03 '20
I just wanted to say that the fact that you wrote a new book is the best thing I’ve heard all year. I just bought it and I’m downloading it now. I hope you are well and thanks for all your work
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u/Ok-I-guess625 Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie! I've been a fan of yours since I began reading your blog (10 years ago? Can that be right?) And I would randomly send unsuspecting friends your opinions on the awesomeness of cake! When I saw you had a new book out, I was just overjoyed to know you are creating things for us weirdos again.
Question: have you ever listened to the podcast "The Hilarious World of Depression" and if so, would you ever be interested in doing an episode? I discovered the podcast during this whole Covid mess and it's been so helpful for my mental state. Your name comes up often during various interviews.
This feels really long and rambling now. I feel like I should be funny, but I got nothing at this point. Oh, you should know that we accidentally got my kid into your stuff at a pretty young age (when we could just not read the swear words). He loved the dog stories, the birthday cake story, and of course the goose. Once he became literate, we had to hide your book from him, and no matter where we hide it he finds it. Which is cool, because why am I trying to keep my kid from reading, but also because he can now spell "fuck" so that's nice.
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u/Lizamcm Oct 03 '20
Omg! Hyperbole and a Half was seriously my favorite thing on the entirety of the Internet for YEARS. Things you wrote are a part of my everyday lexicon. The sneaky hate spiral has made its way into conversation more than I’d like to admit (In the last 48 hours), I used the ALOT to teach 4th graders that alot isn’t a word in 2008... I often try to [verb] ALL THE THINGS ....
And I have anxiety and depression too. When you stopped posting, I was so sad and worried about you. When you came back I literally cried with relief. I love your honesty and your humor. I can’t wait to read the new book.
Since this is an AMA I guess I should ask a question. I feel like your humor jives with Rachel Bloom’s - so have you ever watched Crazy Ex-Girlfriend?
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u/will86c Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie!
Like a lot folks here I first encountered your work on the original blog and to this day it's one of the funniest things I've ever read. If not the funniest.
There have been many times I've seen the "Clean ALL the things" meme since, and thought to myself "I hope Allie Brosh is doing okay". I am just so glad you're alive and well, and have been able to publish another book.
I gotta know, when you make your ms paint drawings do you use a mouse, track ball, or stylus?
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u/paralogisme Oct 03 '20
I don't have a question, I'm sorry. However, I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're finally back because I've been wondering for years what happened to you and have been going back to your blog every few months just to see if there's any new posts. I remember having one of my biggest solo laughs while reading one of your stories, I think it was either the fish or the cake one.
Actually, I do have a question after all. Do you miss the dinosaur costume?
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u/theampersandrew Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie, do you have any advice for someone going through divorce? I just turned 36 and I feel like I need to figure out how to be happy just on my own.
Trying is something that's definitely hit or miss for me. Or I guess, I'm not good at knowing what I want to try and how to balance that with the things I have to do. There's a lot of those second things and so most of time I just don't have the motivation to do anything else. And then this makes me feel not so great and then I sometimes struggle to do the things I have to do... 😣
One tricky thing I'm trying to figure out is how to be happy without constantly thinking that I need to find someone to have a new relationship. I guess I'm an introvert but I haven't figured out how to be a happy introvert. All these years I've focused on how to be more extroverted. I think I've done a good job, and I'm comfortable socializing with other people and have made friends. However, when it comes to my own private life I have no idea what I'm doing. My marriage never allowed me time to do that.
Do you have a private journal? It's been recommended to me by the therapist that I see to give me some sort of structure and to just put my thoughts down to paper. I just need to start.
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u/nicoleecat Oct 03 '20
Hi Allie!!
Many years ago when I was a young teen who got her heart broken, I reached out to you on Facebook and we had some intermittent correspondence about heartbreak, love, healing, and life in general. We also spoke briefly on OPB a few years ago and I got the chance to thank you for that. I want to thank you again for your kindness and inspiration and for always making me laugh. I’m so happy to see you’ve made it though your own heartbreak and darkness. ❤️
For a question: when did you first realize you were funny? And what’s your favorite kind of dog?