Ben Mathis-Lilley on Internet Culture, Politics, and Staying Sane Online

Farewell to Slate and the Political Beat

• 🎤 Ben Mathis-Lilley joins host Kate Lindsay for his last episode at Slate after eleven years, reflecting on his time covering the internet and the political climate.
• ✍️ Known for iconic pieces like "Wouldn’t It Be Nice to Get Knocked Out Cold With a Shovel for Exactly Six Weeks and Five Days?", Ben discusses the self-explanatory "shovel meter" as a gauge for the political discourse.
• 😥 Despite the often dismal nature of online politics, Ben expresses uncertainty about whether leaving the beat will bring relief or make things worse.

Navigating Online Discourse and Finding Humor

• 😂 Ben earned the title "funniest person in Slate Slack" by comparing online events to scenes from "Arrested Development," a strategy he admits is surprisingly effective.
• 📱 He shares his first internet memory: a confusing AOL chat with a potential future NBA Hall of Famer, Vince Carter, highlighting the simpler, more mysterious early internet.
• 🐦 After deleting Twitter due to the "Nazi salute thing," Ben now uses Blue Sky, curating his feed with funny and interesting people to maintain a less monotonous experience.

Coping Mechanisms and Online Etiquette

• 🧠 Ben finds that writing about difficult topics, like the aftermath of the 2016 election, has been therapeutic, helping to process experiences and reduce their power.
• 🧘‍♀️ Both he and Kate have adopted strategies like time limits and black-and-white screen settings to make internet use more purposeful and less overwhelming.
• 🤝 A key rule for Ben is to never be mean first online, often responding to rudeness with polite curiosity to de-escalate conversations.

Positive Online Experiences and Memes

• 💡 Ben finds positive online experiences in Reddit rabbit holes about niche topics like jazz theory or historical inquiries, appreciating the wholesome exchange of knowledge.
• 🎶 He highlights a song about the Roswell UFO incident by L. Cordova and Tony Lindren as a pure example of online creativity for fun, not for clout.
• 😂 Memes like Alonzo Mourning's head-shaking reaction and the Vince McMahon escalating excitement meme serve as useful mental frameworks for processing events and appreciating moments of joy.

The Evolving Internet and Real-World Impact

• 🗣️ The encouraging spirit seen in online bodybuilding communities, like the "Yes King" affirmations, has positively influenced how younger men interact, even offline.
• 🏫 Similarly, wholesome TikTok content, such as eighth-grade history reenactments with supportive comments, demonstrates the internet's capacity for genuine, positive interactions.
• 🤔 Ben and Kate discuss how the internet's often nihilistic nature might be leading to a societal shift towards more genuine, encouraging real-world interactions, a hopeful perspective they choose to believe.