Hi, I've had a probably-unhealthy parasocial relationship with you for...a while. I've always wondered, in those early JDatE days when people were just printing it out and spreading it to their IRL friends; did anyone ever hand it to you and say something like, "This is an odd book with a unique sense of humor that I think would appeal to you."?
Seems unlikely just by the numbers, but it would be fucking hilarious if a friend of yours who didn't know you wrote it recognized it as something you'd resonate with.
I know you’ve heard this many times over the years because I see it in your comment sections but it would be hard to overstate the influence some of your articles had on me as I was figuring out adulthood. Your article about Glengarry Glen Ross was something I would read fairly regularly when I needed a pep talk. Other stand outs are “Why We Can’t Stop Hating the Poor,” “5 Ways Modern Men Are Trained to Hate Women.” I was a field biologist just starting out and I’d read your columns at night and then bring the ideas up for conversation the next day with my crew. And even though all my pitches to cracked were rejected, I’m still glad it was there when I needed it.
You've been an important part of my life for like...20 years...I fell in love with cracked.com EARLY. It was exactly the sort of thing I was trying to find on the internet. I was listening to The Cracked Podcast AS it came out. I recently found a way to access those episodes and listen again. It always blew my mind that the best articles were ALWAYS by you. I've purchased and read every single one of your books. Read a few a few times! I feel blessed to be your fan, you give way more to me than I do to you. <3333333
Same. Six Harsh Truths changed my life in a very literal sense. I have the Glengary Glen Ross clip bookmarked and rewatch it from time to time or reread the article when I feel like a need a kick in the ass.
The name change has resulted in exactly one tiny little thing I think is actually an error. In the updated special edition of JDATE, the ending foreword no longer makes sense. Basically in the original version pre-name change I have, there's a section labelled by Jason Pargin which is then followed up by David Wong taking a dig at the author, but in new editions now, both of them are labeled as Jason Pargin, which is still funny, but doesn't make sense (I mean is that even a downside honestly). I only know this because I was reading the ending to a book I've read several times while at the Barnes and Nobles, as a certified crazed fan.
What makes me grateful for my own screen name from the 90's and early 2K era is that when I started getting death threats from deranged miniatures wargamers for 'sharing the hidden secrets of winning at Warmachine'. I was able to abandon my blog in 2008 or so with very few people associating my real world identity with my screen name. It was flattering that my fans went into Wayback and revived it as a wiki, but I'd have rather they let it die.
I think I made a dollar an hour off of my writing at its peak; a rare success for a hobby blog.
These days I'm regarded as an expert with an obscure enterprise software platform, which both pays better and doesn't come with death threats.
I still write crude fiction about superhero mercenaries fighting poop monsters for my own amusement, but no longer feel any strong desire to be published.
As a one time frequent poster on PWoT, it’s been interesting to see the person behind the pseudonym. Even though we all knew “David Wong” didn’t exist, it was something of an outlier on the internet of that era to choose a screen name that sounded like a real name, rather than some pop culture inside joke or non-sequitur.
When I think about what was lost on the pre-social network internet, boards like PWoT are what come to mind the most. And the “50 Reasons Lord of the Ring Sucks” honey trap was phenomenal.
“Blood, Sweat, and Bone: the Kajukenbo Philosophy”. It’s about the martial art I study. I’d like to think the writing style I developed and jokes I threw in were influenced by David. I mentioned him directly in my second book, “The Path”.
"like the alcohol"!! I can't believe I've been saying your name wrong in my head all this time! (Wait... is it a soft "g" in Wong as well... hmm, that really does change things....)
Who the hell is David Wong? Jason has a much darker history that he wants to hide from you. He was supposed to be on our side. He was supposed to be OUR advocate. He was supposed to be on the side of the consumer. He threw all that aside to become famous as an early internet blogger. He sold the consumer out for a book deal.
That's right. As much as Jason would like to hide it, he was the Consumer Advocate!
Not that I've ever said your name out loud, but until 45 seconds ago I would have said it wrong. Soft G. Huh. Good thing your name isn't "Pargif" or you'd start all kinds of internet battles.
Hi, I've had a probably-unhealthy parasocial relationship with you for...a while. I've always wondered, in those early JDatE days when people were just printing it out and spreading it to their IRL friends; did anyone ever hand it to you and say something like, "This is an odd book with a unique sense of humor that I think would appeal to you."?
Seems unlikely just by the numbers, but it would be fucking hilarious if a friend of yours who didn't know you wrote it recognized it as something you'd resonate with.
I know you’ve heard this many times over the years because I see it in your comment sections but it would be hard to overstate the influence some of your articles had on me as I was figuring out adulthood. Your article about Glengarry Glen Ross was something I would read fairly regularly when I needed a pep talk. Other stand outs are “Why We Can’t Stop Hating the Poor,” “5 Ways Modern Men Are Trained to Hate Women.” I was a field biologist just starting out and I’d read your columns at night and then bring the ideas up for conversation the next day with my crew. And even though all my pitches to cracked were rejected, I’m still glad it was there when I needed it.
Same same. I fondly remember https://www.cracked.com/article_15759_10-things-christians-atheists-can-and-must-agree-on.html and the 10 Minute Suicide Guide. (I can't find it right now, maybe I'm misremembering the title.
Jason Pargin has definitely shaped big parts of how I see the world, for better or worse.
>I was still working at an insurance company doing data entry on Medicare claims for $11 an hour
Dude! I worked that exact job, in that exact building, ~10 years earlier! Cool.
Do you know this post will be your autobiography in a possible future? 😅
You've been an important part of my life for like...20 years...I fell in love with cracked.com EARLY. It was exactly the sort of thing I was trying to find on the internet. I was listening to The Cracked Podcast AS it came out. I recently found a way to access those episodes and listen again. It always blew my mind that the best articles were ALWAYS by you. I've purchased and read every single one of your books. Read a few a few times! I feel blessed to be your fan, you give way more to me than I do to you. <3333333
Same. Six Harsh Truths changed my life in a very literal sense. I have the Glengary Glen Ross clip bookmarked and rewatch it from time to time or reread the article when I feel like a need a kick in the ass.
I forgot about that one (it was 12 years ago, lmao) But just pulled it back up to read it again. Thanks fren.
Have you listened to The Cracked Podcast when Jason was a frequent guest....?
I did not. I'm not normally a fan of podcasts.
The name change has resulted in exactly one tiny little thing I think is actually an error. In the updated special edition of JDATE, the ending foreword no longer makes sense. Basically in the original version pre-name change I have, there's a section labelled by Jason Pargin which is then followed up by David Wong taking a dig at the author, but in new editions now, both of them are labeled as Jason Pargin, which is still funny, but doesn't make sense (I mean is that even a downside honestly). I only know this because I was reading the ending to a book I've read several times while at the Barnes and Nobles, as a certified crazed fan.
... exactly two. Two things.
In Spiders, he writes "my name is David Wong. It's on the cover". That line wasn't changed.
What makes me grateful for my own screen name from the 90's and early 2K era is that when I started getting death threats from deranged miniatures wargamers for 'sharing the hidden secrets of winning at Warmachine'. I was able to abandon my blog in 2008 or so with very few people associating my real world identity with my screen name. It was flattering that my fans went into Wayback and revived it as a wiki, but I'd have rather they let it die.
I think I made a dollar an hour off of my writing at its peak; a rare success for a hobby blog.
These days I'm regarded as an expert with an obscure enterprise software platform, which both pays better and doesn't come with death threats.
I still write crude fiction about superhero mercenaries fighting poop monsters for my own amusement, but no longer feel any strong desire to be published.
what the fuck is pwot, is this some internet thing
He literally says it right before. Pointless Waste of Time.
Honestly, I think his comment is just aimless rambling.
Re your employment history:
Oh sweet heaven and thank the gods, I thought it was just me!!
Nice to know I’m not alone.
As a one time frequent poster on PWoT, it’s been interesting to see the person behind the pseudonym. Even though we all knew “David Wong” didn’t exist, it was something of an outlier on the internet of that era to choose a screen name that sounded like a real name, rather than some pop culture inside joke or non-sequitur.
When I think about what was lost on the pre-social network internet, boards like PWoT are what come to mind the most. And the “50 Reasons Lord of the Ring Sucks” honey trap was phenomenal.
Everyone on that board was David Wong.
The minister's cat is a pseudonymous cat
You’ve had a huge impact on my (non-fiction) writing. I even included your name in my recent book.
Thank you for kicking ass.
I'm sure he wouldn't mind you plugging your work. What's the book?|
I appreciate you asking. Thank you.
“Blood, Sweat, and Bone: the Kajukenbo Philosophy”. It’s about the martial art I study. I’d like to think the writing style I developed and jokes I threw in were influenced by David. I mentioned him directly in my second book, “The Path”.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BMZVK5PT/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=
You mean you’re not related to Capt. Sum Ting Wong?
Its my first been here, here looks great!
"like the alcohol"!! I can't believe I've been saying your name wrong in my head all this time! (Wait... is it a soft "g" in Wong as well... hmm, that really does change things....)
Who the hell is David Wong? Jason has a much darker history that he wants to hide from you. He was supposed to be on our side. He was supposed to be OUR advocate. He was supposed to be on the side of the consumer. He threw all that aside to become famous as an early internet blogger. He sold the consumer out for a book deal.
That's right. As much as Jason would like to hide it, he was the Consumer Advocate!
Not that I've ever said your name out loud, but until 45 seconds ago I would have said it wrong. Soft G. Huh. Good thing your name isn't "Pargif" or you'd start all kinds of internet battles.