The hottest Criticism Substack posts right now

Every Tuesday, 20 engineers meet at Facebook HQ to work on personalizing the News Feed for billions of users.
The Awl is praised for being a hub of quality tech and Internet criticism.
Becoming a meme can expose you to intense online hate, revealing the dark side of Internet fame.

Thinking and being are both important in the creative process.
Building helpful associations and emptying the mind except for one thing can enhance creativity.
Criticism and confrontation can lead to deeper thinking and new possibilities.

OpenAI has faced criticism and calls for a pause on its AI experiments, particularly around powerful models like GPT-4.
The company claims to be working on developing safe and responsible AI systems, but many experts doubt the effectiveness of this approach.
Some critics view OpenAI's recent communication as just a public relations effort without real substance.

HBO's Chernobyl shows how lies can lead to awful consequences. It suggests that truth is crucial for solving problems, even though it has some historical inaccuracies in the story.
In contrast, Cat's Cradle by Vonnegut argues that knowing the truth can be harmful. It presents lies as necessary for living a happier life, emphasizing the chaos of trying to find meaning.
Both works offer different views on truth and lies. One sees truth as a way to fix problems, while the other sees it as something that can cause fear and despair.

Clear language is important, and honesty helps achieve it. When people aren't sincere, communication gets messy.
Some people, like the musician Bill Evans, enjoy performing but prefer to do it alone. They find more joy in playing for themselves than for an audience.
The album 'Conversations with Myself' is a personal favorite, showing how music can express deep thoughts and feelings.

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Public relations (PR) isn't something to look down on. It's important to promote ideas and works because there are lots of people who will appreciate different things.
It's okay to separate different roles like writing, critiquing, and promoting. Each has its own purpose, and promoting does not lessen the quality of the work.
Building connections with others in PR can be enriching. If you believe in your work, sharing it with the world is just as important as creating it.

Reading a big book like _Infinite Jest_ can be a form of meditation. It trains you to focus your attention and be less distracted by quick entertainment like social media.
The book's length and complexity aren't meant to entertain you immediately but to engage you deeply over time. Your experience of reading is what matters, not just the ending.
All media exists on a spectrum of attention, from mindless scrolling on TikTok to thoughtful reading. Choosing to read can help improve your focus and make even simple experiences feel special.