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1. �Just as all of Baltimore pondered the mystery of how a progressive city could produce such despotic police orcs,� wrote Benjamin Wallace-Wells in his in-depth story of how Baltimore descended into violence following the death of Freddie Gray, a 24-year-old Baltimore resident who died in police custody last spring, �a second mystery had presented itself: If everyone was organized to prevent violence, why did it continue to happen?� (�A Most Violent Year,� November 30�December 13). �So many conversations in Baltimore this fall gnaw at these two questions,� tweeted �Daschloz. �Very thorough article,� wrote commenter william.washington. �As a third generation Baltimorean, I and my family have watched as areas which were middle class fell into decay. The problem with Baltimore is that it is run like a mining operation. Money only goes into capital which will extract revenue for refining elsewhere. There are few who do well (the median income earned in the city is [substantially] below the national median income) but most eke out whatever existence they can.� Some were just thankful that the story took on such a weighty subject. �There’s been a great piece crying out to be done about post-riot Baltimore,� tweeted ProPublica’s Alec MacGillis. �Ben Wallace-Wells rose to the challenge.� He later elaborated: �Telling scene: drug dealer pleading w/ cops to start policing again.� Many were simply impressed with the artful storytelling. �Restrained, beautiful, gripping �� tweeted the New York Times’ Alan Feuer.
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2. Last issue’s story on the lives of former internet sensations �long after the clicks have subsided� provided readers with a glimpse of just how disorienting, even traumatic, viral fame can be (�I Was Internet� Famous,� November 30�December 13). �It’s only been in the past ten years or so that an ordinary person can wake up and find himself globally famous due to a viral video,� wrote a commenter at Neatorama. �That experience can be pretty shocking. For some, it’s led to greater things while others are still dealing with the scars of notoriety.� Reality Steve thought the interviews were �depressing. We found out that Caitlin Upton basically went into depression and almost tried to kill herself for two years� after her Miss Teen USA video went viral. �Does that mean we should all feel guilty now for laughing at [the video]?� �The internet loves wacky characters who get caught doing embarrassing, funny, and unexpected things,� wrote a commenter at Someecards. �But behind the joke there’s always a real �person who has to deal with the fallout of being the most famous �person on YouTube that week. [These] are some of the darker excerpts of their experience that will make you reconsider whether you want to repost the next viral video you see.� Teen Vogue’s Emma Sarran Webster felt there was a larger life lesson from their stories: �Regardless of the mistakes someone’s made,� she wrote, �it’s important to remember that behind every meme, there’s a real person who deserves to be treated with the decency we’d want for ourselves.� One of the more positive post-fame experiences was that of Tay Zonday, of �Chocolate Rain� fame, who managed to turn his moment in the spotlight into a career. �I’d love to read a �column by him on digital culture,� wrote commenter Niandra. Other readers were quick to point out one unintentional omission: �Is no one going to call out Chris Crocker and the author of this article for completely leaving out his extensive career in gay porn?� asked commenter ready�made. And of course readers had their own favorite viral stars they wanted to hear from. �If only they could find Scumbag Steve,� wrote a commenter at the Interrobang. Commenter LvV was impressed with the whole bunch: �These are smart and charismatic young people and they became meme-worthy for a reason, because they are awesome.�
3. Genevieve Smith’s account of one man’s experience with Vivitrol, a drug meant to prevent heroin addicts from getting high, prompted readers to share their stories of addiction (�What Comes After Addiction,� �November 30�December 13). �My daughter is kicking heroin and for now �real life’ just looks like a boring, joyless wasteland to her,� wrote commenter Trilby16. �I was very interested to read an explanation of this �excessive anhedonia’ � � a medical term for the inability to experience pleasure, which is often a lingering effect of drug addiction. �Never heard of that before. It might help her to know that it will end someday.� Another commenter, Bazouges, shared his own story to show how difficult it can be to kick a habit without help: �Twenty years ago, my girlfriend and I had a serious heroin/cocaine addiction. It was full blown for about 2 years and we only stopped because our funds ran out. Even though I thought I could quit on my own, I couldn’t: I had to go to rehab for two weeks then live in shared housing with other addicts for 5 months. I can’t stress enough that no matter HOW strong you feel after being clean, for a month, a year, two years � you’ll be HIGHLY prone to relapsing. The good news is, it is possible to get off the Hell Train. And life is wonderful once you do.�