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1. Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 16:42:02 UTC Robert McNees

   This is probably the best thing I ever posted on Twitter. The memory is pretty dear to me; I'm sharing it here so it still exists somewhere if that place collapses.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 16:54:12 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     It still gets shared probably once per month by "wholesome meme" type accounts on IG and Facebook. Each time I get a stream of messages from old friends asking "Is this you?”

     I've even seen it shared on here; it's so strange when it racks up hundreds or thousands of reposts for other people. Someone will share a screenshot, maybe add 📚 and 🔦emoji, and then half the replies mistake it for an actual post.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 16:57:43 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     The strangest thing is seeing someone else share it, get a bunch of replies, and try to walk this tightrope where they respond without acknowledging that it's someone else's kid.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 17:07:19 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     I'll add the same comment here that I added when I first shared it on Twitter: The “great dad" replies warm my heart, but my wife was in on it, too. It takes teamwork to run this kind of scam on a savvy kid.

   • Mister Serious (ethanholmes@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 17:09:38 UTC Mister Serious

     in reply to

     @mcnees pretty sure I have seen it reposted on LinkedIn 👍

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 17:14:35 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     In fact, it's sort of a long con initiated by my wife, who was clever enough to spend years writing novels like it's no big deal, leaving the kid to wonder what all the fuss is about.

     https://www.kellyoconnormcnees.com

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 17:14:44 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • :mastodonworld: Petabites

     @HoustonDog 11 now

     Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 likes this.
   • :mastodonworld: Petabites (houstondog@mastodon.world)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 17:14:45 UTC :mastodonworld: Petabites

     in reply to

     @mcnees so is she still 8 years old? 🙄
     
     #OnlineGawker

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 17:15:03 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Mister Serious

     @EthanHolmes It is everywhere

     Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 likes this.
   • Mister Serious (ethanholmes@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 17:19:48 UTC Mister Serious

     in reply to

     @mcnees it's an A+ accidental legacy

   • MaybeMyMonkeys (maybemymonkeys@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 17:29:20 UTC MaybeMyMonkeys

     in reply to

     @mcnees mine just put clothes at the bottom of the door to block the light in their rooms.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:12:13 UTC Robert McNees

     • Elizabeth Mongenel

     @darkbeth Oh, I'm sorry it was so hard, but I'm glad you found a way.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:15:56 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Peter Kretzman (he/him)

     @peterkretzman Ah, I'm sorry they weren't understanding about it. When I first shared this on Twitter I was caught off guard by people remembering their parents being upset with them.

   • Peter Kretzman (he/him) (peterkretzman@mas.to)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:15:57 UTC Peter Kretzman (he/him)

     in reply to

     @mcnees I did this, but without the understanding parents. In fact, when I needed glasses at age 7, they informed me that it stemmed from reading under the covers with a flashlight. :)

   • Tom Walker (tomw@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:32:57 UTC Tom Walker

     in reply to

     @mcnees I've seen this allll over the place. Even if Twitter does collapse, they'll probably be reposting it for years to come. Similar to the strange afterlife of popular Vines.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:34:33 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Tom Walker

     @tomw “Strange afterlife" is exactly the right way to describe it.

   • Sally (elsalsador@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:35:43 UTC Sally

     in reply to

     @mcnees excellent luck! My 14yo pretends to go to sleep then puts his light back on and grabs his book 😊 so pleased - but need to get him into libraries, not new ones all the time!!! 😳

   • Katzentratschen (katzentratschen@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:37:54 UTC Katzentratschen

     in reply to

     @mcnees l've liked and retweeted it then and I'm boosting it now. Still adorable. 🤩

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:42:41 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Katzentratschen

     @katzentratschen Oh that's a great idea!

   • Katzentratschen (katzentratschen@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:42:42 UTC Katzentratschen

     in reply to

     @mcnees (And a great idea to save precious tweets. I've started to repost some of my own tweets with photos on #ThrowbackThursday for similar reasons.)

   • Scotty Trees (scottytrees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:46:22 UTC Scotty Trees

     in reply to

     @mcnees I swear I’ve seen this post/comment on Reddit too before!

   • Schroedinger (steveclough@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 18:52:42 UTC Schroedinger

     in reply to

     @mcnees It is a lovely thing.

   • David Brent 📚 (dbsalk@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 19:07:05 UTC David Brent 📚

     in reply to

     @mcnees I think my parents took it for granted that I loved to read and did plenty of it in my spare time. That's probably why my dad, who had terrible eyesight, discouraged me from reading under the covers with a flashlight because he was convinced it would "ruin my eyes."

     He was still amazing and I miss him dearly. Thank you for sharing this.

   • Pussista (pussista@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 19:18:02 UTC Pussista

     in reply to

     @mcnees omg this tweet went viral and i actually know it for elsewhere. bestie you're famous☺️

   • GJ Groothedde 🇪🇺 (eetschrijver@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 19:42:23 UTC GJ Groothedde 🇪🇺

     in reply to

     @mcnees I loved this much at the time and love it no less today.

   • The Wookie (njwookie@mindly.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 19:52:43 UTC The Wookie

     in reply to

     @mcnees

     That's awesome. I had a 12 yo that would "secretly" stay up tp "play" with the professional design software that I "mistakenly" installed on her first laptop. She's 19 now, in her 2nd year of Architecture/Engineering school, and tells her friends that I never knew.

     She did her own software updates so I can't take credit for something like your battery trick but that's a nice detail to the story.

     Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 likes this.
   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 19:52:43 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • The Wookie

     @NJWookie Haha, that’s great.

   • Paddy O'Brien (tapi@mastodon.online)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:04:13 UTC Paddy O'Brien

     in reply to

     @mcnees was talking about this post the other night. It inspired similar “rules” in our house where we pretend to not notice their bedside lamp is on while they pretend to sleep.

     They love feeling like they are getting away something 😂

     Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 likes this.
   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:04:13 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Paddy O'Brien

     @Tapi Closest thing I’ve found to a parenting cheat code.

     Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 likes this.
   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:18:25 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Falcon Darkstar

     @falcon Ah, I'm sorry. That sucks.

   • Falcon Darkstar (falcon@mastodon.falconk.rocks)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:18:26 UTC Falcon Darkstar

     in reply to

     @mcnees lol, I got screamed at for doing that. You are a good parent.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:22:31 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • T Chu 朱
     • tomathome

     @tomathome @chu Funny you say that! She's 11 now, and at some point figured out how to check out books on Libby to read on her tablet. If I didn't know better, I’d say someone must have installed the app, entered her library card information, and put the icon on the home screen.

   • tomathome (tomathome@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:22:35 UTC tomathome

     in reply to

     • T Chu 朱

     @chu @mcnees now I think it’s ensure the tablet is charged. I speak of this as an e-reader…made life so much easier when overseas ✌️

   • T Chu 朱 (chu@climatejustice.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:22:36 UTC T Chu 朱

     in reply to

     @mcnees

     You have motivated me to buy a flashlight.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:22:55 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Michael R. Johnston

     @JohnstonMR Hahaha, what a world.

   • Michael R. Johnston (johnstonmr@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:22:56 UTC Michael R. Johnston

     in reply to

     @mcnees An hour ago it came up in my Facebook feed, so it's out there forever.

     Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 likes this.
   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:35:53 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     Anyway, she's 11 now. Her bedtime is later, and she knows we don't mind if she stays up reading. She still loves books, but there are lots of things – messaging with friends, Roblox, etc – competing for her attention.

     At some point, though, she figured out how to check out books on Libby, and read them on her iPad. She doesn't need our help at all.

     It's the weirdest thing. Someone must have installed the app, entered her library card information, and left the icon there on the home screen.

   • PhDog (dogfox@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:38:46 UTC PhDog

     in reply to

     @mcnees

     Bizarre...

     Poltergeists, definitely poltergeists.

   • Kabelfee (kabelfee@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:39:47 UTC Kabelfee

     in reply to

     @mcnees 💛🧡❤️🧡💛

   • HistoPol (histopol@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 20:50:43 UTC HistoPol

     in reply to

     @mcnees

     Lol

     More reading required.
     Tech and physics. 😉

   • Scotty Trees (scottytrees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 21:09:24 UTC Scotty Trees

     in reply to

     @mcnees “Someone must have installed the app, entered her library card information, and left the icon there…” The “hackers” these days are getting out of control! 🤣

   • Wayne Werner (ketmorco@fosstodon.org)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 21:56:59 UTC Wayne Werner

     in reply to

     @mcnees Was it you or someone else who told their kid that they'd pay them $1/book read, and they were up to something like 350 books that year and the kid was convinced they were ripping their parent off 🙃

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 21:56:59 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Wayne Werner

     @ketmorco Not me, but an incredible idea.

   • Affienia 🦄:knitting:🏳️‍🌈 (affienia@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 22:02:44 UTC Affienia 🦄:knitting:🏳️‍🌈

     in reply to

     @mcnees this is the greatest follow up. Epic parenting!

   • nobody (boringaccount@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 08-May-2023 23:48:49 UTC nobody

     in reply to

     @mcnees cool post

   • Jack Yan (甄爵恩) (jackyan@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 09-May-2023 00:28:49 UTC Jack Yan (甄爵恩)

     in reply to

     @mcnees I think I saw and shared that over there at the time. A wonderful Tweet.

   • mybutler@mastodon.social's status on Tuesday, 09-May-2023 00:44:14 UTC mybutler

     in reply to

     @mcnees great

   • Scott Sutherland (scottsutherlandsciencewriter@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 09-May-2023 03:28:17 UTC Scott Sutherland

     in reply to

     @mcnees What a crazy random (awesome) happenstance!

   • dark5un (dark5un@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 09-May-2023 03:38:01 UTC dark5un

     in reply to

     @mcnees lolz.. Thats so sweet but just a small warning, it might be best to ask her to find a different option to rebel or get a her a better reading light since long term focused yet shifting lights can cause a bit too much eye strain. Otherwise, thats a really fun thing even i used to do & hope my own daughter will (only for limited times! 😅) when she starts reading!

   • Jay (meso772@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 09-May-2023 04:45:28 UTC Jay

     in reply to

     @mcnees methinks aliens.

   • SoftSecrets (softsecrets@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 09-May-2023 09:22:07 UTC SoftSecrets

     in reply to

     @mcnees wow!

   • Jason B 🧙‍♂️ (jkb@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 09-May-2023 12:18:10 UTC Jason B 🧙‍♂️

     in reply to

     @mcnees Best Dad ever!!

   • Sailor Disco 🏳️‍🌈 he/they (sailordisco@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 09-May-2023 18:34:30 UTC Sailor Disco 🏳️‍🌈 he/they

     in reply to

     @mcnees She’s lucky to have an awesome parent like you. I got my books taken away when I did that as a kid.

   • lizzard (lizzard@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 12-May-2023 03:01:33 UTC lizzard

     in reply to

     @mcnees ha! Perfect!

   • Jean Hominal (jhominal@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 12-May-2023 06:38:27 UTC Jean Hominal

     in reply to

     @mcnees That is a great follow-up. Thank you!

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 21-May-2023 15:45:40 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     Tom Gauld in yesterday’s Guardian Books.

   • Vicki Ziegler (bookgaga@mastodon.social)'s status on Thursday, 01-Jun-2023 17:00:18 UTC Vicki Ziegler

     in reply to

     @mcnees It's a memory dear to many of us, I hope you know. Thanks for the reminder, and for bringing it over here to this very pleasant new place.

   • Toot Suite, Rodney 💨 (ohmrun@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 17-Jun-2023 17:26:40 UTC Toot Suite, Rodney 💨

     in reply to

     @mcnees One of my all time favourite tweets.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 17-Jun-2023 17:34:44 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Toot Suite, Rodney 💨

     @ohmrun thanks

   • Simon Harper (simonharper@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 17-Jun-2023 17:56:03 UTC Simon Harper

     in reply to

     • Hugh W

     @mcnees @hugh Love this.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 17-Jun-2023 20:21:11 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Downbeatdan

     @downbeatdan Hahaha, it was a team job by me and my wife

   • Downbeatdan (downbeatdan@mastodon.nz)'s status on Saturday, 17-Jun-2023 20:21:12 UTC Downbeatdan

     in reply to

     @mcnees I Remember seeing this! You sir, are a goddam genius....

   • Evelyn C. Leeper (eleeper@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 17-Jun-2023 21:40:40 UTC Evelyn C. Leeper

     in reply to

     @mcnees Did your daughter figure this out at some point (before she saw your posting)?

   • Tuba (dassodocaralho@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 18-Jun-2023 03:05:48 UTC Tuba

     in reply to

     @mcnees @atiradinnhas own

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 08-Jul-2023 02:57:24 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅

     @clacke Where’d you see it?

   • Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 (clacke@libranet.de)'s status on Saturday, 08-Jul-2023 02:57:25 UTC Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅

     in reply to
     @mcnees This is making the rounds on other networks!
   • Sarah E Bourne (sbourne@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 11-Jul-2023 23:25:39 UTC Sarah E Bourne

     in reply to

     @mcnees No flashlight for me 😢. I had to read by the hall light coming in the cracks around the door, moving the book up and down one line at a time.

   • Michael, Twitter’s @twcau (twcau@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 12-Jul-2023 07:40:08 UTC Michael, Twitter’s @twcau

     in reply to

     • Keith Nowak

     One of my best Twitter memories was a by-chance reply from the renowned British comedian and impressionist Rory Brenner, when I mentioned one night I was enjoying some of his earlier work on The Clive James Show.

     @mcnees @keithnowak

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 12-Jul-2023 13:37:04 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • John Carlos Baez

     @johncarlosbaez thanks!

   • John Carlos Baez (johncarlosbaez@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Wednesday, 12-Jul-2023 13:37:05 UTC John Carlos Baez

     in reply to

     @mcnees - I remember enjoying that on Twitter. Glad you're here now.

   • Greg Pak (gregpak@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 14-Jul-2023 19:54:41 UTC Greg Pak

     in reply to

     @mcnees I love this.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 14-Jul-2023 21:11:52 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Ned Yeung

     @ned It’s been a while since I’ve had fun on Twitter, but this place is great.

   • Ned Yeung (ned@mstdn.ca)'s status on Friday, 14-Jul-2023 21:11:53 UTC Ned Yeung

     in reply to

     @mcnees I remember sharing this post of yours at one time or another. :) So glad to see you here! This place is so much better!

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 14-Jul-2023 21:13:08 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Greg Pak

     @gregpak Thanks! You know, this really strange thing happened recently…

     https://mastodon.social/@mcnees/110334977761354139

   • Greg Pak (gregpak@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 14-Jul-2023 21:14:09 UTC Greg Pak

     in reply to

     @mcnees ha ha ha awesome

   • Snowshadow (snowshadow@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 31-Dec-2023 22:44:25 UTC Snowshadow

     in reply to

     @mcnees
     I love it 😊

   • Garrett Wollman (wollman@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 31-Dec-2023 22:48:58 UTC Garrett Wollman

     in reply to

     @mcnees You're not crying I'm crying &c

   • Jon Het-CIS. (jon_kramer@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 31-Dec-2023 22:54:51 UTC Jon Het-CIS.

     in reply to

     @mcnees , every time I see that post, I share it again, and count my blessings that I have a daughter who was the same.

   • ladyteruki (ladyteruki@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 01-Jan-2024 00:08:09 UTC ladyteruki

     in reply to

     @mcnees : I'm thankful your kid has you as a parent. I was reading under the covers and went through unspeakable violence because of it.
     You're doing it right, I want you to know that.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 01-Jan-2024 00:23:22 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • ladyteruki

     @ladyteruki Thank you. I am so sorry for what you experienced.

   • ladyteruki (ladyteruki@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 01-Jan-2024 00:23:58 UTC ladyteruki

     in reply to

     @mcnees : it's ok. It was decades ago. But never stop supporting this :)

   • Idan Gazit (idan@vis.social)'s status on Saturday, 06-Apr-2024 06:40:54 UTC Idan Gazit

     in reply to

     @mcnees growing up, we lived in the top corner apartment of our building. It was easy to count the windows to my room. When my parents went out for date night I would stay up reading with a flashlight and quickly shut it off when I heard the key in the lock. Years later my parents told me they knew, because as they drove home they would see the flashlight moving around in my window as I tried to perch it between my shoulder and the pillow.

     We bought our kids kindles with backlights. 😂

     Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 likes this.
   • VulcanTourist (vulcantourist@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 01-Sep-2024 01:18:33 UTC VulcanTourist

     in reply to

     @mcnees

     It wasn't rebellion for me: it was necessity borne of a developing poor memory for detail and context. I *had* to read a book from cover to cover in one non-stop sitting, lest I forget what I had last read even the day before. That now-diagnosed memory deficit kept me from a rewarding career as a specialist because I couldn't retain all the tricks of the trade that would have made me more efficient than a jack-of-all-trades.

     I hope your daughter doesn't have that particular gift.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 01-Sep-2024 01:22:51 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Julianoë

     @Julianoe Yesterday!

     https://mastodon.social/@mcnees/113053502346482467

   • Julianoë (julianoe@mastodon.xyz)'s status on Sunday, 01-Sep-2024 01:22:52 UTC Julianoë

     in reply to

     @mcnees
     Discovering this thread makes me wonder at what age your kid will stumble upon this very post reshared another time by an account somewhere

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 01-Sep-2024 01:45:15 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • scholar_farmer

     @scholar_farmer The breadth of parental invention!

   • scholar_farmer (scholar_farmer@zirk.us)'s status on Sunday, 01-Sep-2024 01:45:16 UTC scholar_farmer

     in reply to

     @mcnees I remember that post! It made me grin. Our version was different: we had convinced the kids that I needed a bedtime story, so they read to me every night…

   • ✧✦✶Catherine✶✦✧ (whitequark@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 01-Sep-2024 09:04:21 UTC ✧✦✶Catherine✶✦✧

     in reply to

     @mcnees as someone who was punished (mildly, comparatively, but it was clear it was not desired; the alleged reason was that it'd make my eyesight worse, which is bullshit) for the same: thank you

     it's really nice, and really rare, to meet a parent online who actually knows what they're doing