Inteview V.1,N.1

Here at [rothstei] we are always trying to come up with new and innovative ways of entertaining ourselves in the name of entertaining you. Many interesting techniques crop up in this crazy [plan] world, yet we are forced to wonder about some of the more tired fads that stand in the way of true inovation in ego-posturing. While open letters seem to be the rage right now, the [rothstei] editorial board is of the mind that this is merely a tired rehashing of the same old inner monologue forced into the cutesy "bundt-cake pan" form of a letter; seeming to amount to merely cupping the text in the cold, clammy hands of a salutation and some sort of closure including a comma. Remember, dear readers, adding cloves and pineapple to a Spam loaf does not a sunday roast make.

In the interest of real innovation, and above all, literary worth, and above all, the egos of the editorial board, we would like to present a new format. This is something new in modern communication ladies and gentlemen, something that we think you'll like. While it’s been trying before in different media, we are now pleased to bring to you on our very own [rothstei], the...

Interview V.1, N.1

All readers of [rothstei] would like to know more about the "team behind text", so to speak. If not, then we proceed under that assumption anyway. That is why we sought out Adam Rothstein himself. As senior editor of [rothstei] and a regular contributor, Mr. Rothstein, knows the inner workings of the all-too-often updates that substantiate this Plan more than anyone. In the five years that he has written for [rothstei] he has been responsible for some of its most famous works: "Hey Grinnellians Wake Up Politically", "A Very Important Intellectual Argument about Fascism", and who can forget the seminal, "shit shit i am so fucking depressed someone listen to me oh god im wasted". We caught up with Mr. Rothstein in the bathroom mirror when he woke up this morning, but because of his busy routine didn't have a good chance to sit and chat until he arrived at work and began to waste time.

[Rothstei]: So what, in your own words, is the modus operandi of [rothstei]?

Adam: “Pretentious, but still really awesome”, I think. Our image is obviously what keeps the readers coming back, well besides just being on the autofinger list, that is. If we think our image is good, then obviously the reader will too. After all, the most important reader is oneself. First and foremost: author, editor, and customer. This is precisely why I don’t write for anything I would ever get paid for. It takes that creativity right out of my hands. And with that, any chance at pretense. And with that, the “still really awesome”.

R: [rothstei] is often thought of as controversial, if not in the minds of others, than certainly in your own. How would you respond, therefore, to your own criticisms of the controversy that you think you cause?

A: I’ll take that question. I am controversial. I’ll admit it. It’s because most people aren’t quite as comfortable with me as I am with myself. I would even admit that sometimes I have a slight quiver of fear when I tread those grounds I fear to tread. But how else can I prove to myself that I am ready to break the boundaries that I have created for myself if I can’t do it in a closed, online, text-based environment. I don’t think of it so much as controversial, actually, I think of everyone else who isn’t doing what I’m doing as reactionary. I act, and then they react. This is precisely the modern problem of politics.

R: Does that change the form of [rothstei] in addition to the content?

A: What?

R: What about the spelling and grammatical mistakes?

A: No.

R: How do you find the time to steer [rothstei] with such fortitude and precision?

A: Well, luckily my devotion to my online voice pretty much precludes the possibility of a non-online personality. I think of it as a public service, on both sides of the ‘net.

R: In what ways, and how precisely would you thematize the role of the internet in changing self-centered communication?

A: No, not very often. I call it “nicaffine”. But really the main question is of style. I mean, you have to look good doing it, or it’s not good for you. And location is the key here. Luckily, the internet is nowhere, so that is a moot point.

R: Tell us a little bit about the future of [rothstei].

A: Well, I’ll probably check back later to see if anyone responded to this interview. If they did, and rudely, I’ll respond in kind. If they thought it was funny, I’ll probably gloat a while, and then watch a movie. After that a snack, and then I’ll check quicklove again. Depending on how bored I am, I’ll read Secrets. And then if I get a good positive response to this interview, I’ll probably ride that joke until it’s a corpse.

R: Would it be possible for you to ever love anyone as much as you love yourself?

A: I try to keep my personal life strictly personal.

R: What really excites you about www.grinnellplans.com right now?

A: Its still there. I was excited about changing my layout to “monochrome”, but that got old. I used to get excited about [jungesam], but I think that blog has gone out of circulation. Maybe he got a life, which would be very sad. I’ve seen so many in the blog bubble burst that way.

R: Who is at the top of the [rothstei] autofinger list?

A: [funston]. I have no idea why, but she’s been at the top for a long while now, although she didn’t used to be. It’s good though, because she is always updating. Although sometimes I can’t see that she has made a change…

R: What other projects are you working on right now?

A: Well, I’m fixing an email list at work and I think its making me lose my eyesight. I also got some new Netflix yesterday, I’m pretty amped for that. Film reviews have always been a staple at [rothstei].

R: Any closing remarks to the readers?

A: Note to self: “Don’t forget to change current school address”. Otherwise I won’t get my paycheck next week.

R: Thanks for you time.

A: The pleasure was all mine.