NYU bookstore makes money off Tao Lin’s books while persecuting him personally
Fans of Tao Lin probably know that his 2009 novella Shoplifting from American Apparel, while fiction, was inspired by the fact that he was indeed arrested for shoplifting from an American Apparel store — and also for shoplifting from the New York University bookstore. The latter, in fact, banned him from ever entering again — enacting a kind of double jeopardy, as Lin served his time on that conviction. And meanwhile, they continue to sell his books.
Two years further on, and the NYU bookstore has changed locations, expanded, and also attached itself to a cafe — the Think Coffee. Interestingly, Shoplifting is on prominent display in the front of the store. Last week, after going to the Think Coffee “10-20 times … to buy iced coffee,” Tao found himself in hot water there once again, although he had paid for what he had, this time.
As he details in a report for Gawker:
11:20 a.m. I was sitting alone at a table “idly ‘sipping’” Pellegrino while sometimes “napping” facedown on my arms, reading a novel manuscript, looking at my iPhone. I had a full iced coffee I was going to “chug” “soon.” After 70-90 minutes someone [touched me or said my name] and I removed my earphones. “Tao?” said a 55-year-old man. “Are you Tao?” ….
11:25 a.m. the 55-year-old man handcuffed my right wrist to something and I sat in a chair. I alternated between saying that I sort of forgot I was banned, that this was a new store, that their Think Coffee location was convenient. I focused on Think Coffee. I was honestly confused to what degree I “forgot” I was banned. Both the 55-year-old man and the Hispanic woman seemed familiar with my writing in a manner like they “agreed completely” with the “damning” review of Shoplifting from American Apparel on Bookslut….
11:50 a.m., after I hadn’t been spoken to for 2-4 minutes, the Hispanic woman said “are you still writing?” I was quiet then said “I’m always writing” in a depressed monotone, not looking in her direction, probably “accidentally” conveying something like “yes, I am stoically ‘enduring’ my life of ‘having no choice’ but to always be writing.”
Later the 55-year-old man said “what was your first book called?” while not looking at me, vaguely in the manner of a father-son “strained relationship” scene in a day-time drama.
I thought “first…um…” then, staring ahead, sort of unfocused my eyes and said “my first book is you are a little bit happier than i am” in an extreme monotone.
The 55-year-old man said “the one with ‘shoplifting’ in the title, what was that called?” while walking in a slow, goalless manner that seemed to be “leading him” out of the room.
I was quiet then said “Shoplifting from American Apparel” in a reluctant, vaguely embarrassed, somehow slightly accusatory manner. Immediately an NYU officer I hadn’t fully noticed said “oh, really” a bit loudly and walked quickly out of the room.
Lin was taken to jail. Once again, he found himself in the Tombs with a wild assortment of cell mates.
11:40 p.m. a 30-year-old African-American arrested for driving with a suspended license said his public attorney said the judge was offering him 7-days in jail or 3-years probation. The 30-year-old said “jail-time for a driving violation, I was like ‘no.’” People said things expressing injustice or disbelief. Someone said “who is this judge?”
After 2-4 minutes it was revealed that the 30-year-old had 16 license suspensions. People’s facial expressions seemed to change immediately. There was less “eye contact” in the cell. After a few seconds someone said “16 suspensions.” After 30-40 seconds someone asked what “probation” was exactly.
In the end, Lin received a sentence of one day of community service and a $125 fine. You’re safe to walk the streets again.
I fail to see what’s wrong here. Tao Lin was kind of a dick, did the kind of thing that puts jobs in jeopardy (I don’t know the last time you did front line retail work, but it hasn’t been that long for me, and it’s not some evil corporation or whatever that feels the squeeze, it’s low-income grunts who get fired over increased shoplifting rates, and overworked assistant managers who probably make less than Lin who have to find a way to pay headquarters for their missing stock, and usually do it by cutting the hours for staff who often live at the razor’s edge of poverty–that’s what shoplifting means to a lot of the folks who work retail).
As far as I’m concerned this was all perfectly righteous behaviour on the part of the store. If Lin is going to be a complete dick and inflate his sales and reputation by taking money from their pockets, why shouldn’t they make some coin off him?
We used to ban folks from our store for far less (people who were repeatedly verbally abusive to employees got banned; everybody deserves to be respected at work). Some folks’ business ain’t worth having.
@August And yet, once a crime has been paid for, in money or time, it should be done and over. To be banned for life is just silly. Everyone also deserves the chance to redeem themselves.
Deb: Actions have consequences, and many of them are long term. Lin now has a (well-earned) reputation for not being trustworthy around other people’s property. If this were anyone less high-profile than Tao Lin, nobody would care enough to even have this conversation. The skater kid who boosted some CDs isn’t getting a second chance. Why should Lin? Because he wrote some books?
This entire episode is nothing but a publicity stunt, pure and simple, and its inclusion on the Melville Books website diminishes the credibility of the entire publishing enterprise. Tao Lin is not a martyr, not a victim.