Is one person really going to take you out of course if you are doing something you want? In that case you have to figure out what you really want. Getting in shape people criticising gave the added fuel to succeed and storm ahead
Some people have a low self intertia. It takes very little external preasure to change their perception of them selves. They can’t just “fix” that. Many don’t even know they could “fix” it.
It’s like a parent telling a kid they suck at somthing. It has a lasting effect on the persons perception of them selves.
The author in the article was talking about the reaction of friends, so we can’t say whether or not random internet comments would have meant something to the author, but they certainly do to some people.
I think it’s a valuable skill to be able to save your criticism for when it really matters to you, and then to deliver it in a thoughtful manner. Even if you’re anonymous on the internet. A good rule, for me, especially on the internet is to ask myself what I hope to achieve from someone reading what I post. In that context I certainly hope you’d never write “Is this real? [...] This is dumb and useless.".