In Limbo / by wwingwong

I wrote my first YouTube comment today.

Not a quick blurb to get a chance to enter something, not some garbage that just so happen to accidentally get in there. I looked over the comments already placed to see if anyone had posted a similar thought to me, found none, and posted a comment.

To be honest, I didn't post commentary on the video I had watched, I didn't respond to another comment, I didn't post a random thought I had that is vaguely related to the video-I posted a question. Be it a question that I genuinely have to someone I absolutely admire. So I'm not quite diving head first into Internet participation.
 
 

I know this is weird and you are probably thinking to yourself, "What do you mean Internet participation? Aren't you participating right now? You've blogged before (and some pretty personal stuff too), you have Twitter, Facebook, etc.

 

My personal history of Internet use also paints me as an avid user of the Internet. I had dial-up, my first email was an AOL account, I had a pretty busy Xanga site (and by busy I mean a lot of colors and glitter,) I even was an avid user of Habbo hotel for about 8 months. But beyond basic communication with close friends and family I've been tentative with my Internet use. Tentative in the sense that sometimes it's not really me on the Internet (not tentative in the sense of the amount of time I've spent on the Internet...so many hours.) At least, it's not 100% of me-I never really immersed myself into the Internet, unlike, many of my peers.

 

I didn't Instagram myself, Facebook my every thought, even my obsession with Twitter is mostly voyeuristic-in fact most of my Internet usage is observational.

 

Why? Self-consciousness, confidence issues, over-saturation, and paranoia.

 
There are a multitude of security issues, the reliance of the information as well as the perception of that information worries me constantly. There are a lot of artists, writers, filmmakers, etc., on the Internet-how much more different could my contribution be-why add to the overflowing pot. I don't think any of the things I've produced and created is worthy of "publication."
 

All of these thoughts have (and will continue to) go through my head. Which is why I've been in this strange participatory but not, not quite entirely observational space.

 

However, it is a time for change (honestly, when is there not a time for change?) and in an effort to step out of my head and (a bit) more into the "real" world I've decide to "publish" a bit more blindly. Take more security measures but not let the fear of thievery stall me. Not care what other people think of me (though this bit is a little terrifying, because I'd like to have a job). More importantly, not view "publishing" as sending out a finished product for the Internet to gnaw on, but instead take it as one more step towards finalizing projects. Furthermore, I may be one more repetitive post/video/graphic/etc. on the Internet, but I did it, and I like to think I'm a little bit different than everyone else.

 

So here I go...Hope some of you join this ride, no matter how far or how long it goes.