Later days, Hopey

[wynand]

Man, I just went back and read a lot of the older stuff here. From 2000 to I guess 2005 this journal was a kind of safe haven where I could write whatever I wanted about whatever I wanted, and even given that power, I didn't do that very much. I talked a lot about albums I was listening to and projects I was doing. I still do this. But you do not

Comments

[wewachovia]

I found your journal sometime in later 2004. I thought it was incredible. Your writing was so good. At this point in time, I had never considered a career in any form of creative self-reflection. Your comic and your way of writing about your own life was something I wished I could do but had no clue how to actually accomplish. You're a major influence on my work. In the treacherous last eight years I've spent going from something I thought sounded good to actually trying to do something that really is "me" despite how terrifying that is, I've always looked up to you as a guide. uh, that sounds cheesy, sorry.

[rinku]

in contrast i remember thinking i should post in LJ more than i did, and staring at a blank update page not knowing what to write but feeling the desire to write something. it wasn't like, an anxiety thing or anything, it's more that i didn't have much else to do back then, and felt 'i should update lj' and then 'hmm there's nothing to write about'. i think before around 2006 i wanted to make games but didn't really know how to work on them every day in a productive fashion, so i had a lot of free time that went into LJ

i also think (this may agree with your first paragraph) that LJ is a pretty powerful tool that was really underutilized by all of us. i mean, nothing like lj in the old days exists today (to my knowledge). there is nowhere on the internet anymore where you can write 5 introspective pages about yourself and get dozens of other people (LJ friends) reading it and giving feedback. that was an amazing thing to have, and i feel like while i had it the opportunity was squandered