LAST UPDATED: 3/02/25
INTRODUCTION
I CAME TO NEOCITIES ROUGHLY A YEAR AGO IN HOPES OF ESCAPING A RATHER EMBARASSINGLY LONG BATTLE WITH MY MENTAL HEALTH AND PERSONAL VICES. I HAD FELT MYSELF BEGIN TO WAX EMOTIONAL AND CREATIVE STAGNANCE AT BEST, WHICH TERRIFIED ME AS IT HAD BEEN MY ONLY STABLE AND HEALTHY OUTLET FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE. ANGER HAD TURNED INTO EXHAUSTION, SADNESS HAD TURNED INTO A SICKLY NUMB FEELING, AND JOY WAS ONLY EVER ROOTED IN DESPERATE MANIA AS A RESULT OF MY OTHERWISE MORIBUND LIFESTYLE. MY COMFORT IN TECHNOLOGY AND CREATION HAD BURNED STRONG BEFORE, SO I RELIT THAT FIRE AND FOUND A SENSE OF SELF IN SOME STRANGE PSYCHOSEXUAL OBSESSION WITH COMPUTERS AND THE INFINITE POSSIBILITIES OF TIME AND SPACE. TO PUT IT IN A RATHER DRAMATIC FORM OF WORDS, I WAS REBORN AND ACTIVELY CREATING LIFE AS I SHED MY COLD SKINS OF THE PAST. THUS FAR IT HAS BEEN AN EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE COME TO LEARN MORE THAN I EXPECTED BOTH ABOUT MY NEWFOUND HOBBIES AND ABOUT MYSELF.
ON TOP OF THIS, THE MODERN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM UNDOUBTEDLY PREYS ON PEOPLE SEEKING CONSOLATION. THE ALGORITHMS WORK SIMPLY TO KEEP YOU ONLINE AND DISTRACTED, WHICH HAS HAD AN OVERABUNDACE OF NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON SOCIETY. IT OPENS UP EXTRA OPPORTUNITIES FOR CYBERBULLYING BECAUSE IT KEEPS PEOPLE ENGAGED, CENSORSHIP, IT PROMOTES THE IDEA OF BEAUTY STANDARDS/UNECESSARY SHAME AND ENCOURAGES LOW SELF ESTEEM TOWARDS ONESSELF, IT FORCES A FEAR OF MISSING OUT, IT MAKES US FORGET ABOUT THE REALITY WE LIVE IN ALL WHILE ISOLATING US FROM SOCIETY, BUILDING ADDICTION, AND MAKING US DOCILE. AND WITH GENERATIVE AI ON A RAMPANT RISE, IT IS HARD TO DEFINE REALITY WITH FALSEHOOD. THIS IS NOT SOME UNHEARD OF CONCEPT, IT IS SIMPLE FACT AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ALL TOO OKAY WITH IT HAPPENING. I WILL NOT PRETEND LIKE I HAVE ENTIRELY SHUT MYSELF AWAY FROM THESE ALGORITHMS, BUT IT IS VITAL TO PRACTICE MODERATION AND KEEP OURSELF ROOTED IN REALITY RATHER THAN A WORLD BUILT UPON HATRED AND DECEPTION. SO TO COMBAT THIS I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MOVING MY INTERNET PRESENCE TO A SPACE I CAN CONTROL (SUCH AS MY WEBSITE) AND MODERATE MY OWN CONSUMPTION. IT IS NOT A FLAWLESS PLAN, BUT WHAT THE HELL IS? IN A WORLD WHERE LOVE IS ONLY RELEVANT AS A THING TO PROFIT OFF OF, WE ALL NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE OPEN MINDED AND WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELF INSTEAD OF RELYING ON AN ALGORITHM.
IN REGARDS TO CENSORSHIP, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LARGE ISSUE. CENSORSHIP IS ARGUABLY OUR LARGEST ENEMY, ESPECIALLY BEING A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IT IS GETTING WORSE WITH OUR POLITICAL DESCENT TO FACISM. SO DESPERATELY, I HAVE ALWAYS DESIRED A SPACE TO PROPERLY EXPRESS MYSELF. TO HAVE YOUR VOICE SILENCED IS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD WISH UPON MY WORST ENEMY. WHETHER THAT BE FOR THE LARGER BLOCK IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, BODILY CENSORSHIP, HISTORICAL CENSORSHIP, ART, OR SMALLER THINGS SUCH AS SIMPLE OPINIONS AND TASTES; EVERY VOICE DESERVES TO BE HEARD. EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES FREELY, AND THIS DOES INCLUDE PEOPLE WE MAY SEE AS WRONG OR "MORALLY INEPT". FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE TO EARN. CREATE, EXPRESS YOURSELF IN ITS MOST RAW FORM, NEVER ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE SILENCED, NO MATTER HOW "CRINGE" OR WHATEVER BUZZ INSULT IT MAY BE TAKEN, NEVER STOP. OPEN YOUR MIND AND LET IT FLOWER INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE MEDIA OR PEOPLE AROUND YOU TO BLOCK IT OFF. NEVER TURN OFF THAT LIGHT.