EPTDo you ever find yourself dropping hints or conversational pieces that really have the aim to hint to others that you think a certain way or like a certain thing? And often they go un-noticed or unappreciated? But sometimes people pick up on them and you think: yeah! Now we have a connection. This is what I wanted. This person is , at least in this regard, a bit like me. I wonder what other things they are similar to me in? Shall I try to find out?
Personally I'm a bit of a .... unusual kind of guy. At least, I might be. I love Japanese idol bands, and its tough finding other people who are into that sort of music or that sort of style. But then I download a Japanese idol concert and see 100,000 people filling a stadium and realise, holy shit I'm actually not in the minority after all. It's just that in my little reach to the world I don't really reach quite far enough to find people like me, who like the things that I like. Even though they are there.
I guess this is what happens when you grow up on the internet. When your culture isn't your local culture and is instead a crazy, world-wide amalgamation of whatever random stuff you've come across over the last 30 years.
Especially when you're a decade older than everyone else around you, which may very well be the case on TLnet where many "older" people have moved on, have jobs etc of their own, and you find yourself amongst a younger generation who don't have the life experiences that you have.
I'm not a weirdo really IRL. I'm old enough to be reserved, to judge how others are around me and to keep inappropriate comments to myself. But that doesn't really apply to my online life. I don't really care how people online think about me. Instead, I'm just interested in finding those who are similar to me. And that is why ofttimes people react badly to what I say or how I think. They just aren't there yet, or never will be. And that's fine too. It's a risk I decide to take.
I have close friends. Those are the people who let me express who I am and what I like without putting me in fear of my wellbeing. Without bullying me or thinking less of me. Some of them like the things that I like. Most of them like some of the things that I like and hate other things that I like. But the common denominator is that we accept and embrace one another regardless. These are what friends really are.
