Posts tagged internet
Having Something to Say
Jul 17th
image stolen from flickr user londoninflames
The thing about having a blog on the internet is that you really ought to have an educated opinion and something to say before you start. Therein lies my problem. I’m only just beginning to educate myself and I’m trying to figure out what I want to say and how to say it. It’s a process not just of self-discovery, but of discovering the world around me… becoming aware in so many ways. It’s not a pretty thing to behold, it will often be awkward and sometimes be wrong. It’s a bit scary, already, having a few comments from people I don’t know already offering me bits of information. Part of me wants to feel very offended, like a teenager being told, “no, really, that’s actually going to be a lot of overwhelming work.” But, I know I can’t be offended really.
I keep forgetting that I can do whatever I want with this, despite knowing that I shouldn’t really be doing it like I am. It’s mine. I can have it if I want to have it. If I want to just post a short blog saying, “look at this cool thing I found!” I CAN DO THAT. I feel more free when no one is looking, though.
I am usually a quiet person because I feel like if I can’t say something that will make everyone marvel, then I’d best just keep my mouth shut. But why not speak up? Why not be awkward and incorrect? It’s the plot to every single girl-empowerment movie EVER. (Speaking of which, I really want to see Whip It!)
I think I need an “it’s okay” tag, because the constant reminder to myself – and to anyone who might ever read anything I write – is that it’s okay. Just be yourself. It’s okay.
Listen!
Jul 8th
All women, of all ages, ought to listen to Lindsey Markel’s You Are Among Friends, because it and she are amazing.
Lindsey Markel is one of those people I’ve come across in my internet experience over and over again, and though I’ve never been friends with her, she has always been a personal role model of mine for reasons I cannot really pinpoint. When I read what she writes, whatever it may be, I feel a connection both to her and to myself… I feel empowered. I hope if you are encountering her for the first time, you feel the same way.
Things I Use to Improve My Internet Experience
Jul 6th
- An RSS feed aggregate, gathering all the blogs you read in one convenient place.
- I use my tumblr as a photo blog. It’s simple and easy to use. A great source of inspiration.
- This is a recent addition with the start of my blog. I have it on my phone and my computer, so I have access to my ORGANIZED ideas and clippings wherever I am.
- Pandora often receives more attention, but I like Last.FM. It tracks what you listen to in iTunes, or whatever you use, and publishes it. It is a great tool to find new music similar to what you already listen to.
- For a while, I’ve treated Twitter merely as a Facebook status. But, watching the micro-blogging phenom grow and develop, I’m going to try and change how I use it. There is the community aspect that I haven’t tapped into yet, a dialogue to be had in 140 characters or less.