The early days of YouTube, spurred our own shitty video making within our group of friends. OG Neopets and Habbo Hotel were peak socializing with strangers on the internet. MSN allowed me to actually talk to people I knew in a way that was harder to do in person, helped me form relationships I wouldn’t have normally had.

Neopets was probably my first time delving headfirst into forums. It was a neat thing where you can join guilds, sometimes super niche ones where everyone is just as into the thing as you are, and just talk to similar-minded people.

It was a cool feeling as someone from a rural town in the middle of Canada.

Old habits die hard. Getting used to the more inclusive, positive environment. It feels weird…and warm.