Struggling to call asleep in a random hostel and thinking about my digital footprint for whatever reason, I remembered Fluther (it took me a hell of a time to remember this poor site’s name). I eventually managed to get logged in again and nothing has really changed.

But I saw my account creation date (2013???!!!) and it really got me thinking, there is a bit of a timeline here of my youth, who I was, and who I’m glad I’m no longer. But nonetheless it’s this graveyard of sorts to a few past versions of myself. I would have been around 12ish when I created this account, I’m 22 now, I have a bachelor’s degree, I’m travelling like I’ve always wanted to, I’m no longer that girl struggling with bullying and deeply internalised misogyny, I like to think I understand myself a lot more but I’m still in that process. But I do understand younger me.

This is a very midnight delirious post, but to celebrate 10 years of having an account on this little site, what are some things you have learnt while being on the internet? What are some things you know have changed, or how have you changed? What does your internet lifespan track? Are you glad you might have this timeline to your name, to look back and see a past you? Are you glad to be able to see the way you have grown? How has the internet changed you over the years? And how do you think the internet has changed, alongside the way we interact with it?

And most importantly of all, do you think there is still a place for internet forums like this one? Or are they a relic of a different kind of internet culture?

I don’t think I even found this site in it’s prime in 2013, those were years gone by even then. But I have Fluther to thank for a lot of the growth I experienced, even if it was confronting a question or series of comments I posted and simply wanting to perish upon reading them – it taught me I needed to have grace for younger me and what she was going through and trying to figure out, not only about myself but also how to interact with the world wide web (hindsight baby, hindsight is a beautiful thing that tells you not to spam threads). I could type and type and type, but I’d love to see your responses (if anyone is still here) and also chat about any of the questions I’ve asked. See you soon (when I remember to log in again)

Topics: internet, conversation, anniversary, learning, thoughts, growth, forums, discussion, 10 years