Computer Geek USA

The experience of going from regular dork to cyber-nerd

I know that having a website is pretty nerdy, but things are really getting out of control. My brother-in-law asked me to start working on a website for his small business. While looking for some images to put on it I stumbled across a website called www.mindsay.com. Mindsay is a community that hosts a few thousand "blogs." An internet blog is an online journal. A lot of people write about their lives everyday and post it for the world to read.

Since it was free, I figured "Hey, I'll set one of these things up." It just took me a few minutes to get it up and running. I had barely finished my very first blog when I saw that a few people had already visited my little site. This was a totally new experience for me. With this web site I have to send out emails just so people can find my web address. The blog was a whole new experience. I was suddenly communicating to a completely different demographic-people who are really into computers, who have no shame and love corresponding with strangers.

I was totally excited. I started looking around at a bunch of different sites within the community. I was thoroughly amused by all of the entries about the struggles of starting high school, the drag of going to marching band practice after school and the general disdain for meddling parents. I sat at work, giggling at my computer.

It was funny to be back in high school again. Suddenly I had a whole new group of friends--15-year-olds who know a lot about drama and spend too much time on the computer. I read about breaking up with Vinny, trying to break up Vinny and his new girlfriend and making Vinny jealous. I read lots of angsty poetry and many odes to Good Charlotte and Orlando Bloom. I couldn't get enough of it!

By the next day, my feelings were a bit different. I started looking around the community and I couldn't find anyone older than 19. I started feeling like I was a child predator or something. I didn't want to be the weird 24-year-old who writes messages to 14-year-old girls.

I figured I better head somewhere else to meet my blogging needs, but how? I didn't want to type in a search for "blogs, adult." I could only imagine what that would bring up. Luckily, I came across www.blogger.com, which seems a bit more like my demographic. Instead of angry teens, it's angry adults ranting about George Bush and the demise of America.

I don't know what causes people to think that world wants to read about their life. I can see where the teens are coming from--they need an outlet for their rage--but what about grown-ups? Why do I need a blog? What service do I think I am providing for the world by writing about carrying a bowl around all night for fear I might throw up? I'm not sure. Whatever the reasons, here is the result-http://sutherlandmanifesto.blogspot.com. Brace yourself for the mundane.