You and I have a very deep and very special connection okay? It’s called THE INTERNET and we’re both on it right now.
Which means we’re connected. And chances are, if you’re reading this post, you are most likely online quite a lot because you are (a) a blogger, (b) a ferocious bookworm, (c) a random robot from the Arctic but I still appreciate you ok, or (d) you stumbled here while googling how to take over the world. Except, spoiler: you can’t, because I am.
But the fact is: we quite like the internet. We exist here. It is the home.
When one has a very vivacious online life, you begin to notice just how WEIRD it is. It can be good weird! Also just weird weird. And when you try to to explain it to someone who’s rarely online they give you this sort of blank look and then say, “ARE YOU ALRIGHT THERE.” Which is a question best left unanswered.
Today I want to talk about the weird things about your online life. And obviously if you’re here, you’re weird. It’s just a fact don’t fight it. Anyway! Prepare for me to twist your minds while I point out that, outside of blogging and twitter and tumblr…we don’t even make sense.
1. PEOPLE KNOW YOU SO SO WELL. DESPITE…THE FACT…YOU’VE NEVER TALKED TO THEM.
This is actually pretty cool! It can get kind of weird in a slightly disturbing way…but mostly IT’S PRETTY COOL. I’ll have people comment and say “I’ve been reading your blog for 3 years and love it so much and relate about this and this and this!!” For me it’s like wow I’ve never spoken to you before so this is an unfair advantage — but also great. HELLO, NEW SERVANT FRIEND.
I get this with authors too. Like once you’ve read 12+ books by an author you learn a lot about them! Their humour, their style, some of their beliefs, what kind of people they admire, what the think about unicorns, etc. etc. Important things. They become like your BEST FRIEND…who…doesn’t…know you exist. It’s especially when writers often put some of their actual soul into their work and here you are, a mulberry of nobody, knowing an author’s heart….AND THEY’VE NEVER MET YOU.
#awkward
2. NO MATTER WHAT COUNTRY YOUR ONLINE FRIEND IS FROM, YOU STILL EXPECT THEM TO SOUND LIKE YOU.
Every time someone does a vlog or a a video and you hear their voice, the #1 reaction is: “WOW I DIDN’T EXPECT YOU TO SOUND LIKE THAT.”
I don’t actually go around giving everyone accents intentionally, but I suppose I subtly assume everyone talks like the people around me?! (IS THIS JUST ME?? SOMEONE PLEASE ASSURE ME I’M NOT ALONE HERE.) I’m Australia so guess what: when I’m reading your comments, it just happens in an Aussie accent!
I’ve watched vlogs of my friends and had a very small existential crisis over hearing their voice is deeper or higher or has different inflections to what I originally thought.
No, Cait, not everyone is Australian. And that’s why people keep saying “Anna” and “Banana” rhyme when tHEY DON’T.
3. AGE MATTERS A LOT LESS.
The other day I was reading a blog I’ve visited a fair few times and suddenly realised the blogger was…like…12. AND I JUST SAT THERE FEELING REALLY OLD. I’m 23. Look at all these baby bloggers. They are like little hatchlings that need protection and love and I’m suddenly their big old ancient sister.
Which is fine actually! If you are a baby book blogger hatchling who needs adopting, I will take you and feed you soft cinnamon scones and eat people who bother you. I’m both terrifying and terrific. *
I actually think age matters less online! And in a good way. Not in the “woah you’re an 87 year old axe murder gnarly dude” way…that’s gross and I don’t think it happens as much as your mother thinks it does. But just that I have blogging friends who are 12 and some who are 35 and like I DON’T EVEN CARE. We all fangirl about books and wish for magical capes and overuse emojis.
It’s lovely. Books bring humans of all kinds together.
* No seriously, baby bloggers! My inbox is OPEN if you need to ask advice. I am less scary than you think and bite only once or twice.
4. YOU REMEMBER PEOPLE 3% BY THEIR NAME AND 97% BY THEIR USERNAME OR VISUALS.
I tell my internet friend apart by (1) their actual name, (2) their username, and (3) their blog visuals or profile picture.
Like I am CAIT > PAPER FURY > BOOTS ON GREEN FIELD. That’s how I remember me. * I haven’t changed this in 5 years, so. I’m nothing if not consistent.
There is a 99% chance I’m referring to you by your blog name instead of your actual name. THIS IS OKAY THOUGH RIGHT?! Call me Paper Fury. That’s fine.
FUN FURY STORY TIME! If you know Cait @ Page With a View who is super lovely and also a book blogger, you’ll notice we share the same spelling of our name. Not too common! A while ago she told me someone sent her a book package addressed to Paper Fury. But to her address. So like literally no way they meant it to go to me — THEY JUST THOUGHT WE WERE THE SAME PERSON. I’m still laughing.
* What. Yes, I need help remembering me. You going to judge me for that???
5. IT’S SUDDENLY A STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERING OPINIONS WON’T KILL ANYONE.
One of actually the worst parts of being online is that you can hide behind a screen and your actions have severely less consequences. Hence I talk about cake 98% of the time because I CAN’T SEE YOUR EYE ROLLS. HA! But, for the more gnarly humans, this equates to ranting or being rude or cruel and basically getting away with it. #Not #A #Fan.
I think, if we were face to face, you wouldn’t be so quick to say you hated me. But online people seem chill to say that. It doesn’t even mAKE SENSE.
We’re still people with feelings!
And honestly…like in the big scheme of things: who the heckin’ heck CARES if we disagree on that book?? Like maybe I’m just old now * but I’ve started realising a lot of things don’t even matter as much as we think they do. Chillllllllll, people. Just chill.
* Forget the big sister imagery. I am the 23-year-old grandma. You should see the little rants I throw when I am forced to squint at tiny fonts in books.
I mean one of the most obvious weird things is that I sit on my bookshelf but don’t judge me.
6. YOU FIND PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LAUGH AT YOUR WARPED SENSE OF HUMOUR.
Internet humour is WEIRD. It gets weirder the longer you stay here until literally everyone is laughing at eclipse jokes that don’t even make sense hence they’re so funny. My sister and I exchange the dark-side-of-tumblr’s gallows humour. We make the Addam’s family proud honestly.
Try saying like nearly any sort of internet-joke to a non-interneter and it’s 97.5% certain they will look at you like you need help. *
Also let’s put it out there: MOST OF MY JOKES AREN’T THAT FUNNY. But somehow I’m laughing. I’m the most amusing person I know. **
* You probably do, mate, but don’t we all?
** Suffocatingly humble too.
7. TIMEZONES ARE JUST WEIRD, MATE.
Shout out if you have apps that keep track of different time zones for your different friends! Because I do. My iPod clock basically looks like this:
So I get a rough idea when I’m trying to yell at people, what time it is for them. It also provides a GREAT sneaky way to see who’s working overtime and who never sleeps.
FUN FURY STORY TIME: I have insomnia and sometimes end up on twitter at 3am. I have Mother Hen Friends™ who’ve told me to gET OFF. And well, they’re not wrong. But why sleep. Why.
But I have never been so aware of timezones since I started being online so much. My parents will be like, “What time would it be in –” And there am I, popping out of the dark chasms of the attic where they keep the screams, saying “OH I KNOW!”
8. IT’S SO MUCH EASIER TO BE PERSONAL TO PEOPLE YOU’VE NEVER MET FACE-TO-FACE.
Words are hard, okay? I find words very very hard. I would much rather type out my thoughts and feelings than actually try and spit them out.
ME TRYING TO TALK ABOUT MY FEELINGS
It’s a mess. Let’s not have feelings.
Hence people I’ve known for only a short time online will feel much closer to me because it’s easier for us to share. The friends I had for like 7 years knew less about me than the humans I’ve emailed for like 2 months. I’M GOING TO PUT THIS SOLIDLY IN THE WEIRD BOX.
9. PEOPLE EXPECT YOU TO WORK FOR FREE BECAUSE YOU LIKE DOING THIS.
Yeah. I like cleaning up my room so I can fit in more books — 0% chance I want to do that for your room, mate.
I’m still confused why this is so. hard. to. grasp. Book bloggers, artists, writers, designers, and really ANYONE who works hard at their talent, shouldn’t have to do it for free!! I know this can be a bit controversial to some, but it isn’t to me: I don’t think book bloggers should work for free half as much as they do.
See it’s like this: I’ve built my blog and my audience by myself. Meeeeee. I’ve put in the hours. HUNDREDS OF HOURS. And then when I’m established and have a goodly sized audience, suddenly people are like “here I can do you a favour if you promote me.” I’m just…?? I want to promote things, don’t get me wrong. I love reviewing books and advertising authors. But like…there comes a point where you can kind of feel you’re being used a bit.
Just a thought! I do love what I do.
I don’t have an inflated opinion of myself. I mean, I do but just in the world-dominating sense, excuse me and ahem. But just because I love book blogging doesn’t mean it isn’t extremely hard work.
10. PEOPLE JUST UP AND DISAPPEAR.
I’m calling this weird because it’s like you were PROBABLY abducted by some sort of alien from the Upside-Down. And then I have questions and I wonder!! The other day I was thinking of a blogging-writing-group I was in when I was about 18. And there were a TON of us and it was so fun! It all broke up eventually and we went our own blogging ways but like…it was all unofficial and I still wonder what happened to everyone.
THEY DROPPED OFFLINE FOREVER AND I HAVE QUESTIONS.
It’s weird because you can have a kind of cool online friend and then — BOOM — they go all Will from Stranger Things on you, never to be seen from again.
I, unfortunately, am like that spot of mould on your walls. I’m always there and eventually I’m so persistent we just become friends or you try to kill me with lemon bleach cleaner. But like. Hopefully friends is the first preference.
I tend to remember username. To me you are Paper Fury. I know your name is Cait but I always think Paper Fury. I do wish more people could realize we are allowed to different opinions on books. We all have different lives and bring our own experiences and likes/dislikes with us, and that is ok. It’d be boring and we wouldn’t learn anything if we were all the same. And age, omg yes. I’m usually surprised at how old I am compared to others online, i’m 28. I mean sometimes people are older. But I don’t think about age too much, books bring us all together <3.
The internet is a very weird place.
Oh excellent. 😂 I think of me as Paper Fury too tbh so WE’RE THE SAME.
And it’d be nice if we remembered having different opinions on small things is not such a big deal.😂 It just seems so much more intense online, right? And I LOVE that age doesn’t matter as much when it comes to book blogging! We relate with boooooooks. :’)
I relate to EVERYTHING in this post, muahaha! But honestly the WEIRDEST thing ever Is talking to people online for ages and then suddenly you find yourself in the UK try times in half a year MEETING them in real life. (I’m from the Netherlands so that’s like a pretty big deal when you’re a broke-ass college student who takes a bus for 10+ hours there AND BACK – I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t leave my books behind, you know what I mean?!) And then eventually they disappeared into the void called the internet and I never heard of them again… weirdest thing ever ahaha. Loved your post, Cait! As always. 😉
ohhhh meeting people you’ve only chatted to online WOULD BE MOST STRANGE. 😱😱 I’ve not experienced that yet but like I can just imagine. (It’s sad you lost contact later though…gah, that’s the internet life right?! IT’S WEIRD.)
Cait you always make such good points that I have to keep scrolling back down to the comments box so I don’t forget them!!!
2. Everyone in my head usually has a posh British accent, actually. I do not. Sometimes I pretend I do. New Englander accents are BORING.
3. OMG AGES. I feel a little weird sometimes because I’m 27?! I’m used to being the youngling in my group of friends and the internet makes me feel old. Thank goodness ages don’t matter.
5. Haters make me so sad. I love it when people post unpopular reviews. I tend to be one of those people that runs into super popular books and says UM I’M OKAY THANKS. It makes me sad so many blogs have so many apologies about opinions! Salty reviews are awesome. When you take over the world could you plz make ppl chill thx.
6. HAHA YES. I’m a team lead IRL and I get a strong sense people laugh at my SUPER LAME jokes because I’m their boss-ish and it saddens my soul a bit. I hope I make people smile for real somewhere! … Also I can no longer read your posts at work because sometimes I laugh out loud and it’s awkward….
8. This is my life. When you talk to real people it’s scary because they’re looking at you and Brain goes: “AH WHY DO THEY HAVE EYES AM I BORING IS THERE SOMETHING IN MY TEETH CAN I TEXT YOU INSTEAD?”
I think I may have other comments but honestly it’s 6am here on a Saturday and I’m running on 4hrs of sleep and I’m not quite sure what life is right now. XD
GOOD POST AS ALWAYS.
AWWW, AMBER!! That’s so lovely of you, I’m fLAILING now. :’)
Also I never never do this usually but…once I did read a book almost entirely in a british accent in my head. It was amazing. 😂 Also involved way more concentration. And very very glad ages don’t matter. :’) That’s why I get annoyed when people start being elitist about “who YA books are for and everyone else should back off if you’re not a teen”…because omg. Books are for whoever connects to them. I’ll read Percy Jackson even if it’s for 12 year olds and then Game of Thrones and then The Raven Cycle!!! READ ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT. AGE DOESN’T MATTER FOR FRIENDSHIPS OR BOOKS OR BLOGGING!!
I’m glad at least the internet appreciates our terrible senses of humour.😂
(I function regularly on 5hrs haha!)
HOW DO YOU LIVE! *cries*
Actually I do too, just not by choice. My work schedule is ridiculous.
OMG that’s YA books thing. I have argued with so many FRIENDS about that. Most “adult” books bore me, have an excess of sex, or are thrillers. I read some but WHY when there is perfectly good MAGIC!?
Love this! Oh and by the way, the age thing. I’m 63!
Caryl
(Mrs Bloggs’ Books)
BOOKS BRING US ALL TOGETHER! 🎉🎉
To me you are Cait @ Paper Fury. And that’s how I remember most bloggers name @ blog name. And then pictures help as well although most people aren’t as consistent as you with their pictures.
I think the point I relate to the most is when bloggers disappear?!! I hate that! I always wonder what’s happened, but then again I’ve been totally guilty of doing that myself so I can’t really say anything.
I tend to remember bloggers more by their blog name, buuuuut, usernames help too. 😂 I get SO confused when people change profile pictures! 😂
There’s so many questions with bloggers who disappear. ARE THEY OK. WHAT ARE THEY DOING. I JUST WISH TO KNOOOOW.
I can relate to many of the things you said, especially the age part and about being able to talk when you’ve never been face-to-face. I also agree that book bloggers shouldn’t work for free on the majority of the things they do. Honestly, this platform is for me the only reason why I may be convinced or feel inclined to buy a book. Bloggers’ opinions matter and influence on me, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
I myself even feel it is sometimes unfair for those bloggers who have built a great audience to be “granted a favour” by being sent books, even ones they sometimes didn’t even ask for and are expected to be reviewed or featured somewhere. The Book Blogging community is a bigger contributor than people think.
Opinions on books are definitely as big deals as we make them. From the books a person has loved or hated I can learn that person’s taste. Then, if they recommend a book because they TRULY believe that it is a book that more people should read, if I trust that person’s opinion and taste in books, then I will probably check it out! And by doing this repetitively, by listening to other people’s thoughts, we find new books, we find our favorite books of all time! It’s important, or at least to me.
I recognize people from the usernames AND their user pictures.
Yes yes! I think there’s too many stigmas around bloggers getting paid, with the whole ARC thing. I do think ARCs are a lovely privilege, but honestly blogs in other niches get sent things ALL THE TIME FOR FREE and there’s no screaming fuss about it. *sighs* And following that, I was legit asked twice this weekend to promote someone’s book…but they actually wanted me to BUY THE BOOK MYSELF FIRST. So basically “please work for me and pay me to work for me” and I just??? I will promote books I love for free AND pay for them, obviously. But not on request like that. That’s bizarre.
And agreed about the recs! I love listening to recs, but I don’t think many of us review with the intention of like “controlling” what our audience consumes. We’re just giving opinions?! It’s not that big of a deal *sighs*
relate relate relate! I’ll be telling my mom stuff from the internet that she finds amusing, (because mom has an internet life) and we’re both laughing and my siblings are like “whaaaaaat?”
and I was weird before I got on the internet, so I think I’ve gotten weirder. XD
I recignise them by the profile pic, and they actually define they’re personality for me, and I call them so-and-so from whatchamacallit when I’m talking about them to other people. 😛
a lot of times I’m online at 6:00 am, which is when I get up. XD however, right now its 8:00 am.
and yes, I’ll be following this profesional, grown up looking blogger, and then I find out she’s almost a year younger than me. o.O WHEN DID YOU GET SO MATURE.
Most crazily, ~Olive
That’s so cool your mum gets it at least! My sister and I will be laughing over tumblr jokes and our parents are like “wut and where did these children spawn from”.😂😂
So when you wrote this comment at your 8am, it was 10pm for me!😂 TIME ZONES ARE WEIRD.
NUMBER EIGHT. 12/10 YES. Sometimes I even go “wait, how do you not know this when *name of internet friend* knows this and I’ve only known her for like 2 months and you since WE WERE THREE; like how are we even friends?!”. And then I realize it’s all me, because I can’t talk to people in real life and I actually still kind of really like my real-life friends too, but just in another way than my online friends?! It’s weird, but I am weird, so that works out 😀
I totally get it! Like internet friends don’t have to be “better” than IRL friends, but I think the dynamics are so different right?!
I agree 100% with all of these- well, most of these. I haven’t really run into the issue with #9, but maybe I’m just lucky. But others- #10, yes. I have so many internet friends who’ve just poofed and I have no idea where they are now or what they’re doing, and it’s kind of sad, especially because some of them meant a lot to me and I still remember them, but do they remember me? Or do I just fade into the blur of memory, even though they made a pretty big impact on me? Do they look back and think- “Hey, I wonder what happened to Elf/Leilani/other username?” I don’t know, and it makes me a little sad, because I remember, but they might not.
(Age also ties into that- I was a fairly small one when I got online, and I think a lot of my friends were a few years older than I was, because they seemed to be heading off for college when I was only just hitting highschool. If we’d met in real life, I doubt we would’ve been friends, because they would’ve ignored me and I would’ve been too shy and insecure at that point to talk to them. But online, we were all just people. It was nice. That said, it’s kind of weird to realize that the person who you thought was your age is actually several years younger, and the person who you thought was several years younger than you because of their grammar/spelling/roleplay characters is actually only a year or so behind you, if not your age or older.)
And regarding a combination of #1 and #8- I wrote a research paper basically on that (well, it was on whether or not internet friends are real friends, which is a very similar topic). It was fun, and also maybe an act of delayed spite against all the people who said my internet friends weren’t “real” friends when I was 13-14-ish.
Finally: wait, how the pumpernickel do you say “Anna” and “banana” that they don’t rhyme?
I wonder that too about the internet friends who go missing! Like do they ever think about me??? WHERE WE EVEN REAL FRIENDS? *sobs* I also hope they’re alright, because I know some bloggers quit because they’re stressed/depressed and gahhh. I just hope they went on to have better lives. 😭 I don’t like worrying.
And it’s also kind of cool how internet friendships can cut out a lot of pre-conceived notions? Like the whole “oh she’s too young and we won’t relate” thing is a big one! Like I can discuss things for hours with someone who’s 6 years older or younger than me and I don’t even know it?! One of my good internet friends has kids my age! I MEAN. It’s great and weird at the same time. 😂
ANNA AND BANANA WILL NEVER RHYME WITH AN AUSSIE ACCENT. We say “An-ah” (like a short second “a”) and “ban-NAN-a”…aaaand I just am sitting here saying them out loud and trying to write it phonetically and FAILING. So that probably makes no sense.😂 And I’m glad no one’s in my room watching me whisper “Anna Banana” to m laptop.😂😂😂 But basically banana has a longer “A” sound, while Anna is really short.
Same . . . Maybe someday we’ll run across those people elsewhere (either on or offline) and we can find out how they turned out. That would be nice.
Definitely. Though I think that age isn’t even the biggest difference that the internet cuts across (though it is a pretty major one); I’m friends with a lot of guys online who I probably wouldn’t even have approached in RL because I wouldn’t have realized that we actually shared any kind of common interest. Either that or I would’ve seen them as kind of scary/sketchy and been too nervous to even try talking to them. (Fun fact: one of my internet friends goes to my college. My roommate refers to him as my “sketchy friend,” which makes perfect sense even though he’s a great, solid guy.)
And thank you for trying to explain the Anna and banana thing. I’m still not sure I totally get it, but I sort of get it, so yeah.
You’re 100% right with these! XD
It still surprises me when I hear someone’s voice or even a new photo of them for the first time!
Oh yes! Same with the photos! It’s like “woah I didn’t know you didn’t look like your profile picture of Rapunzel from Tangled”. 😂😂
I can totally relate to most of these!
Honestly, age doesn’t matter to me a lot in real life either, but I do think it matters even less online.
Opinions on books shouldn’t be such a big deal. As long as people aren’t rude about it, I (Mostly) don’t care whether or not they like a book. Erm, if they just don’t HATE all my favourite books, and I should be a able to get along with someone. If they do, I’m not sure I could.
I remember people online by name, username OR picture, I think I remember some people differently than I remember others… Because that’s how my brain works, it CAN’T just be consistent…
And like often online we don’t even KNOW a bloggers’ age until later anyway! I think it’s kind of nice. :’) We care more about personality, interests, and thoughts than we do about ages!
So true right?? Like if someone hates all my favourite books then I know we’re just never going to be super closer friends. But we can still TALK CIVILLY AND HAVE FUN?!? It’s not that hard.😂
I’ve always read other bloggers as if they’re American, even when I know they’re from England or Australia or Germany and halfway through the blog post my brain goes “WAIT THIS IS NOT HOW THEY SOUND,” but somehow I never thought about how other bloggers would do the exact same thing. So it’s beyond cool that I’m getting an Australian accent when you’re reading my comments. xD (Because American accents are soooo boring. But maybe everyone thinks that about their own accent?)
I feel like my whole life has been built around the fact that age doesn’t really matter when it comes to friendships, so it always weirds me out when someone’s like “but they’re so young/old.” Homeschooling meant I wasn’t around kids my age 24/7 in my own grade, so when I got together with my homeschool group, I hung out with people who were six years older than me and six years younger, or I hung out and talked with the adults. And so many of my friends have been made through the online world, so half the time you don’t even know how old the person is! It’s really cool to be able to like a person because you like the person and not be able to judge a book by its cover.
OMG, my online friends disappearing suddenly is so terrifying to me, because there is NO WAY TO LOOK THEM UP. I might not even know their last name or where exactly they live, so how can I look them up and make sure they’re okay??? *cue hyperventilation*
I know right?! Like it’s just a weird little thing with the accents and it doesn’t matter…but it makes me laugh! Whenever someone does a vlog I do such a double-take.😂
And SAME with the homeschooling too. Like my sister and I are super close despite being 4 years apart and my closest friend was 2 years younger growing up. Now my closest friend is about 6 years older.😂 I think it’s cool! It shows that we can relate without being the same age. And it builds more perspectives into your life too. So much awesome there.
ONLINE FRIENDS NEED TO TELL US IF THEY LEAVE. Save us worrying. 😭😭
I love the internet, even though it makes my head explode sometimes. Who knew that there were so many people in the world who love books and are kind enough to laugh at the stupid things I say? Also, I hate it when people change their profile pics. We used to be friends, and now I SUDDENLY DON’T KNOW YOU!
I know right?! It’s great but also SUPER WEIRD sometimes.😂 And the fact that we laugh at each other’s humour but it doesn’t work to non-internet folks is extremely weird and amusing to me.😂 And omg I’ve literally LOST PEOPLE because they’ve changed their profile photo and I didn’t know them anymore.😂
Bless you child for this post. XD ITS SO TRUE
I’M SO PLEASED YOU LIKED IT.😂
aHAHAHHAHA I try to remember people’s names but sometimes I just can’t and then it goes to profile picture / username (depending if they’re like BookNerd198312092 vs BookNerd32938920 so yeah)
being an internet person is weird; I totally get what you mean because some people know me wayyy better than my friends who I’ve known for years. but I try not to be a social recluse (#doesnotwork)
its also helpful my blog is named after me (yes i’m just that narcissistic) so people don’t have to know my name. they just need 2/3
Okay but people who have 94898 numbers in their usernames are jUST THE DEATH OF ME.😂😂 I can never remember them! But dude you are WISE to name your blog after you. So much less for people to be confused about. :’) I’ve had people address emails to me as Ms. Fury before though, so that was fun.😂
Cait,
You make so many good points. I don’t have many readers to my blog (There’s you when I comment on yours and…. um my friend Ashley? lol) so I don’t know how much I’ve thought about some of this stuff. However, I penpal and it’s the same there too. I did some weird Facebook quiz where you were supposed to write a bunch of facts about yourself and include some that weren’t true. All of my “in real life” friends failed and my penpals got them all correct. It was crazy considering I’ve only met one of them in person. I don’t often watch Vlogs, but I have wondered about voices of my friends.
You are SO right about baby bloggers needing some protection. Social media can be cruel. I teach 10-15 year olds here and some of the online stuff I’ve heard is just WRONG.
Another thing I’ve realized is that you can sometimes be more willing to give someone a chance when you may have just never connected in person. Some of it goes along with what you said about age, etc but I think, for me, it also goes along with the differing opinions. I feel like I’m more likely to hear them out when I”m writing to them, as long as they’re not obnoxious about it. Online I notice that lots of people comment to start trouble but I’m lucky enough not to have really encountered that yet.
That’s so relatable about the quiz though! Like honest to goodness, my internet-friends know me better than my sisters sometime.😂😂😂 INTERNET LIFE IS WEIRD. But usually in a good way. :’)
And totally here for the baby bloggers! I still get rocked by how mean people can be online, so I can’t imagine being 12 and taking it. *builds a fort around baby bloggers and feeds them cake*
Also knowing people online cuts out a lot of judgement? And it’s not fair or right that we judge people when we see them, but we do. Sadness. But ability, looks, and language skills all matter so much less online!
In my head you’re Cait Firy (mainly because it makes me think of nick fury which makes me laugh I have weird priorities okay) one time on a forum I was informed that I was “the shiny batgirl one”… So that’s cool.
As a “baby blogger” I’d like to say that you make a great squinty grandma. *smile*
The internet is great! Like on the nanowrimo ywp we had masquerade ball and a coffee-drinking contest (I won). But later trying to explain it to my parents I was like “well- see- it’s- it’s just- you know- stuff.”
YAS I AM NICK FURY! Tbh I didn’t think of that when I named myself but it’s a relation I’m happy to accept. I run the Avengers in my downtime. :’)
Awww, little CUTE BABY BLOGGER I SHALL KEEP YOU. *gives you a single cupcake crumb because has eaten the rest*
haha I love your contest!😂 I’ve given up explaining internet things to non-internet people. They dooooon’t understand us.
THIS IS THE MOST ACCURATE THING OF EVER OH MY GOSH XD Like, online life is amazing, and blog friends are THE BEST EVER, but it’s super bizarre in some ways?? It’s always weird when people are like “hello I know all about you” and you’re just like um what now?? xD But it’s fantastic at the same time.
LOVED THIS POST, CAIT!!! <3
IT IS! It’s like weird, but awesome weird, but also…just bizarre weird sometimes. 😂😂
What a great post! I totally agree with so many of these. I’m very tired now so unfortunately this comment may be reflecting that, but anyway.. it’s very true what you say. I do remember people by their real name, username, image, and / or blog name; username / blog name and visuals much more so than their real name. In your case though I think of you as Cait or Paper Fury (with all the colourful pictures on her blog, I love them). Somehow I have no trouble to remember your name is Cait. I think it’s an awesome name. But with some other people I have more trouble for some reason. With some blogs and usernames, I tend to forget people’s real life names. But somehow ‘Cait’ is just something that I can remember :).
Age doesn’t matter much on the internet, I have friends and read blogs of both older and younger people than me (I’m 31). I do think everyone would kind of sound like how I sound in English, rather than imagining them with their own accents.
I do wonder about people who’ve disappeared and never come back.
I do find it easier to type or write about things (such as emotions) rather than talking about them. I’ve always found this to be the case. Before there was much of an internet connection at my house, I used to write about difficult things rather than talk about them, and then show people what I’d written. I do like that I’ve grown up before the internet and mobile phones became widespread. I like that I have lived in that time as well. But I love the internet and computers and mobile phones and wouldn’t want to miss them now.
I know quite a bit about timezones, yet people who aren’t much on the internet, they don’t know as much about them. So that’s very true.
I wish you a great rest of the weekend :).
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Gaia!! *flails happily* I’m glad you can remember my name though.😂 That is nice of you! (Coincidentally, you’re the only Gaia I know online!) And I think it’s really awesome that age matters less online. I mean, if I only talked to people close to my age, I’d miss out on SUCH good friends??? My closest online friends are 7 years older than me I think.😂
Also so glad you’re with me on the typing-emotions-is-easier-than-talking-them. 🙈🙊
HAHA this is all too real! Mostly 4th and 7th for me!
I have such a bad memory, and when people change their @ and profile pic I just???
Time zones, ughh, I was sending DMs to a friend because I was reading a book she read the day before, and I must have send like 20 texts and pictures before realising she must actually be sleeping. welp ^^
It’s so confusing right?! And omg help us if someone changes their name AND profile at the same time. *eats a brick wall in confusion* 😂
Aww that’s so nice do you really want to adopt me?? Because I’m like three months old. In Internet life xD But 15 in real life. And wow your points as so spot on. Age actually matters a lot less. Do I remember you are 23? Pfft. Nope. And those twelve year old bloggers? Do I remember they are twelve? Ha. No. And no, opinions on books are really not such a huge deal. I mean sure if someone bashes and rips apart your favorite book – maybe then you’d feel inclined to give them a dose of their own medicine – but then again, why not just say, “this person has no taste?” to yourself and just leave? Or unfollow them or something. Not that I do. I try to respect others opinions, but sometimes people don’t know how to be respectable??? You know what I mean? It would be so much easier to respect others opinions if they expressed them in a respectable fashion. I remember you first as “cait fury” then as “cake monster” then as “pretty rainbow colors” then as “ruler of all” and “queen of jupiter” and the list keeps going xD I remember people best by name/username because sometimes people I know change their profile pics so often it’s …. seriously … confusing.
Whoops maybe I talked to much. But you know I always feel awkward when I go commenting on the blog of someone I know SO WELL while that person DOESN’T KNOW I EXIST. But I just try to explain and roll with it xD At least you know I exist but we are pretty big fans of yours here and I keep explaining to my folks how you can write a book in three days and they are seriously impressed xD
YOU’RE SO SMOL AND TINY, LISA. YOU ARE A MERE SQUIDGE. I WILL FEED YOU SPRINKLE CUPCAKES BECAUSE YOU ARE A SMOL ONE. Actually I’ll eat the sprinkle cupcakes. Because age doesn’t matter and I like sprinkles.
Half the time, I think internet fights are SO pointless because like who’s going to change their opinion anyway?! I had someone rip into me on Goodreads yesterday about how I was telling everyone “wrong” opinions and I’m just LAUGHING.😂 Because who makes their opinion more valid than mine?! It’s all just opinions! It’s so much better to be respectful, agreeeeed.
Cake monster works for me, tbh. I think I’ll use that as the title of my future memoir.
(Awww, yOU’URE LOVELY. I’m smiling so much right now!!)
I seriously relate to like all of these. Like I feel like that might just be a bad thing. Haha. And oh my gosh the thing about voices is so not just you. When ever I hear like a blogger or something talk for the first time I’m seriously like “but you don’t talk like that” even though I have never heard them before because I imagine there voices differently. Awesome post Cait!
Nabila | Hot Town Cool Girl
It’s not a bad thing! We are ALL in this weirdness together!!😂
My dear paperfury (who is Cait???) Banana and Anna don’t rhyme. I am with you in this fight from the other side of the world 😂
EXCELLENT. Let’s go to war with the Americans on this because they’re so wrong.😂
Yes, and yes, and yes… well except for the time zone thing for me. I have a general idea, but don’t like keep track or anything. I have a hard enough time remembering which country some of my favorite bloggers live in {especially since one of them summers in a different country just to confuse me}. And most of my favorites I refer to by their name, but there are a few that I refer to by their blogs… and we’re all best friends even though most of them have no idea who I am {and I’m 46 by the way}. I think this is probably the most random comment I’ve ever left… but I’m reading it back to myself with an Australian accent and it sounds so much better than my west coast {US} accent.
It’s not a random comment! IT IS GREAT. And I totally am laughing that you’re thinking of it in an Aussie accent now.😂 I’ve mind-twisted everyone with that realisation, hahah!
OOOHH! YES. I am so much more comfortable talking to fellow bookworms online. Because we just have that bookish bond. I LOVE IT. 😀 I live in Dubai so it’s proooobably 2 am in Australia when I have just finished lunch. AND I WAIL AT THE TIMEZONES. I sit here on the internet and I whisper “hello” into the void to my bookish friends and get nothing. Because they are in bed. Asleep. Unlike me. As for the baby bloggers, I started as on! A midgety 12 year old. Of course I have matured into a not so smol (#lies) 15 year old. (Still midgety compared to you though, hehe 🙂 ). It is SO EASY to talk to bookworms, YOU CAN PRATTLE ON LIKE AN INSUFFERABLE BOOKSHELF AND FACE NO JUDGEMENT. I do this to people whilst face to face and I receive stares and murmers about ‘that unusual human’. People on the internet are weird. But a lovely weird. This is the weird I love being. Especially when you tell someone you stayed in a room for six hours straight to read and do NOT get the ‘stare’. Like I did today. And yesterday. Hehe…
Happy reading! And have a lovely day/night, Cait!
Mishka (Or Mish, whatever tickles your fancy 🙂 )
Close! It was 3am when you published this comment.😂 YAY TIMEZONE WEIRDNESS. hehe. Sometimes it makes it REALLY hard to talk to people in live-time though, right?! I tend to catch up with my American friends fine, but not my British ones so much.
That’s so awesome you started so young though! I started blogging at 16 and honestly was so bad at it.😂
(Also I love your name!!)
3AM?! Ahem, what are you doing out of bed, young lady? I can’t catch up with ANYONE as the timezone I’m stuck in seems to be the opposite of every other. 🙁 Andd I might have started young but I have not learnt anything and am still TERRIBLE at this. Such is blogging. And I shall be 74 by the time I get the hang of it despite doing it dedicatedly to the best of my ability. I procrastinate and slack off so much my my posts seem to physically repel people rather than attract them. Whoops. Now time to fiiiinally write that new post I’ve been putting off. It’s 7pm here right now, are you still up at god forsaken hours, Cait? 🙂
I CAN NETWORK IN BED, SEE HOW GOOD AT MULTITASKING I AM?😂😂
We’re the same age!!! CAN WE BE GRANDMA’S TOGETHER? There are some times where I feel really old because of the younger generation, but at the same time, we all rave about books – so who really cares about age in that sense? Also, Can I join you on your quest of world domination? I feel like this would be a worthy quest to partake in… I actually remember various blogs by various different things rather than just online monikers or names – E.g. I remember you as Cait @ Paper Fury, but the other Cait I remember as A Page with a View etc. So for me it depends on the blog (I don’t ever remember profile pictures, go figure!)
YAY 23-YEAR-OLD GRANDMA TIME! *aged hi five* And honestly sometimes I feel so old too.😂Like especially seeing all these successful smart little baby bloggers and I’m just like… I couldn’t even figure out how to publish a post when I was your age.😂
I don’t tend to remember profile pictures unless they suddenly change. And then I just get confused.😂
Some kids are so tech savvy these days – whilst I’m tech savvy, I feel like they should be outside and falling out of trees or something – they should not know this much about technology!
“Anna” and “banana” do so rhyme! (This reminds me of a recent Aussie book I read, though, where one of the characters was actually named “Jennypha”. I thought the author was having a stroke or something when she named her. After saying it out loud, though, I got it. Jennifer. Phonetically. In Australian. Still, to my ear, it’s really weird, because we just pronounce all the letters: JENN-I-FUR.)
I usually remember online people by something they’ve done or said, or maybe by the aesthetic of their blog. I’ll likely remember those things more than the name of the blog, or the name of the blogger, or even a photo of said blogger. For example, you’re often “that cake-obsessed Australian book blogger with the pretty photos”.
Yeah… age is just a number. I think it’s always been like that on the Internet, though, with different age groups mixing where they might not in real life. When I was in my early 20s, I talked to people in their 30s (well, I did that at work, too, but not so much in a social setting). Now that I’m older, I talk to people much younger who’d probably never talk to me if we passed each other on the street because I’d be old to them. It is kind of weird how we set that aside online.
NOOOOOO THEY DON’T RHYME.😂😂 I have actually never heard anyone pronounce Jennifer like that tbh? We usually say “Jenn-IF-ah”. But most words that end in an “er” I guess we change to an “a” sound a lot? In Australia we don’t really pronounce “ers” at all come to think of it. Like literally everything…”publisha” and “answa” and “runna”.😂😂
I’M STOPPING. I’M GIVING MYSELF A WORD CRISIS.
Aww. I’m glad my first descriptor is “cake obsessed”. I’ve succeeded. :’)
So, the big question I have right now is, does you giving me an Aussie accent mean I can do it for real??
Loved this post, we’re just so… weird 😆
SO MUCH MUTUAL WEIRDNESS ON THE INTERNET.😂
I am so happy that you are probably reading this comment with an Australian accent right now!!! I wish I could read it in an Australian accent. I wish I had an Australian accent.
It is weird, when you think about it, how well you know all these people you have never met and who maybe don’t even know you exist. You go about your life talking about them like they’re your best friend saying, “Oh, the other day so and so said such and such and I was like ‘YESS!!! ME TOO!! THAT IS SO FANTASTIC!!!’ and your family looks at you strangely and asks who you’re talking about and your realize you don’t even know their full name (or their real name at all) and when you picture them all you see is a stack of books or a cake or a bushel of socks that they are hiding behind.
Huzzah for weird senses of humor! There was this one time you quoted the line from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory about cannibalism and I was just like, “HA HA! CANNIBALISM JOKES!” And then I stopped for a moment to wonder if its strange how hilarious I find cannibalism jokes and how often I make them.
I think we are all rather strange humans. Wonderfully strange.
I don’t even feel like I HAVE an accent.😂😂 I guess everyone feels that way about their accent, right?!
And yesss exactly that. It’s SO WEIRD. I’ve blogged so so much that it’d be very easy to get to know me without me ever knowing the person. 😱 It’s so odd to think about hah.
omg I LOVE that cannibalism line in Charlie and the Chocolate factory. My sister and I quote that to each other all the time.😂
I definitely agree about age mattering less online, which is super nice!! I’ve come across younger bloggers a couple times too, and I’ve been like WHOA WAIT YOUR HOW OLD?? I’m usually surprised by their writing being so like, perfect?? I don’t know, I was a mess at 12. BUT, I mean if it’s a book blogger chances are they read a lot and are better than your average child at words.
I tend to remember people best by their profile picture. I’m a visual person. I do better with faces than names. We have a ton of regulars at work and I’m like I know you but I have absolutely no flipping idea what your name is. I make them tell me every time, and yet I still have not remembered!!
I totally read everything in an American accent. I tried to read your blog in my head in an australian accent once and I ended up laughing at myself because I couldn’t figure how to pronounce something IN MY HEAD the right way. my internal self sounded like a goof, and it was great.
I love emailing people, I’ll admit it!
I know right?! 😂 I can’t even understand these like smol tiny young SUCCESSFUL bloggers. I started when I was 16 and I was like so bad at it.😂 OH THE YOUTHS THESE DAYS. *hobbles around on my cane*
I absolutely die when people change profile pictures. It’s like being LOST.
I’ve yet to meet an American who actually does an Aussie accent right so THAT’S OK. MAKE ME AMERICAN.😂😂
Timezones suck. 🙁
I think the weirdest thing is how worried I can be when I schedule something, and then I wake up the morning after it’s gone up and I no longer care. Like, at all. :’)
It’s hard when the timezones don’t have a lot of waking/sleeping hours crossed over. 😭 Like I have a friend in Germany and when I get up, she goes to bed and vice versa so it’s SO hard to talk in real time!
Okay this might be weird but I think of you as CPF?
Oh and I guess I’m like a baby blogger to you…. 😛
That’s hilarious and awesome.😂 MY NEW INITIALS. *gives you smol baby cupcakes then* I’ll just be here feeling old.
Yeah, the biggest thing for me is people not blogging anymore. Which is fine because I only do it casually now, but I knew SOOOO many more people before hand, you know?
Totally agreed! It’s fine to stop blogging BUT JUST TELL ME WHY I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. 😂
Ohmygod, I have NEVER thought of considering accents online…. Now I’m going to read all your posts in my best-yet-still-horrid imitation of an Aussie, and every single time I read a comment I’m going to wonder which country they’re from. :’)
I find it really sweet that we make such a big deal out of books, because we’re so passionate about them!! I tell IRL people I write book reviews for fun and they’re just like: 😶😶why would you do that to yourself.
(Because I like it!! And it’s FUN!! but also a lot of work, which does not flow well with my lazybutt procrastinating self.)
Also, I always always remember people by their profile picture. I have a horrible memory, PLUS I love aesthetic things, so that’s basically the only way I’ll recognize everyone’s blog.
You’re welcome for that accent-related-thought.😂😂 And omg why don’t IRL people understand our passion for books though???? It’s like complete differnet planets sometimes.😂
Seeing someone’s name on, say, an email address, without it being the same as their Twitter account or their blogging identity, can make me wonder who in the heck this person is — till I open the message and go, “Oh, yeah, them!”
I don’t like it when people just vanish, too. I’d really prefer to have announcements about hiatuses or changing websites or cancelling a page. Especially when it often is easier to connect with people online (at least it is for me).
Age definitely plays a different role in the online communities! I honestly didn’t realize some of my social media acquaintances were only 17-21, because they act so mature! Often I do feel like the “old lady” too, though!!!
Oh yes and yes.😂 I kind of wish everyone had their blog linked in their emails, because sometimes I get a message and I’m like “ok but who are you”.😂 I have a fairly terrible memory.
I guess it makes sense that some people don’t KNOW they’ll never come back to blogging but I wiiiiish they did “I’m leaving now” posts. It would save me a lot of wondering.😂
Haha, I know right?! Age is an interesting thing online. :’)
OMG! All these things are relatable 😂😂 I have other timezone on my phone too so I knew what time it is on their time zone. The story package to Cait pagewithaview is hillarious. I don’t know there are people who think both of you are same people 😂😂
Ahhh I’m so glad you do the timezone clocks too!!😂 It’s great right?! And omg I KNOW RIGHT with that mis-named package.😂 Our usernames are so so different omg how did that even happen.😂
Yes high five ♪＼(*＾▽＾*)／＼(*＾▽＾*)／ exactly, your username are totally different 😂😂 or maybe they are googling cait paper fury address and end up in her blog? Cait apagewithaview list you as one of her fav blogger on her blog
Nice post and I can relate to most of the things you write, but one thing is a bit different… When you’re a bookblogger in Finland writing in Finnish, it sort of limits the geographical area your fellow bloggers most probably reside. That means that there are chances you run into them in events, book fairs etc. Which is actually really, really nice. We meet regularly outside Internet, we even have “monthly meetings” in different areas… Not all of us, of course, there are always people you’ve only met online, but having fun together also in “real life” is great. E:g. I’m really looking forward the Helsinki Book Fair in October where we will again have a sort of an official bookblogging stand…
Totally agree with you about the age thing (I’m 46) but would like to expand that to also people with different lifestyles. I love it how blogging allows me to discuss with people with different occupations and backgrounds. Books do bring people together – even if we have different views on them and don’t always agree on what’s worth reading.
Oh definitely true for bloggers in smaller countries! I mean, I’ve never met up with a blogger before because I live in tiny towns and Australia is HUGE. 😂😂 So I kind of understand!
And it’s soooo awesome how books bring us all together. COMMON LOVE OF BOOKS UNITES ALL.
OMG I LOVE THIS POST!!! I relate so bad. I’m just going to do a list comment ahahah.
1) YES I feel like people online know me quite well (though not AS well as people irl). Actually, I have a different personality when I’m online than in real life… mostly because I’m shy and avoid all social interaction when possible. But YES it is totally easier to interact with people on the internet versus real life!
2) AHHAHAHAHA People assume I’m older than I am, and when they find out my true age, THEY ARE SURPRISED. So I think age DOES play a part in what we think of bloggers??? But it totally does not get in the way of making friends. I’ve got blogger friends of all different ages (and nationalities and ethnicities and sexualities) and I LOVE It! And about your accents thing — I assume that with age. I’m like YEAH EVERYONE’S THE SAME AGE AS ME but nooo they’re not. And god I wish I imagined everyone saying things in accents! I guess I do, but just American accents, which are quite boring to me… since I’m American. 😂
3) I was literally just talking with a blogger friend about feeling “used” this morning omg. Of course you can ask me for help and stuff but like,, if you literally comment asking where I get my design resources and never comment again or follow or just do… ANYTHING with me besides ask for help, I feel used??? I feel like crap??? I feel like all my hard work is for nothing??? But maybe I’m just being overdramatic. 😂
4) Ahhaaha it’s great that you’re fine being called Paper Fury! Sometimes I feel like it’s dehumanizing you and turning you into a blog, but hey, blogs are great (especially yours). 😂
5) Oh I definitely remember people by profile pictures! Well, it’s a combination of profile pictures and usernames, but still. For example, I might be scrolling through your comments section (to see your reply to a comment I made NOT BECAUSE I’M A STALKER) and then someone’s profile pic catches my eye BECAUSE I REMEMBER THEM THAT WAY! Which is why I get disoriented when people change profile pics hahha.
6) YES when internet friends disappear and you have no other way of contacting them except for the internet, you freak out a lot and wonder what’s wrong or what’s happening or if they’re okay… but then you kinda forget about them oops.
Great post!! Sorry for the long comment. 😂
HEY I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. No one on here would BELIEVE how shy I am in real life.😂😂 And I totally don’t think being more outgoing online is fake or anything. We’re just expressing our creativity and selves in a different way. :’) And it’s easier to connect and just be frieeeends with everyone so I love it.
And like not having ages/faces/genders/ANYTHING is kind of cool when you meet someone originally blogging. It takes away a lot of snap-judgements which is good. And also reminds me how much judging humans do.😂
Ugh yes agreed about the “used” thing. I have people message me with “how do I write a book” and I’m like….I don’t even know you and you want me to invest a ton of time into TELLING YOU SOMETHING SO LARGE? GO FREAKING GOOGLE IT.😂 You’re not being overdramatic because I do feel the same!
CALL ME PAPERFURY. I AM NOT A HUMAN ANYWAY. I LOVE IT.
I always end up thinking of people by their usernames, and not their actual name, I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help but end up doing it, because that’s what I’m used to!
I also agree with you that book bloggers and such shouldn’t have to do everything for free, just because we have blogs. I’m making a freelance writing business, with a focus on books, and there’s so many websites out there who just want people to send features in for free, or just want volunteers, instead of paying people for their hard work – it’s infuriating!
Saaame *hi fives* 😂 I think it’s because a lot of us share the same first names, right!? So this helps to add it to the username.😂
EXACTLY. It’s like we’re putting thousands of hours (and often some of our own money) into this blog and we LOVE IT but that doesn’t mean it’s suddenly a free tool for others. *sighs*
*high fives back*
I really wish people would respect how much work goes into blogs and things like that. It takes so much work to keep these things going, but people expect it for free. Or expect people to give them features for their own site in exchange for ‘exposure,’ like that’s actual payment. I just wish that we were given some sort of recognition for it all!
I hadn’t really put much thought into this, but you’re so right! I’ve loved most of the weird and wonderful parts of being a book blogger: friends all over the world, easy conversations, agelessness, and of course talking about books! Feeling like you know people so well (that you’ve never actually met face to face), seems the weirdest part of all to me – in a good way!
It is weird and wonderful for sure!! I adore so much about it.😂
Before you get confused, my blog name used to be Diary of a Reading Addict, and is now Dora Reads. M’k? Since you mentioned the whole user name deal-y I figured I’d be kind and explain that outright! Lol.
Also, I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN HOW ARE THESE LITTLE TWEENS AND TEENS SO TALENTED! I FEEL SO OLD, THEY WERE LITTLE UNDER-10S WHEN HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL WAS OUT – WHAT EVEN IS THAT?!
(I’m still blaming you for the all-caps.)
OH BLESS YOU.😂 Actually I still recognise your template so we’re good. 😉 But I confess there is a girl on twitter I talked to for about 3 months before I realised I ACTUALLY KNEW HER FROM AGES AGO she’d just changed her name. That’s so embarrassing. Pls let her never find out.😂
sUuuure blame me for the all caps. NEVER ADMIT THAT YOU LOVE THEM.
NEVER! 😉
You definitely are NOT alone! I KNOW you’re Australian my brain KNOWS this, and yet I keep reading your posts in an American accent. Probably in my own voice because I think we have a similar sense of humor a little bit. But THEN you go off and say things like “mate” and spell favorite like favOURite and my brain malfunctions and just goes jdnenfndjwjjhsjs ahhhhhhh!!!!! 😫😂
And I’m glad you don’t bite…much. 😟
I’m a baby blogger but not THAT much of a baby. I’m 19, but my blog is only 7 months old and I’m still having issues trying to figure out WHAT THE HECK I AM DOING. 😱
And I used to think of you as just “Paper Fury” when I first started reading your blog But I think I’ve been around long enough now that I actually know what your actual name is so I mostly now just thing of you as Cait. 😊
And UGH the time zones thing. I don’t have many friends online yet but since I live in Alaska and we have our OWN time zone and nobody else is in it I keep forgetting I’m definitely in the minority and like nobody else is probably in the same time zone as me. Though I am kind of used to counting at least four hours ahead of me because I have lots of family on the east coast of the US but (sigh) yeah….time zones. 😩
Bahahah, you make me laugh! YOUR POOR MALFUNCTIONING BRAIN. I confess I say “mate” ironically every time 😂 because I’d never say mate in actuality. 😂 And biting is definitely kept to a minimum. I’m like so nice??? So restrained??? Wow go me.😂
YOU ARE A TINY BABY BLOGGER, HEATHER. THAT’S JUST HOW IT IS. Honestly if you were like 22 you’d still be a baby blogger because that’s just how it works. I’M OLD.
Aww I’m glad I have a name to you!
It’s always frustrating to be in a totally different timezone to your online friends right?! I struggle to connect with my British friends in real time, but I generally catch the USA ones at night for their mornings!
I relate so hard to all of these. And thanks for putting in #9–it’s so true and important!
I’m glad I’m not alone on #9 then!😂
Oh, I find it sooo much easier to articulate in writing than I do talking. And much easier to share when safely shielded. Is fun to meet people from all over the world too. I don’t think age matters either. Its people being united by a love of books (or other fun thingy like skiing or cats), and it’s that shared love that matters more. I love seeing different opinions too. Why people like or don’t like something. But bashing another for likes or dislikes, or well, any reason at all is not okay. And yep, I tend to think of online friends by username/blg name first. If I know a given name, I can usually remember that too. I’m much better at word recall than face recall.
Gods help… That’s a mess of rambling. I’m brain fuzzy atm.
Exactly! It’s like we don’t do any of the “instant snap judgements” online because we get to know people through conversation and chatting more! It’s actually kind of nice. :’)
And nooooope to the bashing. I think it’d be great if we all learnt to calm down a bit.😂 Although obviously not everyone is guilty of being overboard! But YEAH.
Unless someone has a super memorable username, I tend to rely on their picture to remind me who they are. Which is why I try to spread my little big-eyed owl across the writerly blogosphere – in case there are other people with memories as full of holes as mine.
(Fairly random, but I love it when you say ‘mate’ in your posts? It reminds me that my Australian accent is, for once, correct!)
And of course opinions on books are a BIG DEAL. If someone insults my favourite book (OR WORSE, BOOKS IN GENERAL), I may eat them. Or send them to Jupiter. To be dealt with by the Book Dragon Queen.
It’s true! There are a lot of similar blog names out there so profile pictures are helpful.😂
Also I totally say “Mate” to be ironic.😂 I’m glad you like it haha! We smol Australians must stick together honestly…we are like rare fishes out here.
I actually remember people by their name online but instead of ‘cait’ it’s caitpaperfury like that’s your entire name. and whenever people change their profile pic i get So Confused because i just associate that pic with them. I say that and i constantly change mine…oops haha. Also YES for the internet jokes. Often I’ll laugh at my phone and my mum will ask what I’m looking at so I explain it to her and the response is just “….okay…ha…ha” And different opinions on books aren’t a big deal at all to me. If anything it’s cool when you like a book and someone doesn’t or vice versa because you get to hear the other side and rethink everything from a different perspective.
That’s EXCELLENT. I want Caitpaperfury to be my full name forever. And I think people should not ever change their profile pictures….or usernames…or blog layouts.😂 I GET SO CONFUSED.
I totally agree with all of these! But particularly the last one, it’s the worst when you’re like “hello?!? Do you still exist?” Even though that sometimes happens, Ive made so many new friends online, it’s great. No idea what any of their ages are though….
It’s like we meant NOTHING TO THEM AND NOW THEY HAVE GONE AND LEFT US. *collapses in a dramatic sobbing pile* I do wonder though, really, like what happened.😂 And it’s kind of cool that blogging takes away those “instant judgements” we make when we see someone IRL! I think it’s nice, right? We make friends on interests and thoughts and conversation here instead of looks. :’)
Most of my online experience hasn’t been through a blog (yet!), but I love the weird joke online community feel that you’re describing. but tRUTH. not everything has to be a flame war, internet. but i’ve found that age doesn’t matter nearly as much as interests. why is someone on the same site as you (a book blog site or a writer’s club site or whatever)? probably because they have the same interests, which is why i feel that maybe making friends online is easier because you already have a passion to connect over <3
That’s so true! It’s easier to find people with things to connect to online! Instead of like just HOPING the people you happen to meet IRL like the same things. 😂
OMG. I know. I know like, so many people I’ve never really talked to??? And it’s also strange to think there are people reading my posts and stalking my bookstagram who never comment but are always there and know everything. I’m like I SEE YOU. But I don’t.
AND MY READERS WILL KNOW WAY TOO MUCH ABOUT ME IF I EVER PUBLISH A BOOK. Like. I put so much of myself in there it’s probably dangerous. WILL THERE EVEN BE ANYTHING LEFT OF ME TO BE ME.
And um I can totally relate. When I read posts/messages I’m not reading it with a fake Australian accent or a Scottish accent in my head, I’M READING IT AMERICAN OKAY BECAUSE I HAIL FROM THERE. Sure, I can conjure up dragons and unicorns in my brain but accents?!?!? #nope.
I literally have 0 clue how old my online friends are sometimes. I could be chatting with a 40 year old nun and I would be none the wiser (GET IT. NONE. NUN. You may refer to me as the Pun Master)
UGH. It’s the most annoying thing of ever when people freak out over differing opinions?? I just don’t get it. I AM SO CHILL MAN.
ERMEGERD I have insomnia toooooo? (ARE WE ACTUALLY THE SAME PERSON) and I have mother hen friends too who yell at me to go to sleep when I’m on in the middle of the night hahaha. #oops
It makes me so sad when internet friends just disappear. Like. DID I NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU. Haha. Just kidding. Maybe.
I KNOW RIGHT. IT’S SO WEIRD. Like I literally have had people comment and start talking like they’ve known me forever…and they have. But I know nothing about them.😂 It’s especially hard when they don’t have a blog, because like I talk a LOT (obviously haha) and I never get to see them just talking about themselves. Liiiiiife is weird online.😂
Accents are hard omg. And I don’t even think about what accent my head is working in. I’m just BEING. I only think of it when someone does a vlog and I’m like “woah yes you’re not Australian are you”.😂
I hail, thee, o pun master.
OF COURSE WE’RE THE SAME PERSON. This is obvious since we have queen ambitions and share part of a name.
Clearly they didn’t looooove us enough. 😭😭😭😭
I can relate to pretty much alllllllllll of those points, A few of my blogger friends vlog and I do watch them but the first time I was just like… ‘wow I didn’t think you would look like that, wow you sound different to how I thought you would’ 😂
The age one I can relate to as well, it, Age is just not a big deal in our blogosphere, It really is just a number. I enjoyed reading this Cait!
x Skye // A little inkling // alittleinklings.blogspot.com
PS, Have you read the new Veronica Roth book yet? I was close to getting it but decided to get Strange The Dreamer (which was amazing) instead, I’d like to hear your thoughts on it if so!!
I totally relate! 😂It’s so so weird hearing online friends speak for the first time! Or like even seeing their face when you’re used to a different sort of profile pic. THE INTERNET IS WEIRD.
I love this post so much, but that’s not a surprise since I always love everything you post. I totally agree that bloggers shouldn’t do as much for free as we all do. I know it’s a controversial topic but we do A LOT and I’m all for people getting paid for their craft.
Also, I always forget how old the people I’m talking to are, I always assume we’re the same age until we meet up and I’m like WHOA but I end up not caring? We’re friends so why does age matter?
Great post, keep it up lovely!
~Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
Awww, you always leave the nicest comments aND THEN I JUST BLUSH. *flails happily* <3 And I'm actually glad I'm not alone with the working-for-free-isn't-super-cool thing. I know it was a huge controversy a few years ago. I don't want to act entitled or anything but sometimes it's frustrating to put thousands of hours into your blog and then someone will rock up and expect you to work for free. Like it doesn't even make sense. Artists are SO under-appreciated.😭
It's nice when age doesn't matter! WE are brought together by BOOKS and FANDOM. :')
I think it’s still a controversy… and it’s something all artists have dealt with forever, and it sucks. People don’t realize or they just aren’t willing to realize how much work this all takes. However, I’m glad we’re both still around doing what we do regardless.
<3
Nope, I’m totally going for the lemon bleach. ;P JK. I remember people by profile pic. AND I LOVE YOUR BOOKSHELVES I WISH I COULD DO THAT TO MINE! COLOR CODING IS WONDERFUL! Sadly I don’t have that many books though. Libraries are my friends. And we have more of a family collection. And because you didn’t answer my question of if you have read Fog Diver or The False Prince I will ask you again, HAVE YOU? If not you should. I will give you cake if you do. Lots and lots of descriptions. So read them.
COLOUR CODING IS FANTASTIC AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND. When you get more books.😂 Libraries are my best friend and also being sent books and buying second hand haha.😂
I did answer your question, didn’t I? Sorrrry. I have read the False Prince (I loved it! but not read the rest) but I haven’t read Fog Diver. 🙁
I think for me the weirdest part is having real-life acquaintances finding my blog! I write whatever I want (even though I’m an introvert) because I have the protection of being on the Internet… but then people I know IN REAL LIFE find my blog and read it and sometimes it feels kinda weird.
I know I’m the same person online and offline, but I’m more open on the Internet and it makes me feel exposed when IRL people read my blog.
Anyway, at least they sometimes share it on Twitter, so that’s a win :D.
Oh yes! I definitely agree with that one! I often don’t tell my family I’ve blogged or when I see them comment on an insta photo it’s just…IT’S SO WEIRD.😂 I never mention my blog to people IRL haha. And I’m the same…it does feel more exposed. I’m not faking anything online, but there seems to be less barriers and it’s easier to just express yourself!?
I adore this post because it is SO. TRUE. There are so many unknowns and I am not really a fan of unknown? The timezone thing has actually been a pretty great perk, because I feel like I don’t blog when most of the eastern US is awake? So this way, I get to talk to people from everywhere! I don’t think age matters. But I say this as an “elderly” person, so who knows? Well- I have been delighted to find out that I am NOT the oldest person ever to blog (not even close, tbh) and a lot of the people I have met have actually been older than me! That said, my main friend base seems to be younger- mid twenties, mostly, but it doesn’t even matter.
I have met a lot of bloggers IRL, so I know at least that they are who they say they are, but I am always a little bit low key concerned that I am talking to people who aren’t? And also, sometimes it is weird to talk to someone and not know what they look like? Like you, Cait, only have legs. (That isn’t even true, I have seen your face, but you know what I mean.) It’s a little weird because like, making up accents is one thing (interestingly, most people don’t have an American one in my head, but nor do they have one from wherever they’re from- they have like, me doing a crappy British accent?) but making up entire PEOPLE is weird to me. I think maybe because A) I have a terrible imagination, and B) I am super open myself so I just want to know that everyone isn’t a cyborg.
Also YES with the getting paid. I will sign a petition. Immediately. I’m poor.
Timezones can be SO HANDY for talking to people!! Like I tweet at 8am my time and it seems to be a good time in the US. Win win.😂 And haha, see I hang around you old bloggers (JUST KIDDING SHANNON I STILL LOVE YOU) so I can still feel young. :’) But I think it’s good that age matters less online. It’s like we don’t judge people straight away by looks which is NICE.
No no you haven’t seen my face. That was someone else, I swear. I am LEGIT a pile of books on legs. (I also get weirded out when someone changes their profile from like an anime character to their real face…IT’S DISORIENTATING. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE NOT A CARTOON.)
Someone pay us to read omg.
I have had a very active online life for over 20 years, which is in itself kind of weird when you think of the timeline of the internet…
(Fun story: when I was 16 I travelled to another city with about half a dozen men over 20 to go to an anime convention. I met these men online and my mum let this happen. People were so trusting in those early internet days! ;D)
I definitely relate to many of these. I find accents *so fascinating*. What is fun though? There are a couple people I follow on bookstagram who do stories a lot and speak in their stories and have not Canadian accents and I therefore read their posts in their accent. And I can’t tell the difference between most Americans and Canadians. But I have been told by other Canadians I have a funny accent. IT IS ALL SO BIZARRE.
I sometimes feel weird referring to someone as “my friend” when I have never actually met them in person, but then to the uninitiated referring to someone as “this person I follow on bookstagram” sounds super weird so easier to just say “friend”
I can’t even with time zones. Seriously. My brother leaves in New Zealand and it blows my mind when I try to figure out what time it is when I am talking to him. It is less than helpful that my province has *its own half hour time zone*. Like, I had a tough enough time with time zones when I lived in the EST zone and had to think in whole hours. Now I have to think in an extra half hour. My brain. It hurts.
People expecting you to work for free…. OH HO HO HO. I have so many opinions. (I am on team “stop it.”). One of my dearest friends is a freelance writer, and she is a travel blogger. I get bristly when people go on about how jealous they are of her life and they wish they could have her life because she does so much travelling and gets to do all these cool things often for “free”… because people don’t seem to get HOW HARD SHE WORKED to get to this point where hotels offer her free stays to mention their hotel etc. She has cultivated an epic online presence and some months she doesn’t know how she will pay her phone bill despite spending a week in a 4 star hotel…. Anyhow. I stop ranting now. (I also get people who “meet” me online, find out what I do, and have no qualms asking me for advice with sometimes no evidence of appreciation for the fact that they are asking me to do what I do for *a living* for *free*….)
Age doesn’t matter much to me. When I was finishing high school I became quite good friends with a coworker who was over 30. One of my closest friends at work now is more than 10 years my junior. If I can bridge these gaps in real life, I certainly don’t worry over the age of my online friends…
I think that whether or not opinions on books is a “big deal” is very much subjective… like, someone who isn’t into reading fiction may think we’re crazy to care so much about books and they aren’t technically *wrong*…. but if someone like me or you is HUGELY into books, then opinions on books are a big deal to us and that is legit. Whatever your passion is, if it causes no harm then let it be a big deal. (I guess I kind of look at it like pets…. I meet people constantly who are mind blown by what some of my clients are willing to pay/put their pets through because they don’t get the whole “my pet is my child” family bond some people have with their animal… but I have some clients who very literally credit their pet with saving their life and they wouldn’t hesitate to go to the ends of the earth for their pet…. so, like, for people who get it is that big of a deal, and for people who don’t it isn’t, and that’ okay.)
Do I even make sense? Maybe not…
I remember people through a combination of username/profile pic. Depends on how memorable I find their profile pic. I also can kind of recognize tone after a while? If that makes sense? Like I can read a caption without processing the username and recognize who it is….
Anyway. That is quite enough of my rambling.
Accents are great! I love listening to audiobooks that do different accents honestly.😂 It’s only a problem if the narrator mixes them up. *glares at the Game of Thrones audios*
And omg you were trusting at 20 then haha! I wasn’t really blogging until I was 16 and not THAT active online until 17/18 more? And now look at me. I never get off. :’)
I’m totally cool with calling people friends online! I generally do it for people I’ve chatted with a lot though, or else I’ll say “someone I know”. OMG AND ALSO ANOTHER WEIRD THING: is talking to your family IRL about your online friends. It’s so weird.😂 Like I’ve had blogging friends say “and I was telling my sister about you” and I’m just like WAIT. WHAT. NOW I’M SELF CONSCIOUS.😂
Omgggg I’m so sick of people thinking that blogging isn’t real. And like I can only IMAGINE how hard your friend must’ve worked. I put hours and hours into this blog and on the scale of things, it’s still quite small. But it really annoys me?!? Like that I can put 1000s of hours into a blog and then people rock up and expect to use my hardwork. I legit had a small publisher asking me to make them a list of blogging contacts and I’m like “WHAT. DO YOUR OWN JOB??? I DON’T WORK FOR YOU.” And every time companies ask me to promote them, my first response now is, “And is this a sponsored post?” And then they leave.😂 I know people can view this as being rude or whatever, but it’s not. I wouldn’t rock up to a cafe and expect free food. Sheesh. Artists are subjected to a lot of dumb stigmas.
I do get that about the “big deal”! Although like books are obviously a huge deal to me but I won’t argue my head off IRL to someone about them.😂Or maybe I’m just too shy haha!
Ahh yes that whole thing with identifying people by their online name / blog name / graphic is so accurate. Sometimes my blogging friends change graphics and I get really confused. Unfortunately I am really bad at reaching out to people online because I get really awkward and I am 100% the person who disappears and comes back 2 months later like “sorry I had school work” … woops…
It’s soooo hard when people change things! Like a blog design change throws me ALL THE TIME.😂
And hey I totally get that about needing to disappear! I am like the bad penny no one can get read of (awwwwwkward) but like hey school calls! You have to answer!
Hi Cait 🙂 — I’m new here… well actually, I’ve been following you on Twitter for a bit vicariously because my son follows you and retweets you quite a bit (he’s a writer). I found myself feeling so at home with your words I decided to follow you myself — and then he told me you have a blog. DA DA DUM! Big, bang, boom – here I am. I used to be a very proliferous blogger years ago, then found myself in painful waters that I couldn’t write about without more judgment than I could handle — so the blog I had lived on for a decade was left behind. I actually just made it private so others couldn’t see it since I couldn’t face the idea of deleting all those memories of my boys growing up. A huge chunk of their young years is on that blog. In theory, I started a new place for my ‘neuropoetry’ – and I write about my life there – but this internet life IS weird, and just like the offline world emotional scars can be painful. I haven’t been able to bring myself to write on it regularly yet. I’m hoping that as time passes I’ll find my words there again. I relate to everything you mentioned here about the online life… Age, in particular, continues to matter less and less in my relationships online… (I’ll tell you a secret, I’m 38 – I have two sons who are almost 20 and 16 years old… I don’t look that much older than my sisters who are in their 20s though – as long as you ignore the white hairs!) Words can be the place where we meet each other without pre-existing ideas that come with concepts like age, gender, and such… words used wisely are a powerful force for connection. This is why books can be so life-changing — life shaping. Speaking of that, I think that opinions about books, movies, songs and such matter a lot less than people think, but they can be useful in discovering if someone is from your “tribe’ or not — meaning, if you like Dickens, Tolkein, Lewis, or Austen… there’s a good chance we will share other things in common as well… but if you don’t – if you’re more of a Twilight kind of person, that doesn’t mean we can’t find common ground somewhere else! 🙂 I tend to connect people directly to their blogs – so you’re Paper Fury Cait now in my mind – probably because I think of myself so closely connect to my Neuropoetry. 🙂 Do you ever wonder how people without an online life make any kind of deep connection nowadays? Life is so busy – it seems that people just pass each other on the street running from one thing to the next… I find it really hard to actually get to know people in “real life” — or maybe that’s just because I’m a classic introvert. To meet me in the written word is to know me… 🙂
Oh hi Jenn! This honsetly makes my day! THANKS FOR FINDING MY BLOG. (And thanks to your son too!) Also best of luck with your new blog! I know blogging can be totally tough and I hope it becomes a fun place to express yourself and be creative.
And tooootally agree that it’s easier to form friendships without like instantly-judging people by seeing them. Like you get to know people off words first and that’s actually super helpful. I mean, some people I’ve chatted to online are so anonymous I don’t know their gender or country or ANYTHING. And like who cares, right?! If you’re having a great conversation about topics you’re interested in, then it’s great!
I’m a huge introvert too so I have no idea.😂 Honestly my only friends outside the internet are my family! I’m super close to my sister haha.
(*winking side note reply* My RL friends are my family members too. My sister is probably my best friend even though she’s about 9 years younger than me.) 😊
Awww, this clearly means we have good taste in friends (and good families) 😂
I remember people by their username, and then the usual style of their posts. For example, I remember you as PaperFury, and then I associate you with lists of things that relate to me way too much and probably shouldn’t since I follow you on Twitter. Also book opinions are EVERYTHING, I base my friends off book opinions, and feel no shame about it.
This makes my DAY. And yes lists + paperfury = my actual fully completed self.😂
Book opinions are very important tbh. I struggle to trust people when they love books I hate.😂
I hate the dropping offline thing. Like, where did you go? Why aren’t we important anymore? Do you still think of me too?
And it is SOOOOOO MUCH easier to share things with people online. I’ve recently met some people from blogs I’ve talked to online for a bit but I felt like such an awkward bunny.
*cries wondering all the questions* They could at least put up goodbye posts!! It would answer so many questions.😂
Okay, I just spent five minutes trying to make Anna and Banana not rhyme. Ba-nay-nay…..?????
Actually, I have this weird accent, probably. Which isn’t Lithuanian, cause apparently people take me for a local of some place that is not where I live xD it’s actually something between an American and a British accent, which is totally weird. Let’s call it mongrel British? XD it’s because I had an American accent before I lived with my boyfriend, and he’s English, so I sort of… assimilated some of that. I don’t even know what my accent is right now xD it must be weird.
You’re right about age mattering less! Although personally to me, age matters little (my boyfriend is 5 years younger and I have real life friends all around the, eh, clock? XD) but yeah… it IS easier to have 15 year old blogger buddies. Although I’ve put my age on Twitter – I got tired of people assuming I am a teen just from my photo 😀
OMG, you are so right about usernames and pics 😀 for me the worst is when a Goodreads friend changes their user image. I have hundreds of them, so if they change it… I will most likely suddenly not know who they are! That kind of sucks xD
Time zones! I know I’m always trying to figure out whether YOU are living at nights or what xD I’ve never actually tried to figure out what time it is in Australia, but I’m always weirded out when I see you like my tweets during my daytime! I’m like DOES SHE SLEEP AT ALL 😀 and it’s the funnest thing to wonder about you, because you’re pretty much the farthest away from where I am 😀 one day. One day I will convert the times and see if you should be asleep or not xD xD
Aw, that’s too sad people have disappeared like that though :/ I hate that… can’t say that’s happened to me yet with internet buddies, but I don’t want to experience that…
AMERICAN ACCENTS, I TELL YOU. 😂 They’re weird.
I think it’s really cool that age doesn’t have to be a consideration factor for being friends online! I mean IRL when I see a smol person I automatically think “Nope too smol”.😂 (Shh I realise I am small….and also antisocial so like THIS COMMENT IS A MESS. EXCUSE ME.) But it’s just nice that blogging relies so much less on judging by a person’s looks. You truly do get to know their creative expressions over how they look.
I’m DEAD when people change their profile name or photo. I knew a girl who did them BOTH on twitter and I had no idea who was talking to me for like months. I thought it was someone new.😂
Okay *whispers* I confess I’m up at the worst hours because of really bad insomnia.😂 Sooooo it’s highly likely I’m liking your tweets at like 3am.😂 I DO SLEEP. LIKE ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR. So while I’m writing the answer to this comment it’s 9:12pm my time…and for you it’s 2:12pm?? I THINK I GOT THAT RIGHT.
I agree that age is not so much a factor online. Unless someone tells you their age (and who knows if it’s even true?), you wouldn’t even know. I read the blogs of people I was surprised to find were very young because they sounded so articulate and mature. And I’ve decided not to follow people who sounded extremely immature who ended up being 30+ years old. Online, your age doesn’t matter nearly so much as your content. (Although I think there can be complications to the age thing, as well, that might be a bit much to get into a comment. Basically, you can’t guarantee many spaces online are going to be nice to someone just because they’re young, they’re still learning, etc., etc. Having your words get taken as seriously as everyone else’s means you can’t necessarily expect a “break” from other users if you say something others deem foolish, unintelligent, etc. because you’re a teen. Though personally I would advocate being polite to everyone online, regardless of age.)
I also agree book bloggers do a LOT for free. Some don’t even really get ARCs as “payment.” This is fine, as far as things go. I blog purely as a hobby, and I’m not really “expecting” to make money from it. I only really get irritated when sometimes people seem to take the work that bloggers do for granted as free marketing. The reality is that no blogger owes an author, publisher, etc, a review or any other type of promotion free. And obviously promoting a book free is not going to be someone’s priority without payment. If you want a guarantee someone will do work for you (and hopefully of decent quality), you should offer payment.
I doubt many people would lie about their ages.😂 I mean I accidentally didn’t update all my “about me” pages when I turned 23 this year so like WHOOOOPS.😂 But yes, it’s more about voice! I mean I’ve followed bloggers I was sure must be in their 20s only to find out they were 14. 😳 And I have heard a lot (especially on twitter) about teens feeling unheard and drowned out by the adults in the YA community and I actually have never experienced it so. I mean, my opinion gets bulldozed a lot and I get trolls all the time and I’m not a teen soooo I think it can honestly be more about audience and who you choose to talk to and what you speak up about? IDK. Just thinking out loud! I do feel super worried for smol bloggers though when the hate gets ramped up. I would’ve been a MESS at 14-16 if I experienced the trash fires that go on sometimes in the community.
And yes, I agree! I LOVE what I do and will continue doing it…but it gets me every time it’s like expected that I do certain things. I legit had a publicist of a small press ask me to review a book and I said no because, for starters it was adult and I read YA. And then they went on to tell me to give them a list of better bloggers to inquire to. And I’m like????? I’m not working for you???? Do your own research?😳😳😳
I love this post, Cait! Although, I’ve been blogging for 8 years now, I’m still a tiny fish in this blogging pond (I’m not so great at the social media networking thing – I’m just not a real big fan of it, generally, but it’s where I find out interesting things happening so I use Twitter, but otherwise, meh. And there are few blogs I actually enjoy reading, so I don’t get many people checking out my blog that way. But it’s ok! I have my few regular readers, and that’s fine), so I don’t think anybody knows me – some may know my tastes, maybe, but that’s it (I always think about writing personal posts, but I can never think of anything to say, lol.).
But I definitely read other people’s blogs in an English accent. Even more than that, they have a “voice”… in that my imagination creates a tone of voice for them, so I can hear their “voice” as I read (like with books). My best mate lives in Ireland, and we text all the time. Even though I’ve heard him speak, when I read his texts, I still hear this voice I’ve created for him, rather than his own voice. It’s weird. Lol.
I don’t think age matters generally, but I do worry sometimes. I think most book bloggers these days are young – teens or in their twenties. I’m 30 now, and when I find out how old someone is, I feel like I’m that od aunt that thinks she’s cool, trying to get in on the young ones’ party. And that it might be a bit odd. (Am I being creepy? Should I not talk to these people? Would people worry?) But it doesn’t happen much. But I do laugh when you refer to yourself as old at 23. I remember being 23. It feels so long ago. Haha!
A lot of the British bloggers I know I’ve actually met, so I tend to remember them by their name and face, ha. Everyone else, it’s mainly by blog name unless I’m a regular reader. (I’m a pretty crappy blogger when it comes to other blogs)
Oooh, the time zones thing! Ok, so I know you post at 7pm on certain days (Saturday, Monday, Tuesday?), but your 7 is sometime in my morning, which is good for me, as it means I don’t have to wait later in the day for it. But sometimes I’m on your blog in the evening and I’ll be thinking, “It’s already tomorrow for Cait.” And that’s just weird, haha!
I think Twitter chats might be thought of as weird to outsiders? I know when Mum wants to watch a programme we both want to see, she finds it strange when I’m all “I can’t right now, I’m in a Twitter chat!” But otherwise, I think you’ve mentioned all the weird things.
Great post, Cait! 🙂
I totally get what you mean with the “voice”! I mean, I can’t like explain it?! But there’s definitely different style/stones for different blogs for me.😂 Hence hearing someone’s real voice is so throwing haha!
I do understand the “am I being creepy” thing AGH. Because sometimes like I’ll get SO TIRED of something in a book and then think am I just being a jaded bitter adult here??? It’s scary.😭 HEY I FEEL OLD OK. 23 IS OLD. Especially when I didn’t update my about me page for two years and someone was like to me “omg you’ve written so many book sand you’re only 21!” and then I was just all like…well actually…[PAUSE FOR MASSIVE MOMENT OF AWKWARD] 😂
Awww, I’m honoured you remember my posting schedule! YOU’RE THE BEST, JO.😂
And yes! Agreed about the twitter chats! I’m never around at the right times to do them, but I can totally imagine non-internet-people being confused.😂
1) unable to see body language (unless on camera) when “talking” to someone online as humans subconsciously look for clues as to what is actually going on in a conversation by watching what the other person does as they listen to what they say
2) yes, I was able to relate to quite a few of your points. That, and your writing style, is why I decided to follow you .
3) If age mattered to me, I wouldn’t have followed your blog as you are 23 and I will be 60 in December. What matters to me is writing style and content. A good sense of humor helps also.
4) I agree with you that as I have gotten older, I have developed a much better sense of perspective. Sometimes if something starts to annoy me, I will just ask myself “in a 100 years, will this matter to anyone?” and if the answer is “no,” then there is no reason for me to expend additional energy on it.
5) I remember people through a combination of their user name and pic rather than either/or.
Aw, I’m glad you decided to follow me, Doreen. THANK YOU. *slides you cake crumbs* And I’m glad we’re in agreement that age matters less than if we connect/relate to a person and their content! It’s kind of nice that the unintentional but automatic judging aspect of making friends doesn’t exist online!
*chuckles and thanks you as she accepts the cake crumbs* Looking forward to seeing what else you write.
I agree on everything you say, yet I have never thought about these things before. And my clock setting looks exactly like that, except it has Dubai (that is where I am), India (where I was and have whole lot of friends), USA (2 at that), UK and Phillipines, I have somehow sorted it all mentally as well, on what to expect replies and such. If only I had this dedication in other aspects of life. *sigh*
Gayathri @ Musings Over Nothing
PS
I never knew you were Aussie. Mentally I have had my mind set as Australia being the weirdest place, now I learn I have a person I adore so much living in there, Sorry.
I’m just here to give us all WEIRD EXISTENTIAL CRISES. YOU’RE WELCOME.😂 And haha you thought Australia was the weirdest place?😂 I’m lAUGHING. We’re normal I swear. (Okay I’m probably not a good poster child for normal but whatever.)
LOVE THIS! It’s so true. My favourite (also the weirdest) thing is full on book chat that comes from all over the world. You’ll write a review and BAM! Somehow you’re in huge bookish debate with someone from the other side of the planet. And it lasts days! It’s pretty amazing, actually.
Actually pretty sorry to hear you get mean people on here. I’ve been pretty lucky so far and have only ever had nice comments… *runs around frantically looking for wood*, but I’m small fry so what do I know?! I think you’re doing a pretty awesome thing here.
Keep blogging! x
IT IS!! I LOVE THAT!! Like the other month I did a live back-and-forth chat discussion article with my friend in Sri Lanka. I mean, how cool is that?!? WE FIGHT THE TIMEZONES.😂
I hope you never encounter any trolls!😂
The internet has definitely ruined my sense of humour, for I too, have the dark-side-of-tumblr humour, and for some reason, when I make jokes IRL, people look at me funny. Also I’m definitely the person who disappeared for no reason. But I’m baackkkkkkkk. Sort of. I’m still taking a break, but with occasional posts in between.
Internet friends are so much better than real friends (for the most part) because they have the same humour, taste in memes, fandoms etc. Besides, its super hard to find friends IRL who like fandoms, wheras online there’s like 1234567890 to be friends with who are in the same fandoms.
I remember people by their username, and the have to correct myself and say their real name. I had a group of friends, (circa. 2012) where I legit forgot their real names because we referred to each other only by our elvish names. Fun times.
It’s just the WORLD who is the problem for not getting our jokes, right?! Our senses of humour are fine and perfect.😂😂 (I’m also glad you’re ALIVE, Mironiel!!)
Once again, I love this and agree 100%!
The accent thing is definitely the one I relate to the most – I always picture everyone sounding like me! 💕💕💕
Ah, Cait. July and August got crazy for me and I sort of mystappeared, but then I head back here and think, “Nicole, THIS is what you’ve been missing! Why have you been missing this?” So, consider me chastised. And I totally agree with you on all of these points, especially on remembering people by their blog names and/or pictures. Whenever I go to a conference, I put my business card on my lanyard because I know that 99% of the people I know will recognize me by the little fox girl far more easily than they’ll recognize my name. Oh, and the age thing is particularly true for me because I’m 43 and that’s pretty much ANCIENT in blogging terms. I talk to a whole lot of teenagers, which could be… weird in real life.
Omg no don’t feel bad!! I mean like people who disappear FOREVER.😂 Those are the ones I worry about haha. And yes! I totally recognise bloggers a lot by their designs…hence we can all never change.😂
I definitely have done the second one too! I am forever shocked at peoples voices being higher or lower than I imagined!
The age thing is true, too! I’m 28 and then I see people half my age blogging and I’m amazed that they have figured out their blogging lives already! It’s amazing! I definitely have online friends that are both older and younger than I am, and it’s great that we all share common interests!
I’ve definitely done #7, especially when we DM and I’m trying to figure out what time it is for you because you’re a million hours ahead of me (you’re living in the future! COOL!)
Also, #8 yesssss!! Some of my closest friends are people I only know from the internet. It’s just easier sometimes to find people who share your interests and relate to you, and also you can talk to them in pajamas and dirty hair and not feel bad about it!
And when I see these tiny baby successful bloggers…omg I remember being 13 and all I did online was use paint haha.😂 AH. THESE SMOL BEANS ARE SO MUCH MORE INTELLIGENT THAN I. But it is nice that age doesn’t separate us as much as it would IRL! Most of my closest online friends are either a lot younger or older than me. I don’t even know many bloggers who are like 22/23?!
SO FAR IN THE FUTURE. :’) SO FAR. I FORESEE TOMORROW WILL BE NICE.😂
That’s true! Most of the bloggers I know are around my age or like…16 and then I feel OLD! 😂 I like your vision of the future. Can you also predict that I don’t have to go to work tomorrow? I’ll tell my boss the future says I don’t have to! 😜
i’m british and i read ypu as having a british accent – i think that’s just the sound of the voice in my head. also ANNA AND BANANA DOESN’T RHYME WHO THINKS THAT. and that stranger things reference tho.
I can handle that. :’) I would love a British accent haha. (Is it just me or do we all tend to want an accent we don’t have!?)😂
I can relate to everything on this post! Tbh, I have more friends on the Internet than I do at school. It’s kinda weird and awkward because they’re in different timezones and just finish the conversation randomly and then I’m kinda left hanging and remembering that we’re in different time zones. I have terrible memory which only works when I’m writing stories.
You have literally described me on the Internet with this post.
Ahh I’m glad you enjoyed it!! And omg yes the timezones and being-left-hanging is SO hard sometimes?! Or you really want to talk about something and have to be like “no, let that just wait for 8 hours”.😂
Hi, Cait!
It’s been a while since I’ve last been here. *coughcough*
I really like this post. It’s kind of somber under all the usual cake. Or maybe it’s just because I’m currently listening to sad piano music. 🤔 Who knows?
A weird thing I do is that I give nicknames to all my internet acquaintances. I come from a long line of nickname fetishists but it’s weird to do this to random people. I mean, I always have to remind myself that I don’t really know these people and they might shrink back from this kind of familiarity. (You are “daisy chains” in case you are wondering.)
Gosh, no matter how weird, I love being a book blogger. I meet lovely people who are just as sane as I am and who understand my obsession with books and fandom stuff. As long as it makes me happy I wouldn’t trade my blog for anything. 😊
Have a great day/night/time.
LG, m
Aww thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it! (Sad piano music is fun ah ahaha.) But omg Daisy Chains. 😂😂I can safely say I’ve never had a nickname like that before, but hey, thank you!😂
It IS frustrating when people just drop off the face of the Earth without any warning (although I’m guilty of (not blogging for a few months at a time…). Especially if there’s a domain name change and you miss the announcement and can’t find them again.
Proud of you for knowing the different timezones! I have trouble keeping track, but it’s interesting to see when something gets the most views. Like I would normally post in the middle of the day, but I think only like 2% of book bloggers are in Central Time, so normally my views come at weird times.
It is!! I wonder a lot about them sometimes…and other times hope they’re ok honestly.😭😭Just write a “goodbye” post, peoples. GIVE US CLOSURE.