09.03.07 you and me

Tomorrow will mark the 5th birthday of this blog.

Things have changed a lot since I started. It’s now routine for people, any people, to Google each other. I now work in a smaller industry, one where people know each other by name even without having met. Clients, partners, employers might any day find this site, and have. I always get a pang of paranoia when someone from the Montreal games industry recognizes me as lightspeedchick. This not-quite-conscious self-consciousness kept me relatively quiet for a few months.

Then, as my fifth blogiversary drew nearer, I started thinking about this state of affairs. Was this paralysis, which kept me from writing anything remotely personal or meaningful, the death of my blog, or just a phase we all have to go through before we take a new leap of faith, like the one I took five years ago?

I decided I wasn’t ready to stop yet; I took the plunge and wrote something real. Let everyone, clients, employers, employees, read it and react. I can at least say I was honest if the sky falls.

But it didn’t fall. You all reacted honestly and passionately, and despite a few well-deserved bitchslaps (allo moman!), it’s been a very engaging discussion. You made me think, look things up and learn. Most of all, you encouraged me to continue.

Thanks for supporting these chronicles, for showing up and participating.

13 comments on 'you and me'

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  1. Comment by Me: The Sequel on 10.03.07 at 1:32 am

    It’s a rite of passage that all bloggers go through. Not just once. Many times, like a cycle. Speaking for myself, the degree of ‘real’ I inject to a given post is proportionate to how enjoyable - and connected - I feel to the whole blogging thing.

    Look - If you don’t don’t put your whole being into it - then why bother? Seriously.

    After my last “bashful blogging bout” - I plunged in and have since been deeply personal with posts ( w/o revealing to much nuts-n-bolts details of my life to make stalking slightly harder :P).

    That being said it freaks me out to think of “undesireables” finding it.Some have. There’s an ebb and flow to boldness.

    Your detachment from blogging and the reticence was noticed BTW :(
    Glad you’re back. Let’s hear more about what’s going on with you!

    We should do the drinks thing soon, yes?

  2. Comment by Martine on 10.03.07 at 12:17 pm

    Godspeed to you, Lightspeed. Glad to know you won’t be giving up the blog any time soon (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

    Et joyeux bloganniversaire!

  3. Comment by blork on 10.03.07 at 12:51 pm

    Congrats on the five years! Lightspeed to you!

  4. Comment by Vila H. on 10.03.07 at 4:29 pm

    I’m glad you’re keeping on. Happy birthday! :-)

  5. Comment by Patrick on 11.03.07 at 3:48 am

    Woohoo! Happy bday!

  6. Comment by zura on 11.03.07 at 12:31 pm

    Happy 5 years! Similar to what Martine said, Goddess-speed, Lightspeed. :)

  7. Comment by Gamera on 11.03.07 at 12:35 pm

    How about you also opened a forum on the side ? Something for rumors, geek talks, game talks, silly things found on the net, etc..

  8. Comment by Frank on 11.03.07 at 12:56 pm

    Congrats on entering your sixth year. Quite the accomplishment.

    I find it interesting how as Sadia pointed out we are deeply personal yet faceless at the same time. It’s not necessarily because we don’t want to take responsibility for what we say, but to avoid the lurking loonies.

  9. Comment by Gamera on 12.03.07 at 8:37 am

    Frank, there is no way you can avoid the lurking loons, look at me! Each blog is like a huge sign that says “post here” to loonies, so you have to take them into account and integrate them. The best would be to rename the blog “Lightspeedchick and her amazing freaks”.

  10. Comment by the milliner on 12.03.07 at 11:10 pm

    Congrats on the 5 years, MJ!

  11. Comment by petergun on 13.03.07 at 8:28 pm

    The best wishes from your friendly neighbourhood sysadmin.

  12. Comment by lou on 18.03.07 at 1:10 pm

    Happy quinquennial, MJ!

    Hope you stick around for a while . . . we all need a mentor!

  13. Comment by Flawed Karma on 02.04.07 at 3:34 pm

    Gratz! Here’s to another 5!

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