I do actually have some news, but I thought I would start things off by telling you all why I've been such a slacker. The reason that I've been slack is that for a while there, I was living in the lab. The computer lab. That mighty room in Tercentenary Hall, Room 121, where Computer Science majors sign their lives away. I once heard CS majors described like this:
"Computer Science majors never seem to have any work. They goof off and play, while everyone else works continuously. Then they disappear for a couple of days. Sometimes more than that. They just aren't around. And then they re-emerge, tired and worn out, and when asked, they just tell you they were 'In the lab'. But then they get to play again until the next time they're 'In the lab'".
I was in the lab.
I think that's pretty accurate. We don't do much, and then we lock ourselves away. So I was locked away there for a little while. I knew it was bad when Bill told me that the only way he knew how to get in touch with me was via E-Mail.
Well, since we last talked, I found out that I have a place to live. John, Chris and I signed a lease (well, signing. They took us on as tenants... we're working out the paperwork now..)!! It's a beautiful townhouse in Falls Church. We move in on June 1. I'm so psyched... I'm absolutely ready to get out of Williamsburg. Things just aren't the same around here recently, and I find myself gnawing at the bit to get out of this town.
I was talking with Bill the other night about the UC, and what with Allison's paper going up the same time as this post, I thought I would take a moment and wax philosophical.
I was thinking about what I set out to accomplish with this site, and what we actually achieved. With only a few days left to go on this "season", I thought it would be a good idea to stop and think about this.
When we started out, I wanted to do a real life episodic site. I had big dreams, big goals, and I thought this concept would really appeal. But at the core, I thought it would be really beneficial to readers and participants to explore the human conditi on through this medium. It really gives the audience and the "artist" a close contact, and a real intimate relationship. And then we started.
And we didn't become an overnight sensation. And we don't attract thousands of hits a day. And we're not being offered big bucks by AOL to do this kind of stuff.
Which is ok. I mean, I wouldn't object if it happened. But it's ok that we're not.
I quickly discovered that instead of broad band appeal, this site seems to have a niche market. We're not flashy, and we're not big budget, but we have a core appeal to a certain type of person. And that is something valuable. We don't get a lot of sur f throughs, but we do get a lot of "repeat business."
And we have a lot of people who really care about this site. At least, that's my perspective. Even those who complain, or those who had troubles with what we do, they still come back. They still read. And that says a certain something, I think.
We have certainly had our share of problems. Some hurt feelings, some bruised egos, and all of which I'm regretful about. I was never out to see anyone hurt, and it is not a good thing when it happens. It may make for a good read, but for a way to live your life, it can really suck.
The Discussion Area is both a blessing and a curse. That place can be a wonderful exchange of ideas, or it can get mean and ugly. I am the first to say that I hate anonymous postings. Use a name and STICK TO IT! Even if it's "Chowderhead", use one name and stick with it. For everything. That way we have someone to associate you with. But even if everyone used a name, we'd still have the nasty little incidents.
And to be honest, I'm not going to change a thing. This is life, and it makes it a little more interesting. Now I could certainly do without the nasty, but to get the benefits, you always have to trade off.
So what have we gotten out of all this? What did we each take away from this experience. It's certainly something we'll all have to determine. (I'm curious to see what you say -- feel free to comment on the Discussion Area). I like to think we can all take some positives away.
I certainly hope so. I hope even the people who were hurt can say that something good came from this site.
I know I learned a lot about myself, and about the people on this site. Not just participants, though, but the readers too. Everyone who said something on the DA is a person that I learned a lot about. Where else can you explore these kind of feelings in black and white?
Did I enjoy this? Yeah. I really did. For all the hassles, for all the pain, for every late night I sat up putting up "the damn post" for that day, I really enjoyed doing this.
I'm really looking forward to trying it again.
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