Amazing what's changed since February 2000 (when I first visited, although I didn't post until the following October) to March 2011. When I first visited, a few months shy of my 26th birthday, I was still in my first year of teaching. I talked a lot more about myself those days - what jobs I was taking, how this would be "it." Other people shared a lot more back then as well. There was more humor involved, even if some of it was silly.

When I was younger, I used to care more what people thought of me, even though most had never seen my face nor heard my voice. I think I even let myself be hurt and frustrated a couple of times by that. Now, it's hard to envision any sort of people behind their e-text. Not much personality emerges from anyone these days. So serious, so morose, so focused on issues and much less on getting to know other people. I think of even those who've been here/at wotmania 7+ years as near-total strangers. All I know is that instead of chit-chat, it's more a gruff nod and then some just plunge into that morass of "issues" as if those things are of paramount interest.

After 11 years, I don't know if I have it in me to make any new friends at this successor site. I just don't share all that much anymore; I'm all about the zany squirrel and wordplay humor and much less about talking about my current job (any of you know anything beyond the vague "he teaches somewhere" thought?) or other interests. I suspect others are much the same.

Yet despite this, do situations ever really repeat themselves when our perspectives change? Or is it that what we've learned and noticed over time is how to forget so much in order not to remember certain details? It sure would be nice for there to be more levity in people's lives these days. I can only say that it was nice to see a student smile less than two weeks after learning that his girlfriend may bear a stillborn baby in less than three months. Small victories are still victories, no?