I Was Internet-Famous • Hacker News Board

Re: I Was Internet-Famous

#21

Post by mkinitcpio » Sun, Dec 06, 2015, 7:32 PM UTC

munificent wrote: post #12

a1k0n wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is all of those things. The language is just a bit overwrought.

My own writing style, for better or worse, tends to hover around a sixth-grade reading level, but I love experiencing authors who have distinct voices, and I especially appreciate ones who have the courage to break out all of the five dollar words and obscure metaphors. In our anti-intellectual culture, doing that really risks mockery (case in point), but I think sophisticated, complex writing can illuminate in ways…

>anti-intellectual culture

I agree- I really wish there wasn't such a stigma against, as you phrased it, "five-dollar words". I love reading older writing because (maybe without the internet and things like /r/iamverysmart?) they seem drastically less afraid to say exactly what they want to, in the way they want to.

There's also an anachronistic charm to them I guess, but I think the word-choice-freedom is still a big factor.

Re: I Was Internet-Famous

#22

Post by Animats » Sun, Dec 06, 2015, 7:43 PM UTC

Never heard of any of those people.

Re: I Was Internet-Famous

#23

Post by a3n » Sun, Dec 06, 2015, 7:54 PM UTC

riebschlager wrote: post #13

Does anyone else wonder if the concept of "internet famousness" has a finite shelf life? At least at the level that these people experienced? The internet engine seems to be cranking through memes faster and faster. Sure, a video might get several million views, but the very next week, those millions of people are already on to the next thing. It just seems to me like our collective memory is getting shorter and shor…

The Internet just means that more people actually get their 15 minutes.

Re: I Was Internet-Famous

#24

Post by GFK_of_xmaspast » Sun, Dec 06, 2015, 7:57 PM UTC

dmd wrote: post #2

I was Usenet-infamous in 1993 (I ended up in the NET.LEGENDS file at age 14). It led to my first great job and my second (current) marriage.

Oh hey I remember seeing you in AFC...

Re: I Was Internet-Famous

#25

Post by fierycatnet » Sun, Dec 06, 2015, 8:13 PM UTC

clamprecht wrote: post #3

I wanted to see the Numa Numa Romanian guy's story.

That was actually pretty big in Europe before he went viral on YouTube.

Re: I Was Internet-Famous

#26

Post by mirimir » Sun, Dec 06, 2015, 8:30 PM UTC

munificent wrote: post #9

a1k0n wrote: post #6

Tay Zonday's response is hilarious. "It is hard to create Derrida’s fracture in the repetition of power structures when the loins of civil society log every person’s digital utterance."

Hilarious? I thought it was fantastically thoughtful, insightful and witty.

I agree. But I don't get loins logging. Maybe it's a typo. Maybe lions? Maybe something in French? Or maybe I'm just dense ;)

Re: I Was Internet-Famous

#27

Post by mirimir » Sun, Dec 06, 2015, 8:39 PM UTC

I also wonder about all the rickroll stuff. The stuff that most of us don't mention in public. Mostly it was anonymous. Some probably featured actors. But there were some seriously messed up people.

Re: I Was Internet-Famous

#28

Post by sarciszewski » Sun, Dec 06, 2015, 8:42 PM UTC

I really hope I never become internet famous, for better or worse. :\

Re: I Was Internet-Famous

#29

Post by mwhuang2 » Sun, Dec 06, 2015, 8:44 PM UTC

sarciszewski wrote: post #28

I really hope I never become internet famous, for better or worse. :\

It just seems like trouble. I like to keep a low profile and minimize the drama in my life.

Re: I Was Internet-Famous

#30

Post by mirimir » Sun, Dec 06, 2015, 8:44 PM UTC

elinchrome wrote: post #8

lotharbot wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wanted to see Star Wars Kid too.

That one is heartbreaking http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/10-years-later-the-star-w...

Yes. But he seems to be doing well now, turning the shame into good works. That's admirable. Kinda like old Luke :)