I dare you to interact
Gaming forums, horse websites, and the internet's forgotten superpower
My introduction to the online world came at 14, when I found a Quake 3 Arena disc in my dad's desk drawer. I became obsessed with mastering rocket jumps and strafe techniques, which led me to the game's official forum. What started as questions about gaming mechanics turned into something else entirely.
I'd drift into the 'general' section, where people shared snippets from their lives and hobbies. I'd leave comments on whatever caught my interest. Before I knew it, I'd made friends across the world. Even after I stopped playing, I'd return just to chat and catch up.
My girlfriend told me she'd had the exact same experience with a horse riding forum as a teenager. Considerably less rocket-jumping, considerably more best-Arabian-horse-names, but the same genuine connections.
We checked last week and both communities are still active, with people returning after years to see if anyone remembers them. It seems we're not the only ones nostalgic for this version of the internet.
Before this slides into "old man yells at clouds" territory, I'm not trying to drag us back to bulletin boards. But if you’re like me, you may have forgotten the internet's real superpower: actually connecting with real people who share your interests no matter where they are.
So I've been challenging myself to interact more intentionally with what I consume online, even if that just means leaving a short comment or a quick DM.
It’s forcing me to slow down and engage with what matters rather than mindlessly scrolling. I consume less but get more from what I do consume. And it's led to real opportunities (like this week’s podcast episode) that simply wouldn't have happened without a bit of effort to intentionally connect.
Hank Green says we're not addicted to content, we’re starving for information. I think we're also addicted to the possibility of connection while avoiding the vulnerability of actually connecting.
So here's my challenge to you: this week, interact with at least one thing you consume. Hit the heart on Substack, comment on an article, DM the host of that podcast you liked. See what happens when you treat the internet less like television and more like a neighbourhood. I’ll see you in the comments section!
On the pod
This week’s podcast wouldn’t have happened if
hadn’t reached out to me asking for feedback on his latest product, WriteStack. That DM turned into a genuine conversation and from that, this podcast episode. We spoke about Orel’s journey from quitting his six figure job in tech to becoming a successful indie hacker.(Spotify, Apple Podcasts, episode details)
Worth Your Time
✍️ One of my favourite discoveries lately has been Joan Westenberg’s blog, where tech meets philosophy. Start with I Deleted my Second Brain and The Unbearable Lightness of Cringe.
🎥 Are you stuck in movie logic? — An excellent article from Cate Hall that will hopefully change the way you communicate.
📝 Want to write something, but not sure how? Write it just like that is simple writing advice that actually works.
🎨 Absolutely unrelated to everything, a hilarious creative choice from a Berlin hotel went viral this week.