Platforms Past + Present

Waxing Nostalgic About The Interwebs

In honor of #ThrowbackThursday, I’m taking a look back at all of the online platforms I’ve used over the years. The ones I can remember anyway….

In the summer of 1983, I saw War Games for the first time. Not only was I fascinated by computers at the time, I was quickly coming to the realization I liked other guys.

At the time, posters of guys like Mathew Broderick were hung with care (and pride) on my closet door. My parents pretended it was just idol worship. But we all know what it really was: a celebrity crush. “Shall we play a game?” Yes, please.

Over the years, I watched the film countless times on cable and home video. I always knew one day I’d be doing something online…but had no idea how much we’d all be to do online.

Cut to 1994. A friend invited me over to his new place and showed me some of the work he was doing since he quit college to build websites. It was my introduction to the World Wide Web. I didn’t know how exactly, but I knew I would be learning a lot more about all things HTML, so I signed up for America Online the next morning.

Over the past 30 years, I’ve used the Internet as both a tool and a toy, for business and pleasure. I’ve worked as a web designer, webmaster, and graphic designer for sites (and companies) big and small.

These days, this old(er) dog is focused on learning new tricks as a full-time creator and curator. The game keeps evolving and I keep playing. Mostly.

The following is a list of platforms I use today or have used in the past. A few of them I truly loved using (i.e. LiveJournal) and a few I wish I had never signed up for (i.e. Etsy).

While I always love to wax nostalgic, I remain open to trying new things.

I’m also (mostly*) happy with the mix of platforms and communities I’m part of now.

Thank you for being a friend…and subscriber!
Clint

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PRESENT = MAIN PLATFORMS

• SHOP + SITE = POWERED BY FOURTHWALL

• BLOG + NEWSLETTER = ON SUBSTACK

• MAIN CHANNEL = ON YOUTUBE

• DONATIONS + TIPS = ON KO-FI

PRESENT = SECONDARY PLATFORMS

• SHOP TOO = ON THREADLESS

• FABRICS+ SHOP = ON SPOONFLOWER

• MICRO-BLOG = ON TUMBLR

• MAKING HISTORY GALLERY = ON WORDPRESS

PRESENT = (MOSTLY) INACTIVE PLATFORMS

• FACEBOOK

• INSTAGRAM

• LINKEDIN

• PINTEREST

• THREADS

• X/TWITTER

PAST = PERSONAL PLATFORMS

• AMERICA ONLINE (c. 1994-2000)
  ”You’ve Got Mail” + M4M Chat Rooms

• LIVEJOURNAL (c. 2001-2005)
  My second try at blogging (1st was on AOL)…good times!

• FRIENDSTER + MYSPACE (c. 2003-2004)
  My first official social media accounts…“it’s complicated” relationships

• DEVIANTART (c. 2005-2007)
  Posted some original art…until I got too busy

• FLICKR (2005-2012)
  Saving the best (at least then) for last and longest. While I don’t really shoot anymore, I’m glad I know how. It helped me learn how to see better.

PAST = PROFESSIONAL PLATFORMS

Regretting a few of these, you live, you learn, right?

• EBAY (c. 1998-2002)

• ETSY (2023)

• FINE ART AMERICA (2023)

• PRINTIFY (2023)

• REDBUBBLE (2023)

• SOCIETY6 (2023)

• SPRING/TEESPRING (2023-2024)

• TEEPUBLIC (2023)

• TOSTADORA (2023)

• ZAZZLE (2023)

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