I remember the first time I saw this site. It was one of my first times with a computer, before I really knew much about the one I had at my own house. My friend introduced me to a website, named Whyville. I was in elementary school, I barely had any idea of what a website was.
I got to be whoever I wanted to be for the first time in my life. I had my own voice. I was learning on my own terms. I was meeting people from around the world. It was new, it was fun. I rebelled, broke the rules, had to start over with new accounts. Then I got ahold of the games. I learned about the value of face parts and long shirts, how to be savvy with the Trading Post. I learned how to save up your money, how big of a deal a car was, how complex it was building social relationships. I even tried to be (and unfortunately was) published. All before 10, I wanted all of this.
I got all of it in my pre-teen years. I built what I felt like empire. I thought I had everything this site could offer. But what I didn't realize is that it didn't mean anything. All of these things I had "accomplished" had meant moot point in my life until I looked beyond; I just needed to know how to apply it.
I had pursued my want to write and improved it to the point where it wasn't brutal. I had understand the point of holding onto and up-selling items. I had learned a lot about people and culture around the world. All before I had gotten to high school.
I didn't come back for a really long time. It was only recently that I signed back on to realize all the places I went were outdated, my salary was tiny in comparison and all my parts had expired. All the places I had loved weren't frequented anymore. No one went on the planets or newspaper. It almost felt like a different world.
But with my oldie plain layout, it all made sense. With the glimmer of pearls and the new games, with the sparse new people to talk to, it felt like a hope for a different generation of Whyvillians. I felt like there were more kids to get their start on the real world, whatever that may be for them.
Whether its the newest contest or escrow in the trading post, I'll be in my ten year hat in the corner with my black background, watching the new users create a new nostalgia for themselves.
I'll always be thankful for the safe space this place has given me; here's to another ten years.
-Blama2
