FOUR YEARS ON BUZZNET!

HELLO! Today is a very special day for blogging!

Four years ago, I was super derpy and awkward and my only priorities in life were reading fan fiction and looking up pictures of my favorite bands. After a while of putzing around on the internet and seeking out my band related interests on Google, I ~finally~ clicked on the little ad that showed up in the corner of every page I Googled - an ad telling me to join Buzznet. 

I honestly didn't think Buzznet was for me. I was perfectly content with just having a Facebook page (mind you, this was before Tumblr, Twitter, and Instagram were relevant) and didn't want to get totally involved with a social network full of people I didn't know. I didn't want to put too much thought into a username or anything, so I just typed 'musiciscool' in the box really fast and went with it. The name stuck (I finally just switched my display name to my actual name a while ago) and before long, I was forming a really solid network of friend from all over the world with similar interests. That makes it sound like online dating, luls.

I still remember the first person who talked to me here (she was from Ireland!) and she had to explain to me what 'Buzz' was and how it worked! I wrote fan fiction. A LOT of fan fiction. But that's since been deleted a billion times and will never ever be found ever again, heh heh. But at the same time, I have my terrible story writing abilities to thank for meeting all of the people I did, because even though the original group of friends I met here on Buzznet might not be on the site anymore, we're still friends in other corners of the internet, and some friendships have gone as far as being real life friendships. Words cannot describe the excitement I got every day when I would log in to find my page to look like this: 

I can't get through this blog without mentioning something really really important, though. Photography. I have to give ALL of the credit to Buzznet for getting me into photography. I would log on daily and see all of the featured photos and get so inspired, that I wanted to make my own stuff that would some day get featured on the site. I started out by taking simple snap shots, and eventually saved my money and bought a newer, nicer camera after being on Buzznet for about 8 months or so. My main focus was doing photoshoots that were relevant to song lyrics and ideas, and I gradually improved my work through doing that. I remember always trying to be sneaky and borrow my mom's DSLR camera to take "better" photos to post here, up until the day I got caught because I was bubbling with excitement at the dinner table because I had finally gotten my first ever featured post. I had kept my Buzznet account a secret from my parents until that day, when I finally explained everything about what I had been doing on the site to them. I also remember being a part of the group Trashed Teens, which had weekly photo assignments and was a big part of my creative process. But of course, there are also a number of special days that happened all within my first year of being on Buzznet, like being featured on the main page and becoming a Buzznet Original, to name a few. (The link does not go to the actual write up that was posted 3 and a half years ago, but it is the ONLY place on the internet EVER where you can see early samples of my "art" lololol). 

Things picked up with my interest in photography, and I finally decided to pursue it in college at the end of my sophomore year of high school, after I had been on Buzznet for one year. I kept using Buzznet actively since then and kept posting and sharing all of my work, while I gradually stopped writing because photography had taken over.

Before I keep rambling forever and ever, I'm going to highlight some of the most memorable parts of my four years here. 

2008

First blog ever (which I actually recall re-writing around early 2009, but looking back, the blog is still TERRIBLE). 

First post-show write up ever, and if you want to laugh even more, read the blog concerning how I felt the night before.

2009

My first ever piece of mail from a Buzznet friend, which began an endless trade of letters and gifts with friends all over the world! 

I made The Great Buzznet Mixtape and The Great Buzznet Mixtape, Part II and mailed them to Mark (Panasonicyouth, who's no longer here, but he was basically the great ruler of Buzznet and is an internet LEGEND in my book). 

My first New Found Glory show. (I just always have to talk about New Found Glory, duh). 

My first feature on Cool Stuff on Buzznet, when it was just a baby! 

I was interviewed by Mark and had a blog written about me and everything I did, but that blog disappeared when Mark left. 

My One Year Anniversary.

I participated in the Buzznet Stop Motion Collaboration. 

I was featured on a blog of music inspired photography, which is what kept me going and inspired me to create what I did. 

2010

I was a member of Buzz Video Blog Net. And again, I deleted all the videos I ever posted there! Quite sad. Sometime in the summer of this year I decided I wanted to totally "remodel" my internet personal and deleted a LOT OF THINGS. It's funny, because now I wish I had never done that. 

I kind of went on an on and off Buzznet hiatus and would keep swearing on my life that I'd blog regularly again. This was also around the time that I lost a lot of friends on here due to the site reformatting. 

2011

As I tried to get back into blogging here, I figured a good way to get started would be to write about all of my photography related adventures before I headed off to art school. Again, I DELETED EVERYTHING. WHY? But the good thing that came out of it - I was featured on the front page for the first time since 2009!

2012

It's pretty clear that 2009 was my most important year on Buzznet, but I kept visiting often and posting occasionally. I started to bore the internets to death by just writing personal blogs that had nothing to do with music, fashion, or pop culture (jeez, go write your feelings on Livejournal, Claire!) but as of right now, I am gradually getting back into the swing of things and trying to post interesting and unique content that fits within the interests of this site. When the "Rewards System" was first announced, I wrinkled my nose at the thought and thought about leaving Buzznet for good, but now aobut 2000 points later, I think it's safe to say that I find earning points for posting content quite fun! 

Of course, I like to say all the time that Buzznet is clearly not what it used to be, but it's also important for me to realize that, well, I'm not the same as I was in 2008! Like I said, a lot of the strong friendships I had in the earlier days of my Buzznetting have since moved on to other social networks, texting, snail mail, and even meeting up in real life, and I've been recently struggling with reaching out to enough people and having my posts have enough of an impact on the site. 

My main goal is to become as popular around these parts as I used to be. I'm currently really interested in writing about all of the music that I love. I hope that I can gradually form new friendships that are just as strong as the original group of friends I met here, and get some new readers on my blog! 

In summary...

Buzznet has literally changed my life. I don't know where I'd be without the site, or what I'd even be doing with my life. SERIOUSLY. Being part of a social network that is dedicated to music and culture completely shaped the second half of my teenage years, and I literally can't express enough how much I love being a part of this family. 

And, one last thing, I need to give a shout out to the people who have been here with me since the begining, or at least for quite a while: 

RHIANNA, you get your own special individual recognition for being actually the BEST person I have ever met on the internet, living in the state of Wisconsin, and for also meeting up with me at Warped Tour tomorrow for the second time in the history of our friendship.

And, everyone else I love: Paija, Raven, Maya, Chaka (because I don't remember your actual name and just always call you that, poop), Audrey (I see you lurkin' from time to time), Feli, Ranna, freakin' EL RICH, Lainie, and Katie. There are literally a ton more people who I could name and if I forgot to mention you, don't you dare make the assumption that that I don't love you because I do! 

ALRIGHT, I must end my sappy writings and be on my way. BUT THANK YOU BUZZNET FOR AN EXCELLENT FOUR YEARS, AND HERE'S TO MANY MORE!