DISCLAIMER

This blog may come off as harsh. Please be aware before reading, thank you!

Recently in the retroweb space (Napo, Spacehey, FriendRewind, & somewhat Neocities) I've noticed a lot of edgy teenagers in the scene saying stuff like "I'm SOOOO proplematic!" or just saying generally edgy, or just straight offensive things. I've even seen these teenagers just say they are a Nazis. Some just do it to look "cool." (Just a tip, it makes you look corny.) But I look at these young people (usually 13-16) and I just scowl. Especially when they get mad for getting critizm. This is the internet. A very public space. You posted something publically. When you post something pubically, expect to get critiqued. Especially if it's you, a teenager telling people you are "problematic." If you were so "problematic," you wouldn't care what people think. Along with this, I propose two questions, what's the appeal of being problematic? What is so special about it? I don't understand why these people want people to not like them/not associate with them. Usually, when you're "problematic" people don't want to assoicate with you. What's the appeal? I think I do know why these kids want to be considered "problematic." They want to larp 4chan anime culture.

For some odd reason, these kids think that if you draw moe art, or you like moe anime, you have to be problematic. It basically romanticization. They want to be like grown adults on 4chan back in the day. Why? Because they think it's glamerous. They think having no social life and doing bad things is great.

Me and Ales lowk ^^

I also think that there's more to be concerned about with this behavior. The internet lasts forever, but your edgy teenage personality doesn't. You could easily be tracked online. Why risk it even more by saying things to upset people? Along with this, your job, school, or family could find it at anytime. Is you glamerizing being "problematic" and "edgy" worth you getting in trouble with your place of work? Your school? Your family? And even if then, again, your bad takes and "problematic behavior" online could get yourself stalked (cyber and IRL,) it could get your family into trouble with their jobs, or put them in danger. Why would you risk that for simply being a nusience online? I think I know why. Kids are stupid. They don't think about what they post online beforehand. They don't think about the IRL consequences.

I'll use an in-community example (I am simply using this situation as a lesson. Not to drag dead drama out.) Catbat/Sammy. For those that don't know, Sammy was a sixteen year old who hated Napo so much they made up possibily life-ruining lies about me and a few friends of mine. They posted threats, stalked us, etc. The thing is, we had archived EVERYTHING, and reported it to their school. This is a PRIME example of how teenagers simply don't think before posting something online. And that kind've leaks into the whole "romantization" of being "problematic." Especially with teenagers. I believe we, as adults should make SURE kids are safe online. Encluding warning them to not post things about being "problematic" or attacking people.