My thoughts on beginning this blog
I’m on a hiatus, and possibly full exit, from Instagram, fleeing the rising tide of reels and ads. I find myself searching for the higher ground of small community spaces that were the internet of yore.
I’ve found great friends and comradery in the eclectic channels of the Down Under Empire discord. For the first time in a long time I have a comfortable relaxed space online to hangout, like a local bar where friends and amicable regulars drift in and out. It is still at a precious size with just enough active members for it have a comfortable hum without yet being too busy that I begin to feel lost and unable to keep up. It’s nice being able to keep track of most people, recalling the armies and models and opinions of each person, forming a mental personality that becomes a contextual short code appended to each message by the imprint of a profile picture and unpunctuated username. It’s easier to chat when you know everyone rather than trying to dive into conversation with strangers.
However the instant messaging format of discord still forms a standard mode of discourse. Things must be succinct and sharp, snapshots and banter. The flow of conversation carries topics out with the tide while I am ashore offline. I can rarely distil my thoughts into a single sentence and I moderate how frequently I post from the usual self consciousness of sharing.
I’m also still ingrained with the curation that Instagram calcified into us. Is this worthy of a feed post? Or will I simply stay in the safe and transient waters of posting to my story where it can drift by the few folks who are most likely to care and then ebb into obscurity after a day.
So here I find myself wanting to practice posting without concern for interrupting others or moderating my imperfections. I want to carve a space for chronicling my projects, an archive for my own self-reflections and your vicarious interest. I have a few initial goals to shape how I use this blog:
- Big or small, it’s worth sharing. This is a space for minor progress, abandoned projects, finished armies, and asinine game designs.
- Put it into words. Share my thoughts and ramblings. Come out from behind the safe ambiguity of images and practice writing out loud.
- This will be a hobby blog. Primarily that is an interest in building, painting and playing with miniatures for tabletop wargames but I won't be constrained by that topic. I equally, and more so, enjoy roleplaying games, bicycles, art and making. I want to explore hobbies of making and building things more broadly and I may share that here as I do.
Finally, I ask of you who chooses to reads this, please be kind and patient with my writing, my fumbling spelling and grammar. I will be verbose, incorrect and inarticulate but I welcome corrections and clarifications of facts, biases and blind spots. If you have a burning suggestion, idea or thought of your own then please reach out or, better yet, write a response in a blog or medium of your own and share it with me.
You can reach me at: bugboyminis@gmail.com
Currently:
Reading: Shop class as Soulcraft | The Book of Elsewhere - China Meilville, Kenau Reeves
Playing: Disco Elysium
Watching: Severance | Derry Girls