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  • There was a time when the internet was a lot like Disneyland

  • It was a fun place that you would go to,

  • you couldn't stay there all the time,

  • but you could go there.

  • And if you wanted to visit this magical land,

  • you would literally have to plug your phone into your computer.

  • And then you had to endure the predecessor to dubstep.

  • *Making Dial Up Sounds*

  • And then you're on.

  • [Upbeat guitar plays]

  • In 1994, I started working for MTV and MTV had a deal with America Online.

  • Everybody connected to the internet through AOL

  • it was all you had.

  • My first screen name was

  • Craptastic@aol

  • TeyMoney17

  • akane2299

  • NeonPenguin5000

  • Back then, you know, computers weren't compact

  • They were in the living room, you only had one.

  • You never had any privacy with that computer,

  • I mean, whatever you did, everybody saw.

  • Pretty much had to readjust my sleep schedule just so I can find the right time to get on the computer.

  • I would wait till everyone was sleeping.

  • I would sit in our finished basement in Michigan

  • and I would hop on chat.

  • A/S/L? 16/F/California

  • And I would literally stalk other people's conversations

  • and when they would start arguing with each other, I would, like, throw in little comments

  • like, "Oh no, I think so and so is right."

  • O.S.: So you were a troll?

  • I was a troll! I was a...

  • I was a troll.

  • *Laughing*

  • Oh my god!

  • I've never thought of that before until just now!

  • My mom, she was always working,

  • so, like, there was no dad around to kind of show me the birds and the bees

  • the internet was kind of like my first exposure to that.

  • it was more intimate and all of your actions were more one on one.

  • I miss those days.

  • I mean, those were the days!

  • Compared to what we have now, it just seems primitive and strange and weird.

  • Everything was made out of words and letters...

  • Even the nudity.

  • It meant a lot more to get on the internet back in the day.

  • You didn't have as much to pick through and the good stuff was just there.

  • It was a luxury. It was something that, you know, was very special.

  • Whatever happens happens. What are these crazy new things I'm running into.

  • It was a different time

  • and, uh, you're lucky to have missed all of it.

There was a time when the internet was a lot like Disneyland

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