Off-Topic Post: ATLAculture Origin Story
Hello, ATLAculture here! Long post ahead...
I normally don’t post about my personal life, but I need an outlet and this is the only form of social media I really have.
In case you weren’t already aware, I’m a little bit older than the average Tumblr user: 30 years old. So if you’re wondering why I won’t join your discord or can be a bit aloof over chat, it’s not that I dislike you, it’s just... well, I’m 30 and certain boundaries need to be maintained.
Anyways, I started ATLAculture in August 2020. This was a very stressful time in my life, as I went from working administration at a school to... a correctional officer. Which is just a fancy name for a prison guard.
COVID-19 shook up my life real good.
While this isn’t where I imagined my life going, I’m definitely more fortunate than most to have found steady employment during these very trying times. Nonetheless, it’s not an easy job. I’ve encountered awful, unspeakable things from both inmates and my own co-workers. Things that have spiritually and physically grinded me down. I won’t get into the details for legal reasons, on the off chance that someone from work connects my Tumblr self with my real self. I will say that for someone as unworldly and bookish as myself, it feels like a chunk of my innocence has been permanently lost.
So why do I bring all this up on a blog about a nearly 15-year-old children’s cartoon? Well, as absolutely ridiculous as it sounds, my job is why this blog exists. After a long day of dealing with a deeply unfair world, I like to watch shows where good people ultimately triumph. I also like to read books about history and look at pictures of happy people in garbs from a time I’ll never know. And the culmination of all these interests is ATLAculture.
It has honestly kept me sane.
My occupation has some of the highest rates of alcoholism and suicide in the United States. I have so many co-workers who’ve given in to infidelity, drug abuse, and all manner of corruption thanks to this job. Me? The worst thing that can be said about my personal life is that I always look mildly embarrassed when people ask me how I spend my free time. (The answer to that question is usually a mumbled “uh...you know...just...reading, I guess...” followed by avoiding eye contact.)
If you frequent Tumblr, chances are that you’re probably a little socially awkward like myself. I don’t know if the younger generations need to be told this, but I’m going to say it anyways:
There is no shame in being a weird little nerd-baby of the internet. I’ve seen peak “normalcy” and it is a terrifying living nightmare. If your life’s passion is writing fanfic and tabletop gaming, stick with it. Own it. It’ll get you through the hard times far better than the “conventional” coping methods.