How do you maintain the delusion of being in 2012? Asking because I really need- I mean, "want" it myself.
buckle up, i'm about to break down the secret internal rules of 2012 for you, real smooth style. so smooth a little baby can swallow it down. here's some browsing music. or some more browsing music. yes they have to be the music videos.
BE UNAPOLOGETIC. do you really think anyone in 2012 on this website felt shame. this was years before internet drama culture started to really pick up (around 2014-2015) and before shipping drama apart from fandom infighting was even a twinkle in your mother's beautiful green eyes. go back to your roots. embrace the weird, embrace the ugly, embrace the cringe. yes, even that cringe. yep, that too. detach yourself from the concept of cringe entirely. e
BE KIND OF INSANE. the other side of the be unapologetic coin. to be unapologetic you have to stare into the eyes of the wild mustang that lives in your soul and come to terms with it's fighting passionate spirit. if that means going somewhere in public in full homestuck cosplay and LARPing with best buy employees, then that is what you must do. society's idea of what's right and wrong isn't real. you make the rules now. you're free.
CURATE YOUR ONLINE EXPERIENCE. this one is pretty self-explanatory, but blocking anyone you just don't want to see isn't a crime and should be done liberally and with great pleasure and gusto. you are your own web-ring. manage it with tender loving care.
i'm sure there's more but you get the gist. i have some stuff for you though, in a little goodie bag. here.
you're a homestuck fan. download pesterchum, it still works just like it did back in the day. hell, make some sprite edits, or read the comic from the very beginning, just like it was yesterday, the way it was meant to be read. there's even a working replica of the mspa forums.
if you want to take it even further, code your own website on neocities. maybe a little earlier than 2012, but there were and still are plenty floating around- and it's fun to flex those creative muscles. here's a more indepth guide. miss flash games? flashpoint has got your back. there are a ton more cool things to find- you just have to look! also delete tiktok. and twitter, if you can. you deserve better.
TL;DR: sparkle on, it's 2012! don't forget to be yourself!