How Tumblr Made It Known ̶I̶’̶m̶ ̶We’re Really Not Alone!!!
As I sit here in my car, parked in my regular made up parking spot, at this scenic Tim Hortons Parking Lot, community radio on the FM dial as background music, a medium Double-Double Coffee on the dashboard, and the occasional vehicle sneaking a peak at me, as they maneuver through the drive thru, I am drafting up this inspired Tumblr post at 2 in the AM, feeling alone, very alone, again.
On one hand, I’m basically alone. On the other hand, primarily my nondominant left hand, I’m on my iPhone with a 3G connection. So I really can’t be that alone, right? It is when I check in on Tumblr, where I tap the Heart, and peruse the portal of Likes I have collected through my occasional label browsing, that I find the people in this very world who essentially, click and tick just like me! Indeed providing that reassurance I need- we need, time and time again, that I- that We are not alone. It is this place in internet space, where seemingly random people pour their hearts and souls out into the Tumblr abode, initially not even knowing our Tumblr exists, yet airing out their initial one sided conversation to others who have had similar experiences, all because they happened to accurately describe their feelings as, Gifted.
Holy. Fucking. Shit. Fuckin’ #Gifted.
Whoa— Please excuse the strong language; I know how that “Gifted” word plays out. Ha, Yeah, Gifted— That seemingly stigmatic and empowering word that elicits different reactions and thoughts. What I know and really appreciate about this #Gifted label (Or other variations of “Gifted” that lie on our sidebar) is that it takes balls, boldness, and resolution to put that word out there like that, to essentially sum up a soliloquy by attaching a proper label to an inspired Tumblr post.
It is that moment when a label is used, that those used to being in the minority, all of a sudden find themselves surrounded by the company of like minded people who are just like them, and it becomes an incredibly comforting, disarming and empowering inspirational experience.
Just that label, #Gifted, in both definitions of a double entendre (In real life, and as a Tumblr function) leads into something bigger than just the label. Amazing stories of the discovery of Intellectual Giftedness, or the adventures of looking at life through one’s uniquely Gifted perspective, or even just a flashback into an innocent or not so innocent childhood of a Gifted once kid (not a “once Gifted kid).
Sometimes though, it’s still weird; There are people out there who have poured their heart out on Tumblr, on the label, not expecting any response, and are surprised and taken aback that our type of Tumblr even exists, and are shocked and maybe appalled that a subculture like Giftedness exists on a platform such like this. And they ignore it, us. Though while it leaves us very curious, oh well.
Speaking of appalled, the title of this Tumblr; We know. It’s catchy, and obvious, right? Fuck Yeah? Though personally I don’t feel like we’re doing Intellectual Giftedness any justice, we’re just doing something no one has bothered to. All we did was start another Fuck Yeah Tumblr centreing around something not so random to add to our social media collection. Well, Fuck Yeah Intellectual Giftedness it is, and it is what it is.
And what it is we had no idea what it would be when we started it. A couple years ago, starting off slowly and realizing that there is all this user content on Tumblr out there on our favourite subject, eventually content we have discovered. The drive train though that keeps us going, is that content we know is out there to be discovered and yet to be created.
So wait, what was the question again? Oh yeah. Well I shall blame my ADD or ADHD or Bi-Polar or OCD or whatever common or cool misdiagnosis of Intellectual Giftedness fits the bill in directly answering that question. So, what’s our Tumblr story? Well, this is our Tumblr Story. Has Tumblr changed our lives in any profound or personal ways? Absolutely. While maybe not directly or immediately or physically, or personal personally, yet; Just that feeling of camaraderie around a subject that in it’s very core is known to create these misunderstood feelings of existential loneliness, Intellectual Giftedness on Tumblr has really helped myself, ourselves, the people we connect with on Tumblr or even better, the lurkers on Tumblr of whom I used to be, the creative outlet of Tumblr has really helped me profoundly feel that I am indeed not alone, that what I’m feeling is real, which provides that drive to keep going and not into a rail off a bridge, and really look ahead and work towards bright skies, better days, big dreams and the illuminating eventually realization of what Intellectual Giftedness really means.
What’s your Tumblr story? Has Tumblr changed your life in any profound or personal ways? We want to know — and if you’re game, your story could become part of STORYBOARD, a big secret project we’re working on. Post your story (or your gif, or video) with the STORYBOARD tag, or if you’d like to submit privately, use this form.
