Tag Archives: blogging

Hello. I am Steph and I am socially inept.

Myself and some lovely bloggers I'm glad to have met :)
Myself and some lovely bloggers I'm glad to have met :)

Sitting on the train to Graiguenamanagh last Friday evening a memory sparked and has haunted me since.

Picture this: an ordinary college girl happily embracing a course in multimedia in DCU who has lived away from home since the day after her Leaving Cert, very independent and city smart. Her timetable in the latter half of second year means her classes finish at 2pm on Wednesday afternoon. Nice! Four days of the week and time is her own. Week 1 goes by. Week 2 passes, a bit boring but we’ll have project work soon.

Week 3, Wednesday afternoon, I’m at home in my little box room facing another four-day weekend. That’s when I believe I had my first and only panic attack. I couldn’t breathe, I was hysterical. I couldn’t face the thought of another weekend pretty much by myself. Alone. Invisible to the world.

I packed a bag and quickly headed for the train station jumping on the next train home. And that’s what I did for pretty much every week for the rest of that semester. Went home, took up some part-time work for 2 days, had a day off and returned on Sunday night. It got to the stage where I started recognising others who were doing a similar or part of the same commute.

It’s a part of me that drives me nuts, that I detest. Thankfully I have improved somewhat but I still have a long way to go. I’ve got plenty of theories on why I am so and why I find it so terrifying and challenging to meet and make new friends but I also have realised that social networking has been and is fantastic for people like me.

I get annoyed when I hear people bashing social media by calling it a ‘haven for misfits and the socially awkward’ (and so on) – so what?! We’re no more awkward or odd than some of the regulars in the bar I used to work in who used to pop in for a few drinks purely for the social aspect it offered.

I’ve met and made some great friends and acquaintances through Twitter and blogging and the conversations and events that are generated by or through them. And I hope that continues into the future. Why has it been easier this way? I’m not sure if it’s the sense of anonymity, the casual and passing nature of communication online or even the ability to discover common ground and establish some kind of relationship prior to meeting? Or the feeling of being constantly ‘connected’? Or all of the above.

Whatever it is it suits this misfit.

Dolly Mixture 20.01.10 – WordPress, Twinnerparty, Photo Festival…

(Its that kinda day)
(It's that kinda day)

Want to shape the next WordPress UI? Here’s where you need to go.

Twinnerparty is on and it’s going to be tasty.

The PhotoIreland Festival people are looking for volunteers.

Grab that Twitter username you’ve wanted all along.

Latest edition of DOCTYPE demos using the jQTouch jQuery plugin for mobile web app design.

Get voting for the Irish Blog Awards 2010. Look out Galway.

Princess Bride night, Dublin Fringe Festival 09 and awards season

So tonight is Princess Bride night – watch and chat about the movie at Screencheck at Spy from 7 with yummy cupcakes, wine and cocktails on the cheap. Nom. The liveblog is all set to go here and if you’re partaking in the discussion via Twitter the hashtag is #asyouwish

I popped in briefly to the launch of the Dublin Fringe Festival 09 last evening – my was it a lively event! Still sifting through the packed programme of events to see what I might get to see but first impressions are awesome. Check the site for all the info you need and keep an eye on culch.ie for extra nuggets.

Autumn is creeping upon us ever gradually and with it comes the usual flux of awards events for the design world. While it’s a little quieter this year with the IIA Net Visionaries moved to the month of May as of this year, there’s still plenty opportunity to try your hand at getting something tasty for over the fireplace. The IDI Awards and Irish Web Awards are accepting nominations till the end of the month. The Golden unmentionables are taking place also and still charging ridiculous amounts for seats at the awards ceremony (€300 per head) and a saucy €150 per nomination. Stick with either of the previous I think.

Next BTW event on Sept 3rd

BTW
BTW

The next BTW is happening on Thursday September 3rd at the Kudos Bar @ Clarion Hotel, IFSC.

If the finger food and 2 for 1 cocktails weren’t enough to get you signed up how’s about finally getting to put a face to that blog you’ve been dipping in and out of for the past while? Or that Twitterer you’ve been having a bit of banter with – drop the @ and have a drink and a laugh face to face instead!

I’ve really enjoyed the last 2 BTW events and this next one should be wicked – hoping to push the turnout to about 150 this time so spread the word, register some friends!

Sign up here and hopefully see you on Sept 3rd.