What is Louis 10 Years Ago?
Louis 10 Years Ago is my new Twitter project: you can find it here. It’s a real-time simulation of what I would have tweeted 10 years ago, if I’d been on Twitter instead of LiveJournal.
Twitter didn’t exist 10 years ago.
I know, smart-ass. That’s why it’s just a simulation.
How does it work?
I’ve been combing my LiveJournal for hilariously melancholy or dated excerpts that work well in the 140-character format. They will be queued so that they roughly match when I would have tweeted them 10 years ago. I began my LiveJournal on February 15, 2003 at 2:09 p.m., so Louis 10 Years Ago will begin tweeting on February 15, 2013 at 2:09 p.m.
That’s pretty anal.
Yeah, to a completely unnecessary extent.
What can I expect to see if I follow this account?
My transformation from awkward, depressed closeted gay teen to slightly less awkward, slightly less depressed openly gay twentysomething. To that end: tweets about high school, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and feeling fat. No joke-jokes, but plenty to laugh at, in a cringeworthy way.
Are you hesitant to expose yourself in that way?
Nah. When have I ever been hesitant to expose myself? No, that doesn’t sound right. I guess I don’t mind sharing the more embarrassing aspects of my past because, at best, they show how far I’ve come. At worst, they’re a good reminder that some things never change — I may always be insecure, a little out-of-place, and uncomfortable in my own skin.
I already know you’re neurotic from following your regular account. Why should I follow Louis 10 Years Ago?
Well, you shouldn’t if you’re going to come into it with that attitude. Seriously, it’s entirely up to you to let high school me into your life. I think it’s funny and a little sad, but your mileage may vary. I’m mostly doing this for myself anyway.
You are such a liar.
I know.
Can you give me some sample tweets?
Sure.
“apparently having my cell phone off for 30 minutes is scandalous. if they only knew exaclty how NOT rebellious i am.”
“watched ‘donnie darko,’ which was fantastic but paralyzing and mind-numbing.”
“i can’t think of a moment during the past month where i haven’t been confused. my only fear right now is this: what if things never get easier?”
Christ, you’re annoying.
I was 16, so yes.
What’s with all the lowercase?
I thought that was very edgy. Don’t worry, I discovered capital letters eventually.
How often will Louis 10 Years Ago be tweeting?
Sparingly at first. I wasn’t always a frequent LiveJournal user. And either way, I’m not tweeting every line of my LiveJournal — not even close — so it’ll never be too much. On rare occasions, there might be a burst of tweets, but nothing so extreme you can’t scroll past it if you’re not willing to commit.
How long will this project go on?
Good question! I have about a year’s worth of tweets now, but I can conceivably keep this up for the next few years. That’s way too far ahead for me to worry about now. It all depends on how receptive people are to the project, and if I can continue tweeting from Louis 10 Years Ago without losing my mind. No promises!
There’s one thing I still don’t get.
Ask me privately. Or just follow the account: I think it will be pretty self-explanatory once it gets going.
Would you like a hug?
More than anything.
15 Layers of Irony 