I just received a message here on Tumblr from someone explaining that they have had a “problem” with me lately. Over the course of this message, this person proceeded to detail all the ways in which I used to make them happy/excited with the content I put on the internet, but now disappoint them by apparently being too introspective and/or egotistical.
At first I felt bad; it kind of read like a breakup letter or something. I failed to give this person what they wanted from me. They were upset about it and it was my fault.
But then I was like, “Wait a sec. Hold up, yo.”
They basically accused me of changing. Whether I changed in a good direction or a bad direction is certainly up for debate, but I would certainly rather be a different person now than I was in 2007. Remaining static sounds boring. Perhaps even hazardous to one’s health.
I’m glad I’ve changed. And I think I’d even go so far as to say that I like 2012 Michael Aranda better than 2007 Michael Aranda. My hope is that I will always be changing, learning, growing, reflecting, reevaluating, and rethinking. If, at any time, I do any of those things in a manner which bothers you, there’s always the unfollow/unsubscribe buttons.
In spite of what some may think, YouTubers are not here strictly for our entertainment. They are people too. If you don’t like someone in person, you’re not friends with them, right? The internet is the same; if you don’t like someone on the internet, don’t follow them.
Besides, I’d have to wonder if someone complaining that someone else has changed would even be a legal adult. It just seems like a high schooler’s mentality.
