I feel like some curmudgeon who’s always romanticizing the Internet of the 2000s, but come on, social media is a scourge, and the dead Internet theory feels increasingly real. People just used to do whatever on the Internet back then, and there are sites that are still being talked about today. And there were so many different websites you could stumble upon* and end up bookmarking and visiting regularly.
That’s why it’s always nice to see something that doesn’t quite follow whatever the rules are for having an online presence. Just take a look at GAKHED.
Now, did I conduct thorough research into this 20-year-old guy who’s making heartwarming animal videos set to music that I think he created himself? Naw. I’m just winging this.
Anyway, I’m on YouTube a lot, and his video “will you remember me?” came across my feed a while back and made me stop and watch and feel a little sad thinking about my aging dogs.
And then not long after, “dandelions forever” showed up.
And then there’s his website. It’s hosted by Neocities and I’m pretty sure veterans of the Internet will chuckle when they see it.
I don’t know the guy, I haven’t followed him that long, but I really love what he’s doing. His videos are short! They don’t follow the let’s-make-movie-length-videos-bwahaha thing happening on YouTube these days (though I really wouldn’t mind watching hour-long videos of animals with chill music)!
And let me mention his website again. He’s 20, which means he wasn’t online during that time of the Internet and probably just likes vintage online aesthetics. So cool. So whimsical. I don’t know if all this is authentic or if he just knows he can garner some interest because of what he’s doing, and I don’t care, I love it, I need to see more of this type of energy from people online, and I think it’s a good reminder that you can really still do whatever on the Internet.
*God, I miss the extension.
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