early internet “culture” to a younger person. They didn’t get it.
In today’s online world you openly post your photo online, where you’re from, what you do, etc and anyone can see it. I had to explain to them that back then (late 90s/early 00s) posting your photo or real name online was a no-no. it was actively discouraged. But then in turn because of the way you primarily communicated with people online either via IRC, forums, ICQ, AOL IM, etc you kinda had a closer relationship with these people even if you didn’t know what they looked like or what their names were.
Also the fact that in most cases a lot of people simply couldn’t put their photos online either because they didn’t have access to a scanner or a digital camera. I told them that one of my best friends online that I would talk to daily I still to this day have no idea what they looked like.
they do. desperately. it’s been stated for awhile now.