lowtax, the owner and founder of the something awful forums, committed suicide two months ago. i was never a part of something awful or most of its content (though i distinctly remember watching a few flash tub videos with rambly in high school), but it's safe to say that i (like many of you older members) was on the internet when its influence was in full force. much of what we know today regarding internet culture came from SA, and 4chan spawned from it as well, a site that i regret being a part of for several years (even though /fit/ got me to go to the gym for the first time in my life).
why am i posting this? well, i watched a documentary which was co-produced by my favorite youtuber cybershell, and the story of lowtax is incredibly sad. for somebody like me, it's a very real reminder of what can happen when you let (sometimes valid) anger, cynicism, and isolation to take control of your life. lowtax had 3 wives and 3 kids, quite a lot of money, friends, and a company with massive influence. yet, he was woefully selfish and unhappy, leading to his suicide. i don't believe that anybody's death is a reason to celebrate, but it's tragic to watch somebody become so angry and self-centered that they can't even care about the family and life they have in front of them.
anyway i don't want to wax dramatic; the whole documentary just got me thinking about how surrounding yourself with toxicity really will end up with it consuming you. i did this for years and allowed my cynicism to hurt other people, and i thank God that he freed me from that. our lives could have gone down a very different path.
Edited by Hergiswi, 06 January 2022 - 11:00 AM.