To say I was obsessed with Mean Girls in my youth is a gross understatement. The movie defined everything I knew to be true about life as a teenager while simultaneously making fun of everything Girl World genuinely is from an outsider-turned-perpetuator’s perspective. The movie lent itself to an exaggerated version of mid-2000s culture while highlighting the unpredictable journey of being ‘the new girl in school. (And tbh, not much has changed.)
When I entered web3, the Mean Girls theme felt like a fitting comparison for this digital adventure I found myself undertaking. I was basically the next-gen Cady Heron, suddenly immersed in a new version of my own reality, fascinated by the culture that made up the space, and constantly wondering if I was already in waaaayyyyy over my head. The more time I spent in the throws of it all, the more I realized I was not alone in that feeling.
I learned that so many of us feel like outsiders when first dipping our toes into this space. But after getting through the initial barriers of entry, we often find ourselves wrapped up in everything web3 can be. The good, the bad, the ugly, the drama, the cliques, the parties, the lingo, the excitement, the buzz, the scene–– it’s all part of the story, and the parallels between these two entities don’t miss.
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So after spending some time contemplating how I would make my mark on this budding ecosystem, I launched a Mean Girls-inspired web3 newsletter and called it Degen Diaries. I was CONVINCED that Super Bowl LVI would be a mass adoption event, so I pushed my original timeline up by several weeks and hit the ground running. If nothing else, the content I published might be a little more friendly to the non-native newcomers than the technical writing that was already out there. Though my prediction of mass adoption (clearly) did not happen on the heels of said Super Bowl, the newsletter did supercharge my presence in the space and seal my fate as a member of the Winter 2021/22 web3 cohort.
A few weeks later, the Russia-Ukraine war erupted, and I unexpectedly put a HARD pause on the newsletter. I remember sitting on the couch, with my laptop open, putting the final edits on what would have been the third regular edition as the news broke that Putin had officially declared war and Ukrainian cities were sheltering in place for expected bombing attacks. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. I watched helplessly as those headlines took over live broadcasts, flooded our Twitter feeds, and quickly became the focal point of every conversation.
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It didn’t feel right to be publishing a lighthearted web3 newsletter at a time like that. So I didn’t. I went on strike in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and also to protect my own mental health as I felt the weight of my emotions related to this man-made catastrophe in combination with stressors in my own reality seeping in. 3 weeks later, I released a special edition issue focused solely on the crypto community’s efforts to support Ukrainians during the crisis … And that was it.
I wasn’t ready to stop building, but I was mentally + emotionally exhausted by the energy each edition of the newsletter required, and I didn’t know how to jump back into what I had previously started. At the same time, I was becoming more involved in project work, IRL events, and other initiatives that took my time + energy away from writing for myself. It was A LOT of work in a VERY voluntary position that ultimately took a backseat to income-generating opportunities. Until now.
I’ve kept this idea alive through the Revue card on my Twitter profile knowing my return would be inevitable when the time was right. And what better time than Mean Girls Day to relaunch the brand?? Not to mention, in the format I’d originally envisioned: a blockchain-enabled blog. But fear not! The newsletter will continue at a new cadence and in a slightly new format as I move into my next creative era. I’ll be back here soon with more updates as this new plan unfolds, so make sure to subscribe. Til then…
Welcome back, Degens! 💋