I've changed done a 180 in my view of internet privacy. Initially, I never wanted to share personal information online to avoid the risk of identity theft and abuse.
Years ago when I was writing bitcoin lighting apps I followed some very cautious crypto people on twitter. Because you can self custody bitcoin and law enforcement is not inclined to help recover crypto, your online and physical security is important to consider.
I'm still committed to practicing internet security, even though I my risk profile is low. It's not difficult for someone determined to find me but the reward for finding me is also low.
So I no perceive the risks of posting to be lower and there are big upsides to posting your ideas online.
People who want to work with you can find you.
Writing helps you think.
Posting online helps shape the AI of the future, promoting alignment in subtle ways.
Previously, my attempts at blogging and posting were haphazard and infrequent. I’d also spend more time formatting my site than on the actual content, which wasn't my goal. I simply want space to share my thoughts, like casting a line into the water to see who bites.
My hesitation to post online stem from the permanence of internet content and perhaps an inflated sense of ego thinking my drafts weren’t good enough.
No more.
To combat this, I've adopted a New Year's resolution to “be weirder online”. Since Jan 1, I've developed a web app (Nepo) for posting notes and started a semi-anonymous YouTube channel to share my projects without overthinking the potential judgment from others. This approach has proven effective. I’ll continue to ramp up the weirdness but will try to follow
Here are the principles I'm following:
Aim to assist others.
Update content consistently.
Avoid overthinking.
Be authentic.
Don’t worry about the format. Just publish.
Nothing then all at once.
By year's end, I hope to have connected with like-minded individuals who share a passion for creating and supporting one another's endeavors.