Boy oh boy. Where to even start?
I had such a *minuscule* amount of “virality” in comparison to what so many people have experienced on the internet. But I had SO much more than I’ve ever experienced. So, here’s what it was like for me.
First off, the internet at large. It was crazy to see random articles popping up from big companies (like yahoo) to small blogs, just talking about how I had a “meltdown” at the bonus puzzle.
Many articles were very lighthearted and felt like they were laughing with me, whereas some of course felt like there were laughing at me.
There was one website, that I’m not even sure if I should give the name of where men rated whether I was ‘f*ckable,’ and if they’d want to. That was very surreal, as they were guessing what I’d be like in bed – based off my Wheel of Fortune appearance? That’s one of the least sexual things I can think of, but because I was loud, they assumed I’d be a “screamer,” etc.
I guess(???) it’s nice that everyone I saw indeed thought I was f*ckable, but like do I care about these random guys on the internet?
(The bad stuff felt worse in the moment. Now that I’ve had a little time away from it, it doesn’t feel so bad.)
Then there was social media. A number of people on twitter were talking about me. But what was really funny was that every time I responded just kind and like a human, every person walked back what they had to say.
Some people said they didn’t like my outfit. I chose it based on all the many guidelines. If I explained that, people would immediately walk it back.
If I kinda joked along with people, also poking fun at what a spazz I was, they’d be like ‘agh! I’m just so jealous of you! I’ve always wanted to be on a game show!’
The thing that surprised me the most was how weird people were about my pigtails! I love pigtails. Wear them all the time! I feel like they’re the best hairstyle on me. Like whooooooo cares? Everyone was so weird about the pigtails. I did not imagine they’d be controversial at all.
The cool part was seeing all the people who loved me! I’d been really embarrassed (for many reasons), and yet, there were people who said I made their night! There were people who said I was their favorite contestant I’d seen in years!
They said they liked the energy I breathed into the show.
So, I loved that people loved me! And I loved them!
Thankfully, I wasn’t so hated [or so loved] that anything got way out of hand. No one doxxed me, or showed up at my home or anything. I had a very tame mini-viral moment.
[And I do always say, I think I’d rather be loved and hated than nothing at all!]
It was definitely a weird couple of weeks, hearing from so many strangers, or seeing so many strangers talk about me in front of me (again, felt worse/weirder in the moment, but better with time). But as quickly as it happened, it pretty much melted away.
And the world keep spinning.