h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I joined the H2G2 in July 1, 1999. At least, that's when I made my userpage; I'm inclined to think that this is correct, though, since users 46994 and 46996 have each made precisely one post or page, and that on said date.

But (and here's the strange part) this is a bit longer than I'm seriously aware the Internet has existed. I mean ... I was *using* the Web at least as far back as 1996, but it's as if my brain hasn't properly registered the fact that there has been an Internet and a World Wide Web before the year 2000, and I get a vague sort of surprise when I see simultaneous references to the web and, say, 1997.

What an odd thing for a brain to do.

Well, in 1997 the Internet was still in it's "Zap! Bang! Pow! Computers talking to each other? Let's register a Dot-Com and see what happens!" phase. Back then, webcomics were new and surprising as opposed to being the established and semi-respected institutions that they've become. By the year 2000, the Internet was pretty firmly "here" and "here to stay" and a lot of the Internet's heavy-hitters had staked their claim to help secure the foundation of the Internet culture.

So while there was an Internet before the year 2000, it was still a wild and relatively unexplored new frontier back then.

Yeah, but I mean, existing *at all.*

Can't help ya there, then.

Man ... this is from someone who's precisely one month away from turning 22, but looking over some of the entries and posts I made around 1999 make me think "Jeez, what was I, thirteen!?"

Perhaps, but while you were thirteen you were a lasting influence on the foundations of what has currently become The Guide.

Aww, c'mon, the guide isn't THAT bad now.