One contributor to my curmudgeonly malaise is the “everyone is an expert/influencer” factor. “Hi, I’m 20 and a microdoser consultant tarot-focused Hekatean high priestess and life coach. Sign up for my patreon and learn to live your best life!”

I’ll admit there’s more than a little old-man-screaming-at-clouds element to my ranting. And nostalgia. But the mysteries don’t feel so mysterious anymore.

In many ways I’m glad these things are now normal and people are not marginalized for liking them. I guess I just miss the charms of obscurity and the joy of search and discovery. And the absence of commodification and mass marketing and “influencers.”

The more I think about, it’s the transgression that I miss, too. The possibility and exhilaration of danger. Jumping into dark waters of uncertain depth. The need for experimentation with no certainty of success and no lifeline.

@michaelmhughes I am fully convinced that mainstreaming fringe beliefs and practices is a way of undermining their allure and controlling their content.

@sethanikeem Maybe not intentional, but that’s definitely a real effect.

@michaelmhughes Your interest in these subjects couldn't have been that deep if the opinion others have of the subject detracted from your enjoyment of them, you might have just been chasing an edgy persona wearing your hobbies like accessories.

@DennisGarbonz You seem neat!

@michaelmhughes Agreed.

@tarquinrees That’s not my style. I’m pretty normcore in lots of ways. And the race to weirder for weirdness’s sake is futile and leads to cartoonishness.

@michaelmhughes There's definitely an appeal to being part of a subculture and rooting for the underdog. I've managed to stay weird through my niche hobbies and fascinations (which are similar to yours) including listening to & playing prog rock. 🤓

@michaelmhughes I still feel niche. Hugs.

@michaelmhughes Ah the muddied waters...

@michaelmhughes You could join me in collecting postcards. ;) I collect postcards of megalithic sites, Scandinavian Easter witches, fauns & satyrs and humans with antlers.

@michaelmhughes This surely happens to all musicians and fans fully invested in the beginning of a subgenre, I imagine it’s the same feeling. But if something has no commercial appeal at all, it might risk dying on the vine at some point? Anyway, social media ruined everything 🤗

@michaelmhughes Actually that's not true in the larger scheme of things. You're experiencing a cycle. All (except RPGs which is new) were giant trends in the 60s & 70s, then went through a 2 decade plus lull. It will happen that way again. It happened that way previously too.

@michaelmhughes I have a few stamps from early 20th century Esperanto Congresses. Is that obscure enough?

@michaelmhughes Feel ya Michael 👽🤘😎