NFTs
My Early Attempt At Making An NFT In The Mid-2000s
Words: MJB
I have many thoughts about NFTs so here are a few…
★ We should… 100% listen to the communities that are impacted by social behaviours as a result of innovation. We shouldn’t be swayed by the loud noises, but seek out the soft hums (which are often the voices of the oppressed or disadvantaged). Varying perspectives are important to stop bias and should help to INFORM innovation, not completely suppress it or define it.
★ When did we… become so afraid of critique? Having different opinions (including confrontational ones) is what drives discourse and help us to grow our knowledge/perspective/empathy for other human beings. I love Tyler The Creator for always speaking his truth, even if I don’t always agree with his views. That’s the point. We’re not meant to just agree like clones. We’re meant to be human beings.
★ My truth is… that I love the internet, maybe even more than real world. It’s pretty ugly out here most of the time. But under the sparkles, the internet is still just a reflection of the real world. It’s the upside down, the black lodge - it’s the dystopian future of black mirror.
★ Purchasing NFTs is… subjective as it truly comes down to the intent of the individual when it comes to how they approach ownership whether that be for art/commerce/both. I value intangible/tangible ownership equally because to me they are the same thing. Digital ownership has a purpose, particularly for people who don’t have access to ownership IRL.
★ My perspective is… that buying NFTs feels like downloading an MP3 on Napster/Limewire vs buying a CD because $30 was A LOT of money to me as a kid of working class migrant parents. It’s easy to say “the real thing is BETTER”, “you SHOULD invest in tangible products” or “buying digital is BAD for art/the planet” but that’s just not financially viable for everyone.
★ On NFT shaming… in the broader context of social media (which includes the media, which is the same thing given commercial titles exist on social/we’re in the thick of the creator economy who have higher engagement than media) it’s very loud on the eco front & not loud enough on the human front. It reminds me of being shamed for eating junk food instead of organic produce as if that was always affordable to me/my parents/peers.
★ I buy NFTs to… support artists. I don’t sell them, trade them or think of them as currency or investments. I treat them like posters on my wall, band tees in my wardrobe, ticket stubs from shows, vinyls/CDs/MP3s. My NFTs don’t even live in 1 digital wallet or on Opensea, they’re dispersed across different blockchains/platforms (mostly eco-friendly). Only 1 has equity attached & I plan to hold onto it due to its avatar ability in the Metaverse. I don’t need to see my NFTs to know that they’re mine. I don’t need to prove ownership to anyone but me.
★ In conclusion… Don’t listen to the loudest voices. Do your own research. Form your own truth. That’s what I do.
