Test Post

 Hello!

    This is, of course, yet another test post. This time, I'm doing it on my computer, so I'm having an easier time using the writing tools that Blogger offers- and I may be testing a few of them out here, so this post might look...a little dumb im ngl 🗿

So, as you may know...

    I'm Pan-Athens, also known as Pan for short, or Athens if you're referring to my sona. I plan on using this little Blogger site to dump some of my more miscellaneous content- likely mostly doodles and sketches I haven't really "finished" or gotten to a state polished enough to post on DeviantArt or Instagram, though I might post other assorted things. If I can figure out how, I'll try to make tags and categories for the content I post here to make things easier to find (and more appealing for people who might only care about certain types of content.)

    On that note, I may create an "introductory post" at one point- not only to share things about myself, but also to give an idea of what all I might end up posting here- if I do even end up using this site regularly. I can't make any guarantees. I hardly post on any of the social media sites I'm on, so it wouldn't be too out-of-the-ordinary for me to completely abandon this site.

    That being said, I am taking a liking to Blogger based on my (admittedly limited) experience with it so far. It's very customizable, and I feel like I can post for myself without having to worry much about how other people interact with my content. On Instagram, YouTube, DeviantArt, etc., you're constantly presented with numbers that serve as a reminder of how people are interacting with the stuff you post, as well as a reminder of how much or how little attention content gets. It sounds silly saying it out loud, and it kind of makes me sound like a sad social media attention whore, but seeing those numbers, the lack of comments, and knowing that the things I've created and put time and effort into aren't getting much attention, it does make me feel kinda...bad. Like these analytics are a measure of my self-worth, and if the things I've made don't get a lot of attention, that I'm just not good at making things, nor am I worthy of the attention. It isn't quite as melodramatic as I'm making it sound, I'm just not that great at explaining things- but it definitely impacts my self-esteem and confidence in what I do.

Consider it a side-effect of not getting enough attention as a child. I need validation from strangers on the internet, I guess. 🗿

    Depressing topics aside, ideally, I will continue using this site. It feels perfect for me, as long as I can figure out how to use it. No having to worry about a site's userbase being toxic or stupid, no having to deal with limited customization on my profile and posts, no having to worry about whether I'm using the site right, using tags and algorithmic keywords right, I just...do. I post whatever I want, whenever I want. This site is mine, it's for me, I can do whatever I want with it. Of course, I could probably benefit from posting on social media and other sites with that kind of mindset, but I find it easier to adopt that mindset for posting on Blogger because of how different it is from the things I'm used to using.

    I'll likely continue to make test posts and mess around with options and customization as time goes on, and I will eventually get around to posting the content I keep promising I'll post- but I suppose I don't have to pressure myself by feeling responsible for posting the content, since this is for me. I'm doing this for myself, as a way to have fun and share my thoughts or things I've made freely.

I originally offered a cookie at the end of this post, but I've since decided such an inclusion is cringe and will no longer offer a cookie. Fuck you.