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As a teen, my socializing was bounded by hilariously strict house rules, so I developed a rich inner life that, among other things, convinced me of this: a good way to convey feelings to a crush is to build him or her a website. Strobing through my memories of infatuation are mechanical details. User accounts, handles, FTP, the decorative tics of personalizing c. 1999 —

.::alicia::. 		=eMmEtT=		||[derek]||

And of course, color choices. One beautiful freeloader wanted every page to be a gummy, half-pink shade. A mercantile purple, not the shade of grape soda but of its label. Verdana in orange announcing rAnDoM tHoUgHtS to be found further down. The cursor as a plus sign, all the better to rep Young Life.

I have a very clear memory of wincing, then typing “i love ittt looks so goOod” into the IM window.

Nalini Edwin is Digital Director of the Village Voice.