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What's it like to get discussed on Reddit? The 5 stages of going social media viral.

I use the word 'viral' very loosely here OK. I'm no Kardashian about to break the internet, but I got a nice email earlier this week letting me know that my recent article on high street retail decline had been picked up by Reddit users. It had over 500 comments! I was excited so I took a look. Here's how it felt to be the subject of the thread.

1. Kind of cool. Oscar Wilde style it is better to be talked about than not. I've used Reddit on and off for years so it's nice to be the source of conversation for a change. 

2. Then underwhelming. Like so many experiences once you've actually had the experience it's kind of 'meh'. People are talking about my work. Is nice I guess but its really not all that. 

3. Um, really? A lot of the comments are saying how this is a typical viewpoint of a baby boomer. I'm 32. I'm a millennial. Is my thumbnail picture really that bad? 

4. No wait a second... I didn't ignore that millennials have no money, I acknowledge it right at the start, I just wanted to then explore another issue. Everyone seems to be just taking my article and then running off with one part of it, getting angry and loud. What I was trying to say is that... Ah never mind.   

5. Do it for yourself. I write because sometimes I enjoy it and sometimes because I need a mental distraction. If other people validate what I produce that's nice, but I would (and usually do) write even if nobody ever did. Doing something hoping that other people will get it, approve, agree, like - you will yourself. Share with others but do for you.  

On reflection this has been a really enlightening mini experience. Until you have you wonder what it must be like to get talked about online. I imagined that it it probably felt really great. We live in a culture which emphasises online validation after all. However having gone through it on a small scale I can say that this given me nothing to write home about. Except this.    

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