Happy twentieth birthday, WWdN

Twenty years ago today, this website, which I built myself from the <head> on down, went live for the very first time.

It was SUCH a big deal. It was the culmination of an incredible amount of work, the successful summiting of a very steep learning curve that I’d only begun to climb a few months before. I was and am so proud of all that work.

Today, I am not feeling particularly celebratory. I mean, have you looked at the world, lately? Not a ton to celebrate at the moment, if you ask me, so what ought to be a big party … isn’t. That’s okay. I’ve done this nineteen times already.

Even though I’m not feeling it, I want to wish a happy birthday to WWdN and say congratulations to young me for having the courage and commitment to examine his life, and write about it in public. Everything I am doing today, in a life that is more successful and filled with more joy than I ever thought possible, is built on the shoulders of that work. None of this is possible without all of that, and I’m just so grateful to everyone who believed in me and encouraged me along the way.

Here’s to another twenty years, a few more books, and whatever cool stuff is just beyond my event horizon.

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59 thoughts on “Happy twentieth birthday, WWdN”

  2. Even though the world has gone to hell in a handbasket, that’s not your doing. You have every reason to celebrate the man who created WWdN, and the man you are today. Onward and upward, Wil.

  4. And so close to my 49th birthday (this Thursday not that I’m counting)! Happy birthday, Wil’s Blog! Next year, I’ll raise a pint to your 21st birthday! Heck, I’ll raise a pint for this one too.

  5. Wil,

    Congrats on 20 years! I’ve been following WWdN since the beginning and have always loved the content you post. Don’t let the world get you down, remember no matter how bad it gets you can always look for the helpers.

    Thanks!

  7. I have just re-watched the ST-TNG episode in the last season where Wil went on to do and be something totally different from what he had thought he would do and be. It seems to parallel your life to some extent. You have become what you wanted to be not what might have been expected or imposed on you. I am happy for you that you have found fulfillment for your life. I always enjoy your writing.

  9. Congrats on 20 years!

    I remember when you first started your blog…I made sure it was in my RSS feed. I learned about many of your cool writing projects here. I kinda dropped off on visiting as social media became more popular, but now find myself coming back as I strive to spend less time on mainstream social media.

    I always look forward to your posts. Thank you for creating and sharing in this space!

  11. That long? I’ve been with you from the start. It’s been a fun (and ongoing) journey. It’s been rewarding to see you grown into your own man, and know who you are and what you are about. Well done…

  12. You may not be feeling it, but I’m celebrating. Sharing your life here has given many of us representation that had been severely lacking. Kind of our own Us, Too movement. I gain courage, I’ve outed myself in a lot of ways, I’ve managed to stay alive, in part for ready WWdN. So thank you. What you do really does help.

  13. Congratulations! I have been lurking for all 20 of those years, although now I mainly follow on social media. I remember learning of WWdN and the revelation that you were a fellow geek, and being so excited about that. I really appreciate all you have done for us, as well as your writing and the way you speak up for mental health, setting boundaries, and how to go all-in for your chosen family. All the best. x

  14. Congrats on your website anniversary, Wil!

    Well, I’ve experienced a great deal of anger since 2016, and despair since Covid. I’ve been unemployed since April 2020 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2020. As far as I know after surgery and treatment, I’m cancer free now.

    In spite of it all, as I see this world in huge upheaval, again, in our human history, there is cause for celebration; fascism was defeated in the last presidential election, huge numbers of people came out to vote against all odds, stood in line for very long periods of time, in all weather, to put down that fascism, and the very freakish far right who are leading people astray regarding vaccination and masking, are dying. Their hypocrisy is opening people’s eyes and some on the right are very, very regretful they listened. That is cause for celebration. Perception, peoples’ hearts and souls, are changing for the good. It has always been upheaval that has caused that to happen.

    Will climate change and our survival be our last stand? I don’t know. Good will always fight against evil. I only know that one of the bible’s most beautiful truths is, “Sufficient unto the day is the trouble thereof”.

    There is no reason for you not to celebrate the human spirit, because you are a part of that. And you built something where you have not only talked about art, but educated many about power and abuse, and what it takes to overcome and keep fighting for yourself. I understand what you mean, but don’t let the state of the world dampen your enthusiasm for something you ought to be rightly proud of.

  15. Your perspective is always on point. Thank you for being so authentic, for keepin’ it real.

  17. Congratulations Sir! You may not be able to see it, and I understand that. But there have been many times you’ve kept some of us sane and reminded us of why life is worth living. Thank you for that each and every day!

  18. Happy Anniversary. May you celebrate 30 and 40 years also. Here’s some good stuff, Wil..

    https://globalgoodnews.com/

    US: How lavender farms can help restore land that's been ruined by years of coal mining

    Alpine solar project to help fill Swiss winter energy gaps

    Power in seeds: Urban gardening gains momentum in pandemic

    World's largest astronomy museum opens in Shanghai, China

    Indonesia introduces solar power programme into universities to cultivate future talents

    Farmers reap double benefits with solar power in fields

    U.S. to ban use of pesticide chlorpyrifos on food crops over health concerns

    And more good stuff…

    We love you, Wil. Hang in there!

  19. Yippee, happy birthday to WWDN (I didn’t realize that our birthdays were so close together)! I have several friends I never would’ve met if not for WWDN, so thanks for that!

  20. Happy 20th anniversary, WWDN! It gives me a small tingle of joy that I received notification of this celebratory blog post through my RSS reader. I didn’t have to go on social media. I followed a person I was interested in, added their website to a list, and that website told me that a new post from them was ready for me to read. And every step of that chain was supported by open source software.

    It may seem like a little thing, but it’s not. All this stuff still works, and works well. It is possible to get away from the chaos of social media (I don’t always succeed, but I’m trying!) and get back to just following cool people we like.

    Let’s do 20 more years.

  25. I can’t believe it’s been that long! I was an avid follower early on. My daughter was still in HS! I remember the US vs. Canada Olympic Hockey game and following it with you and others. Wow. I’m a Nana now. I am so very glad you are doing well, Will.

  28. Weird I didn’t know that since today’s my birthday as well. Maybe I need to invite the site to Disneyland so we can celebrate together! 🙂

  29. Wow. I get not feeling it, but thanks for the reminder of how long it’s been. I’m both happy about that and feeling very old. I found my way here during the lead up to Nemesis. I was hanging out on some old Trek message board and someone asked “whatever happened to Wil Wheaton?” and another someone posted a link to WWdN. I’ve been here ever since. How was that nineteen years ago? Wow. Thanks, Wil, for taking this journey with us. And on a personal note, thanks for being kind to me more than once or twice – mostly online, and twice in person.

  31. I’m remembering a friend of mine saying “did you know Wil Wheaton has a BLOG?” Such a radical concept, I guess. Made my way to WWdN, then to WWdN in Exile, the back to WWdN. Delighted to be part of this community you’ve nurture, Wil.

  34. Congratulations to you Wil, and please do celebrate what you are creating here. I love everything you post whether it is here, on Instagram or Facebook (and other places too if I see them). I am so glad you are here…

  36. Joyous Birthiversary to WWdN and many similarly well-fortuned solar circumnavigations to follow!

  37. Jolly good show old bean

    And 20 years ? That’s nearly the before times when we all wishy thinked this new fangled intertube would be the digital good place rather than the ocean of hate and poop its become, there is still the odd skerry of what could have been and WWdn is one of those

  41. Hey, Wil… I had some of the absolute best times of my life interacting with the amazing people who frequented The/Teh Soapbox section of WWdN. I met some of my best friends-and many of my longest standing friendships to this day-at WWdN in a time when most people did not believe that friendships formed on the internet were “real” friends…how far we’ve come in some ways in the face of so many parts of global society having gone to hell in a handbasket. I also found love at WWdN, and was engaged to a woman I met at The Soapbox. Things didn’t work out-she lived in Europe-never even met face to face, but it was the most fulfilling relationship of my life, and I am obviously deeply grateful to you for the opportunity to have that experience. Also, your writing has brought me much joy, and more importantly has given me many opportunities to reflect on MY life and how I handled certain situations. So… Happy 20th birthday, WWdN, I hope you make it a great one! Live long, and prosper…… Robert Dishaw

  42. Wil — what an accomplishment!! I always look forward to new posts, and I’ve been reading since around early 2004. I honestly feel that you’ve helped me understand my anxiety, that I’ve grown as a result of your blog and the great writing. My deep regret is that I had a schedule conflict and couldn’t attend your reading at Mysterious Galaxy. I wish you’d write more, obviously, but we all seem to gravitate towards Instagram. Pictures over depth, snapshots over series, it’s our life now. Thank you!!!

  44. Wil,
    Has it really been that long‽

    /me checks calendar. ಠ_ಠ

    It’s been a great twenty years. I’ve always enjoyed your writing. Here’s to another 20 and more!

  47. You deserve HUGE kudos and congratulations, Will. Your reflections are so heartfelt and authentic, overcoming and hopeful, so important to share. Thank you for all the insights, the truths, and the strength in the telling that you’ve given to us.

  48. Hey man, I’ve been here I think since near the beginning. Talking Knoppix, “Walking Barefoot” etc. I appreciate you keeping your blog alive! I’m trying to do the same. Take care man.

  49. your little corner of the world has been making my little corner of the world better, for many years. happy 20th, WWdN!

  50. Happy Blog-versary Wil!

    While there may not be lots to celebrate globally, you have lots of successes (like the joy of this blog) to celebrate personally. Congratulations to present-day you who has done so much growing and has a willingness to encourage others by sharing through this blog.

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