In September 1999, an online persona named ‘On The Beach’ was created for a profile on a dating and friendship site called Midsummerseve.co.uk. (MSE)
Back then, MSE used a very simple photo and text based format to allow members to view each others profiles via a search facility to send private messages if they liked or were inspired by the contents of the member profile descriptions they read.
Though not fully aware of the profound consequences of using the site at the time, MSE’s modest resources and it’s growing membership would eventually come into it’s own as a fantastic means of allowing me to tell parts of a story that was, in real time, having an incredible impact on my life as it was unfolding back then.
This blog, while entirely self indulgent, is my attempt to tell that story from beginning, middle to end, with the aim of creating one record that, hopefully, will be both an entertaining read and a snapshot of a period of my life that just needs to be put down for posterity.
These few opening words cannot begin to paint the full picture of a tale that might rest easily between the pages of an “Astounding Stories” style sci-fi comic book of the 50’s but … well, as you read on, perhaps you’ll begin to see things that way too! 🙂
The most important thing to be aware of is the fact that, back then, as Beach’s creator, I found it near impossible to even discuss issues in my real life.
That life, at the time, included a 20 year love story, an entirely new, internationally patented technology of my creation and a future that was destined to earn me international accolades and recognition in the world of invention and innovation.
Nevertheless, overnight, that ‘perfect life’ detonated and imploded like a star gone supernova and I found myself pitched into a nightmare world I could barely comprehend, let alone discuss or visit in my everyday life.
However, thanks to the ethereal nature of the net, by proxy, at a safe psychological distance, my online alter ego ‘Beach’ could relate such business online and throw out a mail or some original post or thread to discuss such taboo subjects in real time, with other human beings.
My story is not one of doom and gloom though. Rather the opposite. It is an account that explores the very nature of being human. An adventure that starts over 5 million years ago with the first upright steps of our Hominid ancestors.
It is an examination of our imagination, our ingenuity, our creativity and our seemingly never ending quest to continually examine, shape and transform the world we live in.
You see, (pause), in a world where we are encouraged to get on, excel and be the best we can ever expect to be, I, as an inventor, needed to find out answers to explain and validate the sacrifices I had to make to bring my own technology into being.
I had to work through just why that process had cost me so dearly and examining the lives of other fellow inventors helped me with that process.
Off the top of my head, I invite you to recall the work of Nickola Tesla or Frank Whittle or Charles Goodyear.
I mean, you appreciate Tesla, (apart from thousands of other concepts or patents), invented both the radio and alternating current, don’t you?
You know Frank Whittle invented the jet engine.
You know Charles Goodyear invented the vulcanisation process of rubber?
Each man profoundly shaped and changed the course of human history … yet each man suffered for his prior art.
I’ll not relate their stories here at the moment. I’d instead invite you to find out for yourselves.
Over the years, ‘Beach’ became a prolific poster on UK and International sites and forums.
Aside from issues related above, he also investigated most of the components involved in the issues of being human … again with some underlying need to explore the minds of others … to get the feedback from thousands and thousands of other souls online.
This blog will eventually map out those adventures and online journeys and, just perhaps, eventually form the backbone of a discussion forum where we might revisit such fascinating topics and themes.
A favour though. I hope I’ve set this blog to be private, for my eyes only in these early days.
If you can see it, please appreciate it is meant to be just that. Work in progress.
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