Quiver + Quill

I recently spoke with Hunter, a fifteen year old boarding school student. He described how he uses the internet to find new bands and artists. He’s an avid Myspace user, and equally savvy at finding ways to circumvent his boarding school’s firewall to download music. What I found most fascinating about his online life is how he utilizes the internet to connect with people about a niche interest in graffiti art. Here’s a part of our conversation:

Q&Q: How do you talk to your friends online?
A: Over the net I use AIM, much easier then playing email tag

Q&Q: How many people in your high school use AIM?
A: I would say 99.9%

Q&Q: Are you friends with anyone on AIM that you're not friends with off aim?
A: Oh ya I have alot of people I talk to on aim regularly I have never met.

Q&Q: How did you meet them?
A: Business.

Q&Q: What kind of business?
A: All sorts, ebay mostly

Q&Q: Do you have an example?
A: This guy on ebay was selling really cool custom hats, and he had an example up on ebay and said "email me for an custom jobs you want me to do for you" so I emailed him asking for one. He was questioning me on what I wanted some how we got side tracked and just started talking about the most random s*** and after that I just stated talking to him regularly. I still AIM the guy every few days to just talk, he was a pretty fascinating guy to he had some stories to tell

Q&Q: Have you spoke with anyone on myspace you don’t know?
A: Yes, I just looked like cool people an I wanted to be their friends because they were into some of the same hobbies or bands. I like Dane Cook. He has a myspace and I have never met him I just love his stuff, so I added him as a friend.

Photo by Flickr: See http://www.flickr.com/photos/trois-tetes/8816344/