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Basically, my socialization as a child didn't come from any schooling; it came from being in theater and meeting people online.

In writing I found something I could do at least as well as my peers, if not better.

At school, when it came to being social, I had no idea how to do it.

I'm very persistent; I know the Internet very well, because I grew up on the Internet. I had Internet when there was just dial-up, and the Internet was my social outlet.

We're used to the characteristics of social media - participation, connection, instant gratification - and when school doesn't offer the same, it's easy to tune out.

I learned to read and write and socialize in school, and that's pretty much it.

Growing up, I went to many schools, and I had to fit in to many different types of environments with totally different social groups. It helps me out as I move from job to job.

I don't have any friends from my childhood because I didn't stay at one school for very long.

First, I used some of my own experiences and observations from attending a public high school. Secondly, I joined in some Internet chat rooms for gays and lesbians.

Rather than bringing me closer to others, the time that I spend online isolates me from the most important people in my life, my family, my friends, my neighbourhood, my community.