Epilogue
The “Where Are They Now?” FAQ
As I write this in the late summer of 2001, BlueSky, strictly speaking, no longer exists. However, most of the participants described herein still hang out together on a mud run primarily by Carets. Whenever I speak about my work on BlueSky, people have many questions about the current status of the mud and its participants, so I have provided this epilogue in a form commonly used online—;as answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ):
Q: Do the BlueSky participants still mud as frequently?
A: For the most part, no. Many are still very active online, but overall, the mud participation has decreased somewhat. The patterns of activity remain similar, with most participants logging on from work during their normal work day.
Q: Do you still hang out with the BlueSky participants?
A: Yes, although not nearly as much. On the one hand, I made many friends during my research, and I like to keep up with them. On the other hand, without the motivation of my research, I am less likely to stick around when people are abusive. Furthermore, unlike most other BlueSky participants, my work can only rarely be done while socializing online.
Q: Didn't the BlueSky participants suffer during the recent economic downturn in the technological sector?
A: No, not really. Although the failure of many Internet start-ups and other “dot. coms” received considerable press in 2001, most BlueSky participants work for more established companies. Those who have changed jobs have generally had no problem finding work. Some BlueSky participants own quite a bit of stock in computer technology companies, and some have seen their holdings decrease considerably in value. However, this has had little effect on their day-to-day lives.
― 228 ―Q: Are the “heterosexual dropouts” still celibate?
A: As far as I know, most of the people who identified themselves as having given up on heterosexual relationships still do not participate in such relationships. BJ is the exception. He has a steady relationship with a woman who was also a participant on BlueSky.
Q: What other kinds of life changes have the BlueSky participants experienced?
A: Since I finished with most of the writing of this book, several more participants have gotten married and some have had children. Even more have bought houses. About a dozen participants now own their own homes, with some now owning a second home after selling the first. One participant owns and lives in a small apartment building.
Q: Did your participation on BlueSky have any effect on the participants' views of women or of feminism?
A: Some participants were sympathetic to feminism prior to my research and remain so. The others also maintain their previous convictions and opinions. So far as I can tell my effect on them has been negligible. Although I remain committed to feminism, if anything, their influence on me, my attitudes and behaviors, has been greater than my influence on them.