Oddbean

It all started in the most likely of places – amidst the chaotic emoji-storms of Discord servers during the NFT bull run. There, in the form of emoji reactions, I found Pepe. It was like unearthing a treasure, one that would lead me down an unexpected rabbit hole of digital culture. https://i.nostr.build/lzrG.png First to come clean: I was a shitcoiner. But as I navigated through the shitcoinized world, I stumbled upon a fascinating byproduct – the sprawling universe of Pepe derivatives - especially the rare Pepes and how they intertwined with Bitcoin Culture and Art. It was both overwhelming and intriguing, sparking a curiosity that drove me deeper into the lore of this green frog. https://i.nostr.build/Mkn4.gif My journey led me to explore the roots of Pepe, created by the mastermind Matt Furie. It was curious to me that his simple character turned into a global meme phenomenon. But the real plot twist hit me at an artist gathering in San Francisco. While holding a copy of Furie's "The Night Riders," I was sucked into a vortex of intense discussions about Pepe's cultural impact, including its unexpected drift into darker territories. https://i.nostr.build/kJ3A.jpg Here I was, a quiet conservative libertarian living in San Francisco, in the midst of liberal artists dissecting Pepe's associations with so-called fascism. It was like walking a tightrope of my convictions. In response to my constant unease around the woke disapproval of Pepe, my fascination with Pepe only deepened. https://i.nostr.build/A9rR.gif The more I pondered, the more I saw parallels between Pepe and the age-old debate of artistic inspiration versus theft. Picasso’s quote about artists stealing rang true. I know it’s everywhere – from George Lucas borrowing from old war movies for "Star Wars," to Tarantino's dance scenes echoing Fellini’s masterpieces. Pepe is just another canvas in the grand gallery of art history. https://i.nostr.build/JBDP.gif Enter NOSTR; Pepe took on a new role in my life. Sharing Pepe memes became a cathartic ritual, a way to connect with kindred spirits like Ser Sleepy, Nakad.ai and Tanel. It was a digital haven, a community where my often misunderstood affinity for a green frog wasn't just accepted but celebrated - and often zapped! https://i.nostr.build/aKZP.gif Today, my Pepe stash is an impressive collection – each one a pixel in the larger picture of my journey. It's a constantly expanding pepeverse, mirroring my evolving understanding of art, expression, and memes. https://i.nostr.build/gq3m.jpg For me it turned out to be about finding a piece of myself in the unlikeliest of places – in the mischievous smirk of a green frog. https://i.nostr.build/P4GZ.gif