Hi everyone! I just wanted to share my (rather long - apologies!) story on my experiences with this sub and how amazed and touched I am by the kindness of some internet strangers. :)

I only started going on reddit rather recently and, at first, I was incredibly hesitant about making an account. All of the users seemed to be males who liked playing video games and making rather coarse jokes - I couldn't imagine being able to relate to them much. Of course, now I realize that I was completely stereotyping, but at the time, I had only been lurking around the front page. Then I somehow stumbled across this cluster of wonderful feminine subreddits about makeup, hair, dressing up, and just being silly. I was so excited, maybe I could actually talk to other people and connect over shared interests! But then I started going into the comment sections of some of these posts and saw how some users interacted with each other and, all at once, my old paranoia came rushing back.

See, as a young redditor I had grown up constantly reminded by teachers and parents and other adults how dangerous the internet can be. I was horrified when I heard about "trolls" and how they could absolutely tear people apart. I didn't want to get involved in a subreddit community where I might have to deal with all of that.

But then I found this sub.

It was as if I had stumbled across this secret club of girls who weren't afraid to actually be girls. I go to a STEM school, so every time I wear a dress or a skirt to class, my friends ask why I'm dressing up. Or if I wear makeup, they good-naturedly joke about how I'm "trying too hard." Of course, it was all in good fun, but I still felt like I had to tone down the feminine part of my nature to fit in. So finding this sub was like finding chocolate in the middle of a tootsie roll pop - surprising, but so satisfying.

I checked out the sidebar, read some of the top posts, and eventually made an account specifically to participate here. I started posting a few comments here and there, eventually plucking up enough courage to post something yesterday. I was so excited when I saw people commenting and having discussions - I felt like a part of something that I could really connect to.

Then I had the misfortune to come across r/thebluepill and saw someone making fun of one of my comments, insisting that I was suggesting women couldn't be self reliant or some other nonsense. I know I shouldn't get so easily affected by something so small, but I had no prior negative experience with users and so was immediately worried again. Did I really want to expose myself to ridicule and harsh words from other users? I thought about deleting my account, but eventually settled for just deleting all of my comments and my post. I thought I was done with participating on reddit for good, but then something happened. This wonderful, amazing user messaged me.

u/Camille11325 (I hope you don't mind me calling you out!!) was kind enough to talk to me and encourage my interest in this sub, reaching out to me when I was sure the internet was full of people waiting to hurt you. I was so incredibly touched that this stranger, this person who was probably thousands of miles away, took the time out of her day to talk to me and make me feel incredibly welcome. I realized that every single lady on this sub is an individual person with her own stories and ideas and advice and that by letting myself get discouraged by a single user, I was missing the chance to learn from all of you amazing ladies. Camille made such a difference in my reddit experience, I can't even begin to thank her enough. I guess I just wanted to let all you ladies know that, even though you guys get a lot of flake over reddit for taking an unpopular view, there are still some young girls out here who are so glad to find a space where their thoughts aren't considered strange or unacceptable.

I am so excited to learn more from all of you and to contribute in discussions and to share my thoughts on this sub. But first, I wanted to thank all of you (and especially Camille) for being so welcoming :)

Edit: I am so completely floored by how friendly and welcoming all you ladies are. Thank you so, so very much for all of your kind words of advice. Trust me, I'm taking everything to heart! I feel like you all are the big sisters and aunts I never had :) I'm really looking forward to participating in here!!!