A New Chapter: Why I’m Closing This Blog
After a little more than 27 years of writing openly about my life and my views on this blog, I’m making a difficult but necessary decision: I’m closing Alan’s Journey permanently.
This is not because I’ve stopped caring about the issues I’ve written about. If anything, I care more than ever. But the world has changed significantly since I started this blog all the way back in 1998 (almost 30 years now!), and what was once possible – writing honestly under your real name about controversial topics – has become increasingly risky.
Why now?
I’ve watched the cultural climate shift dramatically, especially over the past five years. The same patterns I documented starting in 2006 with gender politics have expanded into other domains. The issues I wrote about then (institutional capture, overcorrection from legitimate grievances into new discrimination, the silencing of dissent through social punishment) has only intensified and accelerated. I don’t like where I see this going.
And so, after quite some consideration, I’ve decided I can no longer afford to have decades of ‘controversial commentary’ attached to my real name, my location, and my family. The potential consequences (professional, social, and personal) have grown too significant to ignore.
What happens to the content?
This blog and all its content will be deleted by February. I’ve archived everything personally, and I’m using it in AI as a historical resource for my writing, but it will no longer be publicly accessible along with my real identity. I’ll also take steps to remove it from web archives where possible.
Where you can find me
If you’ve valued my perspective, my thoughts, opinions, and life experiences, and you want to continue following my writing, I’ll be continuing on X (ex-Twitter): @realAlanHoward
There, I’ll be continuing to write about the patterns I see, the observations I make, and the truths I believe need speaking – but without the vulnerability that comes from being associated with controversial opinions.
A final thought
For those who’ve followed this blog for years, you know I’ve always advocated for actual equality – all people included, judged by their character and actions rather than their group identity. That hasn’t changed. What’s changed is the cost of saying so publicly under my real name.
The fact that I need to make this decision is itself evidence of what I’ve been documenting: we live in a system today where certain observations, certain patterns, certain truths cannot be spoken without severe punishment. That doesn’t make them less true. It just makes them more dangerous to articulate.
And as I’ve mentioned above, I don’t like where this is going. I urge you all to remember that social wars and global wars are not unheard of, and have started over less than what we’re experiencing today. Prepare yourselves appropriately, and don’t be someone who’s surprised by what is happening around you because you had your head in the sand and refused to acknowledge reality.
I’m grateful to everyone who’s read, commented, and engaged over these 27 years. Your support has meant significantly more than you know. I really hope you will continue following and engaging with me over on X.
See you there.
Oh… If you want help in creating your own anonymous account on X, reach out to me by replying to the email notification you received about this blog post. Take care.
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