There’s a weird phenomenon that happens when you start building something.
In real life, people start acting funny.
Online, strangers start clapping for you.
Make it make sense.
Real Life Support Comes With Ego Attached
When people know you in person, they remember the old version of you.
They remember when you were broke.
They remember when you were quiet.
They remember when you were unsure.
So when you say you’re building an app like EveryWaver or running something like Three6Plug, or trying to grow a brand, it doesn’t register to them as “visionary.”
It registers as “you?”
People in your city see you through a fixed lens. They subconsciously rank you based on the version of you they’re comfortable with. Growth threatens that ranking.
And instead of saying that out loud, it comes out as jokes.
“Oh you still doing that little blog thing?”
“You still posting on Instagram?”
“You think you about to be famous or something?”
It’s disguised as humor, but the energy be weird.
The Internet Only Sees The Value
Now compare that to someone online.
They don’t know you from middle school.
They don’t know your awkward phase.
They don’t know your old mistakes.
They only see the content.
If you drop a clean tutorial, they respect it.
If you build something useful, they appreciate it.
If you say something that resonates, they follow.
There’s no baggage. Just value exchange.
That’s why a random dude in Texas will retweet you and say “this is fire” while somebody who lives ten minutes away won’t even like the post.
The internet judges output.
Real life judges identity.
Big difference.
Familiarity Breeds Contempt
This part hurts but it’s real.
When people see you every day, they normalize you. You become background noise. It’s hard for them to see you as extraordinary because you’re familiar.
But online, you’re curated.
People see your highlights. Your wins. Your best ideas. They see the polished version of your thoughts. That creates authority.
In real life, you’re just you.
Online, you’re the brand.
Some People Feel Threatened
Let’s not play dumb.
When you start leveling up mentally, creatively, financially, it forces other people to look at their own stagnation.
Not everybody hates you.
But some people hate the mirror you become.
If you’re building something, you represent risk. You represent effort. You represent the uncomfortable truth that more is possible.
That makes certain people defensive.
Strangers don’t feel that threat. They’re not competing with your identity. They’re just consuming your content.
The Danger Of Online Validation
Now let’s not romanticize it too much.
Internet support feels amazing. Retweets. Comments. DMs saying you inspired somebody. That hits.
But it can also become addictive.
You start chasing engagement instead of impact.
You start measuring your worth in analytics.
You start valuing strangers’ praise more than real human connection.
That’s a trap too.
Real life relationships matter. Even if some people don’t understand your grind, a few solid ones who genuinely support you are worth more than 10,000 likes.
Why This Happens To Creators Specifically
Creators deal with this heavier than most people because we’re visible.
If you work a regular job quietly, nobody analyzes you.
But if you post content, build apps, run blogs, grow brands, now you’re public.
And public ambition makes average energy uncomfortable.
Especially if you’re consistent.
Especially if you don’t quit.
Especially if you start getting small wins.
What You’re Supposed To Learn From It
If strangers support you heavy, that means your value translates beyond your environment.
That’s powerful.
It means you’re not crazy.
It means your ideas aren’t dumb.
It means there’s a market for what you do.
But it also means you can’t rely on your immediate circle to validate your path.
Sometimes your city won’t clap.
Sometimes your friends won’t repost.
Sometimes your family won’t understand.
Build anyway.
Because the world is bigger than your zip code.
The Real Flex Is Quiet Consistency
Here’s the truth.
You don’t need everybody in real life to believe in you.
You don’t need fake applause.
You don’t need forced support.
You need proof of concept.
If the internet is responding, that’s data.
If strangers are benefiting, that’s traction.
If people you’ve never met are investing attention, that’s leverage.
Keep building.
And when real life finally catches up and starts saying “I knew you was gonna make it,” just smile.
You remember who was quiet when you were grinding.
And you remember who was loud when you were losing.
Energy don’t lie.
Just don’t let bitterness creep in. Use it as fuel, not identity.
Because at the end of the day, support is support. Whether it comes from next door or across the world.
Just make sure you’re building something worth supporting.Why People in Real Life Lowkey Hate But The Internet Shows Love
About the Author
