When starting her career, Rita J.King wanted to move to California to become "the ultimate modern gonzo journalist," but her car broke down in Albuquerque, New Mexico along the way. Here, she heard about a job opportunity with America Online and decided to stay for the job. That's when her "education in the complete spectrum of human behaviors" began.
At the time, King thought it was a mistake to stay, but years later, back in New York, she was able to pitch her story to the Village Voice. It eventually became the cover story called "Terms of Service: Sweaty Scenes from the Life of an AOL Censor":
"Not only did this serve to launch my career as a journalist, but it also created an unexpected side-effect. I became a specialist in understanding identity shifts in the digital realm, as well as the role of corporate culture in society. I've continued to work on digital identity on projects around the world."
"I’m glad my car broke down. I’m glad my family never gave me the kind of financial support that might have forced me to justify my unusual career decisions or made me less ambitious or willing to take risks or weird jobs. And I’m glad I made that huge mistake, staying in Albuquerque, when I wrongly believed that my destiny demanded Big Sur."
(Source: LinkedIn)
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