Questions for Derek Young

Since May 2005, Derek Young, a man of many “little projects,” is the blogger who drives the popular forum www.Exit133.com, promoting lively discussion among lively Tacomans, online and off.

Is Exit 133’s success specific to Tacoma? It’s definitely a time and place thing. The city is the right size where individual voices can really make a difference. I started Exit 133 when very few people were doing anything online about Tacoma. It very quickly became something.

What kind of influence does Exit 133 have? There are a number of readers who are moving here from other cities. I’ve heard people say: “I’ve read your site and it inspired me to come back there!” That scares me. I’m not the whole picture. I don’t talk about crime or some of the tougher issues that are more polarizing.

Do you like being called a “citizen journalist”?  Increasingly I’m seeing myself in that role. But unlike some, I don’t want to promote the downfall of traditional media. I offer a mix of journalism and discussion. To me, that discussion isn’t traditional journalism. I see myself as more of a moderator.

Is the discussion limited to online? A lot of the readers of the site get together and hang out now. We play bocce in Wright Park on Thursday nights. So a whole community has formed from people that never knew each other before the site. 

Is Seattle a “guilty pleasure” for Tacomans? I still have a lot of friends up there. I go up and catch a show that’s not coming to Tacoma. It happens. But I learned my standard of living is better here. If I were in Seattle, I would not have the freedom to do what I’m doing now. I’d still have the corporate job.

Photo by Chris Tumbusch