The internet I knew and love is coming back

6 points by 99_00 ↗ HN
I'm old. I remember an internet before google, facebook, twitter. It was the wild west. People were free to say whatever they wanted, and even be whoever they wanted.

It was decentralized. It was organic. It was sketchy, often wrong, offensive, and beautiful. It was a true marketplace of ideas.

And now it's coming back. Of course the powers that be are pushing back, with a new arsenal of ammo - doxxing, labeling discussion and opinion as "misinformation", putting those who express dissenting opinions on blacklists, labeling people extremists.

But despite all that, for the first time in the long time I feel good about the internet.

Now, I'm going to shoot myself in the foot with an example of all of the above, including the push back, which you, the audience will provide.

https://thedonald.win/p/11Q8O2wesk/happening-calling-every-pede-to-/

I am not promoting anything in that link. I haven't confirmed or validated any of that information. I am giving it as an example of the spirit of the internet I knew and love. People self organizing on their own platform, acting within the law, on projects that support their values and beliefs.

Maybe you have your own examples, from completely different political perspectives. I'd love to see them too. Maybe I'll love it, maybe I'll hate it, maybe it'll make me angry. All of that is OK.

2 comments

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> I haven't confirmed or validated any of that information

> acting within the law

Those two things seem incongruous.

> And now it's coming back. Of course the powers that be are pushing back, with a new arsenal of ammo - doxxing, labeling discussion and , putting those who express dissenting opinions on blacklists, labeling people extremists.

> Now, I'm going to shoot myself in the foot with an example of all of the above, including the push back, which you, the audience will provide.

Stating upfront that responses from the audience are considered 'push back' rather than genuine responses seems like an odd choice for someone extolling the virtues of a "true marketplace of ideas".

Perhaps it could even be considered trying to preemptively label responses as 'opinion as "misinformation"'.

I too miss the Wild West feeling of it all and it makes me happy whenever I see it.