| IM-ing (in its then form) with "Sleepy" in the Netherlands (me in the U.S.) in 1987. Locally in a development environment in oh, '82, '83. Sneakernetting SEDIT from an employer, a state over to campus tech support, who welcomed it. Due to my circumstances, I missed most of the BBS phenomenon. But I experienced plenty of "we're in this together" in other venues. Early Google was magical. Quality, helpful pages and sites at the top of the results. "Early" Web bulletin boards had "real", de facto (by the general capabilities and sophistication of the time), often helpful anonymity (including for "survivors" of various sorts), and focus all too often missing from today's milieu. Now -- trying not to sound elitist, but rather just particular -- the noise and banality washes out the quality that was once much more evident and prominent. The extant Net is lost to the general population and the organizations that seek to control it and exploit it. Fine, for what that is, I guess -- today's television. But not what I want. And, free and cooperative communication (even in and supporting lively but intelligent and informative dispute) I also find to be essential to a functioning society. And to those who really move that society forward -- technically and otherwise. The increasingly gated, panopticon fiber and IP address internet is less and less suited to serving this. We need other physical layers. Also, they would provide some needed competition. |