17 votes

The Internet Free Zone

Tags: internet

7 comments

  1. [5]
    bloup
    Link
    I found this page after becoming quite disillusioned with the state of the technology industry. It just feels so eerie reading this guy's words from the late 90s, completely unaware of just how...

    I found this page after becoming quite disillusioned with the state of the technology industry. It just feels so eerie reading this guy's words from the late 90s, completely unaware of just how horrifically right about everything he would wind up being. Maybe it's time to start talking about the Internet Free Zone again... tildes.net is definitely part of it!

    8 votes
    1. [4]
      Grzmot
      Link Parent
      Problem with that is that is keeping websites online costs money. Tildes is relatively cheap, because it's purely text-based and will stay that way (barring significant changes I cannot foresee)....

      Problem with that is that is keeping websites online costs money. Tildes is relatively cheap, because it's purely text-based and will stay that way (barring significant changes I cannot foresee). This means that running it on donations as a non-profit is actually feasible.

      You can't do that with Youtube, and a site like Youtube is very much demanded. People have become so accustomed to free* services on the internet that building an actual competitor to big services is a huge problem. Even Youtube itself is apparently barely profitable, which is why no other company has challenged Google with a competitor. Youtube doesn't even provide a wealth of data like Facebook or other social media. Most people on their are purely there to consume. And a new company can't get their foot in the door because it would probably have to be something based on a monthly subscription, and from there on you're in hot water cause if people pay to access your stuff, how come to creators aren't just employees?

      TL;DR: It's a rabbit hole.

      9 votes
      1. [3]
        ubergeek
        Link Parent
        And yet, PeerTube works, and can on donation basis. The profit motive is the problem. As for "It's only text based", more of the internet should be just text based. Most non-text based content is...

        You can't do that with Youtube, and a site like Youtube is very much demanded.

        And yet, PeerTube works, and can on donation basis.

        The profit motive is the problem.

        As for "It's only text based", more of the internet should be just text based. Most non-text based content is either overt, or subtle advertising.

        13 votes
        1. [2]
          Grzmot
          Link Parent
          At this point, moving the users over to a new platform is also a significant challenge, though it's probably easier with Youtube than with other social media. You'd have to get the creators on...

          The profit motive is the problem.

          At this point, moving the users over to a new platform is also a significant challenge, though it's probably easier with Youtube than with other social media. You'd have to get the creators on PeerTube in one big wave or people will simply stay on Youtube because they're comfortable. Even worse, they might look for other creators in the same niche on Youtube and stay permanently. People are comfortable that way.

          3 votes
          1. ubergeek
            Link Parent
            No disagreement there. My only point really is that it can be done (A new service) based on donations only.

            No disagreement there. My only point really is that it can be done (A new service) based on donations only.

  2. rkcr
    Link
    Critical note I missed on first reading, at the top of the page:

    Critical note I missed on first reading, at the top of the page:

    NOTE: I keep this old page on my site to remind me how idealistic I was about the Internet, many years ago.

    5 votes
  3. xstresedg
    Link
    This was a beautiful sight this morning. :)

    This was a beautiful sight this morning. :)

    1 vote