A decentralized web would give power back to the people online

Post by ocdtrekkie » Sun, Oct 09, 2016, 2:32 PM UTC

Scirra_Tom wrote: post #44

imglorp wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The centralization is a good point, but I wanted to ask about why > we don't have liberal newspapers anymore in the U.S. Most conservatives would say the papers and media outlets are _all_ liberal. Would you expand on that spectrum? > it's unethical to surf the web without using an adblocker It's also unethical to insert malware into ads, or to hire syndication services that allow it. I'll continue to block until tha…

> Most conservatives would say the papers and media outlets are _all_ liberal. Would you expand on that spectrum? Really? Isn't Fox ranked at like number 2? If anyone think that's liberal they need to realign their gauges

Post by kowdermeister » Sun, Oct 09, 2016, 2:34 PM UTC

Alex3917 wrote: post #4

The real issue is that we need to make it illegal to give out free content, unless it's distributed under an open license. Otherwise advertising-supported businesses will always be able to outcompete everyone else via dumping, and these businesses always benefit from being increasingly centralized. That's why we don't have liberal newspapers anymore in the U.S., because ad supported papers put them all out of busines…

Post by ocdtrekkie » Sun, Oct 09, 2016, 2:37 PM UTC

keyle wrote: post #14

dcposch wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Switching from Facebook to, say, Diaspora or something is more than just "slightly inconvenient". One of them has all of my friends on it and the other has none. -- Two ideas for how we can help decentralization win. 1. Don't just clone an existing app. The two decentralized protocols with the most adoption by far are Bitcoin and BitTorrent. Both of them have capabilities that no centralized system can match. Same wi…

I'm totally with you on number 2 - but don't those things require money? UX, design, consistent look, all require money. And honestly, the press is a lot more likely to talk about you if you have money invested and shiny offices. To get such things, you have to have a profoundly interesting argument to investors, which usually does not rhyme with "we want to free the people, privacy, etc". There are, of course, excep…

Post by CalRobert » Sun, Oct 09, 2016, 2:38 PM UTC

reitanqild wrote: post #43

chestnut-tree wrote: post #35

A real barrier to a decentralised web is the difficulty of installing software on a server. I know that sounds really mundane and inconsequential in the broader debate about a decentralised web, but consider the following... Imagine if installing a server-side chat app, message board, project management app, or CMS were as easy as installing a desktop app. In a desktop app, it's usually one click to start the install…

Living billboard arrives to announce, drumroll please : sandstorm.io The auto updating server that you can self-host or use as a hosted service, allowing you to install and uninstall lots of applications, both free and proprietary, just by clicking the button. (No, not paid to tell this unless you count the stickers I got. And no, not perfect but still a refreshing change.)

Post by jasode » Sun, Oct 09, 2016, 2:41 PM UTC

dredmorbius wrote: post #22

susurrus wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Newspapers have always been ad supported. They charged for the paper, yes, but they always depended on ad revenue to survive.

Actually, not so much. There was some but largely limited advertising in the 19th century, but the start date was February of 1860, when The Atlantic accepted its first print ad. The practice exploded in the late 19th and early 20th century, with the rise of the factory process and widespread distribution networks, such that goods could be centrally produced and sold in distant markets. Alexander Holt discussed this…