31–40 of 76 posts
The web is a garbage ecosystem now. The sad thing is that it would take only about twenty of you people, you who came across this post on HN today and are now reading this comment, to build an alternative ecosystem.
They did, it's called gemini: https://geminiprotocol.net/
I do look back at the early 90's with nostalgia. Too bad you can never go back.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
TANSTAAFL [1] One of my collaborators would say we got seduced by the idea that it wasn't about the money. That is, it was cheap enough that we could go for a while without thinking how to pay for it, then the advertising model looked like an answer. Early on one would make the comparison to advertising on TV, radio, magazines and such. Little did we know that personalized advertising would lead to something much wor…
Yes, that's where we went wrong. I feel that early on, we should have had the foresight to press the microtransaction option much harder. There could have been a widely adopted standard where you load your browser or UA with money and then individual sites visited could be given permission to debit some amount per page load, hour consumed, or whatever. I would rather pay a few cents to read an article or watch a vide…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
TANSTAAFL [1] One of my collaborators would say we got seduced by the idea that it wasn't about the money. That is, it was cheap enough that we could go for a while without thinking how to pay for it, then the advertising model looked like an answer. Early on one would make the comparison to advertising on TV, radio, magazines and such. Little did we know that personalized advertising would lead to something much wor…
Yes, that's where we went wrong. I feel that early on, we should have had the foresight to press the microtransaction option much harder. There could have been a widely adopted standard where you load your browser or UA with money and then individual sites visited could be given permission to debit some amount per page load, hour consumed, or whatever. I would rather pay a few cents to read an article or watch a vide…
Even in retrospect I'm not sure what monetisation would have been widely accepted in 1990.
Moreover, I feel like this perspective fails to acknowledge everyone globally who benefits massively from simply having access to information I take for granted - even if it is surrounded by ads.
Lastly, I get that the proliferation of apps for tangible goods is frustrating, but there is an answer...just don't purchase that item! I've passed on loads of purchases because I don't want another app. I once went to a Mariners game and forgot I had my Leatherman in my pocket. Understandably, they wouldn't let me in, but told me I could use a nearby locker which required I install an app. I gave my ticket to someone else and walked back to work. No big deal.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
TANSTAAFL [1] One of my collaborators would say we got seduced by the idea that it wasn't about the money. That is, it was cheap enough that we could go for a while without thinking how to pay for it, then the advertising model looked like an answer. Early on one would make the comparison to advertising on TV, radio, magazines and such. Little did we know that personalized advertising would lead to something much wor…
Yes, that's where we went wrong. I feel that early on, we should have had the foresight to press the microtransaction option much harder. There could have been a widely adopted standard where you load your browser or UA with money and then individual sites visited could be given permission to debit some amount per page load, hour consumed, or whatever. I would rather pay a few cents to read an article or watch a vide…
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_(web_browser)#Business_m...
we didn't need to monetize anything. you need power, a computer, and a connection, that's it. that's not too hard to pay for. they printed a bunch of money and created things we didn't need or want. .com bubble my ass. how much of those trillions over the years have actually produced value? nay, it was an easy way to build wealth and suck up printed money while they on-boarded users who will never know those times but always silently long for them. who was it that said be careful who you give your power to?
Now, FB and YouTube and Tiktok etc have gotten very good at consuming all that free time and energy.
Just a theory.
Not every was around when the web was obscure. It's hard to explain how magical that time was. The pinnacle of the web for me was Audio Galaxy. A website where you could find new music to download and even push music to your friend's computer (using the Audio Galaxy Satellite app) [1]. I spent so much time in IRC rooms and discussion forums. It wasn't doom scrolling. No one was trying to manipulate me for my time or…
I imagine people will have the same nostalgia for doom scrolling one day ;)
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They did, it's called gemini: https://geminiprotocol.net/
Where they're coming from is great but as someone unfamiliar with what it is (needs a name change in the face of Google Gemini) that landing page isn't a moving introduction to the project. (hint: The FAQ page is for follow-up questions after I've been told what the thing is and I have questions, not to tell me what the thing is)