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You have reached the end of the internet (2006)

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Re: You have reached the end of the internet (2006)

#31

It was fun while it lasted. For me the high point was Fark or maybe Homestar and the low point was obviosuly Facebook... or maybe the end of Democracy.

Interesting how internet boosters in the late 90s/early 2000s told us the internet would revitalize democracy by making it so anyone could publish. I'm not aware of a single cynic who successfully predicted how things actually ended up turning out. Nor have I seen much of an attempt to revisit those early predictions.

Earth by David Brin and Ender’s Game made some predictions in this area

Re: You have reached the end of the internet (2006)

#32

It was fun while it lasted. For me the high point was Fark or maybe Homestar and the low point was obviosuly Facebook... or maybe the end of Democracy.

The high point was the original useless pages (especially the uselessness of pi.) Its been downhill since then.

Re: You have reached the end of the internet (2006)

#33

It was fun while it lasted. For me the high point was Fark or maybe Homestar and the low point was obviosuly Facebook... or maybe the end of Democracy.

A good friend of mine, god honest truth, met his now-wife on Fark less than three years ago. Sure is somethin.

Re: You have reached the end of the internet (2006)

#34

It was fun while it lasted. For me the high point was Fark or maybe Homestar and the low point was obviosuly Facebook... or maybe the end of Democracy.

Interesting how internet boosters in the late 90s/early 2000s told us the internet would revitalize democracy by making it so anyone could publish. I'm not aware of a single cynic who successfully predicted how things actually ended up turning out. Nor have I seen much of an attempt to revisit those early predictions.

RMS has seen our troubles with non-free software as early as in 80s. What he has not predict that the software has find even more cruel way of shipping - disservices which do not even allow the freedom 0.

BTW the statement about democracy is not a lie - everyone knows some big and small revolutions happened after someone's post in social networks. Also such things as anonymous news sources, torrents and bitcoin has democraticized a whole lot of things in our lives.

Re: You have reached the end of the internet (2006)

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting how internet boosters in the late 90s/early 2000s told us the internet would revitalize democracy by making it so anyone could publish. I'm not aware of a single cynic who successfully predicted how things actually ended up turning out. Nor have I seen much of an attempt to revisit those early predictions.

Earth by David Brin and Ender’s Game made some predictions in this area

I vaguely remember “The Nets” in Enders game but not how they functioned. What about Card’s portrayal did you find prescient?

Re: You have reached the end of the internet (2006)

#37

It was fun while it lasted. For me the high point was Fark or maybe Homestar and the low point was obviosuly Facebook... or maybe the end of Democracy.

Do you realise we have never had 'democracy' - we have 'representative democracy', a totally different thing. Thousands, perhaps millions of people, vote once every 4-5 years for one person to represent them on thousands of governmental decisions. That person is under no constraints to do what they said to gain your vote either - they can do the exact opposite with no repercussion.

Voting as we have it, is a highly abstract, meta "democracy", with 'the will of the people' effecting a meaningless level of force on the tiller. As per the design.

Re: You have reached the end of the internet (2006)

#39

It was fun while it lasted. For me the high point was Fark or maybe Homestar and the low point was obviosuly Facebook... or maybe the end of Democracy.

Do you realise we have never had 'democracy' - we have 'representative democracy', a totally different thing. Thousands, perhaps millions of people, vote once every 4-5 years for one person to represent them on thousands of governmental decisions. That person is under no constraints to do what they said to gain your vote either - they can do the exact opposite with no repercussion. Voting as we have it, is a highly a…

[deleted]

Re: You have reached the end of the internet (2006)

#40

It was fun while it lasted. For me the high point was Fark or maybe Homestar and the low point was obviosuly Facebook... or maybe the end of Democracy.

Interesting how internet boosters in the late 90s/early 2000s told us the internet would revitalize democracy by making it so anyone could publish. I'm not aware of a single cynic who successfully predicted how things actually ended up turning out. Nor have I seen much of an attempt to revisit those early predictions.

"AI will democratize education and information access as everyone will have their own personal tutor and librarian!"

History repeats

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