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I'm grateful for the conveniences that the modern Web gives me, but I'm not a big fan of where modern web technologies have taken us. Since you are reading this on Gemini, you probably already know what I'm talking about.
To me personally, the Web is mainly about textual content and hyperlinks. Gemini is the most straight forward expression of this idea that I could find. And it fosters this mindset in the people who use it. I already use Markdown to generate content for my static HTTP page, so Gemini feels like a formalized version of that.
In this regard, I completely agree with Drew DeVault's view on the philosophy of Gemini:
Gemini is a read-only protocol for hyperlinked content distribution.
This is what drew me to Gemini. The protocol is designed in such a way that it discourages the type of abuse that we see on the World Wide Web. And I really hope it stays that way. Gemini doesn't need to replace the Web. It can be its own thing.
I guess people have developed a high tolerance for the little annoyances that plague the modern Web. They are willing to jump through hoops to fulfill their consumption needs. The idea that you can refuse the terms and conditions, and abstain from consumption, seems foreign to most people.
This is why trying to popularize Gemini, or the values of Gemini, is an uphill battle. There is no value proposition. You already have to have a certain mindset to accept the limitations that Gemini imposes on you. Not to mention that it's not very accessible, at least not yet.