š¾ Archived View for chesteryang.flounder.online āŗ Whygeminiwhynow.gmi captured on 2023-09-28 at 15:31:51. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
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I find myself gravitating toward Gemini more and more these days. My internet journey began in the era of Bulletin Board Systems (BBS). Over time, trends shifted from BBS to IRC, America Online, Prodigy, Compuserve, AIM, Friendster, Napster, Facebook, Instagram, and now messenger programs. I had forgotten the rush I used to get from discovering new BBSes and message boards. It's crazy because I asked the IT guy at work if he knows of any good local BBSes. He was like, "What's that?" I guess they missed that era and jumped straight to Google and broadband when the infrastructure was laid down.
One day, I was watching a C- vlog that kept advertising its digital tip jar for donations. It was then that I realized how, gradually, every HTTP page has evolved to separate users from their coin. Fast forward to what I call "peak internet," specifically the years 2020 and 2021. With the world in lockdown, people were glued to their devices 24/7. The internet became so central to everyone's lives that real-world violence and hatred began spilling over from the virtual world. It blew my mind...how could anybody take the internet so seriously?
For me, the internet is not real life. Unfortunately, I'm in the minority with this view. In today's climate, a simple act such as liking a post can have serious real-world implicationsāpeople lose jobs, face imprisonment, or worse. During this period, I observed that this was "peak internet," where the best memes, political coverage, wild videos, news cycles, shock content, and social movements all seemed to converge. This intensity was reflected in the peak stock prices of big tech companies during those years.
After such an intense series of events, using the internet now feels dull; everything seems to have been said before. It's like when hard rock and glam rock faded away into grunge. The 1980s felt like a giant party. What followed was very underwhelming. I discovered Gemini about two years ago and have been lurking ever since. I appreciate its old-school vibe, its low-tech approach, and its organic feel.
Lately, I've been scaling back my online activities, especially as we move past 2020 and 2021. Gemini provides me with a renewed sense of exploration and sets a barrier to entry that keeps normies in their HTTP containment zones. Currently, I'm in the process of setting up my own server on a Raspberry Pi. I do not have a tech background, so this is a bit challenging for me. There are many new vocabulary words and technical terms that I'm becoming acquainted with. I plan to have it operational by year's end.
Going forward, I want to have a smaller footprint on the internet. I am enjoying encrypted messaging apps like Signal and Telegram. I'm greatly disappointed that Jitsi Meet now requires a Google account to log in. Awful. The only tech I carry is my wonderful Punkt MP03. I've limited my internet exposure to my desktop, where I run Mint to periodically explore Agora Roads, kagi.com, and marginalia.nu, which emphasize the importance of the personal web.
So, why Gemini and why now? I'm searching for somethingā a feeling that the old internet used to provideā that has been lost in the modern, commercialized web. I miss the wild west nature of the early internet. I was there, man! While I've moved past the stage of downloading free software, hacks, and gore videos, there remains a certain magic that platforms like Gemini provide. This magic is also, from what I understand, can be found in federated social media, though I have yet to fully explore that realm. Mostly because I have nothing to say. I dont like how some Gemini sites can be accessed on http-focused browsers; it takes away from the exclusivity of Gemini. Using Amfora is my favorite way to browse. I am creating a new relationship with the internet out of the ashes of 2020/2021 and will I will continue to keep Gemini in my regular rotation.