i remember finding a web site dedicated to dart fletchings. i don't play darts but i was thrilled to see that any interest, no matter how niche, could be shared with anyone else interested.
hits/likes, influencers, ad auctions, etc. have definitely not improved the internet.
@paul_ipv6 @futurebird I still have a couple of "forums" discussing niche interests that I visit once in a while, but it's fewer every year. All of the communities that were spread around are now all just "groups" on Facebook or sub-Reddits.
The entire web feels somehow homogenized. It's as if the internet transformed from an interesting shopping district into a bland strip mall.
i deleted facebook completely about 7 years ago. sadly, there are still groups and city/state official agencies that only use facebook that i can't see or access.
not progress.
@paul_ipv6 @futurebird I really wanted to leave it, but family and stuff. I left Amazon, and I'm de-googling, so Facebook is on my to-do list.
Jul 1, 2026, 7:43 PM@Ambulocetus @paul_ipv6 @futurebird who remembers stumbleupon
@discobeez @Ambulocetus @futurebird
i have memory of web "rings" and one option was to get sent to a random site in the ring. it was fun. kind of like sitting down with a random volume of the encyclopedia, opening to a random page and just reading. ;)
@paul_ipv6 @discobeez @futurebird
I remember Webrings and stumbleupon. Everything was new and exciting back then.
@Ambulocetus @paul_ipv6 @discobeez @futurebird A few of us recently started a new one: https://human-made.site/
@derickr @paul_ipv6 @discobeez @futurebird
That's pretty cool. I will promote this.
@paul_ipv6 @futurebird There's a fantastic web site about shoelace knots:
https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/
(I went looking when I decided I needed to learn to tie my boot laces better so I didn't have to take my gloves off and re-tie them when it's -30.)