I grew up in BFN Dakota Territory and in 2005, getting my own computer was my portal to the rest of the world. I've since had real adventures and enjoyed life, but the internet has always been my place to escape from everything and delve into hyperspecific conversations with people from around the globe, but that hardly exists anymore.
More people have internet access than ever before, but the whole internet feels more vacant than it ever was. The Chans are dead and full of bots, Reddit isn't far behind, the old forums are dead, and I just want to have an in-depth conversation with real people. Am I to believe that everyone on the planet has packed into 10 short-form social media platforms and nothing else? Nobody wants to share ideas that require more than 200 characters?
I guess this is how people in the CB Radio hobby felt in the recent past, and pen-pals too, but what has replaced it?