The Internet Of Old Versus The Internet Of New

Ξ March 26th, 2006 | → 0 Comments | ∇ |

It seems every so often the internet goes to shit and everyone hates it. They hate the same old websites, same old threads, same old questions, same old everything. To make matters worse an influx of newbie’s just propagates the stigma of the above and incites people to want to go, “for the love of god SHUT THE HELL UP! Don’t you know how to search the net??” I’ve been on the brink of it myself, and indeed, it’s been noticed that some people are actually actively pursuing it. It used to be the case that the trickle of newbie’s could be handled and that repetitive questions got intermingled with the normal conversations, but as things get bigger and the internet gets smaller the scales have tipped and now everyone has read everything before and new was a term for yesterday. That’s why people users see “the state of big forums going down hill”. There seems to be a golden size; where there is enough people to post and keep it interesting, yet, not too big that it ends up as a free for all or a totalitarian stronghold. But what do you do? Adapt as you grow? Is change all bad? Surely saying that you want so-and-so back from the past and “to be how it was is like” is like asking for some sort of time travel divine paradox. You can reminisce about the “good old days” all the hell you want but if you’re looking back you’re not going forward, and yet, these same people are happy to moan and whinge, yet not want to try to change the way the posts go or find some unique content to start as threads. “The community is gone”: you are the community.

The effort is there to change it to good, to keep wanting to make where we live our home. But as underground turns to popular, turns to mass movement it seems if you can’t shout loud enough to keep yourself being heard people don’t tend to bother.

But then it’s as good as it’s managed. This is where the shit hits the fan for me cause despite knowing the people at the top and thinking they fantastic guys, there’s still stuff that irritates (not only me). It feels hard to criticise considering you know how much work is being done by them, but then, if no one says anything nothing ever changes. Playing devil’s avocet isn’t entirely fun and you’re always reaching for the right words. The last thing you want is to be voicing your concerns and your adversaries pick up on the transmission. Showing your family problems to the community is never an acceptable option, especially if it affects where you live.

However;

Is it really good that some staff take a stance where by remaining professional is keeping out of the inner forums? After all Bit was build from the community. And there are just so many levels of bureaucracy that no one outside the core knows what the hell is going on at the best of times: Core gets one lot, outside staff get another, mods get another and everyone else gets “an official statement” or, just a change when it happens. Then suddenly everyone is happy again for another 6 months the forums kind of regain a sense of normality. I used to think there was a reason for this and just not to ask about it, but it appears that here is actually quite unique to the way things are done.

It means the mods can’t do their job because we don’t know what to say, if we should say anything and if we did, is it right? SHOULD we say anything? Does posting something in one level of forum mean it’s read in another? Or listened to? Do we say anything or hope people higher up are doing their thing and keep stum? Does it even matter what we say, being the middle-men? We’re important enough to keep things running, yet, only about slightly higher up in the virtual social rankings than normies. We hold our first line of defence, which some on the inside can’t even see, and wonder why. Knocking on the walls conversation can pass through but no one can see each other. Questions are asked, why? but no one asks for fear of the reply for the respected people upstairs. “There must be a reason, surely?” the murmurs faintly vibrate through.

Logic depicts that classified information is labelled classified for a reason. That’s understandable. Blood oaths are sworn and fingerprints are taken so as the information is controlled at all times. That’s the business. But for some of us that have seen this information time and again, have been invited upstairs for chat and a cuppa, yet are then resided to standing outside again in line, what-ever level that may be, it does become disconcerting.

The effort and passion is there, I sure as hell know that because I’ve seen it. It’s just being mothered. Like a child who’s big enough to go out on their own and talk and play with other kids. Some people are allowed in, to play, but only a few at a time because the house is only so big and they need to be kept an eye on.
I couldn’t find the virtual suggestion box, you see.