the real tragedy of the internet isn't that we can't go back to small websites/forums/etc, we totally can. There's just no ability to support these small websites with ads alone anymore, so you either have to charge a fee or resort to shitty tactics to stay alive.

for sites that can survive with a fee-only system, this is not a big deal. Unfortunately many people cannot or will not pay for most things, which is pretty understandable on the margin. Tech feudalism (earn loyalty with "free") is going to get stronger as a result, though.

I know these tweets are borderline incoherent, just had this anxious brain loop on repeat for a long while now. Play hypnospace outlaw!