Old-school web forums to where we are today

[Dani]

When I started DaniWeb, it was before forums were really big. I got in just at the right time. Forums and blogs dominated the early 2000s. How did we go from those days to just a handful of mega-platforms essentially controlling all discourse online? Do you think it's a good or bad thing? (And when I say a good thing, I mean because when I started DaniWeb, the big thing that set us apart was we were the first forum to put everything tech under one roof, so I can see the benefit of centralization.)

[SCBWV]

Can't contribute much. I don't have FB or Insta as I refuse to support MZ. I deleted my Twitter because I think Elon is a huge douche. Guess I'm getting radical in my old age. I do think any source being a monopoly is a bad thing. I'm greatly concerned about TV, radio, and newspapers in the US. And our government has turned into asshats that spew falsehoods and vitriol with impunity. I miss the days when they kicked a guy to the curb because he couldn't spell potato. 🤦‍♂️

[Dani]

I, personally, do not believe in the concept of boycotting products because of their owners/founders. I think you're biting your nose to spite your face. Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk don't give a <blank> if you don't use their products. But you sacrifice, and IMHO miss out on, a popular way of communicating with friends and family that's a big part of modern-day culture.

[rproffitt]

Boycotts work. Example: Disney and Jimmy Kimmel.

[Dani]

You are not a celebrity with a gigantic platform that affects hundreds of millions of people.

Also, I misspoke. I meant to say that I personally do not believe in, and would never, boycott products on principle, e.g. because of theri owners/founders. I did not mean to imply that boycotting on a massive scale never works.

[Reverend Jim]

There are a lot of people up here in Canada boycotting American products and it is causing significant hardship down south. I am not aware of any celebrities boycotting, but a hell of a lot of individuals are certainly having an impact.

[Dani]

What are we if we can’t stand on principle?

I like to think I am someone with very strong convictions. However, one of those convictions is that I do not not do something I want to do or buy something I’m interested in buying for no other reason than because I don’t like the personal beliefs or personal value system of the person who owns or who founded the product/service. For me, I find that reason baseless. Isn’t that standing on principle?

[Reverend Jim]

Elon Musk and DOGE gutted USAID (55 billion in budget cuts, staff reduced fromn 10,000 to 300), cutting of funding for HIV treatments and Ebola prevention, all the while crying FRAUD, FRAUD, FRAUD and supporting a man who is doing everything he can to destroy democracy and fill his own pockets. I don't care that driving a Tesla will mean less pollution from fossil fuels. There are alternatives that don't support Nazi sympathisizers. He is a reprehensible human being and I refuse to knowingly put one cent into his obscenely deep pockets. If you want to support him, even just implicitly, that is your choice, but after all he has done, what would it take to change your mind?

[Reverend Jim]

You are not a celebrity with a gigantic platform that affects hundreds of millions of people.

Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air, not because he is fanous with a gigantic platform. He is back on the air because thousands and thousands of non-famous people decided to vote with their wallets and cancel streaming services, etc.

[SCBWV]

@Dani I'm not inconveniencing myself by not supporting Mark or Elon. Am I hurting them? Absolutely not. But I am choosing to stand on my principles of detest of their actions. Do I want to be on FB? God no. I think people share too much as it is. You can't lament the downfall of old school forums yet think FB is the bee's knees. I miss online chatting where you can disconnect from the expectation of immediacy of casual conversation, yet I daily SMS and MMS a bunch. 🤷 Would I like to buy an EV? Possibly, but they're not practical in the hills and mountains of rural WV. They're fine in my university town, but between me and the ocean is a dearth of charging stations. If I did buy an EV, it wouldn't be a Tesla because 1) Elon; and 2) I think they're ugly and poorly assembled. They're are plenty of options, although the Trump administration is changing that.

[Reverend Jim]

they're not practical in the hills and mountains of rural WV

After reading how ill-adapted Teslas are to our Winnipeg winters, plus how poorly the driving-assist works when lane markings are obscured we decided the Tesla was a poor fit. In any case, the Prius Prime would give us the benefit of a fully EV (about 99% of our driving would be EV) plus a gas engine for the odd longer trek. Plus, being made in Japan it would not be subject to crippling Tariffs.

[Dani]

I think that's my point, though. I had said that I, personally, would never let the personal belief's of the owner of a company be the sole reason that I don't do something I want to do or buy something I want to buy. My boycott wouldn't be hurting them but I would be punishing myself. As you said, if you're not interested in using the products for other reasons, and the owner is just the cherry on the top, then that's a completely different and reasonable situation IMHO.

[Reverend Jim]

I should add that it's not his personal beliefs I care about. It's his public actions.

[rproffitt]

Beyond belief we have the actions of the company owners. Throwing NAZI salutes and cutting life saving agencies is enough for me to walk away and boycott.

But hey, for some that's not enough. Even rape isn't the line in the sand for them!

[Dani]

Getting back on track, does anyone here use any of the popular social media platforms that seem to have replaced old-school forums? Reddit? Facebook? Any complaints about the founder(s) of RDDT?

[Reverend Jim]

I've been on reddit a few times to ask Oculus Quest questions. I hate the interface and haven't been back in many months. I do not go on Facebook or twitter/x or any other social media platform. Just Daniweb.

[Dani]

My perspective is from someone who is much more engrained in Reddit/Meta/X, both as a user and as an advertiser.

[Dani]

... although I do have to say I am honored that DaniWeb is the only social platform you're active on.

[SCBWV]

I use DaniWeb and READ one programming forum because even after using 2 different email addresses, the automated registration process never sent the confirmation email. 😡 I agree with Jim; I am not fond of the Reddit interface. I might visit if a search sends me to a page that might hold the answer I need.