I don't like the internet nowadays.

[👁⁓Rteam⁓👁]

I mean it's always been toxic, but I feel like it was less toxic back then. I feel like the internet gotten more toxic ever since 2020. People are attacking eachother for no reason. Like people attack someone just because a person said something or done something even if the thing said/done is a good thing. I don't want to have to deal with being harassed, and getting hate to the point I get paranoid/scared/panicky/feel unsafe, and have to take a break from the internet. I just hope the internet gets better..

[Saturnalia]

I don't think internet is really toxic place. Maybe you are too sensitive?

[Naedmi]

You think it's bad now? It's all downhill from here.

[Uncle Sam]

Originally posted by Rumpelcrutchskin:

Originally posted by LilBlkCloud:

You seem like a quality person, so I'm going to tell it to you straight: you're going to have to take a break from the Internet. For your mental health. At the very least, you're going to have to quit social media, because your mental health is going to continue to degrade until you start questioning whether life is worth living anymore, or at least whether it's worth trying to be happy anymore.

I grew up through the advent and modernization of the Internet, so I see where it's going. Without fundamental change, and I'm talking change that requires removing anonymity, it's only going to get worse. Sweeping regulation is required, and anonymity needs to be removed.

With those two things, the removal of anonymity across the board especially, people will behave better, more responsibly.

They'll start thinking before they click 'Post'. That's really all it takes. Until that time, yeah, this is only going to get worse.

Anonymity worked during the advent of the Internet because 1) we were dealing with much less people, so bad actors were less frequently occurring, and 2) society as a whole was different; it was certainly better behaved than it is today.

A lot of people don't like this take, but they know it's true. They don't like the idea of giving up anonymity because they know they'll be 'exposed'. But what's the difference between engaging online and engaging in-person?

It's simple: We behave more in-person because everyone can 'see' us. If we do/say something horrible, we just may have to answer for it, and have to explain ourselves. Not so on the Internet.

That has to change.

This is the only actual solution and it will come to that sooner or later.

That's the chinese govt solution of removing anonymity. Didn't change much, since the social credit score is what does the most work to make the system enforcement somewhat viable.

Edit: Also with AI tech identity theft might get even more common than before, among many other shenaningans.

[AustrAlien2010]

I have to admit, it's kind of heartwarming to see all these monstrous avatars coming together discussing how they can be more nice.
It's like that movie Monsters, Inc.

[Good Night Owl]

Ever since 2020? Were you not here in Leafyishere's hay day? The dude was basically bully incarnate, and the internet worshiped him.

[Ni-Neith]

Originally posted by HarleyIsntReal:

it won't... and it never will...

Well, why will it never happen?
China and North Korea are moving in this direction
that's already one and a half billion inhabitants

[Fuki]

Originally posted by NW/RL:

Originally posted by LilBlkCloud:

With those two things, the removal of anonymity across the board especially

I will use the dark web exclusively if this comes to pass

Actually sounds like a good idea. "Feared" parts of the internet such as 4chan and Tor usually repel normies from coming near them, that and the fact that Tor comes with anonymity automatically.

Originally posted by Pronnu:

Originally posted by LilBlkCloud:

"Hello fellow kids. I'm one of those cool older people! I got to experience the internet when it was still good! I'm here to tell you, that you should get rid of your freedoms, okay? Opposing free speech and anonymity is what the cool kids do!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1UtRnGn5hc

🤣🤣🤣

[Yew Nough]

A few things to factor in:

-Social media on the internet was small-scale back in the early 2000's and prior
-State-sponsored troll farms were either lesser-known or had little presence during that time
-Most were still getting their news from television/newspapers/magazines instead of tiktok/youtube/etc
-Corporations now own most social platforms and monetize off of excessive use of them, contributing to internet addiction

-You had to be computer-savvy to use the internet; now it's streamlined so any idiot with a smartphone can tap a few buttons and share his/her brainrot.

The internet was more modest back then, now we're swimming in trash.
If adblockers didn't exist, it would be even worse.

[Fuki]

Originally posted by Yew Nough:

A few things to factor in:

-Social media on the internet was small-scale back in the early 2000's and prior
-State-sponsored troll farms were either lesser-known or had little presence during that time
-Most were still getting their news from television/newspapers/magazines instead of tiktok/youtube/etc
-Corporations now own most social platforms and monetize off of excessive use of them, contributing to internet addiction

-You had to be computer-savvy to use the internet; now it's streamlined so any idiot with a smartphone can tap a few buttons and share his/her brainrot.

The internet was more modest back then, now we're swimming in trash.
If adblockers didn't exist, it would be even worse.

[Ni-Neith]

Originally posted by Yew Nough:

A few things to factor in:

-Social media on the internet was small-scale back in the early 2000's and prior

This is not entirely true.
At that time, the Internet resembled a forum or a primitive social network.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin_board_system

[Yew Nough]

Originally posted by PC director:

Originally posted by Yew Nough:

A few things to factor in:

-Social media on the internet was small-scale back in the early 2000's and prior

This is not entirely true.
At that time, the Internet resembled a forum or a primitive social network.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin_board_system

We agree: Bulletin boards was small-scale and basic, especially when compared to what it is today.

Keystrokes and ASI art were the only means of communication through it

[Fuki]

Originally posted by PC director:

Originally posted by Yew Nough:

A few things to factor in:

-Social media on the internet was small-scale back in the early 2000's and prior

This is not entirely true.
At that time, the Internet resembled a forum or a primitive social network.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin_board_system

Not on the same level as six degrees, friendsters, or myspace doe

[Ni-Neith]

Originally posted by Fuki:

Not on the same level as six degrees, friendsters, or myspace doe

But you can't imagine how exciting it was,
when the modem connected to the telephone line started beeping and the answers to the questions on the forum that you asked a couple of days ago were displayed on the computer screen.

Now it has become such a commonplace and usual phenomenon that it rarely evokes any emotions.

[Jeff]

Originally posted by Rumpelcrutchskin:

Originally posted by LilBlkCloud:

You seem like a quality person, so I'm going to tell it to you straight: you're going to have to take a break from the Internet. For your mental health. At the very least, you're going to have to quit social media, because your mental health is going to continue to degrade until you start questioning whether life is worth living anymore, or at least whether it's worth trying to be happy anymore.

I grew up through the advent and modernization of the Internet, so I see where it's going. Without fundamental change, and I'm talking change that requires removing anonymity, it's only going to get worse. Sweeping regulation is required, and anonymity needs to be removed.

With those two things, the removal of anonymity across the board especially, people will behave better, more responsibly.

They'll start thinking before they click 'Post'. That's really all it takes. Until that time, yeah, this is only going to get worse.

Anonymity worked during the advent of the Internet because 1) we were dealing with much less people, so bad actors were less frequently occurring, and 2) society as a whole was different; it was certainly better behaved than it is today.

A lot of people don't like this take, but they know it's true. They don't like the idea of giving up anonymity because they know they'll be 'exposed'. But what's the difference between engaging online and engaging in-person?

It's simple: We behave more in-person because everyone can 'see' us. If we do/say something horrible, we just may have to answer for it, and have to explain ourselves. Not so on the Internet.

That has to change.

This is the only actual solution and it will come to that sooner or later.

I just hope it happens in my lifetime so I can enjoy free engagement again.

[Xero_Daxter]

Maybe if anonymity wasn’t a thing maybe people will watch what they say. Just imagine saying some racist stuff online and then you can just click their profile and see their face.

But hey… that’s just a dream. Lol.