Check out the gemini protocol: https://geminiprotocol.net/
It kinda fills that niche of the "old web".
Comment on No JS, No CSS, No HTML: online "clubs" celebrate plainer websites
Absaroka@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
I do wonder if we’re going to see some websites popping up that kind of hit the reset button on social media and go back to smaller communities of folks with something in common.
I kind of miss the days of actually having online conversations with folks you know are real people (not bots), that aren’t trying to be an influencer, or get famous, or some how many money off your interactions.
blah3166@piefed.social 4 weeks ago
ICastFist@programming.dev 4 weeks ago
The main downside is that you need a specific browser, or an extension for your average browser, to load gemini sites.
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 weeks ago
And they purposely hobbled certain things people want, like inline links and images. Some clients will do it anyway, but it’s against the collective wishes of the developers.
If I wanted to track people on Gemini, I could totally do it. It’d just be in a more server-to-server way than how its evolved on HTTP (pixel trackers and such).
Melvin_Ferd@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Is there any way to go back to running these things on an old Dell in the corner of a bedroom next to a fire extinguisher?
That’s when we have truly won
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
There is indeed
mesamunefire@piefed.social 4 weeks ago
That would be nice.
lIlIllIlIIIllIlIlII@lemmy.zip 4 weeks ago
I know some some communities using WhatsApp. Too difficult to get in. I miss the old days of irc and small php forums.
meejle@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
I think it’ll happen, but I don’t think it’s happening yet.
The unease is already there (“the internet used to be a place”/“why isn’t the internet fun any more?” sentiments and #OldWeb #SlowWeb hashtags), but I don’t think people are ready to do anything about it.
I’m only one guy, with a small internet following, but I recently had a go at launching a small “Gaymers” webring (well, a simplified version of one). I promoted it on my socials, I laid out why I think it’s a good idea, I paid to “Blaze” it on Tumblr – I even emailed some like-minded creators directly.
I rewrote the webpage multiple times, to try to make it more persuasive and more concise. I added a contact form in case people felt uncomfortable emailing me. I loosened the rules to allow commercial websites, as long as they were still independent. I worked hard on the widget and incorporated feedback (made it respect
prefers-reduced-motionand made a static version for sites where animation would feel out of place).I got some good feedback; lots of people said it was interesting, and a good idea. But literally no one joined or expressed any interest in joining. 🤷♂️
I’m going to have one more go at promoting it next time I’ve got money to spare, but I’ll most likely end up quietly deleting it along with any evidence it existed, because a webring of one is fucking embarrassing. 💀
I guess if you build it, they will not necessarily come lmao
mesamunefire@piefed.social 4 weeks ago
You may have more luck with neocities and their sites. Lots of webrings around there and a lot of people having fun.
TerHu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 weeks ago
i love the idea of hosting sites as part of a ring, but i don’t love the idea of having to add my full name and address in the about section, which i’d be legally required to do… i think that’s part of the issue for some people at least.
mesamunefire@piefed.social 4 weeks ago
Where are you seeing that? I only see email address.
Jesus_666@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
“Legally required”, so they’re seeing it in the local laws. Some countries require websites to disclose who operates them.
For example, in Germany, websites are subject to the DDG (Digitale-Dienste-Gesetz, “digital services law”). Under this law they are subject to the same disclosure requirements as print media. At a minimum, this includes the full name, address, and email address. Website updated by companies or for certain purposes can need much more stuff in there.
Your website must have a complete imprint that can easily and obviously be reached from any part of the website and is explicitly called “imprint”.
These rules are meaningless to someone hosting a website in Kenya, Australia, or Canada. But if you run a website in Germany you’d better familiarize yourself with them.
MagicShel@lemmy.zip 4 weeks ago
I’ve been thinking about something like this but I’m not gay or really much of a gamer any more, so… different webrings I guess.
jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 4 weeks ago
I love this idea. Do you mind if I promote it with some queer folks I know?
Myself I’m pretty straight and don’t have a website, but maybe one day.
meejle@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
I’d love it if you did that! Thanks!