Yet because of the big 6's need to be exactly like each other to compete in the market, we've all been left the consequence of sameness and features of all of their competitors imitated in order to dominate our attention spans.
I've been having similar thoughts for a while. Those platforms are like Victorinox knifes - overloaded with functions, but none of the tools are good enough to really use. Seriously, who'd use the scissors on a pen knife, if they knew about real scissors?
This feels like the old internet.
Yes! Thanks for putting my feeling into words! The signal-to-noise ratio is so much better here than on FB and the Bird Place. When i read the words "old internet" I realized what feels so good about Hive: it reminds me of calling up BBS's or joining web forums, taking part in discussions on anything from Star Trek to cooking, where there seldom were any troll comments or spam.
One thing I recall about the BBSs I frequented is that since they usually only had one or two phone lines, they didn't want someone to just call in and stay all day, keeping everybody else from getting in, so people were disconnected after reaching 10-15 minutes, and then not allowed in again until next day. But by adding content - posting in the forums, uploading texts and freeware apps etc - one could earn extra minutes. Kind of like how Hive works: by posting and interacting with others one earns HP which allows one to interact even more!
So glad you see it the same way! Definitely a better signal-to-noise ratio. It's so relieving to not feel like every single post is going to make people lose their shit in the comments, debating over who has the better opinion and who's better informed. I think it's pushed us in the complete opposite direction of progress. It's not making life better for anyone, of any demographic, just putting more emphasis on the most controversial takes that wouldn't have even had a voice in a prior version of the internet... just to get dismissed as trolls.
I remember a time when even the time "internet troll" didn't equate to completely verbally beating someone into submission, alignment with hate groups or threats of hate crimes, but was just some rando asshole on the internet that you might have to deal with once or twice a day, if you'd even come across one at all in a given week. Now, with social engineering protocols that loveeee conflict because it means higher engagement, the worst people get the loudest voices, and have the power to make more people align with them. It's turned everyone into a cyberbully.
Just so done with these times of teetering towards the edge of oblivion.
Of course every post is going to make someone lose their shit! Only, here, people have learned that it's better to go to the loo and do it in private. Like the old saying "If you don't have anything positive to say, keep quiet." Disagreements turn into discussions instead of crap-wars.
I'm pretty new here too, so don't take what I say for gospel, it's just my experience of Hive so far. I saw that @anggreklestari was the one who told you about making the intro post and all. Listen to her, add a little more chili and garlic to taste, and you'll do great. Heh, not that I doubt it with your job background - and I believe I speak for all of Hive when I say: welcome to the other side. Teach us how we can use those marketing things without being devious, tell us how they work and what to watch out for... I'd better stop now before this page turns into an everscrolling neverending thing.
I've been curious about how Hive is getting marketed out, or whether it was considered good etiquette to promote the platform as a way to hopefully convince more people to ditch the big 6. If more people knew about this site's existence, there would be more incentive to leave. However, at the same time... do we really want everyone moving here, even the hyperradicalizede? Hard to say what the ideal way to get more people to turn to the side is.