Ingwie Phoenix (aka. birb) - Nostr Hypermedia

wtf are you doing??? O_o

About twenty-five years ago, I met a new person. They were excited, full of energy, ideas and dreams alike. The goals were lofty but you'd believe him because he got that "I can do this" attitude. Skull thick as a rock and a mentality to boost. As the years go by and I met him day in and day out, He was always there, had an open ear, and an open mind too. Discussing things were easy-going with him - even terrible jokes were totally fine because they were jokes...they were fkn funny. But, as the years went by, I started to notice that he became weaker. His goals a little less lofty, his energy a little less present too. And before I knew it, what was once a bright soul, was now a dull lightbulb. And in the next moment, he was put into hospital. But even then, he would smile, wave, dream. He did not yield, and did not want to give up just yet! ...however, his illness did not let him prosper any further. Soon, he was on life-support. Allmost out of nowhere. And, now, when I visited him, he still smiles at me, meekly even, giving me a wave and trying to show me the warmth I got to know him for and with. He wants to listen, to dream and even to fight his illness - but his strength is going away day by day. Recently, I checked in on him, and he is looking terrible - in fact, he is looking terrified. Because he himself is realizing just how much he has lost over just about twenty years. He might not make the thirty as it is - at least, he now thinks so. He is dying - and completely aware. Now, this is a metaphor, not a real friend I have. However, this is exactly how I feel...about the internet. The open, free internet, that I got deeply into in 2004/2005 when we had our first DSL line and WiFi AP, when I discovered LimeWire and DDL sites - when I stumbled and fumbled into the furry community and as that one got destroyed by a druggie, learned programming and server administration, all the while talking freely, exploring, learning. StackOverflow always has been toxic - but a damn good resource, still. Now, in 2026, I look at the internet, and it really does feel like a dear friend of me is dying. Eaten alive by (corporate) greed, bound down and chained by laws and bans, (ab)used by people that were destined to help him but now instead take full advantage of him for their own gain. And... I can do nothing about it. I hate it. Deeply. Twitter becoming X brought me here, Reddit API desaster and subsequent blackout showed me the importance of the whole platform and Discord kicking off the ID verification bullshit feels like just another nail in the coffin. Well that...and the age verification legislative ravine. Fuck Theil. Fuck Altman. Fuck Nadella. Fuck Trump. Fuck Merz. Just fuck all those million-/billion-/trillionaires. Your foundation was the freedom of speech and communication and now you weaponize it? Shame on you. I hope that when you die, my "friend" gets to punch you in the dick. A lot. Daily. Constantly. Go to hell.