I hear your points, and I too yearn for the "good old" internet of yore. The days when the 'weird side of the internet' was the main side. However, two observa

I hear your points, and I too yearn for the "good old" internet of yore. The days when the 'weird side of the internet' was the main side. However, two observations: 1. removing the commercial interests doesn't stop even half the trouble. Aside of commerce, there is activism, there is politics, and there is social tribalism. You can't even meaningfully remove those. Given that those three stay, the commercial part allows a counter-balance to the ideological and tribal concerns. 2. the healthiest communities are the ones that don't shy away from gatekeeping. With communities and gatekeeping being the key words. Check out IRC, the Eternal September seems to be fading away and already half way gone. Heck, even HN is a half decent example of a community that self-improves through gatekeeping.