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I completely agree with your assessment. Everyone from the 1990s to the 2010s chose their poison and the strings that came attached. I myself will even admit to

I completely agree with your assessment. Everyone from the 1990s to the 2010s chose their poison and the strings that came attached. I myself will even admit to it as I seek to correct my own course. However, a dangerous trend (likely one that's always existed but is now rearing its ugly head) is the imposition of multiple, contradictory views from cultures, governments, interest groups onto those who don't wish to be involved. What's the solution to those who wish to return to the freewheeling heyday of the BBS, Usenet, and Internet forums? Where does one go after shattering the garden wall?

nickelcitymario 5y ago
There's literally nothing stopping us from using them again. Usenet is still a thing. Forum software still exists and continues to be maintained. I never used BBS, but I can't see why it can't be brought back. The problem is that dreaded network effect. We can choose differently, but if all your friends choose the walled garden, you're left out in the cold. No one's forcing you to do anything, but it sure gets lonely, doesn't it? So we follow the crowd. But we can start the exodus any time we want, and maybe others will follow. Maybe when enough of us do so, we'll reach a tipping point and the network effects can work to our benefit.