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It's the structure/topology. Discord has a million deserted "servers" with redundant general channels. Peak IRC had a dozen or so large networks that often bun
by sho_hn 3y ago
It's the structure/topology.
Discord has a million deserted "servers" with redundant general channels. Peak IRC had a dozen or so large networks that often bundled a lot of e.g. adjacent FOSS projects. The chances of running into someone interesting a la the article anecdote was just higher.
Discord is a massive net negative for chatting on the internet because of this flaw imho.
- skeaker 3y agoThis wasn't my experience with IRC. Our channel only ever had thirty people tops before being swallowed by discord. It's got the same discovery/accessibility issues that the Windows vs Linux issue has. Want Windows/Discord? Google Windows/Discord, first result, done. Want Linux/IRC? Weeeell, first you're going to have to find a distro/client. There's no singular trusted expert and everyone disagrees on what's best, so you better pick one and pray it was the right choice. Oh, you'll also have to configure it a bit, or a lot if you chose the wrong one.
- sho_hn 3y ago> This wasn't my experience with IRC. The thing is, my experience is different, but of course similarly anecdotal. I essentially got my entire professional network and career on IRC, and that includes contacts all over the modern tech stack and adjacent interests, being on just two IRC "servers". And I could connect many other people in the same way. On Discord, there seem to be just more barriers against this. Getting someone into a new place doesn't just require hopping into a new channel with a single /join command, but an entire new "server" with a new crowd. There's more inhibition against that.