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Usenet was open, why did forums take over? Why do people prefer MSN and co to IRC? Sometimes the technology you think is right does not win. Keep your mind open

• gnaritas 18y ago
  Usenet was harder to use, forums work from any web browser. IRC, also hard to use for non computer people while IM's were easy, obvious reasons why those became popular. The same is not true of twitter/facebook/myspace, email is just as simple to use and works in browsers as well. I'm not oblivious to the social aspects and the hooking up factor going on but that stuff only appeals to very young single folks. Social networking has not won anything yet, it's too young to even be over the fad phase, it has it's place but it won't be replacing email anytime soon. I'm also a programmer in my early 30's so I'm hardly an old foggie that just doesn't get it. My mind's open but my eyes aren't shut. Facebook can't keep burning VC money forever and it's not yet figured out a profitable way to monetize its eyeballs. In this economy, which still hasn't hit bottom, it's not looking very good for them.