Calliope

cohost truly is the dreamcast of websites

I know what naysayers are already thinking: "if it's shutting down, how does it prove that your definition of The Pure Internet can happen?"

first, the definition. The Pure Internet, to me, is an internet that functions the way I remember it as a young kid. It's primarily sharing stories and information, whether that be through shitposts and memes or long-form blog entries. Cohost is a fantastic example of The Pure Internet; it's not perfect because it's built by and for humanity, but it's unapologetically built for humans to exist in. It's not built for human consumption, which is your Twitters, your Facebooks, et cetera. You don't "consume content" on The Pure Internet," you are in community with The Pure Internet.

So how does Cohost shutting down prove that The Pure Internet can exist? Well, it fucking existed. That's how. It proves that these things can pop up every now and again. It proves that you can be lucky enough to get pulled into The Pure Internet just because you know somebody who knows somebody, or because you heard about it from someone you're following, or you heard from a friend. It proves that these types of projects aren't unreachable or unattainable.

Furthermore, Cohost's short existence is itself proof of genuine, vintage Internet. Many websites developed back in the day were short-lived and only seen by a few eyes. In retrospect we see all the long-term projects like social media platforms, YouTube, Twitch, et cetera, but we don't remember all the smaller pieces of the puzzle that went missing. we don't notice all the tiny sites that existed in an incredibly small way, here today and gone tomorrow.

These things can happen. People are desperate for a Pure Internet, and there are people willing to step into the Modern Web and make it happen with exhaustive effort. ASSC are just one group of many other passionate people who want Pure Internet to exist. Cohost is a proof-of-concept for a revolution won by paper cuts. If we, as people who've experienced the Internet at its best in 2024, can show others that it's possible to experience the vibes of The Pure Internet, in its true-to-form short-lived nature.

Go forth and proselytize the goodness of The Pure Internet. It can exist in 2024. It can exist in the future. The Human-centric Internet can blossom even in this late-stage capitalist hellscape ruled by the ultra-rich.

Spaces are made by people taking action.

I'm so thankful i've started building community locally. and honestly, it's not as hard as you think!

i went to my library, asked "hey can i host a queers and allies gathering here" and they said sure, gave me tips to keep people coming each month, and we had our first meeting last weekend. and it was fantastic.

it's not hard. genuinely. just go and ask people. if you don't know what you're doing, ask. fly by the seat of your pants. move fast and heal people.

and I guess people are posting recommendations.

My taste is music is, I suspect, extremely boring, but here are some of my favorites from my Bandcamp collection:

Sleater Kinney put their entire catalog on Bandcamp

Someone's making an entire series of concept albums based on the plants of Middle-Earth and other fantasy settings

Jim Kirkwood is still making music, and they're still making concept albums about Elric of Melnibone.

Opus Orange is Good. They once made the soundtrack to a documentary about hiking the John Muir trail -- because the filmmakers met them at a rest station and they'd hauled instruments for miles along the trail to make music in the wilderness. This isn't that album, it's their most recent release.

Covet made an album about the pandemic. Math rock, I guess?

I've probably missed some, which I'll fix shortly, but usually I buy anything Snail's House makes.

"But each of us was born to die and now I know that's how this story ends" come on it's the fucking Protomen

I initially made my Bandcamp account in 200X to buy Protodome's music. Chiptune jazz.

This is all really important but also remember not everything on archive.org is actually in the public domain. If you're able, please consider buying a copy from Bellwether's site, which her family is still running posthumously.