Five months, five months since I created my account when cohost! was first launched
CSS crimes, from cool posts to some weird ones, From recent events that most people are aware of, especially for me? I really miss this place.

I'm not really great at posting, since most of my posts are intentionally considered shitposts if you look on my profile. But reflecting on everything after the tragic event made me start comparing how posting feels on this site versus to other social platforms.

Whenever I look at social platforms like Twitter or Instagram, I feel like they no longer capture the charm that made the modern social web appealing. cohost! right now, truly standed out as a platform where you can post whatever you want—whether it's with or without HTML/CSS snippets.

I feel this way because I believe there won't be a better social media site that matches cohost! in terms of both freedom of expression and the unique charm of posting HTML and unlimited text...

While other platforms focus on quick, simple content that they can post, cohost! feels more like an big canvas artwork, a small community, a place to give users the flexibility to customize their posts and express themselves without any constraints whatsoever. This creative idea in mind is something I don't see being replicated on other mainstream social sites, due to the events that occurred. (including the rise of Web3, rebrand of X, release—and subsequent decline—of threads.net's popularity)

The issue with platforms like Twitter/X is that much of the fun that you can have is now pretty much locked behind a paywall. If you want full control or access to certain features, you'd have to keep paying for their services till you can't pay anymore.

cohost!, on the other hand, is different. It really offers genuine creative freedom without those kinds of financial barriers, which is what made it such a refreshing and valuable platform. cohost! was really the greatest site with the small but greatest community of all time.

Hopefully there's going to be another social media that is good as this one. Farewell. cohost!

Thank you @vogon @jkap @aidan, and @kaara for making this site! <3

staff does not count

I wanted to do more art for the end of cohost but unfortunately from all the other art I've been doing lately my wrist is sort of acting up. So instead, I'll be leaving some links here for you to find me. I'd love if you continued to keep me company on the web, I care about it too much to ever give it up. Even if it sucks, I've been here since the first neopet, no tech ceo can kick me off of it.

Itch - https://avagarde.itch.io/

Mote - https://mspfa.com/?s=57767

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Avagardra

Art Tumblr - https://swampcanum.tumblr.com/

Neocities - https://avagarde.neocities.org/ (nothing there yet, but hopefully some day!)

Until we meet again.

It's fitting, I suppose, that this is almost certainly my last post on cohost. As y'all have doubtless heard the catastrophic storm Helene hit my city and the surrounding area. The aftermath, especially massive floods and landslides, devastated a lot of the infrastructure in Asheville/WNC and closed off a lot of the major roads. Most of the area is without water, power or reliable phone/internet.

I am safe and well-supplied, as is everyone in the Asheville Blade co-op. Mutual aid works. Planning and preparation works.

Updating during this has proven a challenge but we at the Blade hope to resume doing so soon.

I am absolutely exhausted and would kill for a hot shower. But I am also endlessly thankful for the communities helping our city survive this catastrophe.

If you want to reach me after cohost ends, I have a pinned post with how to do so, and I hope you will.

With care and solidarity,

David