Kids! Don't you know that all this shit is fantassyyy
So I heard of Bear through a mailing list I'm in. Someone asked if there was an easy way to set up an online portfolio. Amidst all the usual advice for Squarespace and Wix, someone suggested Bear as a simple, no-frills, no-bullshit alternative. Considering I build themes for a living, I was surprised I hadn't heard about it already. Next thing you know I was diving into the Discovery tab and falling down a rabbit hole I didn't know existed. Inside I found a small but burgeoning community of people trying to rebuild Web 1.0 — sites with webrings, retro designs, and advice on how to boycott the modern tech monopoly.
I've always hated social media, but I remember loving Geocities as a kid and Livejournal as a teen. The whole thing felt like a blast to the past, and honestly, after reading this recent article about Gen X and Millennials wishing to return back to a world before social media, it felt like a breath of fresh air.
But then I noticed something odd about this "movement." It's full of kids.
And listen, I don't have anything against kids, but they don't remember the pre-social media days. How can you miss something you weren't present for?
Every Neocities webpage I checked out was always made by a teenager with various mental illnesses (all listed alongside their favorite music and color), who's all like wEb DesIgN is My P@ssIon. Once I realized this wasn't a movement and, instead, was just an avenue for nostalgia-obsessed teenagers to cosplay, I grew less impressed.
I don't know — am I being cynical? Maybe the kids are on to something and everyone else will follow suit. During my fall down the rabbit hole, I stumbled across a handful of sites that were actually very useful and not just a nostalgia costume dressed as a website, and maybe I'll link them here eventually.
I personally would love for the internet to ditch social media. I miss blogging, honestly. I used to do it all the time, just for fun. Then gradually it became about, "How do I monetize my blog?" Every blog I know is now just an SEO/link farm full of ads and sponsored posts. Food/recipe blogs in particular are like a gateway to hell. I'm so over them.
Anyway, Bear will do for now. There's no pressure, unlike social media, which always feels so performative. As a self-employed person, it's so hard to get away from the whole "I must monetize every second of my life" thing. I miss having hobbies. This can be my new hobby for now. And hell, maybe I'll join a webring, too.