I Miss the Old Internet (2019)
I agree, and I think some comments are apt to note that we have as (grown, adult) people changed, and what we're seeking is really, on some level, a lost part our former selves (cc: In Search of Lost Time) —- at the same time, however, it _is_ pretty difficult to make these "garish" (as op puts it) spaces today. (Whether or not it's important that the internet is "garish" is a separate argument —- my short argument is I prefer, and would encourage, a greater ecodiversity in the internet landscape.)Anyway -- I think, despite HTML + CSS + VPS services still existing, the alternatives —- the Well-Styled & Gridded Squarespace sorts, and the plug-n-play platforms like Twitter/Facebook —- are so easy to use that we've come to have disproportionately more cleaned up, mall-like spaces than not. I think.About a month ago, I did a Show HN for https://mmm.page (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27128424) that was my (small) attempt at creating a platform/tool to help people more easily create these spaces. It's still in alpha, but the Discord (link on homepage) is quickly growing with ppl who have this same frustration.I have a feeling we'll see more and more counter-2010s-platforms platforms emerging over the next few years... platforms that try to correct our overcorrection toward cleanliness and order and optimization and profit, etc. etc.