Neocities.org

okay yeah that was a rant in response to some other folks -- like, the thing that really bugs me is, as mentioned, that it is a fandom, not a movement. it's tech for tech's sake and the only use cases they care about are each other. So if you're like me and would love to de-Google and use Linux and stuff, but need to have a phone that works on phone plans and Office backwards compatibility for work, then, uh...

yeye, fortunately my last job used libreoffice if you can believe it. but like the best way to promote foss is to have sites or programs that are just better. for example, my brother doesn't care abt foss & has given up on privacy. but he still uses firefox as his default bc chrome eats up sm ram.

sometimes i feel pressure to use linux, like "i dont REALLY care about privacy if i still use windows/android as my main os" even though i'm doing everything else i can. including using privacy conscious settings for windows & android

exactly, re: functionality. I love Firefox and FreeTube, but LibreOffice doesndoesn't do the visual and format features I need, I've never met an OSM client that doesn't suck at road navigation, and I'm sticking with Ecosia BC all the more "private" search engines have had shit results. a lot of the "alternatives" are just unacceptably weaker or don't work for what I need

also, documentation is kind of a huge problem. you basically can't get support through any means except forums and socials, and most users who need to Use Their Computer For Things don't have time for the arcana. (speaking of Using Your Compoter For Things, can we agree that "dephoning" is stupid for anyone who doesn't live in their mom's basement?)

it's all just showing off that you have the privilege to carry around 5 different inefficient devices (also that's a lot of e-waste) and do jailbreaking and arcane documentation and all that bullshit. it's showing off. it's a fandom. it's an aesthetic. any movement that doesn't actually meet or care about people's needs outside of its privileged uber-online core audience can never be anything but.

it's a bunch of individualist punchy algorithmic aesthetic Tumblr bullshit that does exactly nothing to actually change tech ecosystems or fight problems. it's like telling someone for whom walmart is their only grocery store to "simply don't shop there". if you like playing with and showing off tech as a hobby, fine, but if you're not gonna address folks' computer needs except your bubble don't call it a "solution".

yeah calls to boycott stuff are nice and all. but the fact is: since big tech propriety software has more funding, it's a requirement for certain jobs & they're able to put that money into features, gimmicks, and ui design (even if a lot of big tech is getting worse). plus i agree that osm clients suck at navigation even if i still use them.

plus big tech tends to put their trackers on other websites, so unless you have a really good content/tracker/script blocker, you're probably still funding them in some way.