It's nice to meet another veteran from YouTube's golden era (i.e. 2000s). What you say about the site is exactly correct: YouTube was at its best when monetization was either minimal or entirely absent, when there was almost no censorship aside from prohibiting pornographic material, when the site's design was still sensible, when copyright enforcement was lax and/or easily circumvented, ...

... and when it was dominated by the uploads and activity of its everyday users rather than corporations and large, established channels. It was better then because it was freer, had more diversity of content, and was more authentic. YouTube today is far too sanitized and boring.

I liked your blog on the state of the address on this website (March 31st). I think a good chunk of people are lonely. Genuine compliments are rare. I'm interested in your empty internet theory. I've been getting my fill on youtube comments nowadays.

I've been getting my fill on youtube comments connects to the empty internet theory. Youtube comments on random videos are the only places with real people. I guess there are some on reddit but, it has to be a minor sub-reddit