For those NOT attending #Nostrica, this is how cliques and VIP groups start to form on budding technologies. I have seen it time and again across several platforms. Those who can afford to attend or are connected versus those who have to work the lowly fiat mines just to barely cover rent. Watch as these groups create exclusivity and you are left behind. It is a sad sad reality that always happens. I love the idea of Nostr but can already see it happening. Maybe there will even soon be a relay for Nostrica only attenders? I talk about the sad reality of online cliques and VIP groups and their history in my substack post from last month. https://thesilvermage.substack.com/p/state-of-the-internet-by-a-digital
Discussion
Inevitable to a great degree...
However, I'm glad Nostrica is being streamed and recorded so at least I can try to keep up and spot some opportunities.🙏💜👍😆😁
Enjoyed reading your article. I came to Nostr having avoided essentially all social media. I'm also Gen X and used IRC, icq, bulletin boards and newsgroups in the early 1990s but by the late 90s the corporate direction and the loss of that early "it's our internet" vibe, disillusioned me and I avoided all the big platforms from then on.
I have felt that same early enthusiasm and excitement on nostr and I share your positive view on it's potential. I do also share your view that it will change, to what degree and in what direction, who knows? Your insights do provide a clue. As a "naive to social media" user I notice there are obvious behaviours that frankly I haven't been aware of. The attention farming aspect and with it a somewhat detached "communication" with other users is something I didn't see on nostr in the early days but it seems to be evident now as more users who are probably using other platforms in that way start to join nostr. I am frankly a bit in awe of the narcissism that I have probably avoided over the last twenty years.
I look forward to reading more of your work.
Thanks! I vividly remember IRC and ICQ like they were yesterday. Newsgroups were such an interesting way to pirate stuff as well. There does seem to be human patterns that always creep up slowly in any new platform. I always have a bit of a "hope" that this time around will be different, but sadly we are just animals by nature. I've always felt I am a bit of a "watcher" by nature. I cannot stop any of this from happening. Just stand on the side and watch the same train wreck happen again. At least with Nostr we can all get tips for voicing our opinions and not get banned for it.
Yea, pinging and fingering on irc! I hope that the anchor of bitcoin/lightning on nostr might provide a positive trajectory.
This is the natural order of things. In a free and voluntary society a natural aristocracy forms automatically as the top performers rise to the top. I don't see it as a bad thing. Find the thing that you're good at and become an aristocrat.