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it used to be (i "grew up" on usenet and muds) but then it got popular and emasculated.



emasculated?


it had its balls cut off. What made it edgy and fun was removed as it was promoted to normal people who just wanted to read movie listings, or whatever.


Well, I sort of agree with that, and I was with you until you used the term. But I don’t see anything less masculine about the internet now than as it was in 1993. Perhaps “sanitized” would be more applicable?


sure, I agree the term definitely has a masculinity implication. but, I actually think the term is roughly correct given that at the time, the net was 95% male while now it's much closer to 50-50.

Sanitized is also appropriate.


The way you put it seems to suggest you're disappointed it isn't still male-dominated.

As one of the women who was online back then, I didn't perceive it as "masculine", fwiw.


Understood. And I MUDded with some women. Am I disappointed that the net is less masculine? Not particularly. I certainly felt more welcome, and more comfortable with the net before when it was a more masculine environment, and in some sense I miss that. But I'm not the deciding user, and as a parent with kids... my feelings are complicated.


I think the poster replying to your comment has validated your point unintentionally.


and i don't think there's anything wrong with that.




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