[throwaway_au_1]

>What is it about the Internet that we want to get away from?

For me, it has become overtly adversarial: rampant "advertising"/manipulation, pervasive use of dark patterns, content for the sake of content, and the bulk of discourse is overly pedantic/in bad faith. It's not so much about finding something out there that's "better", but more about removing activities from my life that are low or negative ROI, and the ROI of the content slot machine that is the internet I expect to fall even further with the advances in AI that ChatGPT is demonstrating.

If the OP weren't so far down the front page now, I would fully expect a reply along the lines of "Well that's not the internet's fault; it is just a tool and people are the problem [..]", or "Well unless you want to pay for content, advertising is required", or "Well why don't you create the community you want then? Be the change!". To continue with the investment analogy: this is why I avoid participating in online communities - the ROI for publishing a comment (or more) is low. At best, I can expect a few upvotes which feels quite hollow, and at worst, several comments patronising me or giving my comment the least charitable interpretation possible for Internet Smackdown Points. Yes I know, I left a comment on HN; you caught me in a weak moment :) I do like writing, putting some structure and physical form to my thoughts, but dealing with the conflict it can bring online is taxing - maybe too taxing.