Something Awful: the anti social media service

The Something Awful Forums > Main > General Bullshit > Something Awful: the anti social media service

Lowtax: Nov 16, 1999; by Skyl3lazer

I just want to let everybody know that I have zero plans to make SA like every other loving social media service out there. In fact, I'm pretty much content that it's relatively difficult and brutal to use. Now I'm not just saying this because I'm in debt up to my skull and couldn't afford a decent coder to save my life, but because I've been thinking about it and I loving hate all the data mining and feeling of false obligations that modern social media artificially creates in order to "trap" its users into spending more time there, worried they'll miss "important" status updates about their "friend's" dumb rear end kid's first time eating macaroni.

I have never, and will never, actively encourage a +1ing or friend counting or user popularity gauge besides that of thread ratings. There is a reason people are fleeing social media, and I believe it's due to the constant dopamine highs required to be administered with every goddamn menial completed task.

I don't care who your friends are. I don't want you to bring them here unless you feel they would enjoy being here. I don't keep or maintain a list of your interests. I don't data mine or keep records of ANY of your personal poo poo, and I plan on adhering to this principle until the day I die or I go bankrupt (both of which may be coming sooner than I expected).

But I just wanted to let you know the state of affairs here and what's going through my stupid rear end mind, so you don't have to worry that this forum will ever pursue or go through a fundamental change to "keep up" with modern social media, which I personally feel is going in the worst possible direction. And again, I'm not just saying that because I'm poor as gently caress, which I am, it's what I truly believe.

Thank you and have a happy internet.

# ? Feb 24, 2018 11:26

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# ? Apr 23, 2024 07:25

Mega64: May 23, 2008; I took the octopath less travelered,

And it made one-eighth the difference.

I�m more than fine with that. If I want social media experiences, there�s a ton of other sites that can give that. But I prefer the old-school chaos of this battered worn-down forum any day, where you have to put some effort into what you post and not have to give a poo poo about popularity numbers.

Thanks as always for giving me a place where I can spend my free time making terrible posts on the internet instead of something terrible like socializing with real life people.

# ? Feb 24, 2018 11:34

Fucked-Up Little Dog: Aug 26, 2008; Posting live from the nightmare future of Web 3.0; Scratchmo

Lowtax we talked about this, the tone of this message will not scan well with the under 20 and semi retarded demographic and we all know that to make it in this business you need them on board to make billion dollar losses for years while growing and growing to obtain venture capital investment and take all the money for yourselfddf gently caress

# ? Feb 24, 2018 11:51

Jihad Me At Hello: Apr 23, 2002; by FactsAreUseless; Fun Shoe

This is cool. I'm behind you.

Right behind you.

# ? Feb 24, 2018 12:01

PS1 Hagrid: Sep 17, 2007

Can you further embrace going against the grain by putting spinning skull gifs on every page and embedding midis on the forums thanks :yeah:

# ? Feb 24, 2018 12:17

r u ready to WALK: Sep 29, 2001

MIDI doesn't work on modern browsers it would have to be some html5 thing like http://sb.bitsnbites.eu I think

Or maybe just embed a hidden youtube player somewhere with autoplay enabled
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtoHxMWw354

# ? Feb 24, 2018 12:26

EdwardSwifferhands: Apr 27, 2008; I will probably lick whatever you put in front of me.

But I'm not sure if your kids have had macaroni yet and I'm doing too find out!

# ? Feb 24, 2018 12:41

Papa Emeritus III: Jul 7, 2017; [A MESSAGE FROM THE CLERGY]

Dat's Pussy Trap, bitch!

_{_{Deal with it.}}

You used to be "up to your dick" in debt. Now it's "up to your skull". :ohdear:

# ? Feb 24, 2018 12:46

DickParasite: Dec 2, 2004; Slippery Tilde

Keep this place as curmudgeonly as possible Tax Man!

# ? Feb 24, 2018 12:48

Lord Decimus Barnacle: Jun 25, 2005; Hell Gem

I come here for the ambiance that other sites lack

# ? Feb 24, 2018 13:24

du -hast: Mar 12, 2003; BEHEAD THOSE WHO INSULT GENTOO

Do people really complain this place is hard to read? Compared to Reddit or 4chan?

Also good poo poo OP, I love the place.

# ? Feb 24, 2018 14:25

OXBALLS DOT COM: Sep 11, 2005; by FactsAreUseless; Young Orc

Sounds good, OP

# ? Feb 24, 2018 14:39

FactsAreUseless: Feb 16, 2011

# ? Feb 24, 2018 14:40

Cabal Ties: Feb 28, 2004; Yam Slacker

The main issue with readability I see with a traditional forum is that you've every post to wade through with maybe a chance the content is relevant and good for your particular interests within the discussion - it does take getting used to, and is why the quality of the community is such as important part of the culture here on SA. But having the best content or better grouped content easily read is a major benefit of other social networks to SA.

I agree with Lowtax's points though and the user hierarchy on the forums by and large is very flat. You live and die by your posts. I would keep looking for ways to improve the above, like when there's a drive to get people rating threads or improve the rating system. I've signed up to Patreon recently, and it's a very funny page. I would like to see more Lowtax embedded into the forums somehow, especially as you become more and more unhinged :downs:

# ? Feb 24, 2018 14:46

Lowtax: Nov 16, 1999; by Skyl3lazer

Papa Emeritus III posted:

You used to be "up to your dick" in debt. Now it's "up to your skull".

I AM A DICK... HEAD...

# ? Feb 24, 2018 14:47

Lowtax: Nov 16, 1999; by Skyl3lazer

CareyB posted:

I would like to see more Lowtax embedded into the forums somehow, especially as you become more and more unhinged

how could I possibly ever top mangosteen gate

# ? Feb 24, 2018 14:49

redm: Feb 20, 2016; Sugartime Jones

thanks for the fun website lowtax

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:03

Dongattack: Dec 20, 2006; by Cyrano4747

Is XenForo 2.0 still happening or is that off the table now? (i don't mind either way)

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:05

Captain Yossarian: Feb 24, 2011; All new" Rings of Fire"

This is legitimately my favorite "destination" on the internet and has been for almost 20 years now. I think my continued interest in this site despite the many, many life changes I've gone through shows how drat good this place really is.

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:19

Brooks Cracktackle: Oct 17, 2008

please don't die Mr Tax

Hungry Bit posted:

Can you further embrace going against the grain by putting spinning skull gifs on every page and embedding midis on the forums thanks

but do this

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:19

remigious: May 13, 2009; Destruction comes inevitably; Hell Gem

Captain Yossarian posted:

This is legitimately my favorite "destination" on the internet and has been for almost 20 years now. I think my continued interest in this site despite the many, many life changes I've gone through shows how drat good this place really is.

Same. Thank you mr. Lowtax for all that you do!

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:29

bvj191jgl7bBsqF5m: Apr 16, 2017; IÍÌÌ° ÍÌ¯ÌÌ«Ì¹Ì¯Ì¤AÒmÍÌºÌ© ÍÌ¬AÌ¡Ì®ÌÌ ÍÍÌ±Ì« KÌ¶eÍgÍ.ÌÌ»Ì±ÌªÍÌ¹Ì

That's all good, but in case you were curious my interests are looking cute, feeling cute, and mountaineering

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:33

SIDS Vicious: Jan 1, 1970

Lowtax posted:

I just want to let everybody know that I have zero plans to make SA like every other loving social media service out there. In fact, I'm pretty much content that it's relatively difficult and brutal to use. Now I'm not just saying this because I'm in debt up to my skull and couldn't afford a decent coder to save my life, but because I've been thinking about it and I loving hate all the data mining and feeling of false obligations that modern social media artificially creates in order to "trap" its users into spending more time there, worried they'll miss "important" status updates about their "friend's" dumb rear end kid's first time eating macaroni.

I have never, and will never, actively encourage a +1ing or friend counting or user popularity gauge besides that of thread ratings. There is a reason people are fleeing social media, and I believe it's due to the constant dopamine highs required to be administered with every goddamn menial completed task.

I don't care who your friends are. I don't want you to bring them here unless you feel they would enjoy being here. I don't keep or maintain a list of your interests. I don't data mine or keep records of ANY of your personal poo poo, and I plan on adhering to this principle until the day I die or I go bankrupt (both of which may be coming sooner than I expected).

But I just wanted to let you know the state of affairs here and what's going through my stupid rear end mind, so you don't have to worry that this forum will ever pursue or go through a fundamental change to "keep up" with modern social media, which I personally feel is going in the worst possible direction. And again, I'm not just saying that because I'm poor as gently caress, which I am, it's what I truly believe.

Thank you and have a happy internet.

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:40

Rockman Reserve: Oct 2, 2007; "Carbons? Purge? What are you talking about?!"

That was a Good Post, Taxman. :cheers:

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:42

Carrion Luggage: Nov 24, 2006

there should be a forced duel every day and the last person standing wins SA like it was a poker game

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:51

By popular demand: Jul 17, 2007; IT *BZZT* WASP ME--
IT WASP ME ALL *BZZT* ALONG!

I'm completely on board Richard but I still need you insulting nazis on tweeter.
God's work is never ~~uber~~over

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:54

PathAsc: Nov 15, 2011; Hail SS-18 Satan may he cleanse us with nuclear fire

PISS TAPE IS REAL

Thank gently caress

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:54

Stexils: Jun 5, 2008

Carrion Luggage posted:

there should be a forced duel every day and the last person standing wins SA like it was a poker game

imagine medieval times except every knight is white

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:54

SIDS Vicious: Jan 1, 1970

Lowtax posted:

I just want to let everybody know that I have zero plans to make SA like every other loving social media service out there. In fact, I'm pretty much content that it's relatively difficult and brutal to use. Now I'm not just saying this because I'm in debt up to my skull and couldn't afford a decent coder to save my life, but because I've been thinking about it and I loving hate all the data mining and feeling of false obligations that modern social media artificially creates in order to "trap" its users into spending more time there, worried they'll miss "important" status updates about their "friend's" dumb rear end kid's first time eating macaroni.

I have never, and will never, actively encourage a +1ing or friend counting or user popularity gauge besides that of thread ratings. There is a reason people are fleeing social media, and I believe it's due to the constant dopamine highs required to be administered with every goddamn menial completed task.

I don't care who your friends are. I don't want you to bring them here unless you feel they would enjoy being here. I don't keep or maintain a list of your interests. I don't data mine or keep records of ANY of your personal poo poo, and I plan on adhering to this principle until the day I die or I go bankrupt (both of which may be coming sooner than I expected).

But I just wanted to let you know the state of affairs here and what's going through my stupid rear end mind, so you don't have to worry that this forum will ever pursue or go through a fundamental change to "keep up" with modern social media, which I personally feel is going in the worst possible direction. And again, I'm not just saying that because I'm poor as gently caress, which I am, it's what I truly believe.

Thank you and have a happy internet.

Sid Vicious liked this post

# ? Feb 24, 2018 15:57

Lowtax: Nov 16, 1999; by Skyl3lazer

Captain Yossarian posted:

This is legitimately my favorite "destination" on the internet and has been for almost 20 years now. I think my continued interest in this site despite the many, many life changes I've gone through shows how drat good this place really is.

Then buy more poo poo you dickhole so I can keep running the place!!!

# ? Feb 24, 2018 16:04

Fucked-Up Little Dog: Aug 26, 2008; Posting live from the nightmare future of Web 3.0; Scratchmo

We're waiting for lootboxes to go on sale

# ? Feb 24, 2018 16:05

Lowtax: Nov 16, 1999; by Skyl3lazer

Anyway I just wanted to let everyone know that NONE of your personal poo poo or data is collected here and we don't and never will collect that crap from you or try to sell it unlike every loving social media service and site out there, so I might be an absolutely trash king garbage gently caress when it comes to running a business or attempting to accomplish even the most trivial of tasks, but I just want to assure you all that in this internet hellworld, I ain't going down like that, I ain't going down like that.

# ? Feb 24, 2018 16:13

SIDS Vicious: Jan 1, 1970

Lowtax posted:

Anyway I just wanted to let everyone know that NONE of your personal poo poo or data is collected here and we don't and never will collect that crap from you or try to sell it unlike every loving social media service and site out there, so I might be an absolutely trash king garbage gently caress when it comes to running a business or attempting to accomplish even the most trivial of tasks, but I just want to assure you all that in this internet hellworld, I ain't going down like that, I ain't going down like that.

Want my phone number

# ? Feb 24, 2018 16:15

buddhanc: Feb 16, 2010

I'll get plat and buy avs for 3 people that can give me legitimate suggestions on what local office to run for in Austin. Can't be something that's traditionally for a lawyer

I'll represent SA on the soap box

# ? Feb 24, 2018 16:16