The Small Internet, protocol and community


There have been many ideas set forth in the last month or so on the
concept of The Small Internet. [1] spring initially coined the term
describing an internet where someone was "on the other side" of whatever
content you happened to be addressing at the time.  With someone on the
otherside, we naturally express ourselves with the love an deference we
would in any other personal relationship.  In this sense, the Small
Internet is a place where one can get to know another, share
perspective, engage with each other in a one-on-one basis.

Nowhere in this initial description of the Small Internet has port 70 or
the gopher protocol been mentioned because I would argue that it has
nothing to do with the concept. No the Small Internet exists on all
ports and over all protocols. Here in Circumlunar Space, and at this
brief moment of time, we have found ourselves in a region where the
criteria for a Small Internet are met. It exists here and now because
many Sundogs have sought asylum here from the bloat and surveillance of
the WWW.  In this way we have created a Small Internet right here, for
now. This place where one can know another.

I press that a Small Internet is a community built on common beliefs
within the context of a safe and respectful environment that allows one
to express him or herself truthfully thereby allowing others to know
another. Our simple tools and protocols provide the structure for our
interaction and forms our community's culture and identity.

Along the way, "to know another," we share who we are and this can take
many forms.  Frequently, we share our existence, thoughts, dreams, or
projects that we're working on. Solderpunk recently shared his musings
of the space between gopher and the WWW. [2] It is a great read and I
can see that there exists a region of the internet that could be filled
with a new protocol to address the shortcomings of the WWW and gopher.

But lntl, you're starting to digress. Weren't we talking about the Small
internet?

Indeed we are! Solderpunk's protocol (Has SPP already been coined?) is
just another internet protocol. It could be a place when at some time
the Small Internet could emerge, but there is no guarantee another
phlog, Katolaz excitedly has claimed there is a revolution afoot and the
train of technological advance will bring the Small Internet forward and
not backward "to millions." [3]

While I hope that this is the case, I am suspect of the idea that the
train of technology can build community. Katolaz's discussion reads that
we can build human-sized communities that care for each other. This is
the most noble goal of any society that has ever existed, ever. I love
how high Katolaz has set his sights and hope that his journey forward
will be met with the kindness and compassion that is the foundation of
community. I encourage the reader to meditate on the tools of community
and what they mean for a Small Internet.  For me, the ideologically
decriminalized nature of CS is an alluring and fundamental feature of
this community.

There is a hunger for the Small Internet. A place where folks can share
themselves with a wider (but not too wide!) community. It exists right
here, right now, in Circumlunar Space but may not forever.  One day, I
hope that it will exist on SPP and be brought to millions by the train
of technology. Like any community, it must be based on love and respect
for a fellow creature as a primary goal.

[1] gopher://republic.circumlunar.space/0/%7espring/phlog/2019-01-16__The_Small_Internet.txt
[2] gopher://zaibatsu.circumlunar.space/0/%7esolderpunk/phlog/pondering-whats-inbetween-gopher-and-the-web.txt
[3] gopher://republic.circumlunar.space/0/%7ekatolaz/phlog/20190306_revolution.txt