Comment by 🦊 Sophira
Re: "Small rant: I do not understand why some people on the Web…"
Gemini *itself* - as in the protocol - is not exclusionary, no. But many people here would rather not open the floodgates to the general populace, for many reasons. As such, the *people* are exclusionary.
(Note that I'm not commenting on whether this exclusionary behaviour is good or bad. It's a multi-faceted discussion with reasonable points to consider on all sides, and I don't have the energy for that right now.)
Jan 28 · 3 months ago
6 Later Comments ↓
non commercial http world also can be accessed via small browsers like netsurf, dillo or links.
the problem with http world is not http itself, i can implement http protocol, i tried and did it, it is the html standard driven by big corporations that pursue more and more money, and that standard is so complex that to implement that standard you need many many man hours.
opera was a company that had own engine: presto. they realized they can't do it and closed the project.
sold opera brand to china.
now they do vivaldi browser, but by using chrome engine.
microsoft decided they are rich, they can afford creating their browser and being in control, impact the web as a browser producer. they invested in edge. they realized no money can make them competitive. they closed the project and edge uses chrome engine.
how is that space accessible?
these web browsers are heavy and slow on pretty modern hardware. but gemini browsers can be used on nokia n900 with modern linux. because linux is more or less scalable, u can build a small system and lightweight ui.
so gemini is like another town. it exists. it is walkable. but noone knows about it. because they live lives that don't make it possible to know there are other cities.
gemini is not on bill boards because why would it be? it is not a commercial organization that needs to invest in advertisement to increase earnings.
and when they learn about gemini, they don't want to move. they may think it i attractive but they are too engaged in their commercial lives with commercial messengers etc.
just like people from usa may visit europe but rarely will consider moving to a walkable city and give up big cars.
But many people here would rather not open the floodgates to the general populace, for many reasons. As such, the *people* are exclusionary.
@Sophira, how the flood of people may make me uncomfortable?
if there are more gemini capsules to explore with gemini browsers, more discussions, more opportunities to get support about certain topics on gemini forums, richer space, but accessible with lightweight browsers, why would i be against it? i would only be glad to have more people who use gemini.
and i do try to bring my friends to it. many just don't comprehend it.
i install them gemini browser and they forget about it. they have mastodon and they forget what is that.
👻 darkghost · Jan 28 at 13:38:
Check endless September from the usenet days. An influx of people tends to change the character of a community. But the thing I fear more is big money interests looking for a way to profit.
it is possible that if suddenly 1000 newcomers appear and discover this bbs, it will change its vibe.
but they won't change what someone writes or publishes in their capsule, i think.
there might appear more capsules that are of no interest to you or to me, but it is okay. (:
and then we'll maybe move to a new gated bbs, which is also fine.
the bbs will be gated but not whole gemini space. i believe gemini space will benefit from more people.
👻 darkghost · Jan 28 at 15:52:
Agree that nothing will change what people publish to their capsules.
I read an article a while back which pointed out that a small online community keeps its original character throughout small expansions, but gets overwhelmed when new users don't get to interact with old users long enough to understand the nature of the community. At that point, any questions and guidance requested from newbies get answered by other newbies, and chaos ensues.
I've been accused of gate-keeping for saying this, but I would like for Gemini to grow organically, with new members joining because they like the feel of the community -- not because some post went viral and a million new users flood in.
When a newb here comes in and starts going on about "How do we achieve mass adoption", I try to dissuade them from thinking along these lines.
@norayr re: indexing smolweb sites: bing has apparently implemented some kind of blacklist targeting neocities that just won't index that domain at all. instead search results bring up phishing scams, which looks pretty bad on neocities
blog post from neocities on the matter: http://blog.neocities.org/blog/2026/01/27/bing-block
Original Post
Small rant: I do not understand why some people on the Web still claim that Geminispace is exclusionary. To me, exclusion implies intent: the deliberate implementation of some mechanism that is specifically designed to make it harder for people to be included. Gated neighborhoods are exclusionary. Secret clubs are exclusionary. Invite-only forums are exclusionary. Gemini is not exclusionary--it's just a different place than HTTPS. If the Web is a bustling downtown city center full of...