hamishcampbellThis was a post from 7 years ago: We do live in interesting times — again — for the <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/openweb" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>openweb</a>. Let’s try to do better than last time 🙂. The truth is, we completely messed up the last decade of tech development. And yes, we lost a critical battle around 2008. What followed was a lost decade where <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/openweb" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>openweb</a> tech devolved into a steaming pile of <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/techshit" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>techshit</a>. Maybe it’s time to start composting? Do you need a shovel? <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/OMN" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>OMN</a><br>Q: What exactly is being proposed here? Can you explain the vision in more detail?<br><br>A: The vision is pretty straightforward: use the <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/4opens" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>4opens</a> as a foundation to replace Google’s gatekeeping of search. The idea is to build <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/openweb" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>openweb</a> projects that can initially supplement, and eventually replace, the <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/dotcons" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>dotcons</a> in this space. Whether or not the <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/fashernistas" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>fashernistas</a> push this mainstream is secondary — the work is worth doing either way.<br><br>On the <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/OMN" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>OMN</a> side, the current focus is rebooting <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/Indymedia" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>Indymedia</a> as a decentralized, trust-based publishing network, and launching the <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/ResistanceExhibition" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>ResistanceExhibition</a> for public archiving of grassroots struggles. These are tangible, practical projects built with a <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/KISS" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>KISS</a> approach to keep things simple and functional, rather than getting lost in the usual cycle of over-complication.<br><br>We’re also seeing a wave of <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/fashernistas" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>fashernistas</a> flooding into <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/openweb" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>openweb</a> development. Expect to see plenty of replays of the <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/geekproblem" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>geekproblem</a> as people chase trends rather than build sustainable solutions. Hopefully, this will be balanced out by a continued focus on healthy <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/4opens" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>4opens</a> development — the kind that centers community needs over tech fetishism.<br><br>At least for now, the <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/encryptionists" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>encryptionists</a> have been pushed into the background by the spectacular failures of <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/crypto" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>crypto</a> fantasies. But if we don’t actively build alternatives, these bad ideas will keep coming back. The key is to stay grounded, keep shoveling the compost, and grow something real.<br><br>The future of the <a class="mention hashtag" href="https://mostr.pub/tags/openweb" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>#</span>openweb</a> isn’t going to build itself — but the roots are still alive. Let’s dig in. 🌱