Saturday, July 19, 2008

Internet Issues

There are many terrible things going on in the world today. All sorts of things to stand up for, to protest, to sign up for.

This isn't about any of those really important things, but something I found really funny. I reflection of myself that I needed to point out.

For the past few years I've been on a website called last.fm. It is a website that keeps track of all the music you listen to, recommends new music, and puts you in contact with people who have the same musical taste as you. I have found so much amazing music through his website, I would definitely say that it is one of my biggest online guilty pleasures.

Now this site has always been a very simple site, not much to look at, but does its job perfectly...totally focussed on the music.

A few days ago they updated it. Made it into more of a myspace/facebook/youtube-ish website. Its slow, ugly, no personality, and basically one big wanna be/copycat. Its really a sad site to see, for a website that used to call itself the music revolution - its has really dumbed itself down.

Since this change I've been posting in forums, joining online groups and petitioning to have this website changed back to the way it was, or at least have the option of it. And I was thinking about it, and found how funny it was that I was protesting such a thing. A website? One group that started not even 2 days ago already has over 3000 members.

It makes me think about the future of online protests and the ultimate look and use of the internet in general. It looks like it is something that is becoming less information based, and more social based. I don't mind either, but its nice to separate the two.

Anyways just something I was thinking about :)

Peace
Jordan