What's Missing from "Retro"

You know, often, when I say I miss older ways of computing or connecting online, people tell me "there's nothing stopping you from doing that now!" and they are technicay correct in most cases (though I can't, for example, chat with friends on MSN ever again...) However, let me explain that while this type of thing can *sort of* fill that hole in my heart, it isn't *the same.*

Say, for example, I wanted to connect with others over a BBS. This wouldn't offer the same types of connections it used to. While there are BBSes around with active users, they're no longer there to discuss movies, Star Trek, D&D, games, etc. They're there to discuss *BBSes.* The same can be said for Gopher, old-school forums and all sorts of revival projects (such as Escargot, Spacehey, etc.) Retrocomputing enthusiasts, while they have a variety of interests, are often in these spaces to discuss the medium itself and not other topics. This exists at a stark contrast from how things were in the past, where a non-tech-inclined person may learn the tech to connect with likeminded others (as I did as a Zelda-obsessed kid.)

The same can be said of old media. People will say "well, nobody is stopping you from watching old shows/movies now!" Again, they are technically correct. I can go home right now and watch *Star Trek: The Next Generation* to my heart's content. It will never again, however, be current, or new. When something is new, it serves as a shared cultural experience. Remember how "Game of Thrones* felt in the mid-to-late 2010s? Yeah, that.

It's sad. I sustain myself on a mixed diet of old things, new things, and new things intended for old millenials like me who like old things. It can be bittersweet.

akhet

The difference for me is marked by the more organic way people used to come together over their interests and find new friends through those interests, which of course has largely been replaced with pseudo-personalized algorithmic curation. You might still share things you like and discover them as well, but you are interacting with "platforms" instead of people. Tumblr used to fill the role beautifully for me; it has a magical mix of "social" and "interests" if you choose to use it that way, but many of the accounts I shared interests with have gone dormant.

softwarepagan

Yes - you are 100% correct.

theoddballphilosopher

I myself own a cassette tape player, because there are a few music clips inaccessible to the public forms of streaming media.

I wouldn't say there's something magical about using a Walkman, but there is something practical about just pressing a single button and having the music play without delay.

I would say it's practicality and pragmatism that's missing from most stuff deemed retro.