the internet the good old days

Tweet

I've doing a lot of job applying lately via the web and basically the net for various things online and having to proof I am who I say I am all the time. For eg, holding up a sign with the name of the website on next to my face or hold my passport next to my face. As for jobs, they practically want DNA samples to prove I am who I say I am and it got me thinking about the good old days of the net. I was teenager when I first came online and it was a friendly honest place. I met up with many people from band forums and everyone was who they said they were. No photos were fake. I used to go to gigs with people I met online. I remember on my birthday cards would arrive from around the world. One time a board member was having an anniversary, so a card went all around the world for us all to sign. I got tapes and autographs and photos and badges and merchandise sent to me by lovely people from around the world. One time a girl I used to talk to was going to commit suicide, so I stayed up most of the night talking her out it. When she graduated from uni, she sent me an invite to it knowing I couldn't come being in the UK and her in the USA, but she did it as a thank you for me talking her out of suicide. What happened to this online? Those genuine people who were sincere and honest and generous? I stay away from social media nowadays because of the trolls and fights, but back at the beginning the net was lovely place and I met some lovely people.