I remember the good old days,(old man now.)

The rise of the internet has undoubtedly revolutionized the way we communicate and interact. With the advent of social media platforms and algorithms dictating our online experiences, it's easy to long for the simpler times when chatrooms were the heart of online communities. As a member of the X generation, I proudly claim our role in pioneering the internet phenomenon, but it was my AOL days that hold a special place in my memory.

While there were other options available like GEnie, Prodigy, and Compuserve, AOL somehow became the dominant platform for me. In a time when ATM cards didn't function as credit cards and credit card companies weren't handing them out like candy, AOL stood out as the go-to platform for internet access. Little did I know that it would become the last one standing, and I remained a part of it for nearly two decades, from 1993 to 2014.

Looking back, I can't help but cringe at my early naïveté and the embarrassing moments I encountered in chatrooms. As a newbie, I fell for tricks that would boot me offline, and the dial-up days tested my patience with countless attempts to reconnect. But despite these challenges, the connections I made were real. Online friends felt like genuine friends as we engaged in organic and unscripted conversations. We didn't focus on appearances or superficial interactions. Instead, we built relationships based on trust and camaraderie, and these friendships transcended the virtual realm.

However, as time went on and life demanded my attention elsewhere, my regular visits to AOL began to dwindle. University studies and real-life activities took precedence, and I started to distance myself from the virtual world. Yet, a few months before AOL's demise, something drew me back. I found myself wandering through the empty halls of an AOL building, encountering only a few people reminiscing about the good times. Some screen names remained parked in rooms, either forgotten or victim to a glitch, leaving a haunting reminder of the memories we once shared. This phenomenon came to be known as "ghosting."

Walking through the rooms where I had once been a regular, a sense of melancholy washed over me. The once bustling chatrooms were desolate, and the few that remained were filled with a mournful gathering. It felt like attending a funeral or walking through an abandoned schoolhouse or beloved movie theater before its demolition.

While alternatives such as IRC and BBS (Bulletin Board Systems) have made a comeback, deep down, I know they can't recreate the magic of those early chatrooms. The genuine connections and long-lasting friendships that were formed seem to exist only as distant echoes in the realm of nostalgia. The simplicity and organic nature of those online experiences will forever hold a special place in my heart, but it's a bittersweet reminder of a bygone era.

In today's world of algorithms and forced friendships, I can't help but yearn for the days when chatrooms were the epitome of online interaction. The time spent navigating the dial-up connection and engaging in unfiltered conversations provided an authenticity that is often lacking in today's digital landscape. The waves of nostalgia hit me, reminding me of the genuine connections forged in those virtual spaces, and the friendships that transcended the boundaries of the screen.

As technology evolves and the internet continues to shape our lives, it's important to cherish the memories of a simpler time when chatrooms were the heart of our online experiences. The memories may feel like distant echoes, but they serve as a reminder of the power of genuine connection and the lasting impact it can have on our lives.