Let's talk about IRC. I tried it back in the day, and it was a little complicated for my simple mind to figure out. However, a few years ago, I decided to give it another shot because I truly miss the chatroom experience. In my opinion, no social media site, from the big ones to the newer alternatives, can recreate the unique atmosphere of chatrooms.

Whether it was AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy, Genie, or even the thousands of BBS at the time, nothing beat the dynamic environment of a chatroom. Nowadays, many people are moving away from mainstream platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. They seek privacy, aiming to avoid being continuously monitored, as well as desiring a little more freedom of speech. With the prevailing culture of political correctness, individuals are increasingly afraid to express themselves honestly. Even opinions that were once uncontroversial have become subject to self-censorship.

Back in the day, we always had that one individual who liked to push the boundaries or be edgy, regardless of whether they truly believed in what they were expressing. However, many modern chatrooms and instant messengers are crowded with GIFs, smileys, and YouTube videos. While some additions can enhance the chat experience, others simply clutter the screen with excessive eye distractions. When I want to chat, if I want to see pictures, I will look at photos on a photo site or scroll through my hard drive. I crave a chat without all the unnecessary visual pollution.

In the past, emoticons were used to convey tone and emotions, and they were surprisingly creative. I remember seeing lists of up to 50 or even more unique combinations to express oneself in a chat conversation. There was something simple and elegant about communicating through text without relying on flashy distractions. Imagine talking to a friend who kept blasting a TV set at full volume every few sentences they spoke. Personally, I would quickly grow tired of it and probably ask them to stop. Wouldn't you?

It's high time we encourage app developers to understand that not everyone wants yet another WhatsApp clone. We need platforms that prioritize simplicity and genuine conversation over excessive bells and whistles. Let's foster the development of chatrooms that bring people together without unnecessary distractions.