I didn’t set out to recreate 2005 — it just kind of happened.

It started with a few simple decisions: I switched to Linux Mint. I began fossifying my phone. I set up my own Mastodon instance. I replaced closed platforms with open ones. And slowly, quietly, I began to rediscover something I hadn’t realised I’d lost:

That old internet feeling.

Not the dial-up speed or the clunky UIs or the hours spent waiting for downloads to finish — but the vibe. The sense of freedom, curiosity, and ownership. The thrill of customising things just because you could. The joy of getting your hands dirty with tech.

I thought that era had ended. Turns out, it’s still there. You just have to build it back yourself.

🧐 Self-hosting, FOSS, and the Joy of Fiddling

Linux Mint reminded me what it feels like to own my machine.

No telemetry. No forced updates. No pre-installed bloatware trying to upsell me features I didn’t ask for. Just a clean slate and the freedom to shape my digital space however I wanted.

The same thing happened with my phone. Slowly replacing apps with FOSS alternatives. Tweaking things. Choosing what stays and what goes. It’s that same spirit I had as a teenager — spending hours on MySpace perfecting my HTML profile layout, customising my PC's boot screen, or installing ringtones on a flip phone.

Only now, it feels more intentional. More mine.

🐘 Mastodon and the Return of Community

Joining Mastodon brought that feeling full circle.

No algorithm trying to decide what matters. No brand accounts pretending to be your friend. Just people. Saying hi. Posting thoughts. Favouriting posts not to boost them, but because they meant something.

The advanced web interface reminded me of TweetDeck in its heyday. Multi-column joy. Real-time updates. Everything snappy, responsive, and respectful. It’s what I didn’t know I was missing.

And self-hosting my instance? Total cherry on top. My server. My vibe. My rules.

🧬 It’s Not Just Nostalgia

The old internet wasn’t perfect. It was messy, uneven, and often inaccessible. But it had something we lost along the way:

• Creativity over conformity
• Playfulness over polish
• Curiosity over consumption

Reclaiming that doesn’t mean going backwards. It means building forward with intention. Choosing platforms that respect you. Using tools that you can shape. Spending time in digital spaces that value people over profit.

🌿 A Soft Manifesto

This is the vibe I’m leaning into right now:

• Choose tools that respect you
• Tinker with things
• Own your data
• Talk to humans
• Build small, weird, and kind corners of the web
• Be online on your terms

Because the old internet isn’t gone.

It’s just been waiting for us to reboot it. ✨