This post is more practical than nostalgic. Yes, sometimes I like to look back and think about how ‘things were better’ with our various online anthro communities, but that’s not the goal here. It’s clear that the online communities our discipline had are not what they once were, whether on Facebook, Twitter, etc. And those communities did–and still do–matter. Twitter just keeps coming apart at the seams and people seem to be leaving in droves. As they should. For a long time now that site has been like posting into a black hole, and it’s only getting worse (more ads, etc). My old pal Colleen Morgan posted this today:

Sowing seeds in ruins indeed. In the spirit of Colleen’s post, I have retreated to one of the few spaces that we do still have: this old website. It’s not what it once was, but it’s still here and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. So it’s a good place to leave some trail markers, so to speak. Again, my goal here is practical: Let’s use this space to share what we’re all thinking and were we’re going for some rest, repair, and reconciliation. I think many of us have already lost a lot of those little connections we once had on these platforms. Let’s see what we can save and maybe leave some breadcrumbs for where we’re all going. What are you thinking and where are you going next? Mastodon? Bluesky? Post? Staying offline and just going surfing, hiking, or walking more? Something else? Let me know in the comments below.

*Image link here.

Ryan

Ryan Anderson is a cultural and environmental anthropologist.

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