A Grumpy Trip Down Memory Lane: The Early Internet, Where Text Was King

Oh, the good old days of the internet—a time when connecting online didn’t mean drowning in a sea of pop-ups and auto-playing videos. Back when I first dipped my toes into the digital waters, let’s just say my method of getting online might’ve raised a few eyebrows. The early internet was like the Wild West—a vast, uncharted territory where every click felt like a mini-adventure, and every connection was a triumph of patience over the clunky tech of the time.

Let’s talk about those early online games—if you can even call them that by today’s standards. MUE games (that’s Multi-User Environment, for those who weren’t there) were where imagination ran wild because, honestly, that’s all you had. No fancy graphics, no cinematic cutscenes—just lines of text on a monochrome screen. And yet, MUDs, MUSHes, and MUSEs weren’t just games; they were entire worlds built from nothing but words. ASCII art was our version of high-definition graphics, and we liked it.

The Charm of Text-Based Gaming

Forget your flashy, loot-box-infested, eye-candy games of today. Back then, we had text-based adventures that actually required you to use your brain. MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons, for the uninitiated) were the pioneers of this genre. You’d spend hours in a text-driven world, wielding imaginary swords and casting spells that lived entirely in your mind. And you know what? It was awesome.

Then there were the MUSHes (Multi-User Shared Hallucination—because, let’s face it, you had to be a bit mad to dive into these). They added role-playing and narrative-building, letting you create entire characters and stories out of thin air. These games demanded patience, collaboration, and—most importantly—imagination. We weren’t just players; we were co-authors of the worlds we explored, forming connections with others around the globe without a single pixel in sight.

The Birth of Online Connectivity

But the internet wasn’t just about slaying text-based dragons. It was also about connecting with others in ways that felt oddly personal, considering it was all happening through a screen. Take email, for example. My first online interaction was via an email address on Cleveland’s Freenet—even though I was stuck in Nebraska. Freenet was a community-driven initiative, born out of the idealistic hope that everyone should have access to this newfangled internet thing. It was as grassroots as it got and set the stage for the open access we enjoy today.

Emails back then were a big deal. There were no instant notifications or read receipts. You typed out your message, hit send, and then waited—sometimes for days—for a response. It was a time when crafting an email actually meant something. You didn’t just dash off a quick line; you thought about what you wanted to say because every message felt significant.

When Text Ruled the Screen

Fast forward to today, and the internet is a cacophony of images, videos, and God-knows-what-else, all screaming for your attention. But back in the day, we had the artistry of ASCII graphics to brighten our screens. I’m talking about elaborate dragons made out of slashes and underscores, landscapes drawn with nothing but asterisks and dashes. It was a triumph of creativity over technological limitations, and it was glorious.

Engaging with text wasn’t just about words on a screen; it was about forming real connections. Conversations online were thoughtful and meaningful. There was no scrolling through endless feeds, no likes or retweets—just words and the ideas behind them. It made for discussions that actually went somewhere, unlike today’s endless stream of emojis and hashtags.

In Closing: Let’s Not Forget Our Digital Roots

As we wade through the noise and clutter of the modern internet, it’s worth remembering where it all started. Those early days of text-based gaming and email exchanges are woven into the fabric of my digital memories, reminding me that once upon a time, the internet was a place of genuine exploration and connection.

So, the next time you find yourself lost in a world of instant gratification and visual overload, take a moment to appreciate the simple, text-driven roots of our online existence. Because sometimes, less really is more—and the early internet was proof of that.

Digging into the archives, I’ve unearthed a classic! This oldie but goodie has been dusted off, revisited, and maybe even given a fresh coat of snark. Enjoy the trip down memory lane—or your first dive into it!