emasculated?

it had its balls cut off. What made it edgy and fun was removed as it was promoted to normal people who just wanted to read movie listings, or whatever.

Well, I sort of agree with that, and I was with you until you used the term. But I don’t see anything less masculine about the internet now than as it was in 1993. Perhaps “sanitized” would be more applicable?

sure, I agree the term definitely has a masculinity implication. but, I actually think the term is roughly correct given that at the time, the net was 95% male while now it's much closer to 50-50.

Sanitized is also appropriate.

The way you put it seems to suggest you're disappointed it isn't still male-dominated.

As one of the women who was online back then, I didn't perceive it as "masculine", fwiw.

Understood. And I MUDded with some women. Am I disappointed that the net is less masculine? Not particularly. I certainly felt more welcome, and more comfortable with the net before when it was a more masculine environment, and in some sense I miss that. But I'm not the deciding user, and as a parent with kids... my feelings are complicated.

I think the poster replying to your comment has validated your point unintentionally.

and i don't think there's anything wrong with that.