The Mission#
Manifesto of an Internet Refuge#
Today we are more networked than any other time in history, and more divided. Toxicity leaks from every corner- hostility, pessimism, and paranoia (often justified).
Everyone has an agenda, every interaction is somehow a means to some ulterior end. Bots, scams, lies, and propaganda have become the norm.
We judge each other by the labels we ourselves keep. Divisiveness is the default, and disagreement intolerable. You're with me or against me. Everything is zero-sum, and discourse is a waste of time. If you don't agree with me, you're evil, stupid, or both.
It's a cold way to live, cynicism breeding cynicism. And it isn't good. We can and must do better!
Wusoup is an experiment in something different. A shot in the dark, a hill to die (or thrive) on. It's an attempt to re-experience a small part of an old half-remembered internet full of wonder, possibility, and silliness.
An internet filled with hobbyist homepages, and weird passionate people from the far corners. A place for sincerity, and surprises. For serendipity. For friendliness and fun. Creativity free from corporate interests, us-or-them politicised bullshit, and engagement (often rage) bait. Free from labels and the perverse incentives of algorithmically curated insular feeds and filtering.
It's the smallest thing imaginable - a safe place to talk one-on-one with strangers on the internet. A niche members-only community, and throwback to a different time and mindset. A place to meet people you wouldn't otherwise meet.
People like you, and people totally different from you.
It's a safe place to learn about others, their life, their experiences, their worldview, their dreams, their fears. It's a place for empathy and understanding, for bridges and friendship. To connect, human-to-human.
It's a place to welcome diverse new-comers with friendliness, genuine curiosity, and respect. To provide each other with compassion in a complex and uncertain world. To provide each other with guidance, goodwill, and fellowship.
A small haven free from the toxicity and sleaze, from ads, from tracking, from hidden destructive incentives. Where we value substance over superficiality, and real inclusiveness (including differences of opinion!).
Where we hold each other accountable to the community rules that we believe we're each capable of. Where we make an effort.
Wusoup is a passion project created and run transparently by one real (and clearly sane) person that's been working on it for 18+ years. There's no other owners, investors, or influences pulling strings. Much of its tech is open source.
The goal isn't maximum growth, or even maximum engagement. Your time and attention are precious. The goal here is maximum meaning. Human connection isn't quick, and it isn't easy. But it's worth doing, it's worth trying.
If that sounds like your kind of place, you can start chatting on Wusoup - it's free, and there's no app to download.
- Peter Taoussanis ("The Wusoup guy")