I'm fascinated by your comments about a burgeoning "speakeasy" culture. As someone who works in music/book/art retail, the ability to open a fixed brick n' mortar location in an area with onerous rents has forced me to adapt by setting up as a "pop-up" shop in various locales. I see this becoming even more prevalent.
This is the future. I think 95% of shops will become pop-up shops by 2026. Fixed locations are no longer sustainable in this economy. We are going all pop-up all the time. I'd love to hear more about your experience of setting them up, as you are an early adapter of the new standard. I got into more detail about this exact development here:
Funnily enough, since I posted my comment on this thread a year ago, some gears have been turning that might result in my opening of an actual brick and mortar location. Either way, though,I continue to use the "pop up shop" model for many vending events. The "mobile record stall" is certainly nothing new, this kind of on-the-move retail set-up has been the standard for record/music vendors for ages, as record shows, "punk rock flea markets", and vintage media expos have long been a staple of the underground / indie music ecosystem. I take it a bit further though, as I also stock books, film, and other media , which sets me apart from your typical record vendor.
Very interesting, as it is I think only in eastern Europe & Asia are there going to be fixed places, as their economies look to boom while many in the West are in decline. From what I can see, Japan seems to be starting to take measure to rectify her situation and cost of living has gone down (I asked about an apartment in an area I want to teach in, and was shocked that everything put together it would be next to nothing in comparison to my paycheque once out there).
Other countries dunno, but we're headed for big change.
I loved that. I have only a facebook for photos and family ( 47 peeps lobie style - I use the chat because I dont actually own a phone. I have an old tablet that barely loads Substack.
I have found Substack is the only thing I dont feel Dumber after using.
Nice writing. I am thinking of selling my house and going on the road. This actually helps gell my decision because while the area I live in is beautiful, the people who surround me are dumb asses. I haven't had an interesting conversation other than here and texting old friends for years TBH. The rebirth of a new 90s style offline culture sounds fab. Maybe I'll even start writing poetry again. The idea of showing up and seeing people performing live in different places sounds like water to a man dying of thirst.
It could be like rave but for avant guard performance art, bam quick publicity on a dark network, people show up watch, and then vanish before the Federales even knew what happened.
This is amazingly prescient. My wife and I have this crazy idea to simply retire, and then roam around the US from campground/RV park to campground/RV park and ENGAGE PEOPLE IN REAL LIFE (I know...weird!). We might do a little music, preach a little from the Word, and then just TALK to actual humans...hopefully around a campfire!
I don't know how long it will last, but Minds is still fun (if you know how to ignore trolls). It reminds me of how the internet was in the late 90s, when everyone pretty much said and did whatever they wanted and self-sorted. Nothing gold can stay, of course... but for now, I'm enjoying my second shot at the Wild West Web.
Haha. This entry is amazing. "Offline is the new online," "My time as a main character was over," "The elephant in the room is that the fediverse is boring," "We can make real life fun again," 🔥
It's curious just how old much of what we think of as new is. Old habits and ways reasserting themselves in the face of technology is a trend I can get behind.
I struggled with this post when I first read it. I'm still not as bullish on the pop-up and speak easy experiences that you describe... I think culture and population density are key factors... are you specifically referring to the US? I also think that weak ties that evolved due to common interests, especially when separated by geography, will likely prevail. Having said that, a reduction to 15% of the public for personal use within 4 years... maybe. There are still plenty of friends and family groups that use Facebook to stay in touch and I don't see anything viable to replace that at the moment. I can believe there will be a decline, just not sure I believe it will dip that low without other extenuating factors as long as cell service/phones/Internet prices don't increase much more.
I appreciate this critique. I think pop-ups appearing pretty much everywhere is a sign that we are headed in this direction, especially with the sustainability crisis, (I get more into this here: https://culturalfuturist.substack.com/p/my-predictions-for-the-near-future) yet open to being proven wrong. I am referring to the US, and perhaps London, Australia... with the way commerce is shifting to pop-ups as the new norm. This is the obvious way to handle the shifts in our economy with impermanence leading the charge, the rising cost of real estate, climate uncertainty, etc. Speakeasies are also becoming more popular as fewer and fewer people want a public life. We seem to be retreating into digital clans where groupchats are the dominant mode of communication, and these groupchats are leading to the creation of these speakeasies.
I can totally relate to what you say. These days I'm online only to do specific things that must be done online, and I switch my devices off as soon as I'm done. The rest of the time I prefer to go for a good walk or read a good book. Now that the initial excitement for the internet is gone, I see the endless petty bitching on social media as it is: a monumental waste of precious time that should be put to better use.
After nearly two decades online my friendship groups are totally atomized. Many individuals hate and undermine each other IRL because of online feuds. It feels impossible to put that group back together, and I'm not even sure I want to.
I've immersed myself in politics they would find horrifying, because my nature is to understand, not to disavow. I'd love to find my tribe at pop ups, salons and speakeasies, but I know almost nobody offline to whom I could speak frankly, without censoring myself - something that I'd have considered a bare minimum entry requirement for a friendship before I went on social media in 2008.
Cancellation online isolated me IRL in meaningful ways. I want my offline friends back but they've all become IDPol grifters or shills. I'm trying though. Have seen the green shoots of some new friendships here, with people who aren't scared of humour, debate, and argument.
I agree with you, not sure about 2027 - but, I did get a premonition that the US would crash around 2027-2028. Everything is weird now. It's all like human trafficking and most the people I liked on youtube are starting to talk drama and crap. I think what MAY happen is specialty devices. I had this idea for this AI snowglobe type thing that its only purpose was to have constantly animated and changing fantasy scenes with sounds and creatures and nice AI generated fantasy music. I think if the online world was kind of "fragmented" so there were dedicated devices, the communications might become personal again. I just hope by then it's safer. Cool you quit smoking, smoking sucks.
On one hand, I feel the zeitgeist turning in this direction; on the other, I fear that the geniuses of addiction-engineering and all their billions cannot be vanquished. How does nearly everyone break their addictions to these fuckin likes and endless scroll? I’m self aware and critical of the constantly-online culture, and even I have to LOCK MY PHONE in a box to stay off that bitch. How will this widespread addiction end? What will happen?
Social media is meaningless unless it affects humans in meatspace. It only does so to the extent that we allow it. Everything on the Internet is voluntary.
Could not agree more, I can't wait to move, be online less and to mostly use the internet for history research or to post my articles or books or to stay in touch avec famille.
But until then, I'll use it as a tool and work hard at building a better off-line life.
But for now, I'm building a platform as a writer here, as I also need that for publication and to sell my novels. But as it is, I just find internet more exhausting to use, less interesting, while books, poems and nature and historic sites seem more interesting.
I'm fascinated by your comments about a burgeoning "speakeasy" culture. As someone who works in music/book/art retail, the ability to open a fixed brick n' mortar location in an area with onerous rents has forced me to adapt by setting up as a "pop-up" shop in various locales. I see this becoming even more prevalent.
This is the future. I think 95% of shops will become pop-up shops by 2026. Fixed locations are no longer sustainable in this economy. We are going all pop-up all the time. I'd love to hear more about your experience of setting them up, as you are an early adapter of the new standard. I got into more detail about this exact development here:
https://culturalfuturist.substack.com/p/my-predictions-for-the-near-future
Funnily enough, since I posted my comment on this thread a year ago, some gears have been turning that might result in my opening of an actual brick and mortar location. Either way, though,I continue to use the "pop up shop" model for many vending events. The "mobile record stall" is certainly nothing new, this kind of on-the-move retail set-up has been the standard for record/music vendors for ages, as record shows, "punk rock flea markets", and vintage media expos have long been a staple of the underground / indie music ecosystem. I take it a bit further though, as I also stock books, film, and other media , which sets me apart from your typical record vendor.
Very interesting, as it is I think only in eastern Europe & Asia are there going to be fixed places, as their economies look to boom while many in the West are in decline. From what I can see, Japan seems to be starting to take measure to rectify her situation and cost of living has gone down (I asked about an apartment in an area I want to teach in, and was shocked that everything put together it would be next to nothing in comparison to my paycheque once out there).
Other countries dunno, but we're headed for big change.
.. think of them as ‘outposts of culture & technology - hypermedia ? grab a snackpack 🦎🏴☠️
I loved that. I have only a facebook for photos and family ( 47 peeps lobie style - I use the chat because I dont actually own a phone. I have an old tablet that barely loads Substack.
I have found Substack is the only thing I dont feel Dumber after using.
From you today I learned Lowbie and Trad.
Im getting smarter!
Nice writing. I am thinking of selling my house and going on the road. This actually helps gell my decision because while the area I live in is beautiful, the people who surround me are dumb asses. I haven't had an interesting conversation other than here and texting old friends for years TBH. The rebirth of a new 90s style offline culture sounds fab. Maybe I'll even start writing poetry again. The idea of showing up and seeing people performing live in different places sounds like water to a man dying of thirst.
It could be like rave but for avant guard performance art, bam quick publicity on a dark network, people show up watch, and then vanish before the Federales even knew what happened.
This is amazingly prescient. My wife and I have this crazy idea to simply retire, and then roam around the US from campground/RV park to campground/RV park and ENGAGE PEOPLE IN REAL LIFE (I know...weird!). We might do a little music, preach a little from the Word, and then just TALK to actual humans...hopefully around a campfire!
It will be grand (they said).
Do you think there might be a zine Renaissance? It strikes me that zines might be the offline, pop-up equivalent of social media
Very much, but now they will have more luxury branding than the zines of the punk era did.
I don't know how long it will last, but Minds is still fun (if you know how to ignore trolls). It reminds me of how the internet was in the late 90s, when everyone pretty much said and did whatever they wanted and self-sorted. Nothing gold can stay, of course... but for now, I'm enjoying my second shot at the Wild West Web.
That sounds fun, actually.
I recommend it!
Haha. This entry is amazing. "Offline is the new online," "My time as a main character was over," "The elephant in the room is that the fediverse is boring," "We can make real life fun again," 🔥
It's curious just how old much of what we think of as new is. Old habits and ways reasserting themselves in the face of technology is a trend I can get behind.
https://argomend.substack.com/i/135621713/old-habits-are-hard-to-break
I struggled with this post when I first read it. I'm still not as bullish on the pop-up and speak easy experiences that you describe... I think culture and population density are key factors... are you specifically referring to the US? I also think that weak ties that evolved due to common interests, especially when separated by geography, will likely prevail. Having said that, a reduction to 15% of the public for personal use within 4 years... maybe. There are still plenty of friends and family groups that use Facebook to stay in touch and I don't see anything viable to replace that at the moment. I can believe there will be a decline, just not sure I believe it will dip that low without other extenuating factors as long as cell service/phones/Internet prices don't increase much more.
I appreciate this critique. I think pop-ups appearing pretty much everywhere is a sign that we are headed in this direction, especially with the sustainability crisis, (I get more into this here: https://culturalfuturist.substack.com/p/my-predictions-for-the-near-future) yet open to being proven wrong. I am referring to the US, and perhaps London, Australia... with the way commerce is shifting to pop-ups as the new norm. This is the obvious way to handle the shifts in our economy with impermanence leading the charge, the rising cost of real estate, climate uncertainty, etc. Speakeasies are also becoming more popular as fewer and fewer people want a public life. We seem to be retreating into digital clans where groupchats are the dominant mode of communication, and these groupchats are leading to the creation of these speakeasies.
I can totally relate to what you say. These days I'm online only to do specific things that must be done online, and I switch my devices off as soon as I'm done. The rest of the time I prefer to go for a good walk or read a good book. Now that the initial excitement for the internet is gone, I see the endless petty bitching on social media as it is: a monumental waste of precious time that should be put to better use.
After nearly two decades online my friendship groups are totally atomized. Many individuals hate and undermine each other IRL because of online feuds. It feels impossible to put that group back together, and I'm not even sure I want to.
I've immersed myself in politics they would find horrifying, because my nature is to understand, not to disavow. I'd love to find my tribe at pop ups, salons and speakeasies, but I know almost nobody offline to whom I could speak frankly, without censoring myself - something that I'd have considered a bare minimum entry requirement for a friendship before I went on social media in 2008.
Cancellation online isolated me IRL in meaningful ways. I want my offline friends back but they've all become IDPol grifters or shills. I'm trying though. Have seen the green shoots of some new friendships here, with people who aren't scared of humour, debate, and argument.
I agree with you, not sure about 2027 - but, I did get a premonition that the US would crash around 2027-2028. Everything is weird now. It's all like human trafficking and most the people I liked on youtube are starting to talk drama and crap. I think what MAY happen is specialty devices. I had this idea for this AI snowglobe type thing that its only purpose was to have constantly animated and changing fantasy scenes with sounds and creatures and nice AI generated fantasy music. I think if the online world was kind of "fragmented" so there were dedicated devices, the communications might become personal again. I just hope by then it's safer. Cool you quit smoking, smoking sucks.
On one hand, I feel the zeitgeist turning in this direction; on the other, I fear that the geniuses of addiction-engineering and all their billions cannot be vanquished. How does nearly everyone break their addictions to these fuckin likes and endless scroll? I’m self aware and critical of the constantly-online culture, and even I have to LOCK MY PHONE in a box to stay off that bitch. How will this widespread addiction end? What will happen?
Social media is meaningless unless it affects humans in meatspace. It only does so to the extent that we allow it. Everything on the Internet is voluntary.
Could not agree more, I can't wait to move, be online less and to mostly use the internet for history research or to post my articles or books or to stay in touch avec famille.
But until then, I'll use it as a tool and work hard at building a better off-line life.
Amen to that.
But for now, I'm building a platform as a writer here, as I also need that for publication and to sell my novels. But as it is, I just find internet more exhausting to use, less interesting, while books, poems and nature and historic sites seem more interesting.
Speakeasies and popups vs traditional streams costing half as much and requiring a tenth the research time is not a revolution. It’s an option.
Fair.
wish it were, tho!