Dialing Up the Internet Phonebook
2 days ago
- #independent-publishing
- #internet-culture
- #poetic-web
- The Internet Phone Book is a hand-curated directory of poetic, personal websites and essays about the web, created by Kristopher Tjalve and Elliott Cost.
- The term 'poetic web' is inspired by Laurel Schwulst and Chia Amisola, emphasizing beauty, openness, and suggestive content rather than rigid definitions.
- The book includes both website listings and essays, serving as a primer for those unfamiliar with this niche of the internet.
- Commercial sites can be part of the poetic web if they align with values like privacy, sustainability, and non-extractive business practices.
- The phonebook sold out quickly, indicating strong interest, and the creators are considering future editions.
- Physical and digital integration is important, with events like HTML Energy fostering offline connections.
- The creators are optimistic about the internet's future, citing a growing interest in meaningful, independent web spaces.
- Building personal websites is seen as a healthier alternative to social media, encouraging deeper engagement and longevity.