Hamish Campbell<p><strong>Rebooting the #openweb in a good way</strong></p>
The #Fediverse exists, and more than that, it’s alive and kicking. Sure, it might be a messy, chaotic, a bit fragmented, and yes, still niche. But let’s not underplay it, this is the healthiest corners of the internet we’ve got. Tens of million accounts, hundreds of thousands active people, sometimes talking about how we build our digital spaces from the bottom up.
Yep, there are the cat videos, the #fluffys and the #spikys. But also an in-group debate is bubbling away about who […]
<p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/rebooting-the-openweb-in-a-good-way/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">hamishcampbell.com/rebooting-t</span><span class="invisible">he-openweb-in-a-good-way/</span></a></p>
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#indymediaback
2 posts · 2 participants · 0 posts today
witchescauldron<p>The development of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/IndymediaBack" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>IndymediaBack</span></a></p><p>The reboot of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Indymedia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Indymedia</span></a> (<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/IndymediaBack" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>IndymediaBack</span></a>) is about reclaiming grassroots, open, and radical media infrastructure outside of the control of corporate platforms and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/dotcons" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>dotcons</span></a>. However, the development side has stalled due to the same issues that have stalled other <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/openweb" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>openweb</span></a> projects, lack of sustained coder engagement, resistance in centralized funding, and the dominance of closed silos.</p><p>The challenge is building tech that works for activists, not just developers. The original Indymedia relied on early open-source tools. This means moving beyond tech-fetishist projects that scratch a developer’s itch while ignoring real-world community.</p><p>A trust-based federated publishing network is the goal. The <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OMN</span></a> (Open Media Network) framework already outlines how to create syndicated media flows using <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/4opens" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>4opens</span></a>. The stalled dev site at <a href="http://unite.openworlds.info" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">http://</span><span class="">unite.openworlds.info</span><span class="invisible"></span></a> needs committed developers who care about media as a movement, not just a tech experiment.</p><p>Without serious investment in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DIY" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DIY</span></a>, people-friendly, open-source alternatives, activists will remain trapped inside the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/mainstreaming" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>mainstreaming</span></a> of social media platforms. The question is: can we finally push through the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/geekproblem" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>geekproblem</span></a> and make this happen?</p>
Hamish Campbell<p><strong>What software do activists need?</strong></p>
The core problem for the last 20 years has been that most activists were locked into #dotcons (corporate social media silos) because open alternatives were either too difficult to use, lack network effects, or fail to meet their practical needs. With the current reboot of the #openweb with the #fedivers based on #ActivityPub has already taken a step away from this mess.
Here’s what’s needed from a software development perspective to break out of this mess. Open & accessible publishing […]
<p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/what-software-do-activists-need/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">hamishcampbell.com/what-softwa</span><span class="invisible">re-do-activists-need/</span></a></p>
Hamish Campbell<p><strong>Rebuilding Radical, Grassroots Media</strong></p>
For way too long, our digital spaces have been hijacked by corporate interests, turning the internet into a surveillance-driven wasteland where control, profit, and censorship push aside community, useful creativity, and communities autonomy. As a first step to reclaim our media and communication networks, we need to step away from the #mainstreaming mess and build self-organized, decentralized alternatives that resist capture.
Creating and supporting decentralized codebase like the #OMN, […]
<p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/rebuilding-radical-grassroots-media/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">hamishcampbell.com/rebuilding-</span><span class="invisible">radical-grassroots-media/</span></a></p>
Hamish Campbell<p><strong>Trump and the tools of the old world order</strong></p>
An example of this is The United States Agency for International Development (#USAID) which was presented as a humanitarian force for economic and social development worldwide. However, its origins and operations paint a different much darker path, of geopolitical manoeuvring and #neoliberal hegemony over the last 40 years. Now, with the hard shift to the right, USAID is being gutted, alongside other long-standing institutions of the U.S. "liberal" global order.
Origins and the Cold War […]
<p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/trump-and-the-tools-of-the-old-world-order/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">hamishcampbell.com/trump-and-t</span><span class="invisible">he-tools-of-the-old-world-order/</span></a></p>
Hamish Campbell<p><strong>The left, right mess is on repeat</strong></p>
This is at the heart of the contradictions and confusion in the political landscape today. The liberal and left muddle, where elements of economic populism are shared across ideological divides, is something we’ve seen before, especially in the 1930s, when fascist movements co-opted working-class grievances while pushing reactionary nationalism.
#Bannon, like Röhm, plays a dangerous game by mobilizing working-class anger against neoliberal "elites" but steering it toward nationalism […]
<p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/the-left-right-mess-is-on-repeat/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">hamishcampbell.com/the-left-ri</span><span class="invisible">ght-mess-is-on-repeat/</span></a></p>
hamish campbell<p>For grassroots projects like <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/OMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OMN</span></a>, <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/OGB" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OGB</span></a>, and <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/indymediaback" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>indymediaback</span></a> to thrive, they need exposure to mainstream resources without being consumed by them. And for the mainstream to evolve, it needs the disruptive energy of grassroots creativity. The bridge must go both ways.</p>
Hamish Campbell<p><strong>The #fashernistas poisoned the well of alt-media</strong></p>
This has been going on for more than ten years, I have been at the heart of this movement, at many of the steps, I meet defeatism and negativity. It’s frustrating, especially now, when the mainstream is visibly stepping away from the #dotcons and looking for a place to land. We should be building that landing space, but instead, we’re tangled in the wreckage of failed ideas and cynical inertia.
Yes, stupid fashionable ideas have failed again and again, but that doesn’t mean the […]
<p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/the-fashernistas-poisoned-the-well-of-alt-media/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">hamishcampbell.com/the-fashern</span><span class="invisible">istas-poisoned-the-well-of-alt-media/</span></a></p>
witchescauldron<p>In a world tangled in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/mainstreaming" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>mainstreaming</span></a> noise and digital enclosures the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OMN</span></a> is a tool to compost the rot and nurture new growth. It’s not just about building tech; it’s about building trust, collective power, and vibrant grassroots communities.</p><p>The mess we face is real. Years of bad faith, disempowerment, and corporate gatekeeping have left people burnt out, isolated, and cynical. But what if we could turn that decay into rich soil? What if we could shovel through the wreckage, expose the rot to air and light, and use it to grow something wild and beautiful?</p><p>OMN is that shovel. A simple set of tools, publish, subscribe, moderate, rollback, edit, that lets people reclaim control over their digital lives. It’s a <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DIY" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DIY</span></a>, trust-based, human-moderated space where communities can shape their own narratives, free from the manipulation of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/dotcons" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>dotcons</span></a>. It’s messy, it’s organic, and it works.</p><p>The path won’t be easy. When we push back against <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/mainstreaming" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>mainstreaming</span></a>, bad faith will come at us. But our good faith, our care for each other, our belief in collective power, is both our shield and our guiding light. OMN isn’t just a platform; it’s a shared practice of making and remaking the world together, learning from past movements, and carrying forward what works.</p><p>This is an invitation. To pick up the shovel. To join a crew willing to do the hard work of turning shit into soil. To build a resilient, people-powered network where ideas can sprout, grow, and intertwine into a thriving ecosystem of change and challenge.</p><p>Let’s make history, not as a monument to what was, but as a living, breathing forest of what could be.</p><p>4opens <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/indymediaback" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>indymediaback</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/openweb" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>openweb</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/compostingthemess" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>compostingthemess</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/KISS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>KISS</span></a></p>
Hamish Campbell<p><strong>Open Media Network (#OMN) is a Tool for Change and Challenge, Composting the Mess</strong></p>
In activism and grassroots media, you inevitably face an ongoing, unpleasant truth: when pushing against #mainstreaming and the inertia of the #deathcult, bad faith comes at you like a storm. Your best, and often only, defence is to hold onto your good faith. But good faith alone isn’t enough, we need shared tools to compost the rot, turn the muck of broken movements and failed tech utopias into fertile soil where new paths can grow.
That’s where the Open Media Network comes in. The […]
<p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/open-media-network-omn-is-a-tool-for-change-and-challenge-composting-the-mess/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">hamishcampbell.com/open-media-</span><span class="invisible">network-omn-is-a-tool-for-change-and-challenge-composting-the-mess/</span></a></p>
Hamish Campbell<p><strong>We need to break out of this cycle</strong></p>
Funding structures are built for #NGO nonsense, not grassroots projects where actual value is created. The #OMN, #indymediaback, and #OGB challenge this, but funders can’t grasp it because they don’t understand value outside institutional framing.Fixing the funding #blocking, funders need to THINK, not just UNDERSTAND. Right now, they "understand" in the framework of existing institutions, which means they miss the metaphor-driven, emergent nature of the #OMN. Our #Hashtag story is for […]
<p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/we-need-to-break-out-of-this-cycle/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">hamishcampbell.com/we-need-to-</span><span class="invisible">break-out-of-this-cycle/</span></a></p>
Hamish Campbell<p><strong>#NLnet #EU #NGI #NGIzero – Will We Get It Right This Time?</strong></p>
With the hard shift to the right in US tech, Europe can no longer afford to sit idly by in tech development. The myth of neutrality has always been a convenient lie—if we don’t actively counterbalance this shift, we risk watching the #FOSS and #openweb movements collapse, taking with them a core pillar of our democratic and digital future. These movements aren’t just about code; they are the foundation of a fair, open, and just society. Now is the time to step up, not stand by.
For […]
<p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/nlnet-eu-ngi-ngizero-will-we-get-it-right-this-time/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">hamishcampbell.com/nlnet-eu-ng</span><span class="invisible">i-ngizero-will-we-get-it-right-this-time/</span></a></p>
witchescauldron<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NLnet" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NLnet</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EU</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NGI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NGI</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NGIzero" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NGIzero</span></a> With the hard shift to the right in USA tech, we need to balance this, we can't keep being "nurtural" we never were, let's try to be the balance this time please with funding flows.</p><p>Have spent a lot of time over the last 5 years applying for funding for native <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/openweb" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>openweb</span></a> projects, the problem seams to be that at <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NLnet" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NLnet</span></a> and the wider <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EU</span></a> they don't have anyone who is competent to judge <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FOSS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FOSS</span></a> projects in this area <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">hamishcampbell.com</span><span class="invisible"></span></a> my question for this round, is, has this changed?</p><p>Acknowledgement of your proposal <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Makeinghistory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Makeinghistory</span></a></p><p>Acknowledgement of your proposal <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/indymediaback" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>indymediaback</span></a></p><p>Acknowledgement of your proposal Open Governance Body <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OGB" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OGB</span></a></p>
witchescauldron<p>The <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OMN</span></a> (Open Media Network), <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/visionontv" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>visionontv</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OGB" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OGB</span></a> (Open Governance Body), and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/IndyMediaBack" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>IndyMediaBack</span></a> are interconnected initiatives rooted in the principles of the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/openweb" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>openweb</span></a>, aiming to create a decentralized, community-driven digital ecosystem. These projects focus on transparency, inclusivity, and human-centered governance, countering the corporate-controlled <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/dotcons" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>dotcons</span></a> (like Meta, Google, and Amazon) that dominate the internet today.</p>
witchescauldron<p>The web wasn’t built by solo tech geniuses, finance firms, or flashy luminaries making illusionary promises. It was built by the time, energy, and collective action of millions of grassroots people working together. </p><p>This same collective effort is what will push us into the next era of the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/openweb" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>openweb</span></a>.<br>For the last 20 years we’re been stuck in the closed, corporate-controlled internet of the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/dotcons" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>dotcons</span></a>. This is still a shift towards a more <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/closedweb" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>closedweb</span></a> which is concerning—it goes against everything the web was meant to be.</p><p>If we want the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/openweb" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>openweb</span></a> path to grow, we need to embrace the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/4opens" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>4opens</span></a> as tool of collaboration and decentralisation. And by working together on "native" projects like <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OMN</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/IndyMediaBack" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>IndyMediaBack</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OGB" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OGB</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/makeinghistory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>makeinghistory</span></a></p>
witchescauldron<p>Thinking about news on the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/fediverse" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>fediverse</span></a> <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/thinking-about-news-on-the-fediverse/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">hamishcampbell.com/thinking-ab</span><span class="invisible">out-news-on-the-fediverse/</span></a> revitalizing <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/indymediaback" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>indymediaback</span></a> as a platform for meaningful, community-driven media.</p>
Hamish Campbell<p>The <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openmedianetwork/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OpenMediaNetwork</a> (<a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OMN</a>) offers a clear, practical path to building the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openweb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#openweb</a>, grounded in #4opens. It does this by leveraging open protocols like <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/activitypub/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> (<a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/ap/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AP</a>) and <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/rss/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#RSS</a>, alongside <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/foss/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FOSS</a> software, to create a distributed network of media platforms where anyone can join, participate, and contribute. This, like the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/fediverse/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a>, is a direct challenge to the centralised, corporate-dominated structures that define so much of the current internet landscape.</p><p>Step-by-Step Building Blocks: The <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OMN</a> prioritises simplicity and humanistic coding rather than over-engineered complexity we often see in tech today. </p><ul><li>Start with the client-server model. The initial focus is on building a robust client-server architecture to create a stable foundation for media sharing and participation. This forms the “hot” storage layer, data that is live, accessible, and regularly used.</li><li>Introduce an offline cold store: Once the client-server infrastructure is operational, a secondary layer of offline cold storage is added. This acts as a backup system, providing high redundancy to safeguard against data loss. Cold storage is cheap, offline, and relies on human interaction for maintenance and retrieval, ensuring resilience and sustainability.</li><li>P2P connections to cold storage: The final stage introduces peer-to-peer (<a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/p2p/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#P2P</a>) connections to integrate the offline cold storage with the broader network. This allows people to share and retrieve data across the network, even in decentralised or disconnected environments.</li><li>Iterative learning and improvement: The process is intentionally iterative, encouraging learning from practical experience. The system is designed to evolve and improve over time, informed by real-world use rather than theoretical perfection.</li></ul><p>The success of the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OMN</a> depends on its commitment to #4opens. These principles allow for the free sharing and reuse of content, breaking down barriers to collaboration and fostering innovation. By storing most data unencrypted (as the majority of it is not private), the system reduces overhead and complexity, keeping the project aligned with the “Keep It Simple, Stupid” (<a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/kiss/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#KISS</a>) philosophy.</p><p>Separating privacy from the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openweb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#openweb</a>: One critical aspect of the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OMN</a> approach is recognising that encrypted privacy tools are a separate project. Mixing these with the development of the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openweb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#openweb</a> <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/fediverse/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> leads to unnecessary complexity and division. Privacy tools are vital, but are developed in parallel rather than tangled with the foundational infrastructure. This separation allows each project to focus on its strengths while maintaining a clear, streamlined design philosophy.</p><p>At its core, the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OMN</a> empowers “normal” people to store and manage their own data. By using a mix of hot and cold storage, people gain control over their digital lives without relying on corporate platforms. The focus on redundancy, backed by tools to search and reimport old data into hot storage, ensures resilience and accessibility.</p><p>This human-centric approach contrasts sharply with the corporate and <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/geekproblem/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#geekproblem</a> obsession with control and perfection. It’s a more humane vision of technology, based on trust and collaboration rather than surveillance and control.</p><p>A history rooted in activism, the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OMN</a> isn’t just a theoretical project; it’s grounded in decades of real-world activism. From the work of Undercurrents in the 1990s (<a href="http://www.undercurrents.org/about.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.undercurrents.org/about.html</a>) to the global mobilisation of the Carnival Against Capitalism (<em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_Against_Capital" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival</span><span class="invisible">_Against_Capital</span></a></em>), this approach draws on over 20 years of direct, on-the-ground experience. The lessons from this history inform every aspect of the OMN, ensuring it stays true to its activist roots.</p><p>Dealing with the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/geekproblem/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#geekproblem</a> and <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/fashernistas/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#fashernistas</a>: One of the biggest challenges in progressive tech is the dominance of the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/geekproblem/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#geekproblem</a>, projects driven by technologists who prioritise complexity and self-interest over usability and impact. Coupled with the influence of <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/fashernistas/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#fashernistas</a>, who chase trends without substance, many projects are doomed from the start</p><p>The <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OMN</a> cuts through this, yes, we can’t solve this mess pushing, but we are a critical step in the right direction which encourages us to get out the shovels and compost these failures. The goal is to build a system that works, not one that dazzles investors with hype while failing to deliver.</p><p>The <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openweb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#openweb</a> won’t (re)build itself. It requires us to reject the endless noise of pointless projects and focus on practical, sustainable solutions. By supporting and growing the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OMN</a> path, grounded in <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/kiss/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#KISS</a> simplicity, #4opens principles, and decades of activism, we create a resilient infrastructure that empowers people and communities.</p><p>The future of the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openweb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#openweb</a> is in our hands. Dig deep, embrace trust, and start building.</p><p>OMN <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openweb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#openweb</a> <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/ogb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OGB</a> <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/indymediaback/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Indymediaback</a> <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/makehistory/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#makehistory</a></p> <a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fthe-omn-path-is-building-the-openweb-infrastructure%2F&linkname=The%20%23OMN%20path%20is%20building%20the%20%23openweb%20infrastructure" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/bluesky?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fthe-omn-path-is-building-the-openweb-infrastructure%2F&linkname=The%20%23OMN%20path%20is%20building%20the%20%23openweb%20infrastructure" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/threads?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fthe-omn-path-is-building-the-openweb-infrastructure%2F&linkname=The%20%23OMN%20path%20is%20building%20the%20%23openweb%20infrastructure" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fthe-omn-path-is-building-the-openweb-infrastructure%2F&linkname=The%20%23OMN%20path%20is%20building%20the%20%23openweb%20infrastructure" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fthe-omn-path-is-building-the-openweb-infrastructure%2F&linkname=The%20%23OMN%20path%20is%20building%20the%20%23openweb%20infrastructure" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fthe-omn-path-is-building-the-openweb-infrastructure%2F&linkname=The%20%23OMN%20path%20is%20building%20the%20%23openweb%20infrastructure" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a> <p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/the-omn-path-is-building-the-openweb-infrastructure/" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://hamishcampbell.com/the-omn-path-is-building-the-openweb-infrastructure/</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/4opens/" target="_blank">#4opens</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#activitypub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/ap/" target="_blank">#AP</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/fashernistas/" target="_blank">#fashernistas</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/foss/" target="_blank">#FOSS</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/geekproblem/" target="_blank">#geekproblem</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/indymediaback/" target="_blank">#indymediaback</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/kiss/" target="_blank">#KISS</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/makehistory/" target="_blank">#MakeHistory</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/ogb/" target="_blank">#OGB</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" target="_blank">#OMN</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openmedianetwork/" target="_blank">#OpenMediaNetwork</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openweb/" target="_blank">#openweb</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/p2p/" target="_blank">#p2p</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/rss/" target="_blank">#rss</a></p>
witchescauldron<p><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodon.scot/@moh_kohn" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>moh_kohn</span></a></span> that's true - <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/indymediaback" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>indymediaback</span></a> as a part of the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Fediverse" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Fediverse</span></a></p>
witchescauldron<p>Can people hear and act on the critique of activism being co-opted and drained by the careerist class's, leaving grassroots movements weakened over decades. This communication emphasizes the urgency of stepping away from the toxic influence of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/dotcons" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>dotcons</span></a> and reclaiming control over our communication and news through <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/indymediaback" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>indymediaback</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/OMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OMN</span></a>. We need this call for <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DIY" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DIY</span></a> crew rooted in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/KISS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>KISS</span></a> principles, rather than getting lost in pointless <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/techshit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>techshit</span></a>, a sharp reminder of the need for grounded, practical action.</p>
Hamish Campbell<p>There are deep cultural and structural problem within the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openweb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#openweb</a> and tech spaces, which are often shaped by entrenched hierarchical thinking (<a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/feudalism/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#feudalism</a>) and the inability to embrace horizontal governance models. This <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/geekproblem/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#geekproblem</a> represents a persistent resistance to the solutions necessary for fostering the meaningful change we need, instead they’re defaulting to patterns that reinforce the status quo (<a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/deathcult/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#deathcult</a> worshipping).</p><p>Horizontal solutions have proven foundations, community-driven models like <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/ogb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OGB</a> (Open Governance Body) reflects a grounded understanding of what works. Over five years of work in the decentralized Fediverse shows that horizontal technology can scale without succumbing to the pitfalls of centralized, hierarchical control.</p><p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/nothingnew/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Nothingnew</a>, combining what works. The creative task now is to integrate these proven social and technical approaches into cohesive systems: <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OMN</a> (Open Media Network): A decentralized framework for building media networks based on trust, transparency, and shared governance. <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/ogb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OGB</a>: A governance model for the open web, ensuring horizontal decision-making structures that resist co-option by hierarchical or neoliberal influences. <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/indymediaback/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Indymediaback</a>: Reviving radical, grassroots media projects that embody these principles, amplifying voices outside the mainstream.</p><p>Breaking the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/blocking/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#blocking</a> cycle, when discussions about radical or progressive changes are met with <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/blocking/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#blocking</a>, the result is often a stagnant cycle of unresolved issues that erode goodwill. This stagnation is a direct threat to the social commons. To break this cycle we can use and think inside the Fluff/Spiky debate to encourage broad, inclusive thinking while not shying away from hard truths and unpopular calls for accountability. Reject <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/fashernista/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#fashernista</a> worship to push back against superficial trends that align with neoliberal or <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/mainstreaming/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#mainstreaming</a> values, which are ultimately harmful to the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openweb/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#openweb</a> paths.</p><p>The language trap, <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/liberalism/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#liberalism</a>, and by extension <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/neoliberalism/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#neoliberalism</a>, dominates conversations without a critical examination of its misalignment with the goals of the openweb. Calling this out is uncomfortable but necessary, to recognize and challenge how these frameworks perpetuate the <a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/deathcult/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#deathcult</a>. </p><p>You’ve outlined a clear and urgent challenge, to step away from entrenched thinking and embrace the tools and principles that can rebuild the openweb. The question remains, will others step up to help make this happen? Are they ready to rise to this challenge?</p> <a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fclear-and-urgent-challenge-to-step-away-from-entrenched-thinking%2F&linkname=Clear%20and%20urgent%20challenge%2C%20to%20step%20away%20from%20entrenched%20thinking" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/bluesky?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fclear-and-urgent-challenge-to-step-away-from-entrenched-thinking%2F&linkname=Clear%20and%20urgent%20challenge%2C%20to%20step%20away%20from%20entrenched%20thinking" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/threads?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fclear-and-urgent-challenge-to-step-away-from-entrenched-thinking%2F&linkname=Clear%20and%20urgent%20challenge%2C%20to%20step%20away%20from%20entrenched%20thinking" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fclear-and-urgent-challenge-to-step-away-from-entrenched-thinking%2F&linkname=Clear%20and%20urgent%20challenge%2C%20to%20step%20away%20from%20entrenched%20thinking" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fclear-and-urgent-challenge-to-step-away-from-entrenched-thinking%2F&linkname=Clear%20and%20urgent%20challenge%2C%20to%20step%20away%20from%20entrenched%20thinking" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Fclear-and-urgent-challenge-to-step-away-from-entrenched-thinking%2F&linkname=Clear%20and%20urgent%20challenge%2C%20to%20step%20away%20from%20entrenched%20thinking" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a> <p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/clear-and-urgent-challenge-to-step-away-from-entrenched-thinking/" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://hamishcampbell.com/clear-and-urgent-challenge-to-step-away-from-entrenched-thinking/</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/blocking/" target="_blank">#blocking</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/deathcult/" target="_blank">#deathcult</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/fashernista/" target="_blank">#fashernista</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/feudalism/" target="_blank">#feudalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/geekproblem/" target="_blank">#geekproblem</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/indymediaback/" target="_blank">#indymediaback</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/liberalism/" target="_blank">#liberalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/mainstreaming/" target="_blank">#mainstreaming</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/neoliberalism/" target="_blank">#neoliberalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/nothingnew/" target="_blank">#nothingnew</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/ogb/" target="_blank">#OGB</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" target="_blank">#OMN</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/openweb/" target="_blank">#openweb</a></p>
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