Nettime Mailing List and the Democracy of the Internet

The article explores the dynamics of online communities, focusing on the Nettime mailing list, one of the earliest and most radical digital forums founded in Amsterdam in the mid-1990s. It contrasts the languages "in" the network with those "of" the network, arguing that the latter develop outside mainstream social media, within mailing lists that have shaped digital culture since the Web's inception. The text describes how Nettime's internal conflicts mirror broader challenges of digital democracy, where participation inevitably leads to confrontation. A user named Morlock (a reference to H.G. Wells) disrupts the group's equilibrium by dominating discussions with a "push" rather than "sharing" communication style, prompting harsh criticism, polarized responses, and mediation attempts. The article also cites a contemporary example: a young founder of a student anti-gun movement was attacked by a Trump-affiliated TV host, but his blog with 600,000 subscribers mobilized protests across US schools, leading sponsors like Nestlé to withdraw funding and the journalist to apologize. This illustrates the immense power of digital media to transmit ideas and exert influence. The piece concludes that while the medium may no longer be the message, it remains a powerful vehicle for sending it. The author, Lorenzo Taiuti, has taught mass media and art at academies and universities in Turin, Milan, and Rome.