This seems like solving the problem at the wrong layer? The issue isn’t the actual network connection between people, it is the content. You could easily create your own forum or something and only include people you trust. You don’t need an entirely separate internet.

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EvanAnderson 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Even if it was a "network connection" issue creating an overlay network on top of the Internet (with VPN tunnels and mesh routing, for example) would yield wildly better bandwidth and latency characteristics.

You can still make that overlay network geofenced and vetted. Heck, running it over a local ISP's last mile would probably yield wonderful latency.

We need vetted webrings on the existing Internet, not a new Internet.

	▲	wizardforhire an hour ago \| parent [-]
		Reading this back and forth so far I think you’re spot on… which leads to this open question, wheres the consolidated stack that makes this accessible? Also I think the name vetted webrings or just the vetted web is simple enough to be a movement. As in the vetted web movement. … gotta start somewhere.

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noosphr 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

>The issue isn’t the actual network connection between people, it is the content.

Everyone serving a website is being ddos by AI agents right now.

A local mesh network is one way to make sure that no one with a terabit network can index you.

	▲	lowtidebridge an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		You could set up two way TLS with client certificates
	▲	pphysch an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Then firewall traffic that doesn't come from your local ISP blocks or authenticated users.

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sky2224 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

There's only so much you can do to detect and block content that's AI generated. At the end of the day, the content starts with the people creating it.

Jumping to an invite only network isn't the most ridiculous idea imo.

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drysart 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The best solution for dealing with AI content slop flooding your eyeballs is to hang out in places small enough to be a community -- like a local area mesh network.

AI slop thrives in anonymity. In a community that's developed its own established norms and people who know each other, AI content trying to be passed off as genuine stands out like a sore thumb and is easily eradicated before it gets a chance to take root.

It doesn't have to be invite-only, per se, but it needs to have its own flavor that newcomers can adapt to, and AI slop doesn't.

	▲	LexiMax 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		You can still find the essence of community on the traditional internet in places like invite-only discords, smaller mastodon instances, traditional forums, and spaces similar to Lobsters and Tildes. ...and not on Hacker News. Too many pseudo-anonymous jerks, too many throwaways, too much faith placed in gamified moderation tools.

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kolinko 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

What parent means is that you can with no problem build over the classic tcp/ip.

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willturman 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Perhaps, but it also, by default, excludes that entire class of authentication problems that are only manifested in a non-local network.

I love the idea.

It's also interesting in that a local mesh doesn't necessarily need to operate using the TCP/IP/HTTP stack that has been compromised at every layer by advertising and privacy intrusions.

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kolinko 2 hours ago | parent [-]

You’re probably getting downvoted because what you said about TCP/IP/HTTP doesn’t make sense.

	▲	willturman 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		You're right. I didn't think that through. The stack doesn't imply that a local network is somehow exposed to those concerns.