Oddbean new post about | logout
 Well we've all been suckered into this idea that the only way the internet can provide things for us to do is through third party apps, services, and websites. Want a car to the airport? Use Uber, Bolt, Lyft, etc. Want a meal? Use Uber, Doordash, etc. Want to send a message? WhatsApp, Telegram, etc An email? Want to book a flight? Buy a toothbrush? You get the idea. 

The internet isn't neutral - we messed up. We let third parties, we _needed_ third parties to first add functionality to the internet, and now we're stuck in this third-party-internet design of different companies doing the same thing, over and over, and taking a cut. For what? Do we need 10 delivery apps? 

I should be able to broadcast a message to get a lift to the airport. Neutrally. Like hoisting a flag on my doorstep. No third parties involved, just me and the drivers around me. Same with sending messages, getting a meal, sharing with my friends, backing up my photos... same with nostr. 

Bitcoin showed us that running nodes/relays across the globe adds functionality to the internet in a way that cuts out the need for some third party that can be manipulated. Code is the only thing that matters.

Nostr lets us send data neutrally and in a resistant way, let's build everything on that now. No more third parties.