Tumgik
#i found a bunch of c*ntgate posts
shutterbug2012 · 3 years
Note
Hello M, what's a wayback machine and how does it work? 👀
* cracks knuckles * let me introduce you to the fantastic concept of internet archiving :D
The Wayback Machine is basically a storehouse of internet history, created in 1996 by the Internet Archive (a non-profit library based in San Francisco) and made available for the public in 2001. The idea behind creating a digital archive was to let people go back in time (quite literally) and access material (webpages and the like) which is now defunct and/or inaccessible.
Wayback Wiki page
The Machine's own FAQ and the wiki page have details on how it works (if I was tech-savvy enough I'd be able to explain but I'm not rip)
But here's what I wanted to stress- the existence of WB is crucial for fandoms. You get to read through posts as if they were posted mere minutes ago, discover buried information and patterns that make sense in hindsight, and actually understand the context of certain fandom dynamics. Newer fans should definitely look through the Archive (keeping in mind that it is a draining exercise and sucks the life out of you) if and when they feel the need to read through important sections of fandom history, parts that some people on here are deliberately trying to erase to fit their self created narratives. The Machine gives you the facts as they existed at that point in time. I've always felt it's easier to have a rational stream of thought if you base your opinions on actual events that have taken place.
8 notes · View notes