2·
1 day agoHmmm, I think my gateway drug to interacting with actual Internet strangers vs talking online with people I knew IRL, was probably via StarCraft over dial-up in 1998. RuneScape shortly after for developing actual relationships with people, then WoW owned my soul from its vanilla release through the cata expansion.
Several WoW guilds had their own websites/forums, which eventually got me into forums for other topics, then Reddit, then here.
Even ‘dude’ is shifting towards gender neutral.
As with all of these kinds of discussions, context is key. Getting offended at the mere sight of the word ‘bro’? Go suck a dick. Using ‘bro’ spitefully to misgender someone? Also go suck a dick.