Seems the general discussion burries what I sense is perhaps the more agregious part; LTTs business ethics.
It is inexcusable to become too big or too busy to care about how you represent those you partner with. Steve poiniently outlined significant instances where LTT took actions that negatively and unfairly impacted the vendors that expected more of a partnership in the exchange.
The Madison info just heaps onto the poor business practices.
Run kids through 12 years of school. Teach them little that engages them or makes them feel valuable. Tell them for half of those years that their best hope to achieve happiness is to go to college so that they can earn enough to consume the good life and then retire. Then wonder why so many lack a sense if purpose and belonging.
Some kids are fortunate. They have a family that truly support them, helpinh them gain experience in life and some insight into finding their way. For those with families that aren't that way, finding your way can be much harder. A significant amount of kids have parents that are checked out. Sometimes it's because the parents are too busy working. Sometimes its for worse reasons.
So be it. Humanity got along just fine without the internet for milleneia. Its clear at this point that the public internet isn't going to be used to improve our human existence. If there is anything to bemoan, its that the practical usefulness of the internet will only continue to get more and more narrow.
More likely, they've reached critical mass and are now using this as a downsizing move. They know a % will quit. Will reduce the number they have to float until eventual layoffs.
It's too bad banished always turns into a hectic click management game once the community gets to a self supporting size. Migrants show up and you expand for them... And then you get to run through the same operations every season, setting fields for plant and harvest, prioritizing workers and resources. It gets repetitive and the reward for getting bigger is just more clicking and more management.
Best anti digital hate movement ever: Going outside and doing something of actual use or recreational value.
The internet only helps in limited ways. my career in IT is largely down to the fact I can do it all myself without much need for others.
I'm coming to terms that I've basically lived a false life because of this. If I had had more friends and resources to lean on growing up I would have gone into construction, heavy equipment, or farming.
I'm trying to change that now. But, I look around and see more clearly that the ones who have success in these trades have a good social bond with those around them. I've never known how to do that. Really lacked the confidence when I was younger. Might be time to throw myself in the deep end and try anew.
We even "upgraded" to teams voice from a local PBX. Really great having calls drop and fail to connect.
I had to setup folks with a script clear teams cache when it acts up.