>>82426813
Yeah, none of the sites I went to are functional on the waybackmachine. I kinda suspected the smaller webpages and BBSes would go offline someday, but not the larger webring hubs and turnpikes.
What I thought would be around forever in some form or another were the big box stores that sold media and electronics. When the Hastings had free coffee and you could sit in comfy easy chairs and read niche books or listen to sample CDs, I thought it would only get better. It was like a public library but nicer and everything was for sale instead of just borrowing. I loved hanging out there with this girl I crushed on. We would browse together, then split up, and then meet each other again and exchange finds and maybe buy something.