14 Hopelessly Optimistic Pieces Of Internet Advice From A 1996 Guide

    Before there were hot takes there was "Hot Mail". Quotes from The Rough Guide to the Internet by Angus Kennedy, published in 1996.

    Kelly Oakes
    by Kelly Oakes

    BuzzFeed Staff, UK

    1. This definition of the internet.

    Jordan McQueen / unsplash.com / Kelly Oakes / BuzzFeed

    2. And this one.

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    3. This endorsement of Hotmail.

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    4. This take on online harassment that, if it were still true, would actually be a miracle.

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    5. This dubious definition of what counts as a world expert.

    Bethany Legg / unsplash.com / Kelly Oakes / BuzzFeed

    6. Um.

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    7. This insight into online advertising.

    Bethany Legg / unsplash.com / Kelly Oakes / BuzzFeed

    8. This sad state of affairs.

    Joshua Sortino / unsplash.com / Kelly Oakes / BuzzFeed

    9. This hot take on browsers.

    Joshua Earle / unsplash.com / Kelly Oakes / BuzzFeed

    10. This rosy view of comment threads.

    Jay Mantri / unsplash.com / Kelly Oakes / BuzzFeed

    11. This understatement.

    Huge Kerr / unsplash.com / Kelly Oakes / BuzzFeed

    12. This matter that is no longer just speculation.

    Josefa Holland-Merten / unsplash.com / Kelly Oakes / BuzzFeed

    13. This outright lie about email.

    Lee Scott / unsplash.com / Kelly Oakes / BuzzFeed

    14. This statement that is both right and very, very wrong.

    Rayi Christian Wicaksono / unsplash.com / Kelly Oakes / BuzzFeed

    Text excerpted from version two of The Rough Guide To The Internet by Angus Kennedy, published in 1996.

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    Newer editions of the book are now available, if you want some help using ~the net~.