Ah the information age is upon us and in 2001 the effects of this computer proliferation are finally being felt in the hardcore scene, especially with the shenanigans that have taken place on HC message boards lately. In particular there was the ill-fated worker-parasite board, which met its doom late last year, which has recently been replaced by the new and improved Lightblueextra board. Of course these two boards were and are where the suburban HC kids exchange info, meet each other, solidify relationships, and talk their shit; on the other hand, the Chicago hardcore board, which is a left over from Extinction message board days, is where more of the older and urban HC types commiserate, although both of these boards are by no means exclusive or meant to be. I recently have been discussing the impact of the Internet on the hardcore scene with a wide range of people: from “scenesters” to occasional show goers, their comments and queries speak volumes about “the state of HC.” A friend of mine in a prominent Chicago HC band has made the argument that the Internet is a terrible thing for HC, especially in the message board format. This sentiment was also shared by a friend of mine who writes ‘zines. Basically, the main problem is that the message board as a forum is a double-edged sword at best. In other words, important information is shared and people can begin to have “real” and sustained relationships with each other, but there is also the opportunity for greater anonymity and more “magical” relationships. This idea is most clearly illustrated in almost all accounts of shit talking on the web. Everyone and anyone can say whatever they want under a pseudonym, but the accused never gets a chance to actually face the accuser. And even when shit talkers know who each other are, face-to-face relationships are “magical” and down right fake, which means each person puts on the air of liking the other person and the conflict of ideas doesn’t reach a resolution. This problem of the Internet goes even further. I mentioned earlier how there are two prominent HC boards in the area, one more urban and one more suburban. This points to the separation and “cliqueyness” that is still present in this scene still striving for unity. For me this scene is a force that brings people together; recently there was a show at the Darien Sportsplex where urban and suburban bands played together—it was amazing—but still there was an element of that inherent separation. The Internet is not all bad for HC, it allowed this show and many others to be set up easily and at the convenience of those involved in the conversation, but the real question here is—Is communication via the web good enough for a scene that is predicated on progressive and even radical social change?—In order to expand the HC notion of political and social change I challenge all of us to try and organize and participate in forming affinity groups. For example, this summer I plan on forming a small group of people to paint pieces on some of the crappy corporate developments that have been springing up in my area.

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