Subj : Re: mastodon
To   : N2qfd
From : AKAcastor
Date : Wed Apr 10 2024 01:26 pm

 n>   There was this study  Dunbar's Number 
 n> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number that 
 n> said we've got a limit. 

Interesting there's research into this idea, the concept pretty well describes my personal observations too.

 n>   I was in Yeshiva and worked briefly as a clergyman, so 
 n> this sort of thinking was important to us. If I can only 
 n> have about 100-150 individuals who I can maintain a real 
 n> connection with how does that affect the congregation 
 n> and our need to have extra clergy. 

I can see how that's an important place to tune into these kinds of ideas.

 n>   I think it translates to BBS or any other small but dedicated social 
 n> interaction circle. I'd just rather be around people who 
 n> can be part of a discussion, not just like what I like 
 n> but are just civil and here for honest interaction. I've 
 n> got nothing to gain apart from ego and that does run 
 n> away from everyone once in an while but generally it's 
 n> just nice to be with other folks who have put in the 
 n> meaningful effort to be in this space together. 

100% this.  I don't think it's really possible to have a discussion with millions of people involved.  Better to have many smaller-scale discussions with honest interaction.

 n>   Congregations need not be religious, or political, but as wild as it 
 n> sounds just comparing notes on how life is going.

I get this.  I grew up in a small town and just 'getting together' seemed like the real strength of local congretations.

 n> I haven't figured out if it's an age related thing or not 
 n> yet. I think some of that steers the medium. I think 
 n> most of us had some interaction with electronics, radio 
 n> or BBS in the past and we're coming back around to this 
 n> thing. There are bound to be people who are new to the 
 n> medium too. But we've committed to a shared space and 
 n> format and for the right sort of individual this is it. 

Agreed.  From my experience getting back into BBSing, almost all of us were involved in BBSes in the past and most have a technical background.  Not too surprising considering even in the 90s BBS users tended to be technical and this is a much smaller niche these days.

That said - I have seen new people too, there's definitely a number of people in their 20s (and younger?) with an interest in retro computing, and/or interest in alternative varieties of social media.  In BBS message bases they may be a minority but their existence is real! :)

I see a lot of similarity between BBSes and social media, aside from the messaging/chat aspect, each BBS has a unique atmosphere and style based on the sysop's preferences and what they want to present to the world.  Before Instagram and Facebook and Myspace and before Geocities, people were building BBSes as places to congregate and share their personality.  On this topic - I have a book on my desk I haven't read yet, "The Modem World: A Prehistory of Social Media" by Kevin Driscoll, I suspect I will read a more cogent opinion on the topic there.

I'm curious what else the Fediverse will bring to us, I know there is more to it than just Mastodon and Lemmy but I haven't looked into any other services.  I was surprised how quickly I took to both Mastodon and Lemmy, it took almost no time at all for me to find my whole experience got undeniably better than Twitter and Reddit had been.  I'll still search Reddit for information someone may have posted, but I go to Lemmy for the conversation.


Chris/akacastor

--- Maximus 3.01
 * Origin: Another Millennium - Canada - another.tel (21:1/162)

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