I've been through a lot of social media sites over the years. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter. I think you've got the right idea avoiding them all at this point! LOL
And I 100% agree regarding third party apps and open protocols. I tried several Reddit apps before Sync really grabbed me. I thought it was so neat having so many options, something I hadn't seen since the early days of the internet. And then Reddit had to ruin a good thing and take all those away.
I do think the fediverse has the right idea. We shouldn't all be crammed into a single "one size fits all" site. Now we just need some good apps to go with it!
I'm all for a good debate. I frequented the technology subreddits since they're related to my work and I love a good OS or language debate. I've learned a lot from hearing other people's arguments. So that all sounds like friendly banter to me!
I do think the smaller the subreddit, the safer you are. Most of my best experiences are in those subreddits. I just found myself wishing I could explore Reddit a bit more without walking away bummed out by all the hate. It's hard finding a good subreddit.
That's a relief to hear. There's been a Twitter shaped hole in my heart since I quit. I think I'd been a Twitter user since my freshman year of college and I'm in my 30s now. LOL
You've convinced me to give Mastodon a chance! Thank you for your reassurance. It really does sound like what Twitter should have been.
I joined my state's subreddit to keep an eye on local happenings. Our news outlets aren't the best, so it was a good way to hear what was going on. For the most part, it was a good community. But there was always a handful of people who had to argue equal rights every time it came up and it was disheartening to see the same hate every single time.
Apparently I should get into photography, because your experience on Reddit sounds so chill! LOL
Oh geez. Twitter is such a nightmare. I had to quit last year when things started getting bad. I haven't dipped my toes in Mastodon. Has your experience been much more positive? I'm scared I'll end up stuck in a bad server!
The worst of it, by far, is of course the front page. But some of the subs I can think of off the top of my head where I encountered trans or homophobia are r/Science and even r/Pathfinder2e (if you know anything about the Pathfinder universe, this might seem mind boggling). There was pro LGBTQ+ support in many of these subreddits, but there was always a comment or a debate or whatever in every queer related thread.
The subreddit for the state I live in, while generally supportive, has numerous comments debating my right to exist as a queer person in most threads even vaguely LGBT related. It's frustrating knowing I could basically only find refuge in LGBT subreddits. Everywhere else, there was always someone making a jab or starting an argument. It's exhausting.
That's a real relief to me. I see enough of that living in a very red town in a red state. Online communities are one of my only ways to talk to people who don't want me gone.
I've only been here for a day, but the lack of homophobia and transphobia here compared to Reddit has been a breath of fresh air. I'm not afraid of posting here like I was on Reddit, where I'd actually have to debate with myself for a minute or two before posting. It's like finally leaving a bad relationship; now I'm starting to see how bad that all was for my mental health.
Ugh, what I wouldn't give to be back in my parents' house just for a day to hear them lose their shit on this. LOL
@Sunspot
@beehaw.org