this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2024
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Asklemmy

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I’m a huge nerd, so the reason I joined Lemmy is because I was looking for a social media platform that conforms with my views on FOSS, moderation, and internet privacy. I would assume many other people are in the same boat, but is that accurate? Who’s just here because they looked up β€œReddit alternatives?”

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[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

90% of people who joined Lemmy (or the fediverse in general) are tech savvy enough to wrap their head around the concept of federation.

[–] Zachariah 14 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Is it really so tough? It’s the very similar to email providers, and who doesn’t understand those?

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I work in a computer shop and talk to regular computer users all day everyday.

The average user might know what a browser is. Most don't know that the Internet is outside of their computer.

Real quotes like this happen everyday: "I just get on the green one to check my Google". Translation: I check Gmail using the Edge browser.

It took me 25 minutes the other day to explain what video chat was and that FaceTime is only one kind of it, and it's only available on Apple devices, of which an HP laptop is not.

Do not underestimate the computer illiteracy of the common person.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

but do you need to understand that

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not a tech person. I'm a seamstress/tailor who will make you feel like the smartest person in the room when I ask questions about computers. Never knew so much about internet privacy before Lemmy, either. It's been eye-opening to learn about tech-stuff on Lemmy!

I left RΓ—ddit out of spite, then found out youtubers made videos reading out my posts and said goodbye to it forever. It became a free content farm ripe for mishandling, astroturfing, and paid propaganda.

My stubborn ass will learn something beyond simple navigation because I'm always wanting to skirt injustice and do what little I can to not support rampant capitalism (I have no money!)

I mean.... I learned Blender. I'm capable of pretty much everything!

[–] Cris_Color 6 points 1 month ago

We're happy you're here! 😊

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Compared to most people in my IRL, yes. Compared to lots of people on Lemmy who work in industry or are much more serious hobbyists than me, no.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago

I only used reddit through an app so when they closed the api that was the day reddit shut down for me, I came looking for meme pages. I forget about reddit, I have my memes and shitposts. Sure, fewer than the before times but I also see less guerilla marketing so that's nice.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I'm not a tech person. Art and craft is my thing. I joined Lemmy after the Reddit API issue.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Healthcare person here. Same camp!

[–] samuelblock 3 points 1 month ago

Me too, actually

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

+1 on this camp.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not a tech person. Working on my PhD in theoretical computer science.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

okay πŸ₯²πŸ§»πŸ˜€πŸ˜­

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago

Yes, I am and before you ask: no, I will not help you fix your grandma's PC.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

reddit is a cesspit, on reddit it used to be that misinformation or incompetency cope would be promptly identified, now its the top 5 comments on any thread...and the next 5 are circle jerks.

in other words: welcome reddit refugees. please please feel free to leave the reddit mindset at the door on your way in :)

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

I started using reddit just for the memes and would use some 3rd party frontend to get rid of the ads and nake the interface way cleaner. When the API pricing was announced, I serched for a better source of memes and somehow found lemmy. No ads, no bullshit, and there are some cool communities here that I actually want to participate in.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Negative, I am a meat Popsicle.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

I looked up "Reddit alternatives", but I also work with computers/tech as a living.

[–] root 9 points 1 month ago

Yes. It’s a tech/ nerd bubble here.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

I like how this platform works, I'm actually active here unlike the garbage fire that was and is reddit

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

yes i am partially computer

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

I'm a techie and left reddit after the api-desaster. I won't use things when they have ads. Period. And I'm glad I found lemmy.

[–] MrPoopyButthole 8 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It depends on the community, but in general people on Lemmy love FOSS. The linux community is very helpful and friendly (although headstrong). Moderation depends on your instance (.ml is quite politically motivated). Privacy on the platform is non existent due to how the software works, but in general, people here do care about privacy related topics.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

Yes, here to talk to nerdy people for the most part

Also beats doom scrolling on Instagram or reddit

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm just a regular person. I'm learning everyday about the fediverse, what its capable of. But its actuality only around 3-4years since I got into this rabbit hole. I used to in my younger days to think that FOSS is to nerdyπŸ˜„im excited to get more into the FOSS and Fediverse world!

[–] samuelblock 3 points 1 month ago

We’re glad to have you! The more the merrier

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm just here for the Reddit alternative. Being FOSS is a bonus.

I'd say I'm more of a computer person than the average person, but less so than the average Lemmy user.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Same here. Reminds me that Reddit was mostly techy posts for the first while too.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Yes, I am in networking and cybersecurity so it was a matter of time before I found out there was a better alternative to reddit

[–] WoodScientist 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not a tech person. I'm currently a PhD student in civil engineering and wood science.

[–] samuelblock 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I promise I’m not being sarcastic when I say wood science sounds fascinating, lol.

What made you decide to use Lemmy?

[–] WoodScientist 4 points 1 month ago (7 children)

Was on reddit for many years, didn't like the direction it was going. Also I'm permabanned from there!

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[–] Resol 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm techie enough to be interested in federated social media networks. I'm techie enough to start using Linux. Ain't that enough techie?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

*crawls out of a gutter and sneers*
where's your collection of broken calculator watches that you swear you'll fix some day?
*scuttles back into sewer*

[–] Resol 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Never had a calculator watch, let alone a collection of broken ones.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

*sneers further, revealing blackened teeth*

[–] HurlingDurling 5 points 1 month ago

No, and I cannot fix your PC

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

I'm a water engineer with a PhD, so not a tech nerd but definitely a nerd :) I came here mostly because I find the Reddit app annoying and the app I was using came here.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I'm a socialist, mostly found this place thanks to word of mouth. Unfortunately users are turning more moderate every day. It's a strange place

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

I came to Lemmy just looking for a Reddit alternative. I think this is a superior forum system with user scoring and nested comments. But I do love that it is open and federated and I'm glad to be rid of Reddit completely.

I am a huge tech nerd and love doing these things as side projects (but I prefer making hardware). I like making stuff so the things I've been making/setting up are:

  • Setting up a R.Pi as a retro gaming console
  • R.Pi Kodi media player
  • Putting together a hotswap keyboard from a kit
  • Migrating to privacy alternatives and degoogling my life
  • Migrating to Linux
  • Making a fight game controller from scratch
  • Making a custom keyboard with soldering and custom layout (and then again for having the same keyboard at work)
  • Building a new gaming PC
  • Getting a synology NAS and going down the Docker rabbit hole
  • Making another fight game controller.......or 3

Now I'm planning making a DIY microphone for MS Teams meetings

[–] Cris_Color 4 points 1 month ago

I'm a bit of a FOSS nerd and care about privacy, but I'm much more an art and design person than I am a technical person.

I use Linux, and I can write some very basic code after learning how in Highschool, but mostly I just like making pretty stuff. Especially anything to-do with UI/UX

Like someone else said, I'm a technical person compared to the average population, but not compared to Lemmy, or the FLOSS community. I left reddit when the api changes happened, and have found I really love the Fediverse and very strongly believe in what it represents

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

Not exactly. I'm kind of a "learn what I need to to get by" person. I'm not really a Linux person... but my old laptop took 15 minutes to boot up, and the hardware obsoleted out of windows updates, so now I have Linux.

I ran out of space in Google Photos. I would've happily bought more space but they told me I'd have free backup space forever if I compressed my photos. When they changed that policy I realized I was being jerked around. So then I got a raspberry pi, and learned how to (barely) set up a server to run Immich.

I liked browsing reddit, but, again, I don't like being jerked around, so here I am.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

I was formally studying Software Development before I came here, and yeah, I've been a sort of techie for the better part of 24 years. Been a LiGNUx user for probably a combined 18 years. If it wasn't for FOSS I probably would have lost interest long ago, because when I recently tried out some new hobbies I was shocked as I was reminded how much other basic activities cost to seriously engage in. I also happened to migrate from that other website you mentioned, but that's not important. I really wanted to simply find other forums that weren't based on one centralized website. Lemmy is kind of a compromise with that for me.

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