Our humble social has been approached by venture capitalists and big-monied interests several times over those seven years, and we've told them all to get bent.

You see, we believe that online communities can thrive of their own accord, kept afloat by those who appreciate an altogether different experience. A place where we are free to be ourselves without manipulation or exploitation.

You're here because you also believe, and we cannot adequately express our gratitude. #CoSoTips

At the "profusely flipping off screen" stage of contending with a tech issue.

NGL I'm spending extra time enjoying my last days before fascism

Social Media: If you post certain keywords, you're inundated by mentions from spambots.

CounterSocial: No bots, of any kind, ever. #CounterVsSocial #CoSoTips

Happy birthday CoSo!

Social Media: Raids your personal data to sell you targeted ads.

CounterSocial: No personal data gathered, no ads. #CounterVsSocial #CoSoTips

Social Media: Algorithms twist your entire experience, showing you their preferred content first.

CounterSocial: No algorithms, your content, in chronological order. #CounterVsSocial #CoSoTips

Social Media: Merely installing the app gives them permission to sift through your device and learn everything about you.

CounterSocial: You only gave us an email address, and we value your privacy. #CounterVsSocial

Social Media: Post pretty much anything and endure the abuse of trolls.

CounterSocial: Trolls have a lifespan that is measured in seconds. #CounterVsSocial #CoSoTips

Getting lunch at a local Honduran place because the food is great and to spite Stephen Miller. I'll try to get by here once a week or so
#effThatGuy

One side effect of growing up poor?

Food hoarding.

I’m pretty sure I could live 6 mos off the food in my house.

Running for city council then mayor . I've seen how things are heading here and it's not for the better. Let's play

#20Artists20Days

1. Giotto di Bondone

Born sometime around 1270, he grew up working on a farm as a shepherd, and started drawing pictures of animals in the mud with a stick.

His family was so impressed with the images, they sent him to Florence to study art.

Giotto was the first to create imagines "true to life", and ended up starting the entire Italian Renaissance,

...and he's also my great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandpa.

#Politics

(now a word from the far left. just to keep a balanced input)

Resisting Youth in the Age of Fascist Dream-Worlds
​
​"By reducing education to a set of instrumental skills needed to “compete in the global economy” and privileging standardized tests over critical thinking, they have stripped away the radical potential of learning while sabotaging any viable notion of critical pedagogy."

Henry Giroux

https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/11/15/resisting-youth-in-the-age-of-fascist-dream-worlds/

We've been discussing a point I brought up a few weeks ago - that Musk is like a cheap knock-off Tony Stark somebody ordered from Temu. Now we giggle every time one of us calls him Temu Stark.

The family group chat is full of Amazon wish lists and I'm up in there like "I don't need or want a single thing, but the scholarship fund needs money!"

About to upset the aunts whose main form of recreation is year round Christmas shopping, lol. Sorry, but Jeff Bezos doesn't need your money and I don't need more cheap crap.

#CoSoHumor

Black Friday Sale: Supreme Court Justices Buy One, Get One FREE!

Not said to the chat: I purged about a third of the contents of this house last spring, and I still have a bunch of stuff that doesn't get used or doesn't get used regularly.

A lot of that is books and/or craft supplies, but it reminds me daily that I already have more than enough of everything. And that decluttering is A LOT of work I don't want to repeat.

So please do not give me stuff, because I'll just have to deal with it.

#politics