@ruffboi I should play Hades again sometime. That's a really well-made game. It surprised me that I can play it, since that's usually a genre I should stay away from.

@RadiantRainbow I think it's more that there's a modern misunderstanding of what a mythology is. Kind of like how "cult" hasn't always been "toxic, ego-driven brainwashing group".

My grandfather did recon photography in WW2. My grandmother's brothers were on the ground in Europe. They taught me that bigotry invites tyranny. That diversity is necessary because weakness is magnified when everyone is the same since no one is perfect.

They had misguided views, but they also hoped my generation would do better. They didn't want us to settle for what they gave us. They wanted us to show gratitude by making it even better.

@thathmc I think there's a big difference between someone who just posts links to their work, and someone who is part of the community and includes sharing things about their work.

And I hope your worded papers get published and we all get to share the squee!

@Myriacanth I love that the firehose exists! Especially as a new member, it is so much easier for me than trying to guess at what popular hashtags might be or missing out on stuff just because it wasn't "trending". I like checking in on what's popular sometimes on other platforms, but I wouldn't want to be depending on it.

@mcfate That's actually what ended my first marriage. I flat out told my ex, "If I leave, this was a life lesson. If I stay, I will one day hate you for continuing to breathe." Begging someone to stay just isn't healthy...in any social setting.

@ExPatExp88 I'd probably be using the desktop version if I ever actually used a desktop computer anymore. I just seemed to use one less and less over time. I kind of want to try out the desktop features, but the only computer available is one I can't use because it's another family member's work computer.

@Dogofalltrees Yep! I think I've been here for about a week now. I'm also really bad at passage of time, so it could be less than a week. I really like it here.

From what I've seen so far, CoSo mostly doesn't care if you stay or not when you first get here. You are welcomed, and if you want to be part of the community, that's great!

Nobody's begging you to stay if it's not for you, though. Be suspicious of platformd that do that. They have motivations that are not about what will make you happy.

And there's no need to demand that CoSo convince you that this is THE place to be. When other platforms do that, it's been part of trying to convince you to be there so you can be the product sold to advertisers, and contributing to the number that attracts investors...who want you to be sold to advertisers.

So it's kind of like telling somebody, "These people's house we're going to? Do NOT say 'hello', try to shake hands, or call anybody by their name." But that's all they know for "properly" greeting someone when you visit them.

It's also on us new people to ask, "Okay, how do I greet them?" Long time CoSoNauts are offerings information.

I also understand some of the other new people may not really grok that yet, even when told there's no algorithm. The Algorithm doesn't just exist in the bird app. Social media has just been getting us used to "engage properly in order to be seen".

Some people don't know any other way. By the time they got on IG or Twitter that was already how it was.

I'm doing CoSo (CoSoing?) on mobile, so things like pinning columns aren't happening for me. And I'm actually good with that. I like hanging out in the firehose, then checking my mentions and people I follow now and then.

I love just being able to interact and not having to worry about doing it in a way that will play The Algorithm in my favor. 'Cause...no algorithm!

@XaoslordErie Thank you, too. I've known veterans who felt like even other veterans had forgotten them. You're out here speaking up.

@XaoslordErie I had plenty of relatives on FB who would yell about how much they love our military every 4 July, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. Couldn't be bothered to help my husband with anything, though, because, "He just needs to ask somebody in the government. He's a vet."

@PRPLDRAGON Every weird person is someone special. That's why they tell us we're weird.

Laid down the first layer of colors on the neurographic art. Nothing to show yet. But...

I have never used Derwent ChromaColor pencils before. Oh my noodles! Thet just glide on the paper! So smooth!