Back

So.
I came here on the 8th of November, 2022 - after WEEKS of looking into platforms, to get a feel of what they were about - to avoid jumping from *the other place's* pot, into a new place's fire.

This place - *The #Fediverse*, aka, '#Mastodon' - seemed to be the *anti-bird* place.

It was so NICE here! Pleasant! Enjoyable! Fun! Educational!

So I started to learn WHY it was this way, and out of respect for what I learned, used their format...

1/

I started encouraging friends fr *there*, to come HERE, to enjoy sanity - something *there* lost a while ago...

Many were reluctant to make the move, hoping things would get better *there*, and those who got an account here, weren't using it at all, or if they were, it was to #CrossPost from *there*...

They were missing the point about *HERE* - and bringing the toxic mess from *there*, to sully the nicer world this was...

2/

I hoped that with time, peeps would learn to respect this place, and grab the opportunity to find who we used to be - our better selves, again - after that other place's toxicity had started to break us down, and change us for the worse...

The #Motto here in the #Fediverse, is to #BeExcellentToEachOther - and I couldn't think of a better way to correct the negativity we'd absorbed while *there*, and had started putting out into the world...

3/

It's amazing, if we are able to step back, and look at ourselves - our behavior - in an honest light, how much we can see we had changed from who we used to be years ago, before we took up the fight against the *fraudulently installed narcissistic grifter*...

As righteous as that fight was, and still is, it had changed us. It had changed me. I know it had made me a very angry person. I'd still held on to my core "me"...but knew I'd changed...

4/

After the 2020 election, I started to feel some relief - like I could breathe a little easier - both figuratively, and quite literally... My body started to relax from the tension I'd been under for those years. I was grateful. Thankful a sane person was going to be in charge again.

I knew millions of others here in the U.S., and around the world too, felt the same...

Then Jan 6th...

5/

Unfortunately, fascism's still rising.

The fight against it, reignited.

And then entered the second narcissist, but with TOO MUCH DAMN MONEY AT HIS DISPOSAL!

At first, he was just an instigator, stirring shyte up - but then his mouth wrote that contract he couldn't back out of - as much as he subsequently tried, and he ended up HAVING to buy the bird...

If history's taught us anything, *the writing was on the wall*.

And I started looking...

7/

...and found *here*...and took my time learning about what set it apart from the other platforms...and it was promising...if it were true...

I joined, and my de-programming started...

I started to see myself again.
My *REAL* me.
The *me* that that other place didn't completely suffocate, but had definitely robbed of some of its spirit.

It was lovely to be able to enjoy this space of calm, in calm...

So I encouraged my friends over...

Then...

8/

Things started to go downhill, fast, over *there*...and the first wave of migrants hit *here*...

It was wonderful to witness *from the inside* - me being an *old hand* here all of a week/ten days, at the time - to see the #Instance #Admins, jump into action to accommodate the #newbies to the #Fediverse!
(Seriously. You DON'T UNDERSTAND how FREAKING AMAZING your admins are! They are the reason I/you/WE, have a place here!)

9/

Some #Admins were literally not sleeping for days(!), trying to get their #Instances (the servers they use to host us,) up to speed, to handle the exodus that slammed them!

Eventually, things settled down, and #newbies started to post/toot...

Many complained that *here* wasn't like *there* - others started to learn about, and respect this space.

THE WHOLE POINT of here - is to NOT BE LIKE ELSEWHERE. Else we'd be *there*...

10/

To be clear - I didn't give up my account *there*. I had to get my data, and I was checking on friends intermittently, to encourage them to come here. I ceased all other activity there, as to not give engagement.

Soon after the first wave hit here, the #CrossPosting started - linking to *THERE*!

WHY?!

Yes. We KNOW he/his bird, is a flaming pile of dog crap.
DON'T SEND TRAFFIC THERE!
Share a screenshot, if anything...

11/

It's TOTALLY POSSIBLE to post news, without linking to the site.
Tell the story, and quote whomever, and/or take a screenshot to toot, but please, for the love of sanity...just stop the incessant #CrossPosting!

Again, we left *there* for a REASON.
DON'T send us back there.
And please DON'T bring the toxic behavior from there, over here...

Case in point...

12/

I saw someone who follows me, complain about peeps not #boosting #toots that don't include #CW/#AltText.

There's a HUGE reason to use them when #tooting.

You cannot #BeExcellentToEachOther, if you don't care to learn why they're there.

Please take the time to learn about the #Fediverse. This place is amazing. Please give it a chance to show you how much it offers.

Also, if you can afford to, please #TipYourAdmin!

13/End

@Shushorchid Well said, this thread.

@bps_artish

Good morning, Barry!

Thank you, re: thread...