this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2023
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Showerthoughts
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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.
Rules
- All posts must be showerthoughts
- The entire showerthought must be in the title
- Avoid politics
- 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
- 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
- 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
- Posts must be original/unique
- Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct
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I suspect that one of the reasons Lemmy's texts are longer, meatier, and more thoughtful is the age of the users. My gut tells me that we're an older audience that doesn't need to dump the usual social media BS - hasty comments filled with unsubstantiated arguments. Everyone has an opinion and should be heard and respected. As a Reddit refugee, I feel Lemmy provides such space, and that's what I enjoy most. Like many others whose profiles match mine, once you get past the initial confusion (where should I register, what app should I use, where can I comment) and get comfortable with the jargon, you feel more encouraged to participate in discussions. So far, I've been pleased with the civil environment of the discussions, as most users are able to express their thoughts in a relaxed and non-toxic manner. Honestly, I'd encourage anyone who has been just lurking to participate and share their thoughts.
To add to that: I think it's actually worthwhile to write longer texts here compared to reddit because of two reasons: 1) people here want Lemmy to succeed so they put more time and effort in to get things going, and 2) it's more likely for that text to be seen by others because there aren't 2.000 other commenters but maybe 20.
True. The sense of anticipation of a new home in which to settle seems genuine. Also, I agree that a smaller group where users actually read the posts and interact with each other validates the purpose of investing the time to share one's views with people who are actually interested.
My only concern is that Google doesn't seem to be indexing lemmy pages. So even if we add content that might be helpful it is not getting any screentime.
To add to that, searching isn't as simple as "best laptops reddit" if the knowledge is spread across the fediverse. That's something I'd be interested to see
That seems like a problem that search providers will have a strong incentive to solve from their end as and when finding those fediverse results becomes essential.
I have been an avid participant in many programming subreddits, and I can confidently say; This place (Lemmy) feels like the beginning of something I can call home as well. I will gladly start supporting fellow programmers with their questions and problems once I feel settled.