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 “Reddit alternatives?”

  • jrubal1462@mander.xyz
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    6 days 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.

  • asudox@programming.dev
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    8 days ago

    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@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

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

      • monsterpiece42@reddthat.com
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        8 days ago

        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.

      • amanneedsamaid@sopuli.xyz
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        8 days ago

        It isn’t tough at all, and anyone who says the concept is can’t wrap their mind around it is either a Luddite or is willfully dismissive.

  • SharkEatingBreakfast@sopuli.xyz
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    8 days ago

    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 R×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!

  • Vanth@reddthat.com
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    8 days ago

    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.

    • JackFrostNCola@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      Me too, know my way around a computer but have never setup a linux distro or anything like that… yet.

      I left in one of the mass exodus waves of reddit (during the api changes) and i feel like its not that consequential to be one person less on one of the biggest sites on the internet, but every person counts. Especially when what is becoming increasingly apparent is that all reddit will soon have is bots and ‘normies’ who use reddit instead of facebook/whatever.

  • Briict@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    8 days 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.

  • Boop@lemm.ee
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    8 days ago

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

  • ganymede@lemmy.ml
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    8 days ago

    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 :)

    • yonder@sh.itjust.works
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      8 days 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.

  • Boomkop3@reddthat.com
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    8 days ago

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

  • Dyskolos@lemmy.zip
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    8 days 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@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    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.

    • Mothra@mander.xyz
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      8 days ago

      That is true but doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a tech person. I don’t consider myself one, in fact I come here for help when I have questions or issues. I do appreciate foss and privacy but I’m not hardcore on either. I’ve certainly known a lot of people with even less understanding than me about tech, but I don’t think I qualify as a tech myself and I believe there are many others here in a similar situation as me

      • MrPoopyButthole@lemmy.world
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        8 days ago

        True, I didn’t actually answer the question. I suppose it’s because yes, I am a tech person. I am a senior systems engineer and software developer with a career of over 20 years. I have run my own tech company for 10 of those years, and recently went back to work in a corporate setting as lead developer for a contact center software company.