Hi Josh - just want to say how startling I found this essay - it focused a number of things for me, in particular, the difference between contact and networking. Plus, the reference to Samuel R. Delany, whose Dhalgren I read many years ago, and loved, but whom I haven't read since - that was a delight. I've followed you on Twitter for some months - and now I'm glad you've got a substack going. I suppose we can consider that one of the good things coming out of the Twitter crash.
I think Mastodon does offer this randomness and meeting new people. What I can’t get from Mastodon is the algorithm that knows who I want to see before others. Which is why I think Substack or similar from folks with large followings is so important. I’ve noticed in the past 10 days that my time on social media has gone down significantly. I obtained much of my political education from whom I met on Twitter over the past 10 years. And I hope others can find similar somehow if Twitter goes down. A positive of Mastodon (besides no ads or other crap) is that people are engaging more than I ever experienced on Twitter, as someone with no following. So it feels more like a community.
Playing with Strangers
Hi Josh - just want to say how startling I found this essay - it focused a number of things for me, in particular, the difference between contact and networking. Plus, the reference to Samuel R. Delany, whose Dhalgren I read many years ago, and loved, but whom I haven't read since - that was a delight. I've followed you on Twitter for some months - and now I'm glad you've got a substack going. I suppose we can consider that one of the good things coming out of the Twitter crash.
Connecting that classic Graeber article with Delaney sparked some stuff in my brain. THANKS!
I think Mastodon does offer this randomness and meeting new people. What I can’t get from Mastodon is the algorithm that knows who I want to see before others. Which is why I think Substack or similar from folks with large followings is so important. I’ve noticed in the past 10 days that my time on social media has gone down significantly. I obtained much of my political education from whom I met on Twitter over the past 10 years. And I hope others can find similar somehow if Twitter goes down. A positive of Mastodon (besides no ads or other crap) is that people are engaging more than I ever experienced on Twitter, as someone with no following. So it feels more like a community.