#introduction: I'm a dual Canadian-American living in Mi'kma'ki | Nova Scotia.

I #write #sciencefiction and #poetry. I own small press Upper Rubber Boot Books, best known for publishing the first English-language anthology of #solarpunk, Sunvault. My first novel, Aether and Ego, a space fantasy retelling of Pride and Prejudice, will be released 15 September 2026 - see the linktree on my profile for ordering links.

People who are #VeryOnline might also know me from #MetaFilter.

I'm here to talk about everything but mostly to share small press books.

Side note while thinking about politics: A major problem on the left (in the USA, at least) is black-and-white thinking, often expressed as "if you're not with us, you're against us." I've seen many reasonable and even outstanding liberal ideas and politicians attacked because they aren't perfectly #progressive according to someone's definition. It's the "crabs in a bucket" mentality.

I suspect this happens partly because of group dynamics: one of the most reliable ways to improve one's status in a group (e.g. among "online liberals") is to "one-up" other people on the issues important to a group: *Oh, it's a group for lefties? Well, I can be even more left-wing than you! *

Another tried-and-true way to increase one's in-group status is to attack group members for not being groupy enough: I see your comment about progressive taxation stopped short of seizing all billionaire wealth. You talk about wealth distribution, but are you really a leftist if you aren't calling for seizing the means of production? Yes, you're a socialist, but you apparently lack the courage to demand that all current Democratic party leaders be lined up against the wall...

The result of this is a constant bickering of liberals attacking liberals for not being liberal enough. Of course I think we need this as an ongoing and healthy dialectic, but it's often not that--it's just some people finding things to criticize, probably avoiding the personal insight that they are doing this to get positive attention from other online liberals.

It's not helpful.

#SocialPsychology #GroupDynamics #groups #Democrats #VeryOnline #uspol

New #introduction since I just realized I never did this after I moved.

I'm a dual Canadian-American living in #Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (Punamu’kwati’jk, part of Mi'kma'ki), formerly of #Nashville (Tsalaguwetiyi).

I was an executive-level secretary for the past 28 years, but now I am a full-time #writer of #ScienceFiction, #steampunk, #solarpunk, and #poetry. I own Upper Rubber Boot Books, a small press on permanent hiatus which is best known for publishing the first English-language anthology of solarpunk, Sunvault (which is the reason I haven't shut the business down, just so it can stay in print).

I'm here to talk about everything but mostly #AmWriting, #climate, #USpoli, #hiking, and the stuff hashtagged above. People who are #VeryOnline might also know me from #MetaFilter.

New #introduction since I just moved to a new instance.

I'm a dual Canadian-American living in #Nashville / #Tsalaguwetiyi. By day I administer a medical department at a local hospital, and in my spare time I #write #ScienceFiction, #solarpunk, and #poetry, #hike, watch the #deer in my backyard, and paint a #mural of a fantasy forest in my bedroom while listening to audiobooks.

I also own Upper Rubber Boot Books, a small press on (probably permanent) hiatus. People who are #VeryOnline might also know me from #MetaFilter.

I'm here to talk about everything but mostly #AmWriting, #climate, #USpoli, and the stuff hashtagged above.

// The pace of the internet is now long past “imagine explaining this to a pilgrim”; we’re at “imagine explaining this to someone three weeks ago.” //

I first internetted in the 90s via USENet, and have been #VeryOnline ever since, but around 10 years ago I relinquished hopes of being up to date with fleeting memes. My offspring kindly explain things to me sometimes. Great article.

https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/23466389/millennials-cringe-epic-bacon

Oops! Kinda skipped over introducing myself on here and went directly to hollering #BUTTS into the void...

Well, HAI. #introduction

My name is Mer(edith Yayanos). I'm a muscian, writer, editor, curator, photographer, monstrous feminist, compulsive shitposter, and a witchy, rather shouty humanist. (Tho, to be fair, I've gotten less shouty in recent years.) I've been #VeryOnline ever since @mayagurantz introduced me to my first BBS back in 1992. My handle around cyberspace is usually @theremina.

Instagram's anti-plastic surgery rules are stifling young filter artists

Florencia Solari ... creator of the popular "vedete++ effect," which gives the user’s face an intensely over the top cosmetic surgery inspired look with an added neon glow ... While her filter is still available for use, Florencia has penned a scathing Medium post which attacks the photo sharing platform for eliminating the last vestiges of creative freedom on the internet.

https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/a35xba/instagram-banning-filters-plastic-surgery

#Instagram #veryonline