disquietOct 31, 2022
I'm digging Mastodon. Been on it for a while, but only truly since late April / early May 2022. One thing I'm thinking about, though, is changing instances. There's good folks on Lurk. Too often, though, when I talk about Mastodon to friends I'm encouraging to participate, I'm told that the word "lurk" is a big turnoff.
Show threadAlex McLeanOct 31, 2022
@disquiet do they say why?
Show threaddisquietOct 31, 2022
@yaxu @rra Lots of different comments, all coming down to the word "lurk" not having a positive (or for matter neutral) connotation, seeming a bit like "stalk." They want out of social media that's full of edgelords and bad actors hassling people from the comfort of their laptops, and "lurk" feels like more of the same.
Show threadAlex McLean
@disquiet @rra lots, really?wow I never imagined that connotation.. a generational thing I guess. I just get the BBS sense of reading without saying much.
Oct 31, 2022 at 3:53pmWeb
Show threaddisquietOct 31, 2022
@yaxu Yeah, it's a regular occurrence, especially from women.
Show threadJ Simon van der WaltOct 31, 2022
@disquiet @yaxu yes, my female partner was quite worried to find me on a 'website called lurk'
Show threadC. ReiderOct 31, 2022

@yaxu @disquiet @rra this has always been my primary definition of the word, so it has a negative connotation, but i'm also aware of its more recent meaning, and presume in context that this meaning is what's inferred. still it does have a little bit of turn-off due to that.

i'm looking to migrate too, and, although i have pals at the post.lurk instance, i'm going to go to a different one for now