Mastodawn

Obligatory #introduction post.

I'd previously tried Mastodon and had a poor experience, tried Bluesky and didn't like it any better. Trying again after a hiatus.

I'm a tired old techie with a lot of cats and a deep disgust of generative AI. I'm anticapitalist, antifascist, and unfortunately live in the Fascist States of America.

Love board games and TTRPGs, although I'm a bit of hermit so mostly just play board games with my partner. Maybe someday I'll find an opportunity to use the stacks of TTRPG books I hoard.

Sci-fi, fantasy, and horror fan. Favorites include Star Trek, The Expanse, Alien, anything with zombies, and bad 80's/90's straight to VHS flicks. Also a sucker for medical dramas and survivalist reality TV.

I block early and often.

Maj1 THE Neuro Spicy Squirrel 2d ago

@cheddar_goblin G’day 👋😊

Welcome to the Beige! (Not a cult honest!)

Beige Bless 🫶🖖

@weirdfolks #WeirdFolks #TheMammutMoves

Aubrieta 2d ago

@cheddar_goblin welcome!

ulveon.net 2d ago

@cheddar_goblin More or less the same for me... And despite having written this piece: https://ulveon.net/p/2025-01-21-fediverse-and-the-consequences-of-decentralised-moderation/ I think i might run my own Masotodon server soon.

Fediverse and the consequences of decentralised moderation

Most furries who are vaguely involved in tech have heard of the “Fediverse” or, at minimum, Mastodon, the most popular Fediverse software stack implementation. There is a lot to be said about Fediverse, and it is a fantastic initiative from a technological point of view. With Fediverse software, you can build communities around a topic of interest and optionally interact with other users in other instances. It lets you own your data (at least from a server operator perspective), which is clearly very different from Twitter. The communities around Fediverse instances are tight-knit, often focused on technology and topics related to minorities or marginalised communities, like LGBT or sex workers.

Ulveon's Thoughts

@cheddar_goblin Hi
I hope you have a better experience.
As an immune-comprimised introvert I do and I don't get out to play as many #Boardgames as I'd like. As far as unused RPG manuals go, I only have the Hellboy one. When it comes to my boardgame collection, I've been good about playing most of them.

Paddy Hatchet 1d ago

@cheddar_goblin welcome back, from one book hoarder to another

WoollyMel 1d ago

@cheddar_goblin
Welcome, I hope you have a better experience and stick around.

The Seven Voyages Of Steve 1d ago

@cheddar_goblin Hey, hope you have a better experience this time. I’m also a tired old tech with cats, runs TTRPGs (currently a niche FITD game called TEETH) and with similar views. Hope you find your people here

@cheddar_goblin welcome! And you sound like you should fit right in =)

Idiran Xoxarle 1d ago

@cheddar_goblin Hello, seasoned Italian techie and RPG aficionado here. Welcome!

xinit ☕1d ago

@cheddar_goblin "Burnt out devops/infosec goblin and luddite."

Gooble gobble gooble gobble! We accept you! One of us!

More people need to understand that Luddites are the heroes we need.

Bård H. (lvl 48 🇳🇴)1d ago

@cheddar_goblin

Yeah... It IS kinda different here compared with twXtter...

To me it feels like there's less toxicity. Probably because most of the toxic ones either stayed behind or moved to bsky.

But that also means some of the "usual entertainment" is missing. So I guess it's up to each and all of us to follow interesting people, share what we like, and engage the way we wish others would.

It worked for me at least! 😊

Marquise de What 🇨🇦1d ago

@baardhaveland @cheddar_goblin Curation is the key. That can seem tedious but the results are worth it.

arclight 1d ago

@cheddar_goblin Gracie and I welcome you back

@cheddar_goblin sorry you had a poor previous experience. Sounds like you belong here though, based on this list! Welcome!

@cheddar_goblin welcome aboard. Anywhere new it takes a while to find your people, keep an eye out on the local & federated timelines, follow people posting interesting things & you'll soon feel at home

@cheddar_goblin

I'd previously tried Mastodon and had a poor experience

This can be misunderstanding Mastodon and the Fediverse. Without the algorithms to send you posts it takes a while and some effort to build up followers and get an interesting feed, but once you have done that I think you will find it a good experience.

The Mighty Git 1d ago

@cheddar_goblin tired old techie certainly resonates.

@cheddar_goblin welcome to the Resistance.

@cheddar_goblin Welcome! :)
Ah yes, the eternal stacks of unplayed TTRPGs, many here are well acquainted with it ;)

Iron Pencil Statue

@cheddar_goblin nice to meet you, sorry you had a bad experience the first time I am genuinely hoping it goes better.

neodog_flag_disabled

@cheddar_goblin

Out of interest.
Was it Masto software or the Fediverse generally?

Hi from Sharkey by the way.

Cheddar Goblin 1d ago

@AnguaDelphine Fediverse tiny fiefdoms run by petty dictators, really. Choice of server is very important and if those running it want to be assholes it's like living in an HOA, moving is pretty easy but still a pain, no interest in hosting and maintaining my own server since I have enough in my life already. Quirkiness in cross host sharing (deletes not really deleting, images often failing to load, etc.)

I think it's a deeply flawed implementation that drives a lot of folks away.

@cheddar_goblin @AnguaDelphine I am also new, think it'll always have this slightly insular feeling with certain communities

if you find a perfect instance without self hosting I would be impressed

neodog_flag_disabled

@cheddar_goblin

Fair enough. HOAs are a pet irritation, Fedidrama generally I can do without.
I find the tech anomalies irritating, but unless someone updates AP, it'll continue.
For all that though, so many types of software working together at all is fairly impressive.
The caveat you are directed to when joining Misskey / forks is fairly blunt about deletes not being guaranteed etc, I don't think Masto has that.

I can relate to the HOA thing.
Always leads to the fediblock crap; when dictators try to influence everyone else.
Blocklists made by people with an axe to grind and smaller / newer instances not checking before adopting them.

Personally i'm here for the shitposting, memes, Misskey stuff like MFM and an occasional rant on how crap the world is today.
If I have time, Science, Archeology etc.

I am spread across 2 main, one occasional and a couple of backup instances, all misskey forks, all really laid back Admins / Mods.

DarkAthena 💙🏳️‍🌈🧑🏻‍💻💫1d ago

@cheddar_goblin @mycotropic Welcome! We sound like we have a lot in common.

Callista Graves 1d ago

@cheddar_goblin welcome!

I call it the "United Snakes Of America."

And I also love Star Trek but think Babylon 5 is better, but I suppose that's entirely subjective.

Have a good day!

@cheddar_goblin welcome fellow tired techie / luddite / ttrpg player!

Lydia Schoch 20h ago

@cheddar_goblin You might like #HorrorCommunity and #Caturday if you’re not already aware of them. Welcome!

@cheddar_goblin Hi there, welcome! 👋👋👋