Not sure why everyone is talking about Hennry Kissinger moving to a new host body today.
Joshua Vaughan
- 21 Followers
- 75 Following
- 117 Posts
A games/tech guy who spends a lot of time thinking about things that aren’t games or tech.
@DavidB Love this! One of the many dumb things done in the US are the weather maps most people see everything beyond the borders somehow vanishes. So insular, and why wouldn’t I want to know about Canada or Mexico as a US citizen? The larger world? Might as well be another planet most of the time.
DavidB 🍥Dear American people,
This is your semi-regular reminder that #Americans are not the only people using the internet and that the #UnitedStates - as lovely as it is - is not the only country. Actually, for the first time in the history of #socialmedia, you're not even the majority here, on the #Fediverse. This is a great learning opportunity.
So, a few tips:
- Beginner level: Normalize using "Americans" instead of "we," using "the #US" instead of "here" (it's "there" for us), the name of the place you're talking about instead of "there" (it could be "here" for us), and the name of the people you're talking about instead of "they" (which sometimes sounds a bit derogatory, as if you didn't really care about other people... you care, right?) It really makes a difference.
- Intermediate level: When you talk about something happening in the US, do not assume and express yourself as if the United States was the default country and as if everyone understands the context of what's happening. Background information helps. Contextualization is gold. Once again, just adding "in the US" when you talk about something makes a world of a difference.
- Advanced level: Try to talk about other things than just American things. Open yourself to the rest of the world, and learn about it. It's an awesome place, really. And, in my opinion, the Fediverse is the perfect tool to interact with people from many other countries (you also could do that on your previous social media of choice, but I understand that it was easier to stay in your cultural bubble back then).
- Expert level: Try to use the metric system... No, I'm joking here. I know you can't. You get a free pass for this one. You can still keep on measuring in refrigerators, or watermelons, depending on the scale.
Well, maybe, just maybe, when you talk about temperatures, adding an "F" (or a "C" if you can) would help a bit. Yesterday, someone was talking about the crazy temperature of 46 degrees and I still don't know if they meant 46°F or 46°C as they're both pretty crazy temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere this time of the year.
Oh yes, my Australian friends also told me to remind you all (not just Americans this time) to be mindful of people in the Southern Hemisphere when you talk about seasons (but they also added that they're used to it when you don't... still, that'd be nice...)
Thank you for your understanding and your efforts. If you have any questions, we're here to help.
Love,
The Fediverse and the World, and me, your friend, DavidB.
Edit/Update/PS: Some people are commenting that "Americans" are not just people from the US. It's true. However, it is also the official English name of the citizens of the United States. Polysemy exists and is not a rare thing. It's not an issue when there is context. I think there is plenty of context here. 🙂
Edit 2: Wow, I'm floored by the number of likes and boosts. I don't think it ever happened to me before (and they say that thing can't go viral on the Fediverse).
The number of positive reactions makes me think that I touched on something that matters here. Good.
And if I counted correctly, I think I only offended three Americans, which is much less than my average post. Nice.
Back in the day, on Twitter, people used to link to their SoundCloud when one of their posts became unexpectedly popular, or rather joke about it, mentioning that they don't have one.
Well, I don't have one either, so instead, just check out my profile and follow some or all of the links on it (as well as this account if you want?)
Thanks.
I'm gonna have to mute this post now, I'd like to regain some clarity in my notification tab. 😊
This is your semi-regular reminder that #Americans are not the only people using the internet and that the #UnitedStates - as lovely as it is - is not the only country. Actually, for the first time in the history of #socialmedia, you're not even the majority here, on the #Fediverse. This is a great learning opportunity.
So, a few tips:
- Beginner level: Normalize using "Americans" instead of "we," using "the #US" instead of "here" (it's "there" for us), the name of the place you're talking about instead of "there" (it could be "here" for us), and the name of the people you're talking about instead of "they" (which sometimes sounds a bit derogatory, as if you didn't really care about other people... you care, right?) It really makes a difference.
- Intermediate level: When you talk about something happening in the US, do not assume and express yourself as if the United States was the default country and as if everyone understands the context of what's happening. Background information helps. Contextualization is gold. Once again, just adding "in the US" when you talk about something makes a world of a difference.
- Advanced level: Try to talk about other things than just American things. Open yourself to the rest of the world, and learn about it. It's an awesome place, really. And, in my opinion, the Fediverse is the perfect tool to interact with people from many other countries (you also could do that on your previous social media of choice, but I understand that it was easier to stay in your cultural bubble back then).
- Expert level: Try to use the metric system... No, I'm joking here. I know you can't. You get a free pass for this one. You can still keep on measuring in refrigerators, or watermelons, depending on the scale.
Well, maybe, just maybe, when you talk about temperatures, adding an "F" (or a "C" if you can) would help a bit. Yesterday, someone was talking about the crazy temperature of 46 degrees and I still don't know if they meant 46°F or 46°C as they're both pretty crazy temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere this time of the year.
Oh yes, my Australian friends also told me to remind you all (not just Americans this time) to be mindful of people in the Southern Hemisphere when you talk about seasons (but they also added that they're used to it when you don't... still, that'd be nice...)
Thank you for your understanding and your efforts. If you have any questions, we're here to help.
Love,
The Fediverse and the World, and me, your friend, DavidB.
Edit/Update/PS: Some people are commenting that "Americans" are not just people from the US. It's true. However, it is also the official English name of the citizens of the United States. Polysemy exists and is not a rare thing. It's not an issue when there is context. I think there is plenty of context here. 🙂
Edit 2: Wow, I'm floored by the number of likes and boosts. I don't think it ever happened to me before (and they say that thing can't go viral on the Fediverse).
The number of positive reactions makes me think that I touched on something that matters here. Good.
And if I counted correctly, I think I only offended three Americans, which is much less than my average post. Nice.
Back in the day, on Twitter, people used to link to their SoundCloud when one of their posts became unexpectedly popular, or rather joke about it, mentioning that they don't have one.
Well, I don't have one either, so instead, just check out my profile and follow some or all of the links on it (as well as this account if you want?)
Thanks.
I'm gonna have to mute this post now, I'd like to regain some clarity in my notification tab. 😊
@Richard_Littler He never saw a problem he couldn’t say, “How hard could it be for someone else to solve for me?”, to.
@glassbottommeg always fun when counterculture gets adopted the worst people. Its end up as triple-e attack on movements designed to supplant the wealthy and their hegemony.
With all of the buzz around the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop... as if it has a truly specific birthday in some Bronx or Ft. Greene hangout in the summer of 73', I think this is essential reading: https://defector.com/50-years-later-is-there-anything-left-of-hip-hop
50 Years Later, Is There Anything Left Of Hip Hop? | Defector
I went to hip hop’s 50th birthday party, and all I got was a collection of insipid lists. And a new Sprite commercial. To be fair, there were also the usual puff pieces. The New York Times detailed “How Hip Hop Conquered the World.” But I’ve been with it almost every step of the way, […]
@stux really clear that he WANTS his platform to be a nexus of hate and disinfo. You don't waive a flag like that for any other reason than to signal that you want the worst people doing the worst stuff.
@stux It’s pathetic honestly, as an American who always found our best vehicles to be among our smallest: think about the 54’ Corvette. It’s art, it’s small, it’s perfect.
Ol’ DJT finally got indicted for J6. The wheels of justice turn slow, but they are moving. I sincerely hope this one does him.