Hello from Africa! Currently off grid and exploring geminispace. Facinating place. The main reason is that the people on here seem very interesting. Mostly (I think) because there is a natural filter -- I mean, you have to be a particular type of person, and move in particular types of circles, to even find this place. Is it sustainable? Those who have been spending a long time in Gopherspace will probably know. Any thoughts?
2 weeks ago 路 馃憤 chluehr, chirale, bavarianbarbarian, erick, fripster, mp0, teekay, m0xee
Hello, fellow Gautenger! Didn't realise we have Starlink here. As a long-timer here, you'll find people (and probably yourself) cycle between daily Geminispace reading and occasional writing, to then long bouts of forgetting about it until one day you remember that it exists and that oh right! The web sucks, let's get back there, then repeat cycle. 路 2 weeks ago
@darkghost Here on my father's cattle farm we have solar panels, a bore hole, and fountain water (although we have to drive down into the valley to collect it). We have three sources of internet: cellular, a local net of interlinked towers, and Starlink. Thatched roofed buildings provide natural insulation. Our place in the city (in Gauteng) also has a bore hole and lots of solar panels. There we are still connected to the grid -- this is good for spiky usage. On the farm we have to start a generator if we had a couple of cloudy days. I come down to the farm quite often. The change of scenery really helps when working on tough problems 路 2 weeks ago
@darkghost The machine to person angle is interesting. It is pleasant to be in a space where you are interacting with people in a less algorithmically mediated fashion. And that is a nice type of filter. Not a skill filter, but a "are you willing to interact in a slower, less flashy mode". @user999 -- yes this can never replace the larger internet and the fact that it is not trying to do that might be exactly what keeps the "respite" part of it intact. 路 2 weeks ago
Too much of the internet is machine to person or machine to machine connections. I don't get email from people, it is a dumping zone for automated messages from companies. I come here for a more person to person connection, unfiltered by an algorithm with ulterior motives. This fits my purist view of communication. The minimalism of the protocol is definitely a filter for some folk, but also inhibits the sorts of data monetization that is so commonplace now. It is a volunteer effort of passion, not a means to make money on the basic human need to communicate. I would love to hear more about your off-grid setup. 路 2 weeks ago
(2 of 2) For me, it offers a respite from the larger internet -- a place where you can only spend so much time, and then get back to real life. Don't get me wrong, there are rabbit holes here and there, but there is nothing, like an algorithm or marketing strategy, keeping a person here indefinitely to improve engagement numbers. I find that comforting. The content here is mostly for just sharing thoughts, life experiences, and information. That is what has me coming back to this space everyday. 路 2 weeks ago
(1 of 2) I'm not sure about it being sustainable, or what that would mean. People come and go. Some may come back after awhile. This is not the space to build a following, promote one's self, or sell something. In my view, it's not a space to completely replace the big web. 路 2 weeks ago