@darth This is the start of the journey, i know that you know that. The fact that you have viewers is a great step in the right direction though. Well done!
Well, I have finally installed F-Droid on my Android mobile as I continue to move away from Big Tech. Most of the open source applications I'm using have an official version on the store! Signal seems to be the exception, so any thoughts on Element as a possible replacement please? Obviously, views on other alternatives just as welcome! #fdroid#bigtech#foss#opensource#signal#element#privacy#security
Last night I finally deleted my #LinkedIn account. It was last #BigTech owned service I used (and rarely even log in last two years).
So am I fully #corpfree now? :blobcattilt:
It was also ethical matter for me, I didn't want to deal with #Microsoft, so morally bankrupt corporation, in any way. Both for data stealing, #privacy violations and disrespect for users and for compliance with authoritarian governments and creating #surveillance technologies for oppression.
Yes, I wrote this in form as a reason, in more detailed way, until I used character limit.
Now I feel... More coherent? And it's good feeling.
@madargon Quite simply, well done! I haven't used LinkedIn for years but I'm on a similar journey to fully remove myself from Big Tech and to fully embrace Free and Open Source Software.
@aral@Crowjane@Gargron Indeed I have and I'll be considering such an option this weekend. However, my issue is at such a fundamental level I am not sure I'll be able to overcome it. I feel this could end-up being the embrace, extend, and extinguish moment for the Fediverse, unfortunately.
@Crowjane@aral I'm giving myself the Bank Holiday to think about it but I am 99% sure I will be leaving the Fediverse on the back of Threads being allowed to federate. My leaving won't be felt by @Gargron or anyone else but I have to do what is right for me. Whereas I have blocked the Threads domain, I feel the very nature of the Fediverse has changed and no amount of mouthwash is going to take away the taste..
@aral@Gargron I left mainstream social media over six years ago. I haven't missed it. I came to Mastodon last year in the hope that I could use the Fediverse to primarily champion mental health and interact with folks that have a decent moral compass. Even though I blocked the Threads domain, simply allowing Meta to federate has me questioning whether or not I can stay. I suspect many Mastodon users like myself came here to avoid Big Tech in the first place.
The opening paragraph of the Wikipedia entry for the Fediverse includes, "The fediverse (a portmanteau of "federation" and "universe") is an ensemble of social networks which can communicate with each other, while remaining independent platforms." My reaction this morning to "while remaining independent" is, sure but for how long? #fediverse#mastodon#foss#socialmedia#privacy#bigtech#meta#threads
I am still debating (with myself) whether I want to pay for a private email service or build my own. I have experience, but maintaining a delicate online service requires continuous time investment.
What I am not debating is whether I wish to distance myself from big tech.
@penultimate_joke@darth Yea, sorry, the original post was a private mention, Darth was showing me this for context. Brilliant news on the RSS front though. you really do learn something new everyday! Thank you both!
@darth@penultimate_joke Okay, managed to test it now, heh! Clicking on the link gives this message, "This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.". However, if i simply copy the link and add it to Raven Reader, everything works fine. I do hope that helps?
@darth Oh, I agree. I'm volunteering for a couple of projects on a local and national level that have to use "mainstream" social media simply for the exposure. You add monetisation into the mix and it becomes even more difficult to look elsewhere.
I still want to use alternative platforms, even if they have to be alongside something like Youtube, just to do my bit to help these alternative gain whatever extra traction possible.
@darth A very good alternative to be fair! Got a few projects in the pipeline at the moment so, TTRPG-wise, I'll probably start blogging and take it from there.
@darth Well, I am facing a similar issue with my idea of a TTRPG blog. I want to use the Fediverse for blogging and video content creation. There are solutions, of course, thought they require further reseaarch by myself.
@darth Love it! Truly awesome! With regards to Youtube, I understand you need to be there for exposure but any plans to cross-post to a PeerTube instance in the future?
@darth Starting out that would be the ideal solution I am sure.
I have looked at things like Write.as but they closed their free tier. Self-hosting would be a long-term option but anything I do will at least have to pay for itself at some stage.
@darth I'll admit I have flipped-flopped over Ubuntu. The ten years of support with the forthcoming LTS (with Ubuntu Pro) almost had me but I've always been wary of Canonical with regard to privacy.
I fully support open source software, so thought it was time I highlighted some of the applications and software that I use myself. Firstly, Loop Habit Tracker, an open source and privacy-focused way to help form habits using your mobile. Visit https://loophabits.org/ for more information. #loophabittracker#opensource#foss
I've been interested in Game Development ever since working with The Quill on my ZX Spectrum. I never took it any further but I hope to change that with Godot Engine. Learn more about this open-source platform via https://godotengine.org/#gaming#gamedevelopment#godotengine