Reddit Migration

It took me a couple days of reading and browsing around and creating accounts to figure out the fediverse and Lemmy and kbin. Until it actually clicked in my head that I was in one instance, seeing content posted in a community of another instance, commented on by users of even other instances, and how it worked between all that. I wanted to actually understand the mechanism, to better navigate it. Now, it all seems simple to me, but it was all very new for about a week. Also, the connection and federation errors that were happening a lot added to the confusion to a lot of people, I feel.

I am now very excited about the potential of all this. Decentralized networks rock.

Now, I think a random user could just show up and make an account and start enjoying it quickly, just would take some time to find the communities they want content from.

I do get ppl saying its complicated. A lot of people dont know much about servers just as a start? (Not that you really have to to use kbin or lemmy.) or know anything about federation or what it mean in this sense. If you ask them what is meant by instance, most people saying so probably wouldn't understand that in this sense even if English's their maternal language. Not even that those people arent smart, just like just because you dont understand a foreign language doesnt mean youre not smart: this is just an area they dont know about.

I think some people find it strange that people are confused, because maybe they dont often talk with people who arent as familiar with technology, or more used to being on 'tech' related parts of the internet where some people would understand these. It seems this way bc the community of kbin seems to be more into technology, like i seen programmer humor posts get popular a lot, and discussions about linux, and the technology magazine, and stuff like that.

If so i can see why someone being confused would be surprising. But know that: a lot of people probably wouldnt join other social media either if it was more user-driven (in terms of setup? If thats phrased right?) which is why stuff gets more simplified on official websites and app. Is important to remember that many people (even some my own age!) dont have any context for all of this stuff they would need to deal with and decide in order to use Kbin/Lemmy - dont know what is an instance. What is federation. Defederation. I would say its easy to understand once you try, but i know i speak for myself who already has some knowledge and interest about technology and learn fast. And not everyone even wants to use something that required them to figure it out as they go.

I think part of the issue is trying to add subs from other instances.

In terms of people who didn't fully understand the fediverse, there are two kinds of people:

• those who want to fully get their head around it first so they can make optimal decisions

• those who are happy to just jump in and learn by doing

They are saying it's hard to figure out as it's hard to figure out. It, as you say, has a learning curve that isn't really present in Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok etc.

Choosing an instance seems important. Many of the large instances are overtly communist, quietly communist, piracy, porn, nsfw focused or a safe space for lgbtq+ people. Instances are changing hands and de federating each other. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of GDPR type agreements about user data. If a server vanishes with all your data, can you legally retrieve it? Are they obligated to delete data on request? who is they?

Choosing communities is complicated. There is massive duplication of communities across instances most of which have have very little content or members.

The apps are all alpha quality from what I know. curious about accessibility options too, r/blind was hit hard.

Whilst I was trying to get a grip on how Lemmy & kbin interact, Lemmy seems to have blocked kbin access.

I think I could sell Lemmy to the average linux user but it appears I don't have to as most of them are here anyway. It's the other 99% of the user base that's the issue.

Honestly I wouldn't even bother trying to convince my meat space techy friends at the moment never mind a non-techy community with a few hundred thousand iphone and windows users.

The only real issue I have is that searching for communities I know exist on other instances often fails, and opening them in their home instances doesn't offer a subscribe button to my host instance.

It took me a little while to figure out reddit. After migrating from reddit I actually found it easier to pickup this time around. I am sure some people might have some trouble but as long as we make this place welcoming and helpful for new users asking questions people will want to migrate.

I can't put aside my sneaking suspicion that can't figure out any of these tools: kbin, lemmy, mastodon, etc.... Is more or less code for, "I have reach and influence on platform x, and I need can't figure out how to be that person here."

Can they setup an account? Can they read? Can they write? These seem to all be achievable. Can they influence? Well... should that be the goal?

Consider that slight entry barrier to be a feature. Do you really want the Fediverse experience to be a 100% copy of Reddit?

is Lemmy buggy as heck? Absolutely.

dunno, but this is the main reason I juggle between Lemmy and Kbin. Lemmy is more intuitive/similar to reddit, but it's buggy and has an ugly UI. Kbin has a better UI and less buggy, but has some questionable design

There's a bit of learning curve for sure, but people shouldn't overthink the federation aspect too much. At least here on Kbin there is plenty of content already.