#conversation — Public Fediverse posts

Sometimes I wonder whether I actually have any reach in the #Fediverse at all. Not in the sense of attention economy or numbers, but simply as part of a #conversation.

To me, the Fediverse was always a place for discussions. #People share thoughts, others respond, disagree, add context, laugh together or continue a line of thought. That is exactly why I write there.

Back when the #Fediverse consisted of only a few dozen servers and maybe a few tens of thousands of active users, things felt different. There were far fewer posts, fewer comments and it was much harder to disappear in the sheer volume of content.

Today things are different. More people, more content, more speed. That is beautiful in many ways because the network has grown. But at the same time it can sometimes feel like speaking alone in a room where all you hear are other people talking into that same room about their own topics.

So this is my small plea for the like button, the star, the thumbs up or whatever your platform calls it. Not as agreement, not as competition and not as vanity, but simply as a small sign saying: “I saw your post. This is an interesting contribution to the discussion.”

We do not always have to agree with each other. But especially on platforms like #Friendica or #Mastodon, even a small reaction can make the difference between “I am talking into the void” and “Someone out there is listening.”

Mom Moved Abroad With My Family; We Stayed and She Returned to US

After picking up my sons from school in Las Rozas de Madrid in March, I returned to our…
#Spain #ES #Europe #Europa #EU #apartment #conversation #day #family #hardtime #husband #life #Madrid #mom #month #School #Son #spanish #US
https://www.europesays.com/spain/22793/

Sometimes the right art is less about matching a room and more about choosing a message that keeps folks who use the room motivated.

"Challenging the Trump Cult with Activist Art" is part of my Art Fest Sale, and this virtual event is a chance to collect with intention while code ARTFEST26 saves you 20%.

https://www.chrisboese.photo/warehouse-open-edition-prints/art_print_products/challenging-the-trump-cult-activist-art

#activistart #photography #culture #humor #message #politics #conversation #society #protest #mastodonart #mastoart #activism #beliefs #chrisboese #boesegalleries

https://www.europesays.com/uk/950340/ I Quit McKinsey and JPM to Teach in Spain, but Don’t Regret the Jobs. #BusinessInsider #conversation #EU #Europe #FirstTime #HighSchool #job #JPMorgan #Life #MADRID #mckinsey #NewYorkCity #Spain #test #Travel #way #year

https://www.europesays.com/uk/946459/ American Living Spain Shares Biggest Differences in Social Life, Meals #conversation #day #EU #Europe #FirstTime #friend #GenuineConnection #hour #meal #People #SocialLife #Spain #TerraceTable #us #VacationTime #WorkdayLunch #year

I'm seeing this #ad a lot on #Telegram right now, and I'm just like, #WTF?

Unfortunately, it’s become the norm that online #advertising and #marketing are nothing but a complete rip-off. It seems like they’re just trying to fleece the most gullible users out of their #money. An #AI #bot that gives you true love and attention—exactly what our lonely #society needs.

#technology #news #advertisement #economy #internet #online #user #customer #loneliness #men #care #love #attention #fail #humanity #future #friendship #friend #conversation #computer #software #business #businessmodel #mental #health #omg

I'm seeing this #ad a lot on #Telegram right now, and I'm just like, #WTF?

Unfortunately, it’s become the norm that online #advertising and #marketing are nothing but a complete rip-off. It seems like they’re just trying to fleece the most gullible users out of their #money. An #AI #bot that gives you true love and attention—exactly what our lonely #society needs.

#technology #news #advertisement #economy #internet #online #user #customer #loneliness #men #care #love #attention #fail #humanity #future #friendship #friend #conversation #computer #software #business #businessmodel #mental #health #omg

I'm seeing this #ad a lot on #Telegram right now, and I'm just like, #WTF?

Unfortunately, it’s become the norm that online #advertising and #marketing are nothing but a complete rip-off. It seems like they’re just trying to fleece the most gullible users out of their #money. An #AI #bot that gives you true love and attention—exactly what our lonely #society needs.

#technology #news #advertisement #economy #internet #online #user #customer #loneliness #men #care #love #attention #fail #humanity #future #friendship #friend #conversation #computer #software #business #businessmodel #mental #health #omg

Two winners, one loser in tonight’s L.A. mayor’s debate

Karen Bass, Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman each came into tonight’s mayoral debate with goals for what may…
#UnitedStates #US #USA #america #audience #bass #conversation #debate #IncumbentMayor #l.a.mayor #loser #Moderator #nithyaraman #pratt #presidenttrump #simplequestion #stage #time #Tonight #unitedstatesofamerica #USnews #USAnews
https://www.europesays.com/2971533/

✮ The Person I Could Become ✮

Subscribe to keep reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

✮ The Person I Could Become ✮

Subscribe to keep reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

✮ The Person I Could Become ✮

Subscribe to keep reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

✮ The Person I Could Become ✮

Subscribe to keep reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

✮ The Person I Could Become ✮

Subscribe to keep reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

https://www.europesays.com/people/58727/ The 7 Biggest Revelations From Greg Brockman’s Second Day of Testimony #BigWin #billion #company #conversation #Dollar #ElonMusk #founder #GregBrockman #meeting #Musk #OpenAI #OpenaiTeam #people #SecondDay #Testimony

https://www.europesays.com/news/24437/ GameStop CEO’s Very Awkward Interview After $55.5 Billion eBay Offer #Cash #Cohen #CommonStock #company #conversation #EbayOffer #financing #GameStop #HalfStock #Headlines #interview #letter #News #sorkin #TopStories #VeryAwkwardInterview #viewer #website

https://www.europesays.com/es/532313/ El Bernabéu, una faraónica pista de tenis con las estrellas al margen: «No quiero sentirme fuera del torneo» | Tenis #adult #ball #clothing #conversation #Deportes #ES #España #footwear #hat #JannikSinner #male #man #person #racket #shoe #shorts #Spain #Sport #Sports #Tenis #Tennis #TennisRacket #volleyball #Volleyball(ball)

Question on my mind:

If someone means to give you a compliment, but to you, it is not,

How do you respond?

#relationship #conversation #compliments #belonging #people

Season 3 Episode 3: AI and the Creative Arts

In this episode, we discuss AI in the creative arts! We have some very strong opinions about a recent book scandal, new music creations and bringing actors back from the dead. (AI was not used for this description)

Listen Below!

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MNQ4IZqHgjjUWcshAPb6x?si=fQuuYPjwRRqEgmOH6GBb_Q

Listen on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/9-zzGNiMlgg

Also listen at the following places:

Things Discussed In This Episode

Song banned from Swedish charts for being AI creation

AI-created track blocked from Sweden’s Official Charts after racking up millions of streams on Spotify – Music Business Worldwide

AI novel that won literature contest has awards taken away – Dexerto

Liza Minnelli is among the artists who collaborated on a new AI-generated album

An Update on Libro.fm’s Response to AI Narration

Chicago Sun Times – 2025 “Summer Reading List“

Seemingly AI-generated band The Velvet Sundown have over 400,000 monthly Spotify listeners

Publisher cancels horror novel’s release over AI claims

Disclaimer: Links to Bookshop.org are affiliate links and the store will receive a small commission if you purchase through those links.

If you struggle with small talk, a simple acronym can make it a lot less painful

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/small-talk-simple-ford-method-ex1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=small-talk-simple-ford-method-ex1

→ The stranger secret: how to talk to anyone – and why you should
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/feb/24/stranger-secret-how-to-talk-to-anyone-why-you-should

“Small talk is a tiny, free and very possibly priceless reminder of our shared humanity. If we intentionally give up talking to strangers, if we purposely decide to give in to the phone shield, the consequences will be horrible. […] Let’s back up and start a conversation before it’s too late.”

#talk #Small #phone #shield #talking #stranger #humanity #conversation

On Extroverts and the Stifled Online Conversation

Today I was considering joining someone’s Whatsapp Running Community until I heard the phrase “I am the only one that can write messages and I let people answer polls”. For me, as a netizen of the 90s web, this is a red flag. It is a red flag because if all you want to do is see if people want to participate then you have events on Strava, Meetup.com and other sites and apps.

Whatsapp was built as a chat, and because it uses our phone numbres, should be used sparingly, only to contact close friends, family, and colleagues. More and more people use Whatsapp with complete strangers. One result is stockmarket and bitcoin spam but the other is that people are sensitive to comment spam. They don’t want the community to be communicative. For me, if that is the case, they shouldn’t be on Whatsapp. There are specialist apps for what they want.

The Chatty Extrovert and the Invisible Introvert

Today, and regularly, I can go to events. In one community every event had a Whatsapp chat, but people didn’t want any chatter in the group, other than the “Can I have a ride dance” and “Which station are people leaving from” followed by the flood of photos.

Meanwhile, during the event, the most charismatic extrovert hogs the limelight, hogs the conversation, hogs the attention, and no one says “hey, let others chat and get to know each other”. In a hike, in theory, people are in single file, or spread out so it’s not that easy to monopolise conversation. During hikes and bike rides, some people do hog conversations more than others. This means that their ROI for the day is huge, because they got plenty of attention.

The ROI for the less charismatic introvert is invisibility, or at least passive participation, not out of disinterest, but lack of opportunity to be heard. That lack of opportunity to be heard, to some extent nullifies the appeal of certain events. The pub crawl is one. The afterworks drinks is another. It also degrades the rational behind going for a hike.

The Double Standard

In society, using Whatsapp and social networks is seen as a bad habit, as addiction by the extroverts that get the attention in real life. They want to block people from having conversations online because they don’t want notifications. The reality is that if I make an effort to go to an event, to participate in a hike, or a run, or a bike ride, and I don’t have any conversations, then I have little reason to continue participating, because my physical participation ROI is low. I get the group exerience, but the extrovert gets the reward whilst the introverts go home to solitude.

Whatsapp groups, among others could help to level the field. The chatty introvers could chatter online, and when they meet in person feel like old friends. You might think “Why would someone think something so stupid?” The reality is that 2006 Twitter, Tweetups and Tuttle environments were so great, precisely because of that pre-meetup conversational environment. Introverts have the opportunity to chatter, without competing with extroverts. Introverts get the opportunity to be visible.

COVIDIAN Web Users

To disambiguate, COVIDIAN Web Users, are those that came to social networks, and social media, because of lock downs. If they had not been forced to, they would never have touched whatsapp, twitter, facebook and other sites. Covidians have a different ethos. They are not web native netizens, like those of us that adopted the web in the 90s. For them online chatter alien and strange, so they want to stifle it.

That desire to stifle it has worked.

I’m blogging because I can’t find conversations, offline, or online. I’m having conversations with MyAI because if I express fears and concerns on FB, then I’m negative, but if a married person did the same with a spouse, then they would be ordinary.

That’s the cruelty of the current social model that rewards extroverts, and punishes introverts.

The Serendipity of Their Approach

I loved Whatsapp until the day it sold its soul to Facebook, and from that day forward I no longer wanted to use it. That’s why I switched to Signal. If people don’t want to use Facebook for conversation, then that implies that I don’t need to keep an eye on it. If we’re looking at the positive, then, if no one is conversing, and people only share event news, then I can uninstall the app, and stop using it. If I turn up for a ride that was cancelled because of rain, it doesn’t matter, and if I turn up for a run that was cancelled for the same reason, it doesn’t matter.

I don’t want to use Facebook because of who owns and controls it, and others don’t want to use it because they don’t want chatter. The reality is that no one wants to use Whatsapp, which works to my advantage. Neither do I.

And For the Skimmers

Whilst I would create a Whatsapp community chat, with the goal of conversing between events, as well as about future projects, most create groups with the goal of using them as bulletin boards. “Can you ride tomorrow” yes/no. “ride cancelled due to snow” “Can you drive me from A?” “Who is taking the train from B?”. Some apps better fit that use case.

@DjityDjity [3/?]

⏺️ 2-way #listening (#conversation) is nearly non-existent / #less tolerated #today.

⏺️ Instead people are #building #conversation OUT of their #material-based "efficient" #machine-like #life
(copying "the system").

⏺️ Politics are strongly externalised so the #personal #politics [personal #experiences + #truth] don't count or get heard at all!

⏺️ Many people don't do conversation more than a 3mins in-person (even if they say they do). Even with their wife etc. #Bad #Power

“We are lonesome animals. We spend all of our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story begging the listener to say—and to feel—‘yes, that is the way it is, or at least that’s the way I feel it. You’re not as alone as you thought.’”
—John Steinbeck

#bonding #validation #conversation #storyTelling #stories #listening #narratives #influence #campaigning #psychology #Steinbeck #quotes

“We are lonesome animals. We spend all of our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story begging the listener to say—and to feel—‘yes, that is the way it is, or at least that’s the way I feel it. You’re not as alone as you thought.’”
—John Steinbeck

#bonding #validation #conversation #storyTelling #stories #listening #narratives #influence #campaigning #psychology #Steinbeck #quotes

“We are lonesome animals. We spend all of our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story begging the listener to say—and to feel—‘yes, that is the way it is, or at least that’s the way I feel it. You’re not as alone as you thought.’”
—John Steinbeck

#bonding #validation #conversation #storyTelling #stories #listening #narratives #influence #campaigning #psychology #Steinbeck #quotes

“We are lonesome animals. We spend all of our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story begging the listener to say—and to feel—‘yes, that is the way it is, or at least that’s the way I feel it. You’re not as alone as you thought.’”
—John Steinbeck

#bonding #validation #conversation #storyTelling #stories #listening #narratives #influence #campaigning #psychology #Steinbeck #quotes

“We are lonesome animals. We spend all of our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story begging the listener to say—and to feel—‘yes, that is the way it is, or at least that’s the way I feel it. You’re not as alone as you thought.’”
—John Steinbeck

#bonding #validation #conversation #storyTelling #stories #listening #narratives #influence #campaigning #psychology #Steinbeck #quotes

https://www.europesays.com/iran/79273/ Six-year-old’s ‘Lion’s Roar’ helps stop alleged assault in South Lebanon store #6YearOldGirl #AllegedAssault #BelowStore #case #child #confidence #conversation #investigator #Lebanon #Lion #mother #roar #RobertDeweese #SouthLebanonStore #SpecificKnock #Trial

79% of 16-24 year olds in UK use AI tools: the pipeline from passive use to emotional dependence

The new Ofcom Media Use report 2026 (technical report here) has some findings about LLMs which need to be widely discussed:

I would draw attention to this figure in particular about conversation which they unhelpfully equate with companionship. They suggest the qualitative research shows people “drawing on it for reassurance or support” citing examples like this:

“When you work remotely you are on your own in a room in the house with [only] the dog for company. And unless you’ve had a Teams call, or made a phone call, most of your day is going to be “tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap”, you know? You just want to appreciate that there is another human at the end of that interaction. Maybe thinking that you are talking to another person makes it less isolating.”

[ASKED CHATGPT FOR ADVICE AFTER A BREAK-UP] “Even through my break-up I’ve been like “Should I be feeling this way? What do you think he’s feeling?” Little things. Obviously, I don’t trust exactly what it’s saying back, but it can be quite good… He [exboyfriend] messaged me about something, and I didn’t know how to respond. So, I asked ChatGPT how to respond. And it [said] “Oh, I’m so sorry you’re going through that” and then answered it. I wasn’t like I was using that over actual human sort of advice. And I 12 don’t think I would listen to ChatGPT over actual human advice either, but I think maybe I was using it as more of a confirmation.”

My suggestion would be that the conditions (a) giving rise to conversational use (b) converting conversational use into companionship use (c) developing reliance on that companionship are all likely to grow over the coming years. In effect I would postulate a kind of pipeline in which use of LLMs becomes more intensive over time:

Instrumental use –> Conversational Use –> Companionship Use –> Dependence

This is before the models have been meaningfully enshittified. More powerful models, optimised for deepening engagement along the lines of AI companion apps like Replika meeting increasingly loneliness, anxiety and uncertainty about the future is a recipe for companionship and potentially dependence becoming mass phenomena. I would argue this has to be taken really seriously as a long term social problem.

Even so it’s also striking how passive much use therefore is. This presents a double-bind from my perspective because active use is necessary for epistemically responsible use of LLMs because it enables the user to drive the interaction rather than to be positioned by the model. But active use also sets the user into the pipeline which can lead them easily to some dark and unwelcome places.

What's funny is found the same on #socialmedia - go #cats! go #books!

#Smalltalk surprises: Nine experiments show 'boring' topics feel more enjoyable https://phys.org/news/2026-04-small-topics-enjoyable.html

#conversation #connection #networking #socialization #mentalhealth #socialanimals

A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography

Boris Eldagsen’s AI image, left, which won a Sony World Photography Award. And Miles Astray’s photo, right, which…
#NewsBeep #News #Artsanddesign #AI #aigenerated #Arts #ArtsAndDesign #CA #Canada #conversation #debate #Design #Entertainment #joanfontcuberta #Oped #philosophy #Photography #rebuttal
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/599977/

A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography

Boris Eldagsen’s AI image, left, which won a Sony World Photography Award. And Miles Astray’s photo, right, which…
#NewsBeep #News #Artsanddesign #AI #aigenerated #Arts #ArtsAndDesign #conversation #debate #Design #Entertainment #joanfontcuberta #Oped #philosophy #Photography #rebuttal #UK #UnitedKingdom
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/527502/

https://www.europesays.com/ie/432456/ A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography #AI #aigenerated #Arts #ArtsAndDesign #ArtsAndDesign #ArtsDesign #conversation #debate #Design #Éire #Entertainment #IE #Ireland #joanfontcuberta #OpEd #Philosophy #Photography #rebuttal

https://www.europesays.com/uk/889816/ A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography #AI #aigenerated #Arts #ArtsAndDesign #conversation #Debate #Design #Entertainment #joanfontcuberta #Oped #Philosophy #Photography #rebuttal #UK #UnitedKingdom

A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography https://petapixel.com/2026/04/12/a-necessary-critique-of-fontcubertas-algorithmic-photography/ #joanfontcuberta #conversation #aigenerated #photography #philosophy #rebuttal #Culture #Opinion #debate #oped #ai

A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography https://petapixel.com/2026/04/12/a-necessary-critique-of-fontcubertas-algorithmic-photography/ #joanfontcuberta #conversation #aigenerated #photography #philosophy #rebuttal #Culture #Opinion #debate #oped #ai

A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography https://petapixel.com/2026/04/12/a-necessary-critique-of-fontcubertas-algorithmic-photography/ #joanfontcuberta #conversation #aigenerated #photography #philosophy #rebuttal #Culture #Opinion #debate #oped #ai

A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography https://petapixel.com/2026/04/12/a-necessary-critique-of-fontcubertas-algorithmic-photography/ #joanfontcuberta #conversation #aigenerated #photography #philosophy #rebuttal #Culture #Opinion #debate #oped #ai

A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography https://petapixel.com/2026/04/12/a-necessary-critique-of-fontcubertas-algorithmic-photography/ #joanfontcuberta #conversation #aigenerated #photography #philosophy #rebuttal #Culture #Opinion #debate #oped #ai

ポイズン雷花の哲学その二
「［話しは気になる壱フレーズ聞いて、聞いたつもりになる物では無い。
　最初から最後まできちんと聞く物です。］」

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/naccdeeb95a8a

#poison #philosophy #conversation #hear #catches #eye #listen #carefully #end #cool #answer #question #happen #fact #simple #understand #incorrect #perception #information #time #situation #given #different #fake #disaster

ポイズン雷花の哲学その二
「［話しは気になる壱フレーズ聞いて、聞いたつもりになる物では無い。
　最初から最後まできちんと聞く物です。］」

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/naccdeeb95a8a

#poison #philosophy #conversation #hear #catches #eye #listen #carefully #end #cool #answer #question #happen #fact #simple #understand #incorrect #perception #information #time #situation #given #different #fake #disaster

ポイズン雷花の哲学その二
「［話しは気になる壱フレーズ聞いて、聞いたつもりになる物では無い。
　最初から最後まできちんと聞く物です。］」

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/naccdeeb95a8a

#poison #philosophy #conversation #hear #catches #eye #listen #carefully #end #cool #answer #question #happen #fact #simple #understand #incorrect #perception #information #time #situation #given #different #fake #disaster

ポイズン雷花の哲学その二
「［話しは気になる壱フレーズ聞いて、聞いたつもりになる物では無い。
　最初から最後まできちんと聞く物です。］」

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/naccdeeb95a8a

#poison #philosophy #conversation #hear #catches #eye #listen #carefully #end #cool #answer #question #happen #fact #simple #understand #incorrect #perception #information #time #situation #given #different #fake #disaster

Poison_Raika's Philosophy Party 2
"[A conversation is not something you hear one phrase that catches your eye and think you've heard it.
You should listen carefully from beginning to end.]"

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/n981bfd809f5c

<>

#poison #philosophy #conversation #hear #catches #eye #listen #carefully #end #cool #answer #question #happen #fact #simple #understand #incorrect #perception #information #time #situation #given #different #fake #disaster

Poison_Raika's Philosophy Party 2
"[A conversation is not something you hear one phrase that catches your eye and think you've heard it.
You should listen carefully from beginning to end.]"

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/n981bfd809f5c

<>

#poison #philosophy #conversation #hear #catches #eye #listen #carefully #end #cool #answer #question #happen #fact #simple #understand #incorrect #perception #information #time #situation #given #different #fake #disaster

Poison_Raika's Philosophy Party 2
"[A conversation is not something you hear one phrase that catches your eye and think you've heard it.
You should listen carefully from beginning to end.]"

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/n981bfd809f5c

<>

#poison #philosophy #conversation #hear #catches #eye #listen #carefully #end #cool #answer #question #happen #fact #simple #understand #incorrect #perception #information #time #situation #given #different #fake #disaster

Poison_Raika's Philosophy Party 2
"[A conversation is not something you hear one phrase that catches your eye and think you've heard it.
You should listen carefully from beginning to end.]"

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/n981bfd809f5c

<>

#poison #philosophy #conversation #hear #catches #eye #listen #carefully #end #cool #answer #question #happen #fact #simple #understand #incorrect #perception #information #time #situation #given #different #fake #disaster

Філософія Poison_Raika Частина 2
「［Говорити—це не те, що, як ви думаєте, ви чули, слухаючи фразу, яка вас турбує].
　Це те, що ви слухаєте від початку до кінця. ］」

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/n2be8c69ac09a

<>

#poison #philosophy #conversation #hear #catches #eye #listen #carefully #end #cool #answer #question #happen #fact #simple #understand #incorrect #perception #information #time #situation #given #different #fake #disaster

Філософія Poison_Raika Частина 2
「［Говорити—це не те, що, як ви думаєте, ви чули, слухаючи фразу, яка вас турбує].
　Це те, що ви слухаєте від початку до кінця. ］」

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/n2be8c69ac09a

<>

#poison #philosophy #conversation #hear #catches #eye #listen #carefully #end #cool #answer #question #happen #fact #simple #understand #incorrect #perception #information #time #situation #given #different #fake #disaster