In an effort to fight modern techbros, all modern human writers start churning out Oulipianesque texts, and reading books is cast once again as a passtime for weird (perhaps dangerous) nerds.

…actually, there’s some half-decent stories you can tell and ideas you can bat around with this frame informing both format and content. The title Samizdat jumps to mind when thinking about some of them (I know there’s a contingent on Lemmy who might not be thrilled about the connotations, but it’s a good word). Hmm.

You, specifically, having readers? Homie I know I’m not alone in following the bits of biography you’ve already posted with great interest. I’d read the fuck out of your memoir.

Edit: read HurricaneLiz’s response. Lol, I’m one of those invisble fans they’re talking about, and I am rooting for you 😁

This already exists at some libraries! Example: https://collections.biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/musical-instruments

Bearded guy, so: “[insert any small talk compliment about my beard here]” “Thanks, it’s been growing on me.”

Oh shit, I guess that wasn’t a microdose…

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Ngl, I’d watch the fuck out of a movie about juggalos toppling a surveillance state. Culminating in the cinematic final showdown I’ve always pictured in my head when listening to I Want My Shit..

I almost feel like someone needs to do a write-up of the 196@lemmy.blahaj.zone debacle - while not a 1-for-1 example (it wasn’t a migration attempt that functioned the exact same way as it would with PieFed), it’s a good case study for userbase-community owner-instance dynamics that should be considered, specifically the bit in your last sentence.

Out of curiosity, have you got a link or something for these workshops (and are they done in English or French)? I’m out in Ottawa, seems like a useful thing to have in my pocket to share with folks since there’s a lot of movement between the two cities (and if online geography isn’t a barrier).

If not, no worries and keep up the good fight.

Man, it’s rare, but those moments you can get big talk from strangers in the wild are fucking gold. But it’s unlikely you get there without a little small talk.

I’d love this one in the wild, assuming a participant that doesn’t get stabby when I try to establish religious stories as fiction and allegories from the outset so we can get to the good stuff (the interesting, if flawed, potential religion carries to communicate a shared conception of humanity that can transcend kin, tribal or geographical affiliations. Maybe religion itself doesn’t survive, but there’s some useful stuff you can try and take away from it while discarding sheer bullshit.)

Edit: you know what? I’m stealing this as a one-liner for folks who say “I’m not really into small talk” in response to random chatter (though with more of a ‘lol, j/k, enjoy your day’ approach).

I don’t think they really are, but there’s lots of lonely people out there open to chance encounters. Transit’s one of those rare spaces where diverse groups of humans gather, and chances are attend on a frequent schedule. Most folks on transit would prefer you just leave them alone, but hey, you never know. I’ve met people/had good conversations on busses before.

A thought: if you see one of these regulars again, try giving a nice compliment (with strangers, nice = one that doesn’t involve their body - think a cool book they’re carrying, t-shirt, dangly thing on a backpack, cool shoes, etc.) and a question (open ended if you feel like trying for a conversation, closed is fine if that seems daunting). Sometimes cool shit can follow - worst thing that generally happens (so long as you follow the advice afterwards) is you’re told to fuck off. A lot of the time, it’s something in a middle - the question gets answered, you might say “Awesome! Well I hope you have a great day” with a smile and go sit, and the stranger moves on with (maybe) a little boost. That ain’t nothing - lots of us could use those little boosts. All of of a sudden you might see yourself mentioned in those missed connection posts, lol.

Despite having my own hot-and-cold periods over it, I truly feel we need to talk to strangers in meatspace as a whole more often.

The French have good bread as well

I dunno, the last baguette I ate tasted like pain.

You have the rare honour of being the first comment I’ve both downvoted and saved.

(Downvoted simply because it’s the opposite kind of answer to what OP is looking for, if it actually bugs you let me know and I’ll remove, nbd).

If you happen to be in Ottawa, I have a couple suggestions via PM. Otherwise, stuff that fits the feel you’d probably like exists, but is generally overshadowed by more establishment spots. Takes a little digging (and even what’s there may not suit your tastes).

Not neccessarily a bad thing though, alcohol being a poison and whatnot (I just happen to like poison).

Caveat - I’ve never been in Europe long enough to know the exact feel of a good homey Euro pub, for comparison purposes.

If it’s any consolation many of us are old fogeys (from an internet perspective), and likely understood it immediately. I know I did!

I was born on the east coast of Canada. Everyone gets the door held for them, sometimes even when they’re on the other side of the parking lot.

Ha ha ha! What a story, Swab!

sh.it.heads

On a t-break but this sounds amazing regardless. Saved.

I think part (though not all) of the issue is discoverability. There’s other communities where this isn’t as prevalent, but a) they’re not always easy to find, and b) for this as well as other reasons, they might not be super active (if people don’t know it exists, who’s posting?)

I get around the first bit by trawling All New once and a while. One feature I will say I liked on reddit was the random community function. But while I like that it’s a smaller userbase here for some reasons, it does mean less diversity of interests.