Not a mass exodus. Call it a brain drain, if you will. The churn includes those who posted or were moderators. Since those who stayed are directly or indirectly supporting practices that most of us find unacceptable, Reddit will probably forever have that sour taste. It will gradually turn into a pale reminder of what it once was, and it will lose its spark. The sheer volume, quality, and length of posts in the Fediverse is indicative of new user profiles. I am so glad I took the plunge!

No single answer is comprehensive enough to explain the low literacy levels in the US. That’s because some of the contributing factors include:

• Parents with little schooling.
• Lack of books and reading encouragement at home.
• Dropping out of school.
• Difficult living conditions – including poverty.
• Learning disabilities.

Each of these topics has social and political implications and we, as a society, have made choices that privilege the rich and the least vulnerable. Our immediacy leads us to focus on inflation rates, employment, and reelection (don’t get me wrong, these are essential points). But we should also seek solutions to bring parents back to school, campaign for more books at home, and improve schooling to prevent dropout.

The discussion of U.S. illiteracy gets gloomier when we consider the differences between “literacy” (reading, writing, and math skills) and “functional literacy” (the practical use of these skills to manage daily life and improve socioeconomic well-being).

There’s a long and rocky road to reverse this picture, and some of the possible solutions to promote higher levels of literacy in society should take into account:

• low income resources
• stigma and shame
• lack of awareness
• limited access to education
• technological barriers
• limited funding for literacy programs.

So, how is it possible that roughly 50% of Americans can’t read above a 6th grade level and how are 21% just flat out illiterate?

All of the above, and probably more!

Not for any particular reason, but for a variety of reasons that work together to make it even better. I have listed just a few of them. Feel free to add to the list as you see fit.

• No king of the hill.
• No hidden corporate interests.
• No karma system.
• Rejection of toxicity. The flow of conversation is civil and has a good vibe.
• The Federation functions as an engine of accountability.
• A bunch of people who actively contribute to making this a good place.
• A vocal community that actually determines what content is important.
• The initial difficulty to make sense of it all (call it a "barrier to entry" if you will) acts as a natural deterrent to those who are less engaged.
• Lurkers who sign up quickly feel comfortable posting.
• The ability to sign up for a particular instance and leave if for some reason you find it's going in a direction you do not agree with. Lemmy's decentralized nature saves the day.
• The influx of refugees includes experienced people with a lot of knowledge to make this an even better place.
• The prospect of a quick release of reputable third-party apps. Since these developers bring solid knowledge from previous developments, their new Lemmy apps will immediately translate into a smoother user experience.

I am looking forward to great days ahead.

Thank you for your efforts to keep this place clean and civil, and especially for the transparency in describing how you've dealt with such annoyances. You have my respect.

I think someone urgently needs to come up with one of these solutions:

1. The foot-operated lid;
2. The toilet with flush and suction;
3. The Jedi throne (a Jedi-style toilet lid activated by hand movements) and lastly
4. The Terminator (a time-activated flames of hell) solution. The time-activated mechanism locks the toilet door after the user leaves and burns the entire compartment at solar flare temperatures.

I suspect that one of the reasons Lemmy's texts are longer, meatier, and more thoughtful is the age of the users. My gut tells me that we're an older audience that doesn't need to dump the usual social media BS - hasty comments filled with unsubstantiated arguments. Everyone has an opinion and should be heard and respected. As a Reddit refugee, I feel Lemmy provides such space, and that's what I enjoy most. Like many others whose profiles match mine, once you get past the initial confusion (where should I register, what app should I use, where can I comment) and get comfortable with the jargon, you feel more encouraged to participate in discussions. So far, I've been pleased with the civil environment of the discussions, as most users are able to express their thoughts in a relaxed and non-toxic manner. Honestly, I'd encourage anyone who has been just lurking to participate and share their thoughts.

It is the same, sorry. When you hire a third party to build or expand your business, you're accountable for what happens under your nose. Simply pointing fingers to outsourced work as if it were beyond one's control does not cut here. If you wish to operate in Brazil, you must comply with local legislation. And stating that some companies break the law is the same as saying that some people are turning a blind eye to the legislation, too. BYD management must choose which side of the legal fence they want to be. Cheers!

Fatherhood has no expiry date. If your son came to you asking for help, don't overthink. Do the right thing and help him out, regardless of what he wants to shave.

We must stop dancing around this issue and use the proper language to describe Israel’s war on Palestine.

1. This is not a "conflict"—it is a massacre.
2. Starving people to death is genocide.
3. Starving people is morally indefensible.
4. Israel is a genocidal state, and its leaders must be held legally accountable for the deaths of innocent men, women, and children.
5. All countries supporting Israel are complicit and equally accountable.
6. News media outlets that remain silent or support Israel deserve condemnation.
7. As civilians, we must treat this massacre as unacceptable and voice our horror to our representatives. If they refuse to act against Israel, they are pro-genocide.

This is not a time for complacency. Enough deaths in Palestine.
We must stop Israel’s genocidal government now.

A day to celebrate! Bolsonaro is a mediocre politician whose insignificant contribution could earn him a rightful reputation as Brazil's worst president. His disastrous tenure served no purpose other than cloning a Trump-like management and paving the way for his reelection. He has made Brazilian society even more divisive, intolerant and hateful. His infamous contributions include:

• Discrediting vaccination (COVID -19 especially).
• Promoting intolerance towards LGBTQ+.
• Encouraging everyone to own guns.
• Closing incentives for arts and culture.
• Promoting deforestation of a large part of the Amazon jungle.
• Ignoring the pleas of Indians for food and medical assistance.
• Undermining the credibility of the electoral system.
• Neglecting Brazil's diplomatic relations.
• Poisoning relations with the press.
• Attempting a coup d'état to overthrow President-elect Lula.

These are just a few highlights of a long list of misdeeds that define him as an unsympathetic jerk. I know that may sound like a lot, but as you get to know this character, you will probably be tempted to add some additional notes to the above list.-

I won't go into the reasons why you're doing that. Instead, I'll just focus on your plans, because I don't think a gradual change of accent will go unnoticed. Just do it. Embrace the American accent you love so much and live it to the fullest. And if anyone asks you what happened, just say you're tired of your own accent and are trying something new. Explain it clearly to others and own up to it. This will make you feel good because you're being honest by telling others why you have decided to change.

However, you should bear in mind that a language is much more than just an accent. It also includes people's choice of words and idioms and expresses the way they see the world. It would be strange if I decided to speak Brazilian Portuguese with a Portuguese accent (from Portugal). Those who know me would be confused because this "Portuguese character" in me speaks the local language perfectly with the wrong accent. How come?

I guess that's because "World" is a pretty bold statement and suggests an expanse that can accommodate a truckload of migrants. Add to that the open signups and my natural aversion to smaller instances (I tend to think someone with a few users may feel tempted to pull the plug at any moment), and here we are. By the way, I have had a great experience with Connect for Lemmy - if anyone is interested.

Yes, it will. But at what cost? Over time, the brain drain will likely become more pronounced as moderators jump ship and those who remain become a compliant group of lickspittles. As Reddit faces the consequences of its disastrous policies, it will become even more aggressive in securing revenue - and likely even more despotic. It can take years to build a reputation, and a few months to lose it. I suspect that their CEO has done an excellent job of accelerating this process.

It's better to bask in this island of growth and engagement than to sink down a rabbit hole of revenue that yields nothing. It's such a satisfying feeling to talk to people you know and respect instead of diving into a karmic spiral full of bots flooding the place with toxicity. When the author says, "There's simply no place left on the internet that feels like a good, healthy, worthwhile place to hang out," I think that somehow this is a good place. For the first time in a long while I feel compelled to join the discussion and share my thoughts. It's true that "the Fediverse isn't there yet," but that's what we're here for. Just the thought that some things are still halfway in the oven, or haven't even found their way in yet, makes the whole experience much more rewarding. And remember, there are no ads. Every day I miss Reddit and Twitter less (I had closed my account there a long time ago). I believe Lemmy has a bright future ahead of it, the success of which I believe depends on preventing uncontrolled growth. Time will tell.

Can you believe it? In the richest country in the world, people are forced to use their hard-earned vacation days just to see a doctor. It's like a bad joke, but it's the reality for so many hardworking Americans. There's something seriously messed up with the way we've set up our system. It's supposed to be the land of opportunity, but it feels more like the land of "fend for yourself." Sure, if you're a billionaire, life is pretty sweet. But for the rest of us? We're left wondering if this is really what the American Dream is supposed to look like. It's time we take a long, hard look at what we value as a society and start putting people first. Because at the end of the day, no one should have to choose between their health and a much-needed break from the daily grind.

That’s Bolsonaro’s line of thinking—it plays well with his base, whose average IQ makes a chimp look like Einstein. On the bright side, inmates at "Papuda" (the prison where he's expected to serve his term) are already preparing a warm welcome-home party. What a memorable day that’ll be.

By now it's clear that Dune II unpacks such a punchy plot with unexpected twists interpreted by such fine actors. Add to that the great soundtrack and stunning visuals, and we're in for a memorable sequel. I can smell popcorn already.

Think of Bolsonaro as a tropical caricature of whiny Donald, and you'll get the picture.

I also miss the change to list all post under a community (e.g. "technology") regardless of where it is. I have multiple accounts, which works as a safety insurance against slow severs. However, I find it a pain being unable to group similar communities under the same umbrella. Hope such functionality is implemented at some point.

True. The sense of anticipation of a new home in which to settle seems genuine. Also, I agree that a smaller group where users actually read the posts and interact with each other validates the purpose of investing the time to share one's views with people who are actually interested.