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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: June 16th, 2023

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  • The issue with this approach is that it further entrenches gaps that are already there. The best predictor of economic outcome is zip code. That’s because schools are funded by local property tax. Live in a wealthier area, get better schools. Better schools lead to a better outcome. Schools in poorer districts stay poorer. It’s a system that is self perpetuating.

    Replacing affirmative action with something that is strictly income based could help but that ignores other systemic biases that are based on race rather that income.

    I feel like if we’re ending affirmative action we should also put in place more restrictions on legacy admissions which is just affirmative action for dumb, rich kids and represents a much bigger chunk of students than affirmative action ever did.










  • Numbers matter because activity is directly proportional to user count. A lot of mainstream users won’t join a platform until it already has a critical mass. They don’t want to be early adopters or trail blazers. They want to go where their friends and good conversations are.

    We’ve got to set the table for them. With a lot of users there will be more buzz and more social gravity to pull people here. We’re the first drunk uncle on the dance floor at the wedding that gets the party started. A dance floor with a few drunk uncles is fun for the uncles but unless a couple nieces and a grandma doesn’t join in then it’s not a party.

    People have been burned by so many hot new social networks that they wary. They don’t believe that they can have a good network that’s not full of ads and selling their info.

    But the time is now, the DJ has put on Montel Jordan’s This is How We Do It and it’s up to us, the drunk uncles of the fediverse, to get everyone onto the dance floor.










  • I’ve got to second TTRPGs. You have to be somewhat vulnerable to play. You’re basically playing make believe, you have to be unselfconscious. It forces you to be somewhat open and accepting.

    If you’re more analytically minded look for board game cafes or groups. Playing a cooperative board game is almost as good of a friend finding hack as TTRPGs.

    If your hobbies are more solitary then look for or create groups. Crocheting or knitting? Find a group where everyone is doing it together. It’s like parallel play. This could also work for neurodivergent folks.

    One thing to keep in mind is that adults are more discerning about friendships. We know what we want now so it might have to be a bit of a numbers game. But one you have a core group the momentum seems to build. Best of luck and don’t give up! Everyone deserves solid homies.