The problem to federation is that there is at least some complexity to subscribing to other communities - at least right now. I love it here, but I have to be honest, it is a bit difficult to navigate for most.
But perhaps we're missing the point? What if we should be trying to sell the local aspect harder?
There is a demand for hyper-local networks as evidenced by Nextdoor. Couple this with an increase in people wanting to have a better digital commons - one not controlled by a single corporation.
For my instance tucson.social, I'm going to get some signs printed and do some local advertising. Pretty sure if I sneak some signs around the U of A campus, but mostly in public spaces where it's legal and proper.
I think that the local nature of all of this makes advertising a bit more effective and locally relevant. I don't want to sell it as a "reddit" but as another "place" that will exist whether or not reddit does (due to the non-profit or whatever other org we construct) to talk about our city.
At the same time I do this, I want to reach out to important community members to see if they might be interested in donating once I have a formal non-profit. I'd make sure to emphasize the utility such a site might have to local businesses once advertising is possible.
I have no idea if this will all work, but it's something I'm trying to do anyways. I just believe communities should be local, and that the online representation of them is as close to a mirror of the local one as possible. I also want to foster conversations that help people grow and connect.
So maybe, one of the admins here sees this, because I'd really like to join forces in a more meaningful way and hopefully gain the ability to deliver a meaningful experience to all sorts of communities. My immediate skills are technical, and perhaps if I follow along and learn your tips along the way, I can have the best possible chance of making this happen - and constructing the blueprints for others to follow.
I'm also open to other wisdom from the beehaw community! Have you done local marketing and advertising? I could use some tips. Have you formed a non-profit before? I'd definitely like to hear from you! Are you in Tucson and want to get more deeply involved? - dm me!
The only thing I'd prefer not to hear is how difficult it is. I'm fully aware that I've chosen to go all in on terrible odds. I don't really care anymore. lol
I had a unique upbringing. My father was an illiterate dyslexic (and maybe autistic himself) and he is fuckin weird - to put bluntly. That side of my family never really understood neurodivergence per-se, but they understood that everyone's a little weird - but we embraced that we're VERY weird. Hanging out with my dad's extended family is a lot of flailing, weird humor, and zany shenanigans and they embraced every moment.
My mother by contrast was more "abled" but she relished the "weirdness" that my father had in spades. Her own family had a bit of a zany streak as well - with my maternal Grandfather very obviously being undiagnosed autistic and having his own brand of severely understated and jump-scare humor.
Masking was entirely unnecessary in my family - and I can recognize the state pretty easily. It's more mentally relaxed, less hypervigilant, and generally more comfortable.
It was great not having to mask in my childhood - until I went to school and it suddenly wasn't a good thing.
Learning my masks was an absolutely agonizing process because "being myself" wasn't acceptable "out there". I felt so out of place compared to my peers. I was also bullied relentlessly to the point of PTSD. My masks eventually became automatic through the tumultuous times. It wasn't until my diagnosis in my early 30's that I even began to understand what it all was, and start deconstructing the masks.
Unmasking was as easy as accessing a "younger" me and simply not caring about the social results. (to a point)
For my echolalia, I don't hold back my vocal stimming anymore. I used to feel embarrassed and self conscious around it. Now I embrace it and have fun with it. Will you get movie trailer voice me or death metal voice me? Who knows!? Will I throw a random phrase using an English accent into an otherwise monotone statement, yoooouuu bet!
For my special interests, I LET my excitement bubble over. Sure, I might need to regain my composure from time to time, but hiding my excitement about these things nearly destroyed me. I try not to be hyper-focused though so as to allow natural conversational flow, but I also don't overly police myself anymore.
There's a few other things, but it's hard to reflect on them all.
Ultimately I'm unsure how helpful my experience is to others - it's a bit unique having a deep family culture of being really weird. I think that really helps me put my guard down and unmask. If I didn't have these memories, finding my unmasked state would be a LOT harder.