I always start with, ok, so you know the internet is basically a series of tubes right? Once we are on the same page about that, I start talking about ipv4 and ipv6 including a mention of dual stack supporting instances.
I find it easier if the other person is a podcast listener.
“You know how podcast ads usually say ‘listen to it in Apple or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts?’ It’s a bit like that.”
If not, I have to say something weak or complicated like “it’s a bit like email, dunno how to explain this if you have never thought about how email works, though”.
The email one works too once they realize they’ve never actually thought about what an email is. Like:
“If I send you an email from gmail, you can open it in outlook, right?” “Yeah”
“That’s because an email is just a file that both gmail and outlook can use” “makes sense”
“Can I see your Twitter post on Reddit?” “No of course not”
“But i can see Lemmy (Reddit) posts on Mastodon (Twitter). And these apps aren’t owned by huge companies. Normal people run each instance, and the software is free for anyone to use or host.”
I’ve heard that you can view Lemmy posts on Mastodon and vice versa, but I can’t wrap my head around it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Mastodon post on Lemmy, or maybe I have and just didn’t realize it?
What’s a Lemmy post on Mastodon look like? And what’s a Mastodon post on Lemmy look like?
I usually start with email, but I wonder if podcasts would be smarter. when I read what you said, my first thought was"but podcasts require you to upload to every instance that you want to be seen on" and then I realized that for the people that are just trying to get content this doesn’t matter. That’s actually genius.
I don’t think this is as much as specialized knowledge issue as it is that normal people are frightingly technologically illiterate considering how much is computers. I mean this is not a hard concept to grasp at laymans architectural level
Technology literacy is specialized knowledge. You’re portraying the comic.
99% of people have no need or desire to know anything more about technology than the bare minimum to use it. The fact that you’re on Lemmy alone means you have way more tech knowledge than the average person.
It’s crazy to me that within the span of my adulthood computers have gone from being a niche interest to something everyone uses and is knowledgable about and back again.
Computers have never been something that everyone is knowledgeable about. The IT industry has kinda trended like that, but to the general population they’ve always been boxes filled with magic smoke.
And that’s perfectly fine. If everyone was as knowledgeable about computers as you or I am, I wouldn’t have a job (well, I’m currently unemployed, but that’s because of Musk).
Not literally everyone, but there was a time period where it seemed much more common than not, at least in the US. When it was taught to children starting in elementary school, and taking advanced classes was required for many jobs, it seemed rare to meet someone who wasn’t knowledgable. I guess it isn’t included in children’s education or business education these day.
Personal computers used to be widely used because it was the only way to get online. We now have a new generation of users who use their phones to access the Internet and owning a computer is no longer required. Almost everyone has a phone. Not everyone has a computer.
I’ve never felt like a bigger idiot than when I try to explain the fediverse to normal people.
Hey… so you know about Email, right?
How you’re with Gmail and I with… say Proton. And we can still send Emails to each other? …
Is my go to approach
That’s a pretty good analogy.
it’s not an analogy lol. it’s literally the same thing.
Except using Lemmy is nothing like sending an email.
Please don’t reply all.
Consider the environment before printing this comment.
I always start with, ok, so you know the internet is basically a series of tubes right? Once we are on the same page about that, I start talking about ipv4 and ipv6 including a mention of dual stack supporting instances.
Dude don’t stop talking right when we’re on supporting dual stacks. I’m on the subway and the entire car is about to get off but now we’re just sad
I find it easier if the other person is a podcast listener.
“You know how podcast ads usually say ‘listen to it in Apple or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts?’ It’s a bit like that.”
If not, I have to say something weak or complicated like “it’s a bit like email, dunno how to explain this if you have never thought about how email works, though”.
That’s a really good analogy.
The email one works too once they realize they’ve never actually thought about what an email is. Like:
I’ve heard that you can view Lemmy posts on Mastodon and vice versa, but I can’t wrap my head around it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Mastodon post on Lemmy, or maybe I have and just didn’t realize it?
What’s a Lemmy post on Mastodon look like? And what’s a Mastodon post on Lemmy look like?
You ever notice those post replies that @ people’s username or names at the beginning of the comment?. Those are from Mastodon.
!testfediverse@jlai.lu has a few examples
I usually start with email, but I wonder if podcasts would be smarter. when I read what you said, my first thought was"but podcasts require you to upload to every instance that you want to be seen on" and then I realized that for the people that are just trying to get content this doesn’t matter. That’s actually genius.
I don’t think this is as much as specialized knowledge issue as it is that normal people are frightingly technologically illiterate considering how much is computers. I mean this is not a hard concept to grasp at laymans architectural level
Maybe I feel crazy rather than stupid then.
Technology literacy is specialized knowledge. You’re portraying the comic.
99% of people have no need or desire to know anything more about technology than the bare minimum to use it. The fact that you’re on Lemmy alone means you have way more tech knowledge than the average person.
It’s crazy to me that within the span of my adulthood computers have gone from being a niche interest to something everyone uses and is knowledgable about and back again.
Computers have never been something that everyone is knowledgeable about. The IT industry has kinda trended like that, but to the general population they’ve always been boxes filled with magic smoke.
And that’s perfectly fine. If everyone was as knowledgeable about computers as you or I am, I wouldn’t have a job (well, I’m currently unemployed, but that’s because of Musk).
Not literally everyone, but there was a time period where it seemed much more common than not, at least in the US. When it was taught to children starting in elementary school, and taking advanced classes was required for many jobs, it seemed rare to meet someone who wasn’t knowledgable. I guess it isn’t included in children’s education or business education these day.
Personal computers used to be widely used because it was the only way to get online. We now have a new generation of users who use their phones to access the Internet and owning a computer is no longer required. Almost everyone has a phone. Not everyone has a computer.
Would you consider basic economics specialized knowledge?