Romaq @Romaq@qoto.org
Romaq
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Check out this cool visualization of where Americans live
Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/3d-mapping-the-worlds-largest-population-densities/
#Police #Violence #Minor #Murder #Abduction #News
https://jezebel.com/former-state-trooper-who-catfished-teen-girl-and-murder-1849827005
Well ... at least the law enforcement involved won't have to sweat anything interesting coming out of a trial of a former Virginia state trooper.
Romaq
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I can't believe I even have to say this, but please do not grant the San Francisco police department the power to kill people using armed robots: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/11/red-alert-sfpd-want-power-kill-robots
Trans Ally musings
I think about @georgetakei's "You can pee next to me" as referenced here: https://shortyawards.com/1st-socialgood/you-can-pee-next-to-me.
Takei can say that, as he is outspoken and a well-known part of the LGBTQ community. I, however, am a "nobody" and I'm quite content with that. And for *ME* to say it, it sounds on my ear, "creepy dude." I tried it in my head trans-fem, trans-mask, non-binary... nope... "creepy dude" echos in my head. I have the positive, affirming sentiment supporting identity and affirming agency. Just not the gravitas or established identity within the LGBTQ community to pull that particular phrase off.
And to me, that's ok. I *DO NOT WANT* actual "creepy dudes" stalking people, leering at them with, "Hey... you can pee next to me! Heh-heh... heh-heh-heh!" Uhm... no. HELL no! I'm glad for the opposition to the bathroom laws and how Takei handled his role in the opposition.
So much as I am with Mastodon, I avoid proselytizing. By that, I mean... I'm not going to people "preaching" Mastodon, how they should be on it, The Bird Site is a hellscape they should leave RIGHT NOW! Nope, that ain't me. I'm happy to talk about it, but it's not how I'd choose to start a conversation. Same for LGBTQ. "Hey, I'm a cis-white male but I support you as an ally and can we be friends?" Nope... Just... "creepy dude."
Now if I encounter someone trashing LGBTQ, I have friends and a bit of family in that community. And I'm inclined to jump in with both boots going for the neck. I don't know what it's like to be LGBTQ. I know what it's like to be "different," apparently to EVERYONE, and just not good enough. I had that from my natural father. I had that from churches. I had that in the US Military. I hated that I was so damned "odd" somehow until I learned to accept myself, my sense of humor, my view of life, who I am, and what I have to say. I'm a work in progress. I'm growing. But I have identity, I have agency, I have freedom of conscience, and I have a right to these. How is it possible anyone would see fit to deny this to any other human soul? And yet they do, and I see that. But not around me.
Anyway, I can't think of any cool catchy phrases to communicate. Best I can do is just be myself. I watch for opportunity to spread kindness and support, and I act as a voice where I can for those who are being stripped of their voice. I gotta be me.
Romaq
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Nationalism: Being proud of things you haven't done & hating people you've never met.
Romaq
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Good morning!
This is why everyone should be owned by a cat. So that door knockers know not to stop by again.
Romaq
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I stopped posting on Twitter a week ago because I don’t want to help a nazi sympathizing billionaire man-baby with his website. Feels good to not be doing that. Can I get an amen?
Romaq
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Twitter was never a healthy "public square" for most of us. Let's not rewrite history while eulogizing the hellsite.
Twitter was a frightening battleground where we managed barely to claw out an uneasy existence amidst the worst violent neo-Nazi extremists who constantly published our home addresses, threatened our kids' lives, and sent hordes of racist trolls into our mentions.
The same principles that allowed us to survive uneasily on Twitter will be required here in the #fediverse. Community defense, thoughtful pressure on moderation policies, and eternal vigilance.
There are no safe spaces but those we make safe through constant effort. We keep us safe.
Romaq
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Worth reading about how humans are teaching machines how to teach machines to learn (hint: it involves #Minecraft)
Romaq
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Good morning! A post just rolled across my fedi-timeline saying not to post about politics on Mastodon, so I'm here to remind you that:
1 "politics" refers to decision-making about how to live together in groups
2 choosing to not participate in political discussion is saying you support the status quo, and is a political stance
3 abstaining from politics because you feel safe from its impacts is a privilege and a choice to abandon your more vulnerable neighbours
Romaq
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@Dennis1212 Hi, Dennis. I recorded a video for you. My apologies for taking so long to get it done. It’s been busy! The video is processing at the moment but it should become available in the next 10-15 minutes. Watch it here - https://youtu.be/H1cP-PlALys
#Mastodon #Tootorial #ProfileBioSetUp
FYI @Romaq
Time with my friends and close family on Minecraft is just golden!
Romaq
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Atheism
Lovelies, I'm an #atheist. If you're wondering what I do and don't believe in, here are a few posts with my attempt to explain.
- I just believe in one fewer God than most other people. Just like you don't believe in Thor or Anubis. I don't believe in an Abrahamic (or any) God.
- I don't believe in the Devil either, in exactly the same way I don't believe in God.
- I don't hate God, it's hard to hate something that you don't believe in and has no impact on your life.
1/
Romaq
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Good morning!
Come on people, this cannot be explained!
Romaq
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🇳🇱
I am gathering a list of people who want to be involved in the discussion around the formation of a "United Federation of Instances" which is an attempt to combat the fracturing of the fediverse and the general spreading of misinformation WRT moderation decisions.
If anyone is interested in being a part of it let me know in the replies. I will add you to the list, share the draft proposal, and we can start discussions. I have several people already interested.
Romaq
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Romaq
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TIL QOTO is the Somali word for "deep"... seems appropriate.
Romaq
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Romaq's choices:
