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I agree, I have no interest in enforcing all posts be STEM related, that would be harmful too. But I do wish to see people here who are either STEM professionals or at least wish STEM to be what they want to surround themselves with.
It could be like the different areas on an office or school/college.
There's the lecture hall, the professor's offices, and the water cooler where everyone hangs out and chats general topics.
As long as the crowd is formed by people with interest in the instance's theme, it can work.
It's not really a good thing to have general posting by users who just needed a home in the fediverse.
Occasional banter, chit chat on a thread is ok; if that's all a user has to contribute, I am afraid we suffer from sheer dilution.
@design_RG I think the key point there I agree with is the nature of the crowd formed. As long as everyone who joins is explicitly a STEM enthusiast as a central point of interest for them, that is enough.
But I see a lot of people who come here who have never made a single STEM related post and doesnt seem to comment much on STEM related topics. That's an issue.
To me if your bio lists a few STEM related interests, profression, or study that would be enough for me to say someone is a fit for the community.
@freemo
Agreed. We see a problem, and it's time to reflect and decide how to handle it.
For new users coming in the future, and for the ones already here. This part might be the harder one, as we would need to suggest, request or direct changes in the posting style.
If it is done with care, and explaining the reasons, the impact on a unique instance, maybe it can gain cooperation from them.
Acting asap is needed, though. The user and post count just posted by users bot shows the number of daily average posts tripling, from September (~300 a day) to November, after the new users spike (~900 a day, many very short, one liners, etc).
I have just sent a DM to someone posting a new topic, along the lines we have been discussing here.
Sent via Direct Message, so it's private and not embarassing. I used the following text:
" (user handle(s) at the top)
Hello, good afternoon.
We have been discussing some issues in a thread here, could you scan thru it? It's relevant and important.
Thank you!
https://qoto.org/web/statuses/103181749788422818"
...the URL links back to this thread. 🤔
@arteteco @Surasanji @johnlitt
@design_RG
Agreed
@arteteco @Surasanji @johnlitt