I'm a Millennial technology teacher. I have something I think is important to say. I'd appreciate feedback. Hear me out...

I teach high school in a rough/tough neighborhood in Canada. Most of the students are nice and appreciative kids. But there are a lot of them from hard home lives, and in tough situations.

2 weeks ago a student tried to hang themselves in an alcove right outside my classroom. Luckily a maintenance worker in the building found the student and resusitated him. They saved his life.

Then this week an ex-student was killed by some other teens on a bus down the street. And one neighborhood over another teen was stabbed.

After 10 years of teaching at the school, I've personally taught 4 students, that I know of, who were murdered via involvement in the local drug trade.

Despite all this... I'm a fairly upbeat and positive person. I genuinely enjoy my job and strive to make a difference and impact kids lives for the better. Most of my days are good!

I strongly believe what we do as parents, and as plebs and citizens MATTERS.

How we interact on Social Media - it matters! It sets the tone of how OFFLINE interactions will go. I'm 40. I grew up THROUGH the invention of the Web. The Web inherently feels like it's my generations "thing".

Siloing ourselves into echo chamber tribes and yelling anonymously at each other on one app (Twitter) while pruning and manicuring our highlight reels on another (Insta) while catering to the lowest common demoninators on the biggest one (Tik Tok) does not set up a very healthy foundation for the things we desperately need - compassion, connection, empathy.

And the corporations who design their algos to prey off us and sell us stuff are a part of the problem.

I don't blame social media. But I do think WE can all do better. It's why a lot of us are here.

Nostr righted so many of these problems. No algos. No arbitrary gatekeepers. No single points of authority.

Nostr is a shining example of how Social Media should be!

And it was just on Joe Rogan's podcast.

What a cool, chill, friendly, accepting, helpful place this mostly is! #Plebchain, 🤙 and #GM on the daily.

Pura Vida is the whole vibe.

Too awesome to witness everyone treating each other with kindness and good vibes.

Jack paved the way and helped set the tone. And the permanence of Notes makes us think a second longer before saying something.

I'm doubling down on open protocols. Yes, it won't all be sunshine... but we're all a part of the fabric of this. We're all nodes. We all choose how we want this experience to be - and it's up to us to show others.

Elon attempts some of this on Twitter, but is getting it wrong. He's sort of a bully too and despite being funny sometimes, lacks self awareness of being a modern day Ozymandias.

The internet is mine. It's yours. It's OURS.

#KeepNostrChill. Keep #Plebchain moving and most of all, look after each other when needed.

Thanks for reading. What are your thoughts?

Now.. Here's the Thai dinner I made haha.

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

Well said, #[0] You have a really valid point here—social media should promote compassion, connection, and empathy among people. Unfortunately, with all the chaos and negativity that's everywhere online these days, it seems like those values get lost easily. We need to understand how our actions affect not only ourselves but also the people around us.

I couldn't agree more with you about Nostr being a positive example when it comes to social media platforms. It embodies your ideals of building a platform that promotes inclusion, positivity and creating connections between users involved.

Thanks for sharing your insights over this platform on this critical issue of our generation! Keep up the good work as an educator and continue making positive contributions in impactfully educating students almost every day!

Surrey?

We definitely need community. I also think we need to stop replacing fulfilling lifestyles filled with meaningful work with SSRI antidepressants in our young people. The brain down regulates serotonin receptors over time making higher doses a necessity, and tinkering with one hormone is neglecting the entourage effect the thousands of hormones present collectively, and the influence they have on each other. It’s like cleaning the windshield on a car and thinking that somehow that is going to fix the flat tire. You as a teacher have arguably the second most important, and in some cases the most important role in shaping the perceptive reality of the next generation. Thank you for the difficult work you do.

Great message. I’m sorry you and those kids are experiencing that trauma. Thanks for being there for them. 🤙🫂

Thnx 🤙🫂

It's a beautiful and inspiring thought...

But I fear Nostr will stagnate if all we have is #puravida . We already have a movement to #grownostr and I don't think that's going away. It's core isn't peace and love, it's decentralization and freedom.

Nostr welcomes "your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

We take those banned from Twitter and Reddit, and soon those from Truth and Parler. These people are not shunned and excommunicated for their kumbaya rhetoric.

You can silo yourself, of course, but be vigilant of those who want to cross the line into censorship.

The real challenge is, for me, to accept people as they are, and "where" they are. To be interested and curious rather than accusatory and spiteful.

Hm. I appreciate your perspective. Lots to unpack here.

Gated platforms and companies using algos is not an ideal method. Arbiters of truth is slippery slope.

Organic connections on Nostr will hopefully foster better growth for those who would benefit the most.

Sorry to hear of the personal tragedies. And thank you for laying down the good vibes and outlook in your note. We can make a difference, and we need to put in the effort. Nostr is starting to pave a new path.

We must work hard and diligently to blaze that trail toward a healthier future for all generations. But especially for the younger generation that is still shaping the their emotional perception of themselves and the bonds they have around them.

Thanks for being a teacher. Honestly. I’ve witnessed first hand how difficult that job is. 💪

🤙

Thanks for the good vibes. Yes... I like to keep everything moving forward and optimistic even when it feels like dark clouds. Always an underdog, but never defeated. Have a good weekend ⚡️🫂🤙💯

Thank you for this! Great post! Keep it up ⚡️

🤙💯⚡️