I joined Fosstodon in 2019 at the recommendation of a fellow writer. I really didn’t know what to do, didn’t ask a lot of questions and left the account open but unused for nearly three years. Lately the flux of Facebook and most recently Twitter had left me looking for connection to folks with similar interests without the annoyance of advertisements for products I wasn’t interested in. I’m happy to report that I’ve been excited by what I found on Fosstodon and now Mastodon.online and Scholar.Social which are other Mastodon instances. The discourse and exposure to new ideas with folks who share common interests has been just what I was looking for. The absence of advertising is the best. Civility reigns! If you’re someone who longs for social platforms that are social and informative then I suggest you check join Mastodon. You won’t be dissapointed.