el
El

Writing things down.

DMs (that actually reach me):
[email protected]

Public Key

npub1hd4cwdujw5l4hx00y2cvk89kph7mctr3nlaagmkhtvfq0h7quujqrt93ca

Profile Code

nprofile1qqstk6u8x7f8206mn8hj9vxtrjmqmldu93cel775dmt4kys8mlqwwfqpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dscmpgt3

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1hd4cwdujw5l4hx00y2cvk89kph7mctr3nlaagmkhtvfq0h7quujqrt93ca

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Last Notes

2026-09-28 04:33:02 GMT

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But isn’t the self-selection you’re describing partly a consequence of the current friction? If you removed some of that friction, wouldn’t you simply find out whether there are more competent and curious people out there who never made it through the door?

2026-09-28 04:22:20 GMT

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Maybe we need a new app built on Nostr with admissions. You can’t just join. A randomly selected jury of existing users reviews your application. You have to demonstrate curiosity, basic competence, and an ability to contribute to the community.
We can be the first to bring bureaucracy to a permissionless protocol.
A social network specifically designed not to achieve mass adoption. lol

2026-09-28 04:07:57 GMT

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Then maybe the problem isn’t Nostr. Maybe the answer is simply a better client.

2026-09-28 04:06:27 GMT

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I write dozens of handwritten cards to my customers every week, and I know the difference between a protocol and a platform 😎 Normies contain multitudes.

2026-09-28 04:02:07 GMT

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If there isn’t enough material aimed specifically at ordinary users, then developer-facing explanations inevitably become the public explanation by default. And to a normie looking in from the outside, they make the barrier to entry look considerably higher than it actually is.

2026-09-28 03:56:33 GMT

#Normie on #Nostr, Day 7. A week ago when I joined, I didn’t really think of becoming part of the community. I figured I’d just upload my manuscripts and hope they outlive me on relays. Free perpetual-ish online storage.
Then I got here, looked around, and I liked it! I like all of the non-normie sass, and I hope to learn from you guys!
I am genuinely confused though whether the non-normie locals want more people to join Nostr, or would rather keep it the small, highly technical, self-selecting community it already is. From what I’ve seen so far, I certainly don’t get the overwhelming impression that making Nostr more appealing or intelligible to normies is a priority.
#GrowNostr

2026-09-27 15:12:55 GMT

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Do you grow them?

2026-09-27 15:11:51 GMT

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You’re thinking of the wrong normies! But I do agree that normies don’t need to know how Nostr works, just as normies don’t know a thing about Instagram’s backend. I’d known about Nostr for about 1.5 years before I finally gave it a try. Every time I heard non-normies explain it on YouTube, I thought I’d need to understand public-key cryptography, relay architecture, NIPs, key custody, and preferably have a PhD from Harvard in applied cryptography. It genuinely took less time and was easier to get started on Nostr than it was to register for Substack, which I did at the same time.

2026-09-27 14:39:52 GMT

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Well you see I’m not the only one taking pictures of the sky!

2026-09-27 04:25:00 GMT

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Being the new kid in town has historically gotten me bullied, not welcomed. Add “censorship-resistant” and I fully expected at least a few people to tell me to go back where I came from. Instead, everyone has been remarkably nice. That’s the part that surprises me the most.
As for how I ended up here, I promised 3 separate people I’d make a deliberate effort to start interacting with the world again. I considered my options and somehow Nostr seemed like the least noisy place to do it. So here I am.

2026-09-27 03:37:21 GMT

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Our online identities are fragmented now since most of us exist in several different places on the internet and getting buried under an enormous pile of ai generated content. Why not organize those individual presences under one digital identity that no single institution can erase? @npub137c…k37w

2026-09-27 03:30:03 GMT

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Wait, which thinking mentality? There appear to be several competing ones around here.

2026-09-27 03:22:49 GMT

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Last year I saw two double rainbows one month apart in 2 different states. Last time I saw one was probably 20-30 years ago.
https://blossom.primal.net/81b5c8c0076d62c253daacfa440ba1d52748eb2f72573d7cbef956e967c1a907.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/55fdb4cdd9a348d7d042bcfeca9f26601ec3f60402079e3f7e5815fdd92883ca.jpg

2026-09-27 03:18:17 GMT

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Double rainbow ❣️that’s so beautiful!

2026-09-27 03:07:37 GMT

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Oh my god!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

2026-09-27 03:05:03 GMT

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Ok. This remains a niche hobby. Another argument for the hashtag directory. Someone could be witnessing Kelvin–Helmholtz clouds right now and I don’t know.

2026-09-27 03:01:46 GMT

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Then don’t sweat it. It’ll work out. Somehow it always does.

2026-09-27 02:58:04 GMT

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Maybe part of solving monetization is recognizing that Nostr is more of an advanced international airport (still under construction though), and not just another airline trying to compete with the established ones.

2026-09-27 02:51:53 GMT

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Punctuality has always been one of my major flaws. Sorry I’m a few years late, but I’m here now!

2026-09-27 02:49:22 GMT

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Glad you’re here!

2026-09-27 02:48:38 GMT

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I don’t think I know how to create or join groups just yet, but I’m definitely going to look into that. Thank you! And the social connection part is exactly why I’m on Nostr.

2026-09-27 02:45:59 GMT

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I’d like to know what you are doing with carrots.

2026-09-27 02:42:05 GMT

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I watched you on YouTube. You were one of the videos I found out about nostr.

2026-09-27 02:37:52 GMT

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hey, you don’t know what the normies might contribute! And considering the number of non-normies around here, I have more faith in you guys eventually figuring that one out!

2026-09-27 02:27:23 GMT

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Fall’s only flaw is that it ends.

2026-09-27 02:25:47 GMT

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Did something happen?

2026-09-27 02:25:35 GMT

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Life: plot twist.

2026-09-26 17:41:52 GMT

Thank you all for explaining Nostr hashtags. I read everything! I guess for now a way to keep topics/interests organized and accessible is through a thread, right?
One of my hobbies is “cloud chasing”. I want to see as much beautiful, strange, unusual sky/clouds as I possibly can in my lifetime!
Yesterday I was in Louisville, Ohio, a tiny town I’d never heard of before. This was the sky over N Bauman Ct & E Main St.
Let me see your sky!
We are all #UnderOneSky
https://blossom.primal.net/45dbc01ec507e416616dbf0a4d41e1d9e1e3d467befa1aac2d8d89855ccff669.jpg

2026-09-26 17:12:42 GMT

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Thanks!

2026-09-26 16:48:42 GMT

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Hi! Quick technical question: if I make a note and ask people to reply to it with a photo, can most users attach photos directly to their replies? Thank you! And have a great weekend!

2026-09-25 04:13:46 GMT

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A painter from Italy welcoming a writer from Siberia into a strange corner of the internet! I’m beginning to think this place might be exactly what I was looking for without knowing it. Thank you for such a thoughtful welcome! I promise to remain curious and ask inconvenient questions! Making trouble, I’m afraid, comes naturally.

2026-09-25 04:05:49 GMT

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How many bots do I have?

2026-09-25 04:00:22 GMT

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I am a real human person, they had me tested! I’ll check out your show!

2026-09-25 03:42:39 GMT

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“Whatever you want it to be” sounds like a dangerously exciting proposition!

2026-09-25 03:38:03 GMT

Day 5 of a normie. Feeling a bit disappointed with Nostr but increasingly fascinated by its people.
Would you agree that people use social media primarily for consumption and connection? If so, I think we’ve become extraordinarily good at producing and distributing content, but remarkably inefficient at discovering people worth knowing. Being visible is not the same as being known. Content can now be manufactured almost infinitely, and perhaps the next great opportunity in social media isn’t finding more to consume, but finding more people to connect with. For a protocol that could make human connection its greatest advantage, I find Nostr remarkably difficult to navigate socially.
Can I speak to the manager, please?
Is anyone working on browsable hashtag directories, both across Nostr and within individual profiles? I’m looking for discovery without having to know what to search for in advance. I just wanna choose a subject and click on it.
Freedom from an algorithm shouldn’t mean freedom from discoverability.
How hard is it to build that?
#NormieAudacity #UnsolicitedAdviceFromGenPop #ProposedRenovations
These would look great in the hashtag directory!
@nprofile…zug3 @nprofile…vja8

2026-09-24 12:49:44 GMT

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It looks like you’ve seen this movie before. Unfortunately, today is already day 5 and I’m slightly past the “I’d like someone to build it exactly the way I envision it.” I’ve tried 3 different clients last night and kind of moved from imagining what Nostr could become to being rather disappointed by what it currently is. I’m now contemplating whether I owe Nostr a gracious farewell post, out of respect for what it could become.
Although, if the urge to build your own app is practically a rite of passage around here, perhaps I’m not the only one wondering why a decentralized publishing protocol that offers creators independence from individual platforms has yet to produce a sufficiently compelling environment for people like me.
At least it’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one. Thank you.

2026-09-23 21:55:32 GMT

Dear #Nostr community,
It’s only my 4th day here, and someone has kindly offered to help me explore different clients. She just needs a screenshot of my public and private keys. What’s the best way to send it to her if my DMs aren’t working?
I originally registered through #Primal, but I’ve since learned that Android devices might offer a more interesting Nostr experience. Unfortunately, I’m a self-confessed #normie, and I haven’t quite figured out a lot of stuff yet.
Just kidding.
I haven’t lost my #nsec (yet).
Just checking if y’all are still paying attention.
#AskNostr

2026-09-23 15:48:29 GMT

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I’m going to need you to explain how someone who considers Disney an evil influence on the world ended up drinking Russian cucumber Sprite there

2026-09-23 15:45:04 GMT

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[email protected] I’m not that bad with technology !!

2026-09-23 15:25:00 GMT

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Thank you! I’m not sure lucky is quite the word. There are advantages, certainly, but I sometimes wish the rest of the world came with adjustable settings. Textures and smells for sure.

2026-09-23 15:22:14 GMT

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Why 🤢🤮?

2026-09-23 15:20:41 GMT

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No, I don’t think so. Some of those words kinda sound familiar though.

2026-09-23 15:19:36 GMT

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And anyone can see everyone’s public key? Cause I don’t think I can. Give me the philosophical questions!

2026-09-23 15:17:30 GMT

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No dms

2026-09-23 15:13:49 GMT

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Where did you find the Russian sprite?

2026-09-23 15:13:22 GMT

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I have a problem with this question because I cannot separate flavor from texture, smell, temperature, even color, and occasionally the circumstances under which something enters my mouth. Are we talking about the smooth, glossy supermarket variety cucumbers or the little bumpy ones straight from the garden? Because those are two entirely different experiences, and I have strong feelings about each.
I seem to have two categories of favorite flavors: one permanent, and another that changes every few months.
The permanent one is coffee. But it has to be a very specific coffee, prepared a very specific way, served hot, and consumed immediately upon waking, before brushing my teeth or allowing absolutely anything else into my mouth. I have maintained this relationship for over twenty years.
My current seasonal obsession is what I call honey pears. Golden yellow, almost overripe, fragrant that I can smell them when taking a bite, with that particular texture where the flesh practically dissolves and the juice runs everywhere. And again, nothing else in my mouth. The pear must have my undivided attention.
I was told that I may be neurodivergent, but I think it’s a lie. I think having standards for my vegetables does not constitute a neurological condition.

2026-09-23 04:42:10 GMT

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Thank you! A worldwide craft fair is a much more different description than anything involving protocols and relays. I came here to write, but I’m beginning to suspect I’ll be staying for the people. Speaking of people, how do you know if you’re talking to a human or to a bot? What’s the social etiquette here, given that so many people use pseudonyms and anonymous profile pictures? Is it acceptable to ask someone their age, gender (I’m not sure if that’s acceptable to ask in real life either), where they live, etc? Also, thank you for the #asknostr tip! I’ve already used that but is there somewhere I can find commonly used hashtags, particularly ones related to learning about Nostr and its culture? I’d like to familiarize myself with the local customs.

2026-09-23 04:32:16 GMT

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Thank you, Dawn! This is starting to make sense, which is a development I hadn’t anticipated quite so soon. I’ll explore your suggestions!

2026-09-23 04:21:57 GMT

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I believe you’ve made a typo. You used the word “simple” when describing the Nostr protocol. I thought I’d point that out before the real pedants arrive.
Thank you for the compliments, although I’m socially awkward enough that I never quite know what to do with them. I generally prefer to pretend they haven’t happened and hope the other person doesn’t notice.
About the nsec. I’ve taken a screenshot of it, but I’m beginning to suspect that keeping it in my dikpik folder (all unsolicited obviously) isn’t the cybersecurity strategy you had in mind. What do people ordinarily do with these things? Print them out and keep them with their passports?
I’m asking because I’ve accumulated approximately 700 satoshis in the last few days, and I see no reason to rule out the possibility of sending my child to college with them in eight years. I’d hate to lose access to the family fortune.
On a more serious note, I’d genuinely love to read your novel. Japanese fantasy isn’t something I ordinarily gravitate toward, which makes me all the more curious. I’d be happy to read it as a reader or if you need any firsthand insight into the experience of being transported into another world, I’d be happy to consult on your novel!!
And thank you for taking the time to explain everything. I appreciate it, particularly because you’ve managed to make this strange place feel considerably less strange without making it any less interesting.

2026-09-23 03:57:35 GMT

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It’s ok, I’m not worried about that “primal iOS”

2026-09-23 03:56:18 GMT

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Thank you for taking the time to explain all of this! I am genuinely grateful. I do have questions, and they might sound silly. If I understand correctly, Sibericana is simply the name I’ve declared for my identity, rather than a unique handle I’ve registered. Does that mean someone else could create an entirely different identity and call themselves exactly the same thing? Is there a way to claim a “nostr-universal handle”? Can I use several clients simultaneously with the same keypair? For example, could I remain logged into Primal while exploring YakiHonne and other applications, all under the same identity? I’m slightly reluctant to log out or even try to log into another client in case if that automatically logs me out of primal at this stage, as I’m not entirely convinced I’d ever find my way back in. I know I’ll understand all of this better once I’ve experienced how the different clients and relays work together, rather than attempting to memorize the theory, I just need practice. And “Creating identity” is why I came here in the first place. #asknostr

2026-09-23 00:29:09 GMT

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Thank you!

2026-09-23 00:28:06 GMT

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What else can you see about me?! I’ll try yakihonne.

2026-09-23 00:26:16 GMT

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I appreciate you preparing me for the real pedants and admitting me on the basis of not being an idiot (provisionally).

2026-09-23 00:21:28 GMT

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Wow. From all of the above so far I only have newly discovered lead in the walls of my 92 year old house. Even that (hopefully) is temporarily. Let’s be friends, I’ll come visit you in your kingdom.

2026-09-23 00:03:41 GMT

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Thank you for taking the time to explain all of this! I like your observation that Nostr is what you make of it, and I think “find your weird” is a philosophy I can comfortably get behind. I think I needed it for a while now.
And yes, I would love to hear more about relays and how you use them to shape your experience here. I don’t know if it matters, but I have an iPhone and I’m not in IT. Which client would you recommend?
Also, what kind of stuff do you write, and is any of your work available somewhere I could read it?
And thank you for being one of the first people to engage with me here! It’s made my introduction to this strange little corner of the internet considerably more interesting.

2026-09-22 23:59:17 GMT

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Hello! Let’s chat!

2026-09-22 23:50:25 GMT

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Thank you!

2026-09-22 23:47:35 GMT

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Thanks for the yakihonne. I’ll check it out.

2026-09-22 23:47:02 GMT

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Nostr would occasionally come up on YouTube in various videos. I thought it would be time consuming and hard to figure out how to register. It took me a bit over a year to finally do it. Ironically, registering on Primal took less than a minute.

2026-09-22 23:41:11 GMT

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A censorship-resistant network, and here I am, inexplicably wanting to behave myself. I haven’t experienced this level of restraint in quite some time, and frankly, I’m both happy and a little concerned.

2026-09-22 23:37:48 GMT

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I think I’ve just discovered the entrance to the rabbit hole, and I’m rather delighted to learn that there is an entire Wonderland waiting to be explored! So far I’m quite happy to have discovered this particular corner of the internet to begin with.
And please accept my most sincere apologies for the improper use of terminology. I shall endeavor to distinguish between Nostr and its various manifestations with greater precision in the future!
I would actually love to know how to navigate all of this. What’s the best way to discover interesting people, conversations, or particular subjects without an algorithm? How do I find people or how do I make myself findable? So far, I’ve been using Primal exclusively, and searching for topics or hashtags hasn’t been particularly fruitful. I feel like there’s an entire world here that I simply haven’t figured out how to access yet.

2026-09-22 23:26:47 GMT

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Thank you, Dawn! I am not an IT person. I know absolutely nothing about programming or coding.
I’m particularly curious about the underexplored possibilities you mentioned. Without an algorithm, I’m finding Nostr surprisingly difficult to navigate. Or perhaps I’ve simply become lazy after years of having everything shoved down my throat.
So far, I’ve been using Primal exclusively, and I suspect I’m seeing only a very small portion of what’s available. Are there other clients you particularly enjoy or would recommend to someone who’s just starting out and has absolutely no IT background?
I’d love to hear more about what you think remains underexplored here!

2026-09-22 23:16:03 GMT

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I do wanna know this thing about “good mornings”

2026-09-22 23:14:14 GMT

Today was one of those wonderfully slow rainy days, and I spent a considerable portion of it contemplating the fact that I overnight became 11 cents richer. More importantly, these 11 cents amount to 124 satoshis, which means that, through circumstances I still do not entirely understand, I am now suddenly invested in the future of #Bitcoin.
And while I am still trying to understand why complete strangers on the internet give one another money for what appears to be no reason at all, I have already made peace with the possibility that my literary career may have peaked financially on my third day on #Nostr.
Three days ago, I would have confidently declared that I cannot be bought. Today, I have 124 satoshis, and I sincerely wish Bitcoin a long and prosperous future.
#Sibericana

2026-09-22 16:26:24 GMT

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A very accurate representation of my first three days on Nostr.

2026-09-22 02:24:45 GMT

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I used to write personal, epistolary nonfiction, but then I stopped writing almost entirely for over 15 years. A few years ago, I started writing fiction, and my first book should be published by the end of this year, or perhaps early next year.
And thank you for my very first zap! I know embarrassingly little about Bitcoin, but thanks to you, I discovered today that I’ve officially become a Bitcoin holder. Quite an unexpected development for someone who had no particular business being on Nostr. Thank you!

2026-09-22 02:18:58 GMT

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I thought it was extraordinary that someone could have that kind of discipline. What moved me most, though, was reading about his life as his health progressively deteriorates. Somewhere in the year of entries I read, he mentioned a couple of times that if he ever goes more than 2-3 days without posting, it probably means he’s gone. That absolutely broke my heart. And yet, through all the pain and limitations of his circumstances, he continues to notice and document the smallest, most ordinary beautiful things around him. I wonder if he realizes how much of himself he’s leaving behind in those entries, or how profoundly a complete stranger might be affected by them.

2026-09-22 02:07:42 GMT

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How long have you been on Nostr? I’m only a few days in and still figuring out how to use Primal, let alone what the platform is capable of. I’m particularly curious about the social dynamics here. Do you know if people share much of their personal lives and get to know each other over time, or is it predominantly a place for discussing technology, Bitcoin, and current events?
I’m relatively new to social media in general, and Nostr is currently the only platform I’m using. I suppose I’m trying to understand whether people come here primarily for information and discussion or whether there’s also a sense of community, with people following each other’s lives and forming genuine connections over time.
I’d be curious to hear your observations if you’ve been around for a while.

2026-09-21 04:04:43 GMT

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2 days ago I discovered a man from my tiny hometown who’s been blogging on LiveJournal almost daily!!! for TWENTY YEARS. Stayed up until 2 a.m. last night reading it. Made me miss the early internet, when people simply documented their lives. Mono no aware / the bittersweet beauty of things passing by.

2026-09-21 04:00:09 GMT

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Hi! I was looking for an alternative to social media where being an ordinary person somehow feels insufficient. I’m too lazy to package my life into something aesthetically pleasing or commercially viable.

2026-09-21 03:56:49 GMT

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I’d heard of Nostr on YouTube but never looked into it. Recently, Chatty suggested I try it for writing. I needed somewhere I wouldn’t care if I belonged, free from my own vanity and need for validation. A social experiment of sorts.

2026-09-21 03:05:12 GMT

I came here thinking I had no particular business being on Nostr. The more I understand what you’ve built, the less I understand why so many of you use it primarily as a Bitcoin discussion forum. I suspect this place has considerably more to offer than its locals have yet had occasion to discover.