<![CDATA[I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon.]]>I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. A bit with the platforms and tags, but mostly finding people to follow. I'm a bit all over the place, posting about my , be it academic or fiction (mostly ), and about cool I ran into, and the more common than it should be - complain about stuff.
I'm interested in , , , science, culture, academia, human sexuality, geekish humor, & .

Recommend people to me!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/82afdac2-ba5b-46f6-ab9e-5a5c6312ea59/i-m-still-struggling-to-find-my-footing-here-on-mastodon.RSS for NodeThu, 30 Apr 2026 23:36:01 GMTWed, 29 Apr 2026 20:04:33 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:24:09 GMT]]>@ombialik Suggestion: @pluralistic

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Kletskous/statuses/116492930188611420https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Kletskous/statuses/116492930188611420Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:24:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:17:18 GMT]]>@ombialik I hope that's a good thing, as soon as the feeling of being overwhelmed has faded!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://nrw.social/users/EyesOnNature/statuses/116492903271944789https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://nrw.social/users/EyesOnNature/statuses/116492903271944789Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:17:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:54:15 GMT]]>@ombialik write all over the place, tag stuff, post pictures, rage about academia, and generally just enjoy yourself shout at the void for a bit and people will find you. Hop on replies and hashtag stuff*

masto is a slow burn, but because of that you really get to know people.

*hashtagging the one appearance of a Gargoyle in Dr Who in 1970 and then going on it for three years may not be a wholly viable strategy

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://dice.camp/users/Printdevil/statuses/116492812671679012https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://dice.camp/users/Printdevil/statuses/116492812671679012Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:54:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:29:54 GMT]]>@ombialik

Hello Dr Bialik πŸ‘‹

In case this is useful, there is a guide to all the ways of discovering interesting accounts to follow at https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-find-accounts-to-follow-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse-how-do-i-find-my-friends

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.growyourown.services/users/FediFollows/statuses/116492716887287285https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.growyourown.services/users/FediFollows/statuses/116492716887287285Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:29:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:15:44 GMT]]>@ombialik I don't have recommendations for people but perhaps subscribing to some very special hashtags can help you discovering people:

and

More about the weirder hashtags: https://fedi.tips/fun-and-useful-hashtags-to-follow-on-mastodon-and-the-wider-fediverse/

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116492661188125555https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/NatureMC/statuses/116492661188125555Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:15:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:10:41 GMT]]>@EyesOnNature Appreciated, although getting a bit overwhelming. Didn't expect to get this much response (or new followers).

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.world/users/ombialik/statuses/116492641357116663https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.world/users/ombialik/statuses/116492641357116663Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:10:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:53:48 GMT]]>@ombialik Sorry I can't really help with recommendations - but I can boost this so maybe people who can see it more easily. πŸ™‚

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://nrw.social/users/EyesOnNature/statuses/116492574958945565https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://nrw.social/users/EyesOnNature/statuses/116492574958945565Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:53:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:41:58 GMT]]>@NickSchwanck Honesty and directness are appreciated.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.world/users/ombialik/statuses/116492528420772060https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.world/users/ombialik/statuses/116492528420772060Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:41:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:04:52 GMT]]>@dantheclamman @Lilysea
It's a very small world, especially in some fields of research.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.world/users/ombialik/statuses/116492382550202476https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.world/users/ombialik/statuses/116492382550202476Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:04:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:40:19 GMT]]>@ombialik as others wrote before: follow hashtags, then see who's posts you like (or mostly stay with just hashtags altogether - that spares you stuff people post about topics that don't interest you)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://rollenspiel.social/users/gorobar/statuses/116492286006250066https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://rollenspiel.social/users/gorobar/statuses/116492286006250066Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:40:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:47:12 GMT]]>@ombialik Some people I'd recommend: @NylaWoethief (science-fantasy fiction), @amin (runs , good insight into tech, every xkcd comic ever), @technologyconnections_mirror (good videos on technology) @prahou (brilliant art for our dark, wondrous age)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/nantucketlit/statuses/116492077136066606https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/nantucketlit/statuses/116492077136066606Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:47:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:44:55 GMT]]>@philbetts I never used the algorithmic feed on any of the platforms I'm on (now I'm mostly here and on BlueSky). I just very slowly locate by topic and curate interesting people to follow.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.world/users/ombialik/statuses/116492068161469258https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.world/users/ombialik/statuses/116492068161469258Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:44:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:39:38 GMT]]>@Lilysea @ombialik oh, Dr. Bialik and I have worked together IRL! (:)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://scicomm.xyz/users/dantheclamman/statuses/116492047394698679https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://scicomm.xyz/users/dantheclamman/statuses/116492047394698679Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:39:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:30:27 GMT]]>@ombialik
It's not miniature painting, but if miniature paintings also qualify follow @DavidZinn

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/realn2s/statuses/116492011259271594https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/realn2s/statuses/116492011259271594Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:30:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:06:05 GMT]]>@ombialik
Geekish humour:
@xkcd
@warandpeas@mastodon.social
@davidrevoy

For the queer culture and miniature painting as well as plenty of your other interests, circles are overlapping in so many ways, find the and posts. The painting community is awesome.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://dice.camp/users/erikcats/statuses/116491915481020600https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://dice.camp/users/erikcats/statuses/116491915481020600Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:06:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:42:26 GMT]]>@weldon Thank you so much for the recommendation and including me in this list of awesome people! 😊πŸ₯°πŸ’–

@ombialik @evan @daveverse.wordpress.com @manton @dsearls @pluralistic @cstross @sohkamyung

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/lisamelton/statuses/116491586554219933https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/lisamelton/statuses/116491586554219933Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:42:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:42:24 GMT]]>@ombialik I would recommend @FediFollows for a new category of recommendations every week or so. A sibling account is @FediVideo for PeerTube accounts you can follow if you want to begin exploring the wider fediverse.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.opendesktop.org/users/jcgonra21/statuses/116491586398801390https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.opendesktop.org/users/jcgonra21/statuses/116491586398801390Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:42:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:41:10 GMT]]>@ombialik@mastodon.world It can take a bit. The use of the hashtags seems to be a good thing. seems to be something we have in common (though I am failing at that of late). Mostly what I've managed, was various short things. Nothing spectacular, but my expression tends to be in writing.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.openpsychology.net/notes/aloi3uf8mkrl00c4https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.openpsychology.net/notes/aloi3uf8mkrl00c4Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:41:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:48:17 GMT]]>@ombialik Try and take a lot of time and go through https://fedi.directory/

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://caneandable.social/users/WeirdWriter/statuses/116491373595497083https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://caneandable.social/users/WeirdWriter/statuses/116491373595497083Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:48:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:27:43 GMT]]>@ombialik Mastodon lets us follow hashtags.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/gwaldby/statuses/116491292752453344https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/gwaldby/statuses/116491292752453344Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:27:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:25:40 GMT]]>@ombialik You can follow hashtags on Masto.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://curly.cat/ap/users/116213285519881300/statuses/116491284669882649https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://curly.cat/ap/users/116213285519881300/statuses/116491284669882649Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:25:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:14:26 GMT]]>@ombialik
Another option for finding people to follow is to check out the timelines on other servers, for example https://wandering.shop/public/local for SF&F

Some of the apps (eg. Fedilab) have this as built-in functionality ("Manage timelines"), or you can do it on the web

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://rants.au/users/sabik/statuses/116491240474162717https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://rants.au/users/sabik/statuses/116491240474162717Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:14:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:48:01 GMT]]>@ombialik follow those hashtags you just made and here is my favorite discovery secret: install Flipboard. It will have recommendations and you can follow Flipboard accounts from here.

Oh, and try this too:
https://discover.holos.social/
And
https://sternaparadisaea.net/2023/10/04/how-to-use-mastodon/

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/115945809317187742/statuses/116491136599916341https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/115945809317187742/statuses/116491136599916341Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:48:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm still struggling to find my footing here on Mastodon. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:40:03 GMT]]>@ombialik I recommend @lilithsaintcrow
for more writers to follow.

I recommend the following books:

"Spring’s Arcana"
"Roadtrip Z"
"She Wolf and Cub"

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://dice.camp/users/Sablebadger/statuses/116491105298782227https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://dice.camp/users/Sablebadger/statuses/116491105298782227Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:40:03 GMT