You must pick one very minor talent:

[futurebird@sauropods.win]

You must pick one very minor talent:

[orangelantern@labyrinth.zone]

@futurebird I think I can already do two of these. Problem is, cats don't care that much.

[rob_t_firefly@masto.hackers.town]

@futurebird I am pretty sure I can already do two or three of these.

[astrohyde@mastodon.social]

@futurebird lol, I am very invested in the cats part of this poll

[darkling@mstdn.social]

@futurebird Cats > modems.

Not sure which way I want to make the understanding go, though. There's no guarantee that either party will actually pay much attention to what the other party's whinging about this time...

[futurebird@sauropods.win]

@Rob_T_Firefly

I've been thinking of doing a "make the modem connection sound as mouth noise" contest for some time now. I think it could be hilarious and fun.

Prize?

And old modem painted gold.

[claralistensprechen3rd@friendica.myportal.social]

@futurebird The last two options are one and the same, actually. And that would be my minor talent which the ferals around here don't consider minor at all.

[rob_t_firefly@masto.hackers.town]

@futurebird This may need to happen at the next @hopeconf.

[tshirtman@mas.to]

@futurebird bird, i'm sorry to report but modems don't make noise anymore.

Obviously i can talk to cats, it'll be easier for them to answer / give information by following instructions even if i don't understand cat language, as long as they understand me.

Yes, they will have to care, but i'm sure we can find an arrangement.

[mansr@society.oftrolls.com]

@futurebird I can already understand cats quite well.

[claralistensprechen3rd@friendica.myportal.social]

@futurebird @tshirtman Oh dear. The questionnaire referred to modems that do, and there are modems that do.

[skyfaller@jawns.club]

@futurebird The modem choices would have been more competitive in the dialup era. I don't have a modem anymore so being able to understand it (or imitate it) isn't very helpful.

I also don't spend much time with cats, but when I do I think being able to understand them is more useful than being able to tell them stuff. I think cats understand people perfectly well surprisingly often, they just don't care, and I don't think I could make them care by talking to them.

[malin@dice.camp]

@mansr @futurebird who are these weirdos who can't understand cats?

[futurebird@sauropods.win]

@malin @mansr

What does she want?
https://sauropods.win/@futurebird/116223721542343105

[claralistensprechen3rd@friendica.myportal.social]

@skyfaller @futurebird Ah--well, you do have a point with house cats. With ferals, it can be very important for you to tell them exactly where you stand short of actually marking your territory.

[cptsuperlative@toot.cat]

@futurebird

Neither modems nor cats will care what I have to say no matter how I say it. And modems don’t say anything particularly interesting to me. So, understanding cats is my only option.

[oldguycrusty@mastodon.world]

@futurebird @Rob_T_Firefly

Actually - if the current #Fascist #Authoritarian Assaults on speech and the internet continue unabated - we may need to revert to #dialup point-to-point connections with the old #modems that made that sound.

Although I dont think an analog modem would work over a cell network. Hmmm... now I made myself curious...

[saltywizard@beige.party]

@futurebird

i love this journey for you

[claralistensprechen3rd@friendica.myportal.social]

@mansr @futurebird @malin She wants to know your exact position and posture.

[vikxin@beach.city]

@futurebird I can mostly understand what my cat is saying to me when he meows already. There's a noticeable difference between the meow he uses for needing his litter box cleaned, the meow he uses when he's hungry, the meow he uses when he just wants attention, and the meow he uses when he's scared of something.