I won’t go into the reasons why you’re doing that. Instead, I’ll just focus on your plans, because I don’t think a gradual change of accent will go unnoticed. Just do it. Embrace the American accent you love so much and live it to the fullest. And if anyone asks you what happened, just say you’re tired of your own accent and are trying something new. Explain it clearly to others and own up to it. This will make you feel good because you’re being honest by telling others why you have decided to change.

However, you should bear in mind that a language is much more than just an accent. It also includes people’s choice of words and idioms and expresses the way they see the world. It would be strange if I decided to speak Brazilian Portuguese with a Portuguese accent (from Portugal). Those who know me would be confused because this “Portuguese character” in me speaks the local language perfectly with the wrong accent. How come?

Thank you for your efforts to keep this place clean and civil, and especially for the transparency in describing how you’ve dealt with such annoyances. You have my respect.

Not a mass exodus. Call it a brain drain, if you will. The churn includes those who posted or were moderators. Since those who stayed are directly or indirectly supporting practices that most of us find unacceptable, Reddit will probably forever have that sour taste. It will gradually turn into a pale reminder of what it once was, and it will lose its spark. The sheer volume, quality, and length of posts in the Fediverse is indicative of new user profiles. I am so glad I took the plunge!

I also miss the change to list all post under a community (e.g. “technology”) regardless of where it is. I have multiple accounts, which works as a safety insurance against slow severs. However, I find it a pain being unable to group similar communities under the same umbrella. Hope such functionality is implemented at some point.

COVID-19 turned into a perfect storm as most schools were unprepared for remote learning. Add to that the fact that many students had no access to a reliably fast internet connection and the whole literacy picture gets rather bleak. Thanks for sharing your views on my perspective.

No single answer is comprehensive enough to explain the low literacy levels in the US. That’s because some of the contributing factors include:

• Parents with little schooling.
• Lack of books and reading encouragement at home.
• Dropping out of school.
• Difficult living conditions – including poverty.
• Learning disabilities.

Each of these topics has social and political implications and we, as a society, have made choices that privilege the rich and the least vulnerable. Our immediacy leads us to focus on inflation rates, employment, and reelection (don’t get me wrong, these are essential points). But we should also seek solutions to bring parents back to school, campaign for more books at home, and improve schooling to prevent dropout.

The discussion of U.S. illiteracy gets gloomier when we consider the differences between “literacy” (reading, writing, and math skills) and “functional literacy” (the practical use of these skills to manage daily life and improve socioeconomic well-being).

There’s a long and rocky road to reverse this picture, and some of the possible solutions to promote higher levels of literacy in society should take into account:

• low income resources
• stigma and shame
• lack of awareness
• limited access to education
• technological barriers
• limited funding for literacy programs.

So, how is it possible that roughly 50% of Americans can’t read above a 6th grade level and how are 21% just flat out illiterate?

All of the above, and probably more!

Try these:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5axSUJj0bBY
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y33T1-IuAqs
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8fBSrhHrE8 (How-to guide)

Hope that helps.

Not for any particular reason, but for a variety of reasons that work together to make it even better. I have listed just a few of them. Feel free to add to the list as you see fit.

• No king of the hill.
• No hidden corporate interests.
• No karma system.
• Rejection of toxicity. The flow of conversation is civil and has a good vibe.
• The Federation functions as an engine of accountability.
• A bunch of people who actively contribute to making this a good place.
• A vocal community that actually determines what content is important.
• The initial difficulty to make sense of it all (call it a “barrier to entry” if you will) acts as a natural deterrent to those who are less engaged.
• Lurkers who sign up quickly feel comfortable posting.
• The ability to sign up for a particular instance and leave if for some reason you find it’s going in a direction you do not agree with. Lemmy’s decentralized nature saves the day.
• The influx of refugees includes experienced people with a lot of knowledge to make this an even better place.
• The prospect of a quick release of reputable third-party apps. Since these developers bring solid knowledge from previous developments, their new Lemmy apps will immediately translate into a smoother user experience.

I am looking forward to great days ahead.

True. The sense of anticipation of a new home in which to settle seems genuine. Also, I agree that a smaller group where users actually read the posts and interact with each other validates the purpose of investing the time to share one’s views with people who are actually interested.

I suspect that one of the reasons Lemmy’s texts are longer, meatier, and more thoughtful is the age of the users. My gut tells me that we’re an older audience that doesn’t need to dump the usual social media BS - hasty comments filled with unsubstantiated arguments. Everyone has an opinion and should be heard and respected. As a Reddit refugee, I feel Lemmy provides such space, and that’s what I enjoy most. Like many others whose profiles match mine, once you get past the initial confusion (where should I register, what app should I use, where can I comment) and get comfortable with the jargon, you feel more encouraged to participate in discussions. So far, I’ve been pleased with the civil environment of the discussions, as most users are able to express their thoughts in a relaxed and non-toxic manner. Honestly, I’d encourage anyone who has been just lurking to participate and share their thoughts.