I've got to say - I can't see how this is really going to take off.... It's so confusing.
Let me try to explain a bit...
- Tried making accounts, got one on lemmy.ml and lemmy.world.
- Saw some interesting feeds, but can't load lemmy.ml (502 error - maybe overloaded). However, the 'Fediverse' is linked up - so surely I should be able to find this user and connect to his post without too much hassle?
- Try to visit - he's on vlemmy.net - I can't interact without logging in. My account doesn't work - is it a different account for every instance?
- Compared to ten minutes on Reddit, after 2 days I still haven't found content and/or interaction that I want. I kind of understand how cool federated stuff is, but I cannot get to the product.
- r/firefox r/linux r/angryupvote r/jokes - you know.... stuff!
I follow a link for the user and end up seeing that I am not logged in, but a note says:
'If you use a Fediverse account that is able to follow users, you can follow this user.'
I don't understand this - How? Where? There's no context menu...
I AM LOGGED IN here and now... What gives?
If it's this hard for me, I'm sure that this rules out 99% of internet users from switching over... as I'm sure that more than 75% of Reddit users are dumber than I am.
Oh, and finally now I see another notice:
If you deselect Undetermined, you will not see most content.
WTF does that mean? Where did I select, or have an option to select 'Undetermined'?
For me it was the sign up process and the questions (I am much more lurker inclined) and the "We're overloaded, please look elsewhere." type messages and I admit, my first post was in the low stakes cats community to minimize discomfort.
I suppose I was trying to show support that yes, there are others of us here that are still learning (I deleted my post accidentally and was delighted to find out that clicking the trash can again brought it back!) as well as to pick up knowledge as a new user also.