Detun3d

That’s a huge oversimplification. UX design and a careful selection of settings and features, for instance, have a big role in that regard. It’s not what you prohibit but what you incentivize too.

I’d make backups of my purchases and share them with love for preservation and promotion of their authors hard work. “Piracy” was already shown to increase sales, not reduce them. If you really want to do something against an artist you no longer align with, dont consume their products. Don’t purchase, don’t download and don’t share their stuff. Just look around for other artists you do align with, get hooked to their art and support them instead.

None. I dislike some actors, but so many other people pour part of themselves into these things and influence each other when developing them that it’s impossible for me to not have at least some curiosity.

Mastodon user here since 2017. Sure, Bluesky requires less learning for those who come from other centralized platforms and nobody has to deal with fediblock drama over there. Some may also point to Bluesky’s users being less tech-savvy and less prone to dogpiling on tech companies for their poor decisions, which I don’t believe is completely true. Something I do love about Mastodon though is I don’t need any mods or admins to make decisions for me. I can calmly stay in an instance I trust and filter everything, every single small bit, to fit my own criteria. I get others think this is bad moderation and wish to depend on third parties to answer their reports, clean the servers and “do justice” but I prefer to make those decisions myself and let others make theirs.

Your instincts are probably well placed. Obviously different people will have different preferences and reactions in this regard, but you’re better off getting to know people in a friendly manner than just for the sake of finding a partner. Learning how to strike up conversations with strangers and leave them wanting for more is useful, but that’s about all I’d say your parents are right about.