There‘re many feature requests for the new platforms that we users are making. To do some inspired by Twitter/FB. To not to do some inspired by them. I have one plea to the decision makers, like @manton - do not to listen to us if it doesn’t fit your vision. We may be wrong.

@amit @manton Amen to this.

@amit Thank you. We're lucky that there are a lot of good ideas from the community. We'll keep listening and try to be thoughtful about what to do next.

@manton Absolutely. I think the active community is the biggest asset of micro.blog. And am confident it will remain so irrespective of the inflow of new users from Twitter fallout.

@patrickrhone 🙏🏽

@manton It occurs to me that many people will tend to reply only to people they already know. So there could be a tendency for cliques to form, and people outside those cliques will feel left out and may stop posting without some form of validation. What do you think?

@rnv I’m still interacting with total strangers. Thing is, not many of those people are interacting with me in return, which is what sparked this question. Regarding cliques, I can foresee people forming groups and eventually losing interest in replying to new folks after a while. And as for validation, it’s a reality on other social networks. If people don’t feel like they are getting some kind of response to what they’re writing, sooner or later many will give up and all who will be left are the ones who are talking to each other.

@FrankRamblings I think you make some good points.

@grayareas Thanks. I really like what the micro.blog team is building here, and I want to see it succeed.

@FrankRamblings Agreed. I feel very much in the middle on this argument, unsure what changes might improve things in little ways without dragging in negative consequences. I like that the braintrust here is being patient and thoughtful. My experience here has been great so far.

@FrankRamblings I wrote about this same issue a couple of days ago. I share some of your feelings, and still do believe that there should be something along these lines, but I'm also trying to stay open minded about a new way of doing things.

@FrankRamblings I appreciate what you're saying here (I too came on here and knew nobody), but I guess I was lucky early on in that I found myself in a whirl of fountain-pen related conversations (which we seem to be a bit lacking in these days, though I confess I haven't looked up the emoji-topic for a while!) and got to know a few people that way. There are lots of people on here that I follow, and enjoy reading, but who wind up discussing things I don't understand, or am not interested in. If I don't have anything to offer on a conversation, I'll "listen" and maybe hop over to read their blog post, but I figure I'll catch them on another conversation at a later time... Also, I've noticed there's a heckuva-lot of tech conversation on here, and I wonder if because there is so much on that topic, that much of it gets lost in people's timelines. Smaller subjects (like fountain pens) have a smaller number of interested parties and so might garner more interaction...? (Not sure...)

@sharding we are VERY much on the same page here. Nice post. 😎

@rnv I really appreciate your thoughtful perspective on this! Thanks for a good discussion. I look forward to more going forward. 🤠

@herself Excellent point about tech conversation. And your experience with fountain pens is really interesting. Makes me wonder if micro.blog is better suited in the long run for following conversations rather than people?

@herself I feel like I saw a lot 😉 of those pen-and-ink conversations last (Northern) winter; in part I’m sure they were more ubiquitous because Micro.blog was smaller, but also people like @Aleen and @kitt were in the middle of lots of them, and they seem busier (fewer posts in general) now, which might be another reason those conversations seem less frequent.

@amit Hear hear! I agree.

@herself I’m interested to know how you look up the emoji topic. I thought only the official emojis had links...

@FrankRamblings I agree with your assessment. Having been part of an active blogging community back in the day, I'm more than aware of cliques and inadvertent barriers of entry to those cliques. This will eventually happen on Micro.Blog too.

@pratik Thanks! I just don't see how that doesnt happen here. And I don't mean that as an indictment of micro.blog at all. I think it may just be human nature.

@FrankRamblings Yes. It’s the natural order of things. The system must allow for a minimal level of signaling. I’m not sure what that is right now.

@smokey @herself Moving really took it out of me! Still scrambling to really get on my feet.

@Aleen I can imagine—and didn’t I remember you saying you both got sick right after arriving in Seattle, too? Hoping you’re feeling settled before the end-of-the-year craziness starts!

@smokey Yeah, it was pretty rough--Justin barely moved for three weeks. I was trying to unpack and take care of him when I was felled. And then WWDC on the tail end of it 😂

Which is why the apartment still isn't 100% done--had to abandon unpacking to prioritize work. It's not company-ready, but we can at least get things done now!

@Aleen Hooray for progress! :-)

After reading a post by @herself (how can I point to the exact one?) I have to agree there's a lot of tech talk here. So to even things out, who is up for chatting about planner choices for 2019 (bonus points for Hobo/TN/Jibun chat) or Terrace House??

@belle I just purchased a moleskine A4 weekly planner for 2018/19 from moleskine shop in Termini train station in Rome! For 2018, I have CEO of my own life planner - Daily | Dated by *EILA ICONIC

@sumudu I haven't heard of the CEO of my own planner, but I love how fat it is! Midori has an MD daily planner that's also really chunky like that. So fun. What made you switch for 2019?

@belle Haha! exactly the reason that it's being rather too fat! Not very conventient to carry around. The switch mainly due to moleskine weekly planner is flat and thin and easy to lug around.

@matpacker Oooh I've never gotten around to trying those because the paper quality seems inconsistent, esp. for fountain pens. I love the idea, though. Also, they seem way too easy to pile up!

@matpacker No, never have used Field Notes.

@matpacker Ha! Yeah, they seem really great for a robust, quick notes option.

@belle I don't do all-in-one planners, so I use a Leuchturm 1917 bullet journal and a Field Notes 56-week Planner. The combination works for me, with daily and long-range stuff in the BuJo and even more immeidate things, just scribbles to myself really, in the planner. Oh, and Fantastical.

@belle I didn't even consider my Field Notes in my previous reply, because I don't see them as planning. Like @matpacker they are for capturing ideas anywhere. Fisher Space Pen and Field permanently about my person.

@belle I’ve been using a combination of the weekly Hobo and the original sized Hobo this year. I’m thinking for next year I’ll go with the Cousin size.
Only problem is that all the cute covers are in the original size.
I was also considering using one of my many Midori TN with a Tomoe River grid insert. What are you using? Have you seen the 2019 Hobonochi cover lineup?

@belle I’m just starting to think about next year’s planner, so this chat comes at the right time! I will probably stick with my TN with a Tomoe River dot-grid insert for bullet journaling and a TN monthly insert for calendar events. This has worked well this year.

@alice Yeah, a pocket size seems small for that! Are you duplicating everything from digital to paper and back again?

@cygnoir That sounds good! Regular size TN? I'm considering going all-in on TN next year, but I find I use my planner more if it lays flat, which the TN won't, so I'm conflicted!

@vishae Yeah, I've never bought Hobo covers actually. It's always book only for me. I have a Roterfaden in A6 and in A5, and use those for any std. international size planners (like the Hobos).

@vishae I'm conflicted between the reg. Midori TN, which is my favourite size and shape, but won't lie flat, and either a Hobo Weeks or a mini Jibun. I have the Jibun and TN this year but would be nice to have everything in a single book.

@jeremycherfas Ah, interesting. I've always found I'm less likely to keep up when I use multiple, but I know some people really prefer different planners/journals for different contexts.

@FrankRamblings I certainly would like the ability to save a conversation for a later follow-up... but I guess that's what favouriting is for. I just need to do it more often! (And then of course go back and review my favourites more frequently too!)

@smokey Hehe, for a while it was non-stop pens around here! Not so good for my wallet though.

@vishae I think we were using the pen, which, according to Burk's Tagmoji™️ has a few emoji you can use… 🖋✒️⌨️📝

@belle Yeah! I'm there! I'm still bullet journaling myself, but recently also splurged (very late on the wagon) on a blue Traveler's Notebook that I'm using for my writing notebook and a commonplace book too. Would love to see some photos of your setup!

@belle One year I cropped the Jibun Ideas book to fit in my MTN - I never tried the full Jibun system.
I have to say, while using the Hobo Weeks this year, I find myself doodling and scribbling less than when I had the MTN. I think it’s the structured (and smaller) weekly pages that is stopping me.
I’m hoping the Cousin size would fix this issue.

@herself @belle The blue MTN is so pretty, but I find the leather to be a much waxier texture than any of their other colours.
I really liked how the brown felt when you first open it, it was nearly like suede. Of course, after using it for a couple of years, it turns all shiny, which is a shame.

@herself Ooh yay for a TN! They're so nice. It's been ages since I've done photos of my setup, actually. I really should do some more. Will you stick with a bullet journal for 2019?

@vishae I've sometimes carried my Jibun mini inside my TN, but it makes it really chunky and a bit awkward since it's shorter than normal TN inserts.

Interesting about the Weeks! When I had one last year I liked using the blank pages for random scribblings and notes, but I did find the pages a bit small. The TN is a great size for writing but also carrying letters/forms/etc. as they're often A4 papers folded in three when they come in the mail.

@herself @belle Sadly, my Traveler's Notebook sits in a drawer most of the time. I can never adjust to the narrow pages. I get like 4 words per line. Maybe if they would lay flat it would be better. One thing I still use it for is for notes when traveling, which seems appropriate :).

@jack @herself It does! I wish I travelled more so I could use it that way. I love the size and shape, and the aesthetic of it, but really struggle with it not lying flat. Can definitely see how the narrow pages could be an issue, though.

@matpacker I love Patrick's stuff! I recently even bought a Chronodex stamp but haven't made work of putting it to use yet. That new package he's got looks very nice. The A5 size should fit nicely in a Roterfaden, hmmmm :)

@matpacker He does amazing stuff! I'm jealous of people who can make the TN work for all their needs.

@jack @matpacker I’ve looked at getting a Chronodex stamp for ages, but never really got around to getting it made. And now it seems he’ll have a Chronodex notebook out using MD paper. That’ll be very tempting, for sure.

@alice Actually I've noticed that in the past, too. I used to get Tomoe River inserts from Etsy and they definitely helped it lie flat. Hard to find pre-dated planner inserts I like there, though.

@belle Regular size TN, yes. I use binder clips to keep it flat while I am writing in it, but that might be a bit clunky for you. Hobonichi Techo, then? I keep eyeing one ...

@cygnoir I also use binder clips, but I'm not the kind to set aside time to sit down and write in it. I'm all about leaving it lying out and quickly flipping to a page and writing something. TN seems to work better for thoughtful writing time, maybe.

@cygnoir Heavily considering a Hobo for next year! I love my Jibun mini but thinking maybe the Hobo Weeks so I can get all the built-in blank pages.

@vishae @belle I am a big fan of the cover-on-covers over a plain color. All of the forest-style c-on-c are gorgeous this year, but I don’t understand why all of the cousin c-on-c colors covers are so bright when it doesn’t go well at all with the tree theme. The black and navy are okay, just not interesting to use. I mean it’s a bit moot in that I’m planning on a 5-year and, I think, regular size with the matcha color + c-on-c but it makes me sad for others. I might order just the c-on-c for the cousin though because I love the designs so much and might use it in the future.

@vishae @belle interesting! I don’t mind the waxiness of the blue too much, but can imagine after the soft brown it could feel quite different. I do love how they change after heavy use 💗

@belle I think so, if only because I’m only about a fifth of the way through my notebook and it seems to be working. There are some very good looking hibonachi setups out there though—maybe 2020?

@jack I still do find the narrow pages strange as well, though it’s perfect for jotting things down (I’m doing more of a commonplace book with it). I don’t think I would like it much for journaling, though something like the TN but with a midori MD A5 inside could work quite nicely...

@matpacker @belle @jack oh yes! He is amazing! Do you use the chronodex? I have tried to understand it several times but never got around to trying it out...

@vishae I just saw some photos of those (chronodex on MD paper) on instagram. Lovely indeed!!

@herself I’ve never had it stick for longer than a month or two. I sure love the idea though.

@amit failin’ fallout ... there’s a meme there somewhere

@FrankRamblings hello person I don’t know ... but know of through micro blog ... good point hashtag ‘breaking the clique’

@ft Haha! Just saw this.

@amit As someone very new to all of this... I second your motion. What exists now is what I need and needed. I appreciate the thought being put into this platform.

@JohnPhilpin Lol! :D

@paulcraig901 Thank you. It is important to think as you grow rather than grow and then stangate because you didn't think enough :-)

@sproutlight I always love the designs did the original covers, but never like the Cousin covers. That’s why if I do end up with a Hobonichi next year, I’ll go with plain coloured cover with a patterned cover on cover //@belle

@JohnPhilpin Thanks! I’m starting to soften on that opinion but I still think there’s something to it.

@FrankRamblings of course there is .... 'We are all strangers .... Until we aren't.'