What was the bug and workaround? :)

Matrix org isn’t obligated to run a public instance at all - they could stick to developing the spec, and let other people run instances.

And honestly maybe they should, because then we wouldn’t have this huge consolidation problem on matrix.org in the first place.

Promoting that the nunber exists as a actual thing people should use is good, yeah. :)

The actual number isn’t so important, though. If ever needed to call the non-emergency number I’d search it up, which fortunately I can do given I’ve got loads of time because it’s not an emergency.

For sure.

If they’ve got a problem with non-emergency callers dialing 911, surely it would be best to try and reduce that problem through other means (such as fining persistent inappropriate use of 911)

I don’t want to talk to a robot when I’m on the floor dying.

I heard this in the Worms voice.

I loved that app and I still miss it (and reddit) in some ways, but the API Apocalypse was when I decided I had to take a moral stand and quit. No way was I going to be railroaded into the first-party app full of ads and nonsense.

I haven’t looked back since.

I agree with you, it’s insidious.

Given you’ve got a Pixel phone, you can save at least yourself from this problem by running Graphene or Calyx on it.

For me it’s the privacy angle that matters.

All these restaurant apps being pushed like “it’s cheaper on the app!” and “you can get a free side on the app!”

And I’m almost tempted to install it, but then I remember by doing so I’m giving the company a wealth of data to slurp on me, letting them bombard me with notifications, and giving their logo a shining advertisement spot in my app drawer so every time I’m hungry I see it, and want it.

When I think about the higher non-app price in those terms, as a “privacy tax” to keep my data and my dignity, then I’m happy to pay it.

I haven’t! I may give it a shot :)

You should definitely go back, it’s so fun to learn about the inscrutable manual pages.

Rather than feeling like I was four, my experience was more like as if I was a kid in the 90s and my Dad was a businessman who brought home Zelda from Japan but it was all in Japanese and I didn’t know Japanese lol.

One thing to note about Tunic is that it has really good accessibility options. You can go in and give yourself extra hearts, or you can even turn on invincibility if you are really struggling and need to.get past a tough part sonyou can continue with the.story :)

I have a soft spot for Myst too, so I totally understand this. I own the “big box” PC versions of all the Myst games up until V (Revelations) which are the only big box games I still kept. It was magical to me at the time, Riven especially which I used to play together with my mother so there’s fond memories there.

What a twist :) I like it when games subvert your expectations

Yay <3

It’s great that you can trace your love of music back to that specific game. Go ahead and share! I’m not really a musical person myself and only just started learning piano as my first ever instrument. That’s one childhood regret I’m working on fixing :)

I think as adults we’re still looking for a game that recaptures that childhood wonder.

One game that comes very close is Tunic, which is a zeldalike with a lot of spirit. I won’t spoil it for you or anyone else who may not have played, but it’s brilliant and I highly recommend it.

Best enjoyed on a lazy Saturday morning snuggled in a blanket pretending you’re nine years old again.

I love how you didn’t mean to read the whole book but totally got captured haha. Definitely a formative experience :)

I’d never heard of that game or the associated editor, but it seems fascinating.

I just had a poke around on the site, and it gives me some very good and happy vibes of how websites used to be, and the cosy communities that they hosted where all the regulars knew each other by name. Or by handle rather, since nobody ever uses their real name on the Internet, right? ;) Good times.

Influential how? :)

Competence through necessity! :)

I remember making custom maps for the Star Trek: Armada RTS with the in-game editor, and I tried my hand at making some Half Life maps, too. For me that didn’t turn into any big community like your experience did, but it definitely helped me to believe I could be a creator of things, and looking back that was probably important :)