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  • Markmark@waterford.international
    Nov 18, 2022, 2:58 PM

    Why did I start waterford.international?

    First off, I like the idea of community building. My idiosyncratic idea of a community is some kind of intersection between place and worldview. "Place" on its own is too parochial and inward looking. "Wordview" on its own is too dislocated from physical and cultural reality. So I wanted an instance for people who sit at this tense intersection.

    What is the worldview? The clue is in the name of the server. It's outward looking, open and curious.

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Replies

  • Markmark@waterford.international
    Nov 18, 2022, 3:10 PM

    Why Waterford city?

    Well, I'm from Waterford, and having travelled and lived in various other places, I've always drifted back. All the more so because Waterford has grown and evolved at the same time.

    Today, it's a city of 60,000 people, 50% bigger than when I was small, and, yes, far more international. I'd like to hear as much from new Waterfordians: the ex-pats from other countries, the workers from elsewhere in Ireland, the #ukrainians, the students as from those of us who were born here.

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  • Markmark@waterford.international
    Nov 18, 2022, 3:25 PM

    The traditional local (and national) media have a blind spot for the 15,000 people (25% of the population) who have come to Waterford over the past 20 years. Many of them have started businesses, have repopulated our old and familiar city streets. We meet them and their kids at our school gates. But you don't hear them on WLR or read about them in the papers. They don't have our sometimes jaded and long settled opinions. They are building lives and having fun. Their fresh ideas are much needed.

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  • Markmark@waterford.international
    Nov 18, 2022, 3:38 PM

    I also want to talk about visitors and people who have moved away. I lived away for a long time but always felt a connection to Waterford beyond just family connections. I love the idea that Waterford ex-pats might find a home here, sharing their experiences with us, and dipping into the city as it exists in our minds. If someone decides to adopt the city all the better! You're welcome.

    I once met a man in a UK town watching a hurling match shouting for Waterford. He once had a Waterford gf!

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  • Markmark@waterford.international
    Nov 18, 2022, 3:50 PM

    Addendum:
    Although this server (like many others) is partially an unintended consequence of Elon Musk's foolishness, I am not simply trying to "grab" a share of the twitter "refugees" stampeding in this direction. (Irish twitter is happily decamping to @mastodon.ie and good luck to them.) I'd be delighted to see a few come here, but mainly I see this as a community building exercise.

    I'm going to try some guerilla marketing in the physical domain and more targeted online approaches. :)

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