The “follow” metaphor really does come with a lot of centralized social media implications. It suggests a platform is mediating the relationship rather than you just choosing to receive someone’s signed messages through relays.
Ryan
I wish Nostr used "subscribe" rather than "follow". I prefer the implication more, I'm subscribing to a feed, not following someone.
View quoted note →
Replies (7)
Whilst that’s true, I think it’s what most people are familiar with so it probably helps with traction and onboarding new folks.
True. “Subscribe” just seems more definitionally accurate because it simply means you’re opting into their content stream. It carries less ideological weight. You can subscribe to someone’s thoughts without necessarily believing in or adopting their worldview. It’s a more honest description of the actual relationship. I want to receive what you’re broadcasting, but that doesn’t mean I’m a follower in any deeper sense.
Well said!
Thanks GJM
Love that description! I guess the next thing would be to test it out and have a client that uses subscribe as opposed to follow and gauge market sentiment around it
I think the word Follow works.. It's a choice of the individual to decide. So it could be seen as very individualistic...
The term follower is creepy and hierarchical. I want to read your content, I don’t want to “follow” you. Jesus saved the world from sin and eternal damnation and earned his followers. You posted a funny cat video and gained a new reader.
