When I started my "mastodon-experiment" I always heard "there's hardly anyone there", "noone knows it" ...
Almost 2 years later I'm spending a considerable amount of time here with you and I enjoy it WAYS MORE than on any other platform before.
Thanks all of you for being here. And welcome to all the new people around!
@hikingdude @riaschissl 
Agreed.
@hikingdude mastodon has easily become my favorite app.
@xRogueShadow 
Welcome, you're not alone
@hikingdude wholeheartedly agree. Really enjoying this space.
@hikingdude
Agreed ... it's been my new safe space the past few weeks!
@ErinMC2
Great to hear that. Welcome!
Help a dude out.... I'm new here and struggling to find content. Tips?
@RadicalJoy Use and follow hashtags! For more tips, try @FediTips
@aprilfollies @FediTips excellent! Following, thanks!
@RadicalJoy
Hi there! I would suggest beginning with: https://fedi.tips/
Some of it will have already learned by choosing a server (an 'instance') but there is some good advice on there.
Next, try a few groups: https://a.gup.pe/
Next is Fedidevs starter packs: https://fedidevs.com/starter-packs/
All of these will help you find people to follow. Join in with conversations about topics that interest you. Add plenty of content to your timeline, and pin an introduction. Follow a few hashtags.
HTH! 
@hikingdude Hi! 6.5 years on here myself. :-)
@zbender
Woah! Okay now I look up since when mastodon exists. It sounds like you were really early
@hikingdude If was very quiet around here for a while.
@mastodonmigration 
Thanks mate
@hikingdude Well, this made me smile. So thanks for that.
@andhow
You're very welcome 
@hikingdude The difference here is users want to be and are engaged. On the other platforms there are many abandoned accounts and so many passive users. Users soon become numb to algorithms and advertising they simply have no interest in.
@edintone
Right! I wrote about that here when I noticed that the other platforms are called social, but maybe they are just entertainment. - which is fine - just misleading
https://www.locked.de/social-media-platforms-vs-entertainment-platforms/
@hikingdude I like when a social media’s are just a quiet neighborhood.
@hikingdude Indeed. I myself enjoy Mastodon immensely more than I did Xitter (deleted) or any Meta based service (also deleted). I'm also on the way to deleting my Reddit in favor of Lemmy, already ditched TikTok when the pustule encroached. The fediverse is loads more enjoyable, less drama, more things I like.
@hikingdude It’s pretty cool!
@hikingdude
I concur, best platform by far.
@kevinrns