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Has there ever be a social media plattform that cheered you on for Self-Improvement? DuoLingo comes to mind or some DIY project- like building a piece of furnit

Has there ever be a social media plattform that cheered you on for Self-Improvement? DuoLingo comes to mind or some DIY project- like building a piece of furniture? Just not rewarding flexing, but creating and world improving?

nicce 1mo ago
Duolingo has joined to the addiction club
SweetSoftPillow 1mo ago
Duolingo has nothing to do with self improvement, it's just a shiny presentation for highly addictive game. We should reward quality of engagement, not just length of it.
- ACCount37 1mo ago
  "Quality of engagement" is as hard to measure as "length of engagement" is easy.
- watwut 1mo ago
  People love to hate Duolingo, but I actually learned things on it getting real results. And it showed me that language learning does not have to be massive suck. All in all, it is actually one app that is beneficial or at least harmless.
  - TFNA 1mo ago
    When did you use it? It was a more authentic language-learning tool in the beginning, but was then gradually enshittified in order to maximize engagement on the platform, not actual language mastery. A lot of the most competent language-consultant staff were let go, too. Today on the shadow libraries, you have your pick of a number of self-teaching textbooks for free, allowing you to find an approach that fits your learning style. No need to rely on a dodgy corporate app.
    - watwut 1mo ago
      After it was "gradually enshittified in order to maximize engagement on the platform, not actual language mastery". I used it first time years before, stopped, came back after supposed enshittification, started entirely different language and had actual success with it. > Today on the shadow libraries, you have your pick of a number of self-teaching textbooks for free No, self teaching textbooks are not better for me.
      - eudamoniac 1mo ago
        What is "actual success?" Because I'd find it pretty unbelievable that you got even close to being able to hold a conversation or read a YA novel from Duolingo.
        trueno 1mo ago
        i think anyone who's done even a modicum of research knows that holding a conversation isnt going to come from an app or a library and actually being out there having convos with either a tutor or just all out immersion is required. then reading literature, consuming media in the other language yes your point is made duolingo isnt going to do these things for you. those initial stages of learning another language even the enshittified duolingo can help get a basic framework going. is it the best resource no absolutely not but it certainly can let people get their feet wet and even doing that is an "actual success" especially if it's something they otherwise wouldn't do.
        eudamoniac 1mo ago
        Getting feet wet is not a success though because it doesn't achieve anything. It is the beginning of maybe succeeding at something. The following sentence would be silly: "I used an app to learn programming, by writing hello world, and had actual success with it."
        watwut 1mo ago
        Except that getting feet wet here means "making you capable to progress by reading literature and watch movies". That is more then just writing hello word. That is equivalent of "taught me basic programming, so I was able to write my first javascript game and continue learning by doing own projects". That definitely has large value for someone at 0.
domhudson 1mo ago
Instructables.com used to be very much like this. The community was built around people posting guides for building DIY projects, with some of them being extremely impressive and creative. I just took a look, and it appears to have changed now though. At least, from the logged out perspective.

nicce 1mo ago

Duolingo has joined to the addiction club

SweetSoftPillow 1mo ago

Duolingo has nothing to do with self improvement, it's just a shiny presentation for highly addictive game. We should reward quality of engagement, not just length of it.

ACCount37 1mo ago
"Quality of engagement" is as hard to measure as "length of engagement" is easy.
watwut 1mo ago
People love to hate Duolingo, but I actually learned things on it getting real results. And it showed me that language learning does not have to be massive suck. All in all, it is actually one app that is beneficial or at least harmless.
- TFNA 1mo ago
  When did you use it? It was a more authentic language-learning tool in the beginning, but was then gradually enshittified in order to maximize engagement on the platform, not actual language mastery. A lot of the most competent language-consultant staff were let go, too. Today on the shadow libraries, you have your pick of a number of self-teaching textbooks for free, allowing you to find an approach that fits your learning style. No need to rely on a dodgy corporate app.
  - watwut 1mo ago
    After it was "gradually enshittified in order to maximize engagement on the platform, not actual language mastery". I used it first time years before, stopped, came back after supposed enshittification, started entirely different language and had actual success with it. > Today on the shadow libraries, you have your pick of a number of self-teaching textbooks for free No, self teaching textbooks are not better for me.
    - eudamoniac 1mo ago
      What is "actual success?" Because I'd find it pretty unbelievable that you got even close to being able to hold a conversation or read a YA novel from Duolingo.
      - trueno 1mo ago
        i think anyone who's done even a modicum of research knows that holding a conversation isnt going to come from an app or a library and actually being out there having convos with either a tutor or just all out immersion is required. then reading literature, consuming media in the other language yes your point is made duolingo isnt going to do these things for you. those initial stages of learning another language even the enshittified duolingo can help get a basic framework going. is it the best resource no absolutely not but it certainly can let people get their feet wet and even doing that is an "actual success" especially if it's something they otherwise wouldn't do.
        eudamoniac 1mo ago
        Getting feet wet is not a success though because it doesn't achieve anything. It is the beginning of maybe succeeding at something. The following sentence would be silly: "I used an app to learn programming, by writing hello world, and had actual success with it."
        watwut 1mo ago
        Except that getting feet wet here means "making you capable to progress by reading literature and watch movies". That is more then just writing hello word. That is equivalent of "taught me basic programming, so I was able to write my first javascript game and continue learning by doing own projects". That definitely has large value for someone at 0.

domhudson 1mo ago

Instructables.com used to be very much like this. The community was built around people posting guides for building DIY projects, with some of them being extremely impressive and creative. I just took a look, and it appears to have changed now though. At least, from the logged out perspective.