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@ elidy
2023-06-05 10:15:35Nostr is in an early phase of adoption. It is imperfect, yet open. Its innovation feels lightning fast as dedicated development hubs build in a permissionless fashion. Builders are in frequent communication with each other and the wider community.
Notes abound celebrating features and asking for new ones. People report on bugs, discuss possible solutions, prioritize building time. N00bs join with a number of questions on how nostr works; the community does not hesitate to answer. Nostr is a community of creative minds building a myriad of products with heart, passion, and focus.
What encourages technology adoption?
Some may argue nostr adoption depends on ease of use, convenience and a flawless user experience. Although all of those are characteristics to strive for, adoption depends on multiple factors. When technology is innovating and testing new ground, it has imperfections. It's as if it was figuring out its shape from a changing blob of creative code as it responds to interaction. What shape it will take depends on trial and error in everyday use, feedback, and bridging development with design. Nostr has many opportunities to craft unique nostr experiences.
As we try to imagine how nostr adoption may expand across the globe, we may think of places or groups of people in need of this technology.
The word need is often spoken about when it comes to bitcoin too, because when you are having issues with your current system, be it financial or social, you may be more open to outside-of-the-ordinary solutions. Adoption goes deeper than a need. It is about long-term vision, learning, and adaptability. It is not only a case of having a need, but of seeing the need for nostr. It is about recognizing the value others may miss...
Vision is often underrated
Imagine someone is looking for a house. They have two choices in the same area, at similar price points (accounting for possible repairs). Many people cannot look past simple cosmetic fixes. They often select the house that, to their eyes, looks the best and is turn-key. It seems like an easy choice, but do they take into account the long-term implications on their way of life? Or are they enchanted solely on surface level qualities?
They may ignore the tradeoffs of having this particular turn-key property: A boxy, dark, cookie cutter house, built with shiny but low quality materials, lacking in flow or proportion between its spaces.
Many may fail to see the value in the other house which is not quite perfect nor ready in a cosmetic superficial sense, but that has good bones. They may not understand the importance of the strength of its foundation, the benefits of its homey feel with a natural flow between the rooms. The atmosphere of a home is often a secondary thought, ignoring the significance of how the home fits within its landscape and how its windows fit the spaces to let the light pour in on the rooms where it is needed at different times of the day and seasons according to the house's orientation. Its thoughtful carefully crafted details, nooks and crannies are often seen as quirky, weird and undesirable.
The home seekers may fail to see how that other house welcomes living. They may not see the need.
If you were to select the other house, chances are you did not only see the value in its foundational structure, but you envisioned what it could become with care, effort, and time.
Waves of nostriches
On the first NDKtime nostrnests, JeffG mentioned he hoped to welcome more builders to nostr, because, at this stage of adoption, they would understand the existence of bugs and be able to look past them. A larger community of builders would translate into stronger products, and that would help improve the experience for the next wave of nostriches. How do you think more builders could be welcomed?
Seeing the need for nostr.
For some, choosing nostr at this early stage is simple and clear, like recognizing the value in the other house. It often means understanding the contrasts between platforms and protocols, but also of the unique makeup that makes nostr special, which extends beyond its code, into its community.
Beyond knowledge, however, is the experience of nostr, which is not the same for everyone. Many of us have found a sense of home in its real-time open nature. Other people may need support in understanding nostr through community bonds and improvements on development and experience design.
Some people show hesitation when hearing that nostr has a strong community of bitcoiners. To be a bitcoiner often means to have gone through multiple rabbit holes of learning, not only about bitcoin, but about money, financial systems, and global issues. When we look at nostr, we can often see its strength and potential. Recognizing the importance of its foundational principles is easy. Nostr and bitcoin are co-existing and intertwining both through lightning payments and culture, neither would be the same without the other.
To other people, unaware of both bitcoin and nostr, its technology may be strange, not as simple as understanding the metaphor of a house. Words like decentralization, resilience, censorship resistance, permissionless innovation, keys, network effects, and FOSS may not be relatable.
However, we may be surprised to discover how nostr's simplicity tied to its openness and community are relatable. It is in our nature to understand the empowering feeling of having choice and control over our identities. A weight is lifted off our shoulders by removing the strings from third parties. We feel supported when valuable content is discovered, shared, commented upon, and zapped. We feel comfortable when we discover our niche. We are energized when our thoughts are challenged and our vision expanded. Nostr frees our creativity in multiple ways.
Nostr, at this early stage of adoption, is as if we had just moved into a new home, the other home, before the furniture arrives. A little awkward at times, but filled with hope and possibility...