There's no such thing as a stupid question.
I believed that. I really did.
Then I onboarded my buddy to Nostr.
**Minute 1:** "So what's my username?"
It's npub1 followed by 59 random characters.
"Cool. How do people find me?"
They don't, Kevin.
**Minute 4:** "What's this nsec thing?"
Your private key. Never share it with anyone. Ever.
"Got it. I texted it to you so you'd have a backup."
**Minute 8:** "Okay, so what's the password reset process?"
There isn't one.
"That's not very professional."
**Minute 12:** "Which relay is the main one?"
There isn't one.
"So who's in charge?"
Nobody.
"Who do I report bugs to?"
Reality.
**Minute 15:** "Why did a stranger just send me 21 sats?"
That's a zap. He liked your post.
"My post just says 'test.'"
Yes.
Frankly, it's one of the better posts today.
**Minute 19:** "Why is everyone obsessed with Bitcoin?"
That's actually one of the less weird things you'll see.
**Minute 23:** "Why is every profile picture a frog, a goat, a guy holding a fish, a guy with a rifle, or a guy holding a goat while holding a fish?"
I didn't have an answer for that one.
**Minute 28:** "This guy's bio says he's building the future."
What's he building?
"No idea."
Correct.
**Minute 33:** "Why does everyone know each other?"
They don't.
They just argue with the same 40 people every day.
**Minute 37:** "Why is everyone on here so weird?"
Kevin.
You just spent 37 minutes learning how to use a censorship resistant decentralized social protocol so strangers can send you internet pennies for posting the word "test."
Ask yourself that question again.
Onboarding is difficult. You won't find Kevin here. Not because he couldn't figure it out.Because at some point I quietly decided that was the best possible outcome.
I believed that. I really did.
Then I onboarded my buddy to Nostr.
**Minute 1:** "So what's my username?"
It's npub1 followed by 59 random characters.
"Cool. How do people find me?"
They don't, Kevin.
**Minute 4:** "What's this nsec thing?"
Your private key. Never share it with anyone. Ever.
"Got it. I texted it to you so you'd have a backup."
**Minute 8:** "Okay, so what's the password reset process?"
There isn't one.
"That's not very professional."
**Minute 12:** "Which relay is the main one?"
There isn't one.
"So who's in charge?"
Nobody.
"Who do I report bugs to?"
Reality.
**Minute 15:** "Why did a stranger just send me 21 sats?"
That's a zap. He liked your post.
"My post just says 'test.'"
Yes.
Frankly, it's one of the better posts today.
**Minute 19:** "Why is everyone obsessed with Bitcoin?"
That's actually one of the less weird things you'll see.
**Minute 23:** "Why is every profile picture a frog, a goat, a guy holding a fish, a guy with a rifle, or a guy holding a goat while holding a fish?"
I didn't have an answer for that one.
**Minute 28:** "This guy's bio says he's building the future."
What's he building?
"No idea."
Correct.
**Minute 33:** "Why does everyone know each other?"
They don't.
They just argue with the same 40 people every day.
**Minute 37:** "Why is everyone on here so weird?"
Kevin.
You just spent 37 minutes learning how to use a censorship resistant decentralized social protocol so strangers can send you internet pennies for posting the word "test."
Ask yourself that question again.
Onboarding is difficult. You won't find Kevin here. Not because he couldn't figure it out.Because at some point I quietly decided that was the best possible outcome.