ELIZA would never do that!
https://zirk.us/@grammargirl/114452679724436040

@actinic ah that helps a lot, thanks!

For my immediate use case I think we will try signal first. (Simpler!) Then graduate to something like Matrix if/when the group chat gets too busy and we actually need “channels” for smaller group conversations.

@abeorch maybe this is helpful? @homegrown has a great page that mentions @snikket_im which looks cool for this use case!

https://growyourown.services/grow-your-own-messaging-services/

If you try it, let me know how it goes!

@iry @homegrown Thanks! I am leaning that direction. :)

@czottmann @Anomnomnomaly @TheBreadmonkey ooooooo thank you for the recommendation and pointers! I currently use AdGuard DNS for the whole home (router) and it’s massively helpful (we don’t see ads) but of course it’s not customizable and I have no insights into how much garbage er trackers etc are being blocked. My sense is AdGuard DNS is somewhat conservative because they don’t want to break any functionality accidentally (except ads).

Anyway I have looked at next DNS in the past but questioned if it could work for me.

How do you assign per device rules? Like how does it know which device it’s feeding query responses to?

If you have a referral code or something I’d love to use it so you get credit for talking me into it. :)

@actinic @homegrown Thank you. If you don't mind one more question… I *think* the feature set of Matrix and Signal are similar (both secure, chat, sync across devices, can do audio/video calls, etc.). If I were choosing between the two… is the main benefit of Matrix/Element that it's effectively decentralized? (Like, if I were concerned about relying on Signal's minimally centralized service?)

I'm looking at their websites now and trying to sort out what the pros/cons of each are… or if Signal and Matrix are basically similar (just Signal is more widely adopted so far).

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@Anomnomnomaly @TheBreadmonkey For anyone following this thread… The DuckDuckGo app with app tracking protection is Android only. How could I implement something like that for my entire home network? (I use a Synology WiFi router so it can run software much like a pi-hole.)

I just don’t even know what search terms to use. (Everything I find is on ad blocking specifically but I’d love to be able to see for each device on the network how many times they try to “phone home” to different tracking services.)

@delta @peter thanks! That helps.

I would suggest making that recommendation more clear in the docs. I appreciate the clarification!

@rony thanks!

@peter Thanks for the offer to help, @delta! So after reading your docs for a bit… it wasn’t immediately clear but I think I understand now that you actually use email infrastructure to exchange messages (right?). So if I set this up for my group, first everyone needs to set up a new email address just for use with Delta, right? And the easiest is to use your chat mail server.

I use Fastmail regularly. Would I need a separate Fastmail account (inbox) or just a designated new alias?

@ShaulaEvans @homegrown @signalapp you’re so right.

Also there’s the possibility of getting a stray chat with confidential plans from some newb so maybe

No this joke isn’t working anymore.

Thanks for the idea!

@peter @delta Thanks for the pointer! I had not heard of Delta but now I’m intrigued. :)

@actinic @homegrown Thank you! You think that’s easy enough for non tech people?

I have an account already but it was a few years ago… I don’t remember Matrix set up as too techy or not.

@ShaulaEvans @homegrown @signalapp Thank you! Great question. I think ephemeral is fine. Frankly a group text message thread could work except for the management hassles (occasionally need to add/remove group members as assignments change) and platform issues (some android some iOS users).

I have never used Signal but I understand from the news I should be VERY CAREFUL 😜😜😜

@JMMaok Thank you! I have used discourse a while back but it was forum-only. I see they have added a chat capability since then. I’ll give it a whirl. :)

@rony @homegrown Thanks! Any particular clients you’d recommend for easiest setup for non-tech folks? We have a mix of iOS and android users on mobile, and I’m guessing Mac and Win on desktop.

Hey what chat service would you recommend for use with a small nonprofit group of non-technical volunteers?

Think: alternative to WhatsApp or group texting, but just as easy to set up.

Ideally: free, open source, secure…

MAYBE: Decentralized (but not at the expense of “easy to set up” and maybe also self-hosted (I could do it)

#AskFedi cc @homegrown

I am an unpaid volunteer who runs five websites and five accounts helping people use Mastodon and the wider Fediverse. These cause bills every month which I pay.

If you want to help these sites & accounts keep going, you can buy me a coffee:

➡️ https://ko-fi.com/fedithing

(No registration, choose any amount, all currencies work.)

Alternatively, become a patron:

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All support very greatly appreciated! 🙂

❤️ @FediTips, @FediFollows, @FediVideo, @FediGarden & @homegrown

@lowqualityfacts This seems SUSPICIOUSLY high quality but I will make an exception and still congratulate you heartily! 👏❤️