fireweed

The mod issue is a combination of things. There definitely are power mods and power-tripping mods here (see: yepowertrippinbastards@lemmy.dbzer0.com), although I'd believe the theory that many mods here intentionally try to have a light touch. I think the bigger issue is inactive/awol mods, and insufficient mods (many? most? smaller communities only have one mod: the person who created the community, who may/may not still be around). Also there are mods who welcome most any activity in their community, because otherwise they'd be dead.

I've complained about this in "mildly infuriating" before, numerous times, and based on response it seems that a critical mass of folks agree with me. However as long as the mods are inactive and don't remove irrelevant posts, the problem isn't going to get resolved. (I try to downvote the really bad offenders, but since most people browse all or subscriptions rather than in the community itself, they're probably not comparing the content against the community all that closely, so the upvotes for content always outweigh the downvotes for context).

I don't think things are bad enough for niche communities to make the switch. For instance, I check out the Critical Role Reddit subreddit semi-frequently, and it seems quite healthy, rather like how Reddit used to feel. By comparison, Lemmy does have a CR community and it gets posts from some dedicated users, but the comment section is always quiet (which is unfortunate, because interacting with other fans in the comments is kinda the whole point).

It really takes an organized move, where the subreddit community as a whole decides to switch over. The numbers just aren't here for most niche interests to survive organically.

Not to be a cynic, but I'm not sure how relevant data from two years ago (survey conducted spring 2024) actually is, given the fast-placed nature of AI development/adoption.

Going from free-roaming to leashed is going to be a challenge for you and your cat. Additional reinforcement (treats?) may be warranted. I wish you both the best!

Why is the meme colorblind?

Meanwhile I've never heard of speed bumps being implemented on a street wider than two lanes, so it sounds like your state's DOT has some policy updating to do.

By "lane narrowing" I meant reducing the width of the lane (e.g. from 12' to 11' or even 10'). Road diets (going from 4 lanes to 2 or 3) are a separate issue, although they can have traffic calming effects.

Obligatory "fuck Vance," but his comment was made in the context of other commencement speakers' getting boo'd for their AI comments, and in that sense it actually was an amusing joke (given Vance's proclivity for gaffes, I suspect credit goes to his speech writer).

Speed bumps are lazy traffic calming. They do have specific uses, but too many engineers have applied them in a "when all you have is a hammer..." manner, even when the street would have been better served with lane narrowing, chicanes, or even the addition of trees.

Addendum: after years of use, I have been very satisfied with the security of this harness: https://www.kittyholster.com/About-Us.html

The only downside is that because it's basically a vest, it makes cats more prone to overheating on hot days (but on the flip side, it probably helps keep them warmer on cold days). Also you may need to occasionally clean accumulated fur out of the Velcro, but that's easy enough to do.

Again, if very determined, cats will slip out of any harness, so acclimation to the harness is key.

From experience, I can say that if your cat is really determined to slip out, he absolutely will (cats are liquid, after all), so it's more about risk management: ensuring that the harness fits well, that he's used to it and feels comfortable in it, that the harness has positive associations for him ("harness = I get to go fun places! no harness = I'm stuck inside"), and that he's properly supervised while wearing it. The last one is especially important, because it includes doing your best so that your cat won't have reason to want to slip out. Once used to the harness, the main reason a cat will try to slip out is sudden fear that prompts their flight impulse, so you have to be aware of your surroundings and proactive at either removing him from fear-inducing situations before they arise (this means monitoring both your cat's vibes and the environment around you), or being ready to pick him up and put him somewhere secure or hold him tightly in the case of something sudden and unexpected (like a loud truck passing by). Not all cats have the temperament for going much farther than the backyard or around the block, and so knowing your cat's limits is also important.

As far as double-harnessing, I'd be worried that it would make the experience uncomfortable for him (and thus make him more prone to wanting to slip out). Generally if you can pick your cat up by the back of his harness and he doesn't fall out, it's probably as secure as you're going to get. I haven't used your brand of harness before, but it looks more secure than the strappy kind.

tl;dr: to prevent break-outs, as long as the harness is properly-fitted, the most important thing is to ensure your cat is comfortable and very used to the harness.