"Exploring the Full Potential of Public Conversation (p-Conv)
Bluesky's foundational concept of "Public Conversation" (hereafter p-Conv) deserves deeper exploration.
Currently, it seems that Jay envisions p-Conv as a state characterized by the following:
- Any post receiving reactions, such as Likes or replies.
However, this definition is inherently "weak." This isn’t a matter of validity but rather of intensity—it lacks the robustness required for meaningful engagement.
To establish a clearer and stronger definition of p-Conv, several criteria should be considered:
1. Does the post serve a specific purpose or fulfill a concrete need?
2. Does it foster bidirectionality (responsiveness), or is the interaction inherently asymmetrical?
In the realm of social platforms, publicly shared text—whether it’s a monologue or promotional content—can be categorized as "Public Writing." Reading such content remains a passive act, akin to "Reading." Reactions to these posts, while forms of engagement, often fail to create a genuinely reciprocal connection.
Drawing an analogy from physical conversations, true dialogue inherently features bidirectionality. It requires "hooks"—turn-taking mechanisms that demand responses. Furthermore, genuine conversations are almost always anchored by some form of purpose or agenda.
By contrast, the current iteration of p-Conv remains a diluted form of conversation. While this "weaker network" model might suffice for increasing overall post volume and keeping feeds active, achieving a more vibrant and dynamic ecosystem—akin to what we might call the "Udon Computer Legend" (a state where even niche, long-tail content reliably reaches its intended audience)—requires a "stronger p-Conv" defined by these conditions:
- Specificity of purpose, bidirectional interaction (with enhanced responsiveness), and proactive engagement.
Achieving this vision is less about fostering reply threads swarming with reactions to celebrity posts and more about empowering everyday users to initiate purposeful exchanges, especially through directed posts (mentions).
Here’s an example to illustrate:
<blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:aajyn6qzw67cnmwf7zxzbjdy/app.bsky.feed.post/3lceaolos322i" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreicimlb7t4lzut5hpcjehsduq6gm33mmjbb3q7jlfqcjq666urp3ue"><p lang="ja">Yo. ブルスコしてるかい？
@bisn.ucho-ten.net</p>— Nighthaven⛺︎ (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:aajyn6qzw67cnmwf7zxzbjdy?ref_src=embed">@moja.blue</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:aajyn6qzw67cnmwf7zxzbjdy/post/3lceaolos322i?ref_src=embed">December 3, 2024 at 8:10 AM</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
**Nighthaven**
Yo. You vibin’ with Bluesky these days?
@bisn.ucho-ten.net
By introducing this perspective, it will become increasingly clear that the essence of social media is akin to “theater.” I would like to revisit this point for further consideration at another time.
Happy Advent! "