Sri's Virtual Studio and Coworking Space

DS|CAFE is an open studio where I live-blog my daily work (graphic design, programming) while providing personal commentary. I like being around other curious and aspirational people, so the server is also structured as a coworking and shared studio space where sharing experiences and stories hopefully lead to friendship.

Who might like DS|CAFE?

I think DS|CAFE appeals to people who can relate to one or more of the following:

• You like aspirational people. This is very much a member-driven server, where the server is more fun as people chat about their day. We like to support each other!

• You like seeing others DO stuff. Beyond aspiration, this is a place for doing the work, so we provide areas for sharing todo lists and project progress. We also have low-stakes events where people can opt-into a short challenge, and occasionally “body-double” in the video chat rooms. Webcams and mics are optional.

• You are interested in productivity / personal development. You may know me from my productivity tools, and there are many others here sharing their own approaches! It’s more fun that way!

DS|CAFE is also friendly toward LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent-identifying folks, as I fall into those categories myself! Collectively, DS|CAFE regulars tend to resonate with the following:

• You crave meaningful communciation with peers. Our conversations are thoughtful and curious. We provide areas to nerd-out about your deep interests.

• You value authentic friendships. The server culture is modeled on the idea that authenticity, transparency, and curiosity are the foundation of friendship, and that psychological safety is established through consistent expression of those values.

• You like positive-minded, self-empowered, conscientious, curious, generous, and kind people! And you aspire to be the same way yourself.

These values are important to everyone, not just LGQTQ+ and neurodivergent communities. A big part of DS|CAFE is figuring the practical aspects of making this work for everyone despite our different backgrounds and cognitive architectures.

How do I participate in a server like this?

If you’re new to this kind of server, here’s some easy ways to start!

• Add an emoji reaction to people’s posts!
• Ask questions about other people’s posts!
• Share positive reactions to something someone has reported they did!
• Post links to stuff you like in our link-sharing channel!
• Share pictures of stuff you made!

Avoid these toxic patterns!

• Don’t assume the worst! State your assumptions to build understanding.
• Don’t hide behind ambiguity! This is the opposite of authenticity, which is an important catalyst for trust.
• Don’t “other” groups of people that you disagree with. Talk about the issues instead.

Another way to get oriented is to learn through lurking! Sit and observe the conversation, decide if you like the energy, and slide into the conversation. Remember, in a virtual community like this we can only “see” you when you actively share something about your interests.

How do I get started?

When you first connect to the server, you’ll be asked to answer our servers onboarding questions, then you’re free to participate!

• Our main discussion room is #chat, where you can introduce yourself and initiate conversations. We often redirect longer conversations to other rooms in the Social and Discussion areas to help keep things tidy!

• The Server Guide at the top left of the channel list has several guides for how to interact with DS|CAFE

• The Channels & Roles link at the top left of the channel list allows you turn channels on and off. Some rooms are invitation-only to post; just post in #chat if you want to join such a room.

• Every room has a description at the top of the screen next to the channel name. It will tell you the room’s purpose and etiquette rules (if any).

The server is constantly evolving according to member interests and needs, and we encourage an experimental attitude to “just see what happens”. So far, it seems to be working…fingers crossed!