I think being categorized as an alternative to a platform is based on it’s functionality, not the way you pay for it. It’s about what purpose it has to the user.
Besides that, you pay for Youtube as well, but with your data and maybe YT Premium.
the linux command line
And for that, I recommend Linux Journey. They have some resources on networking too!
I think your respons was very good. You put them into the same position as they did to you, without actually being an asshole about it. The “friend” that knew about your autism, yet says these kind of things about autism while you’re there and gets mad when you try to tell them how it made you feel, doesn’t sound like a friend to me. They sound like a self-obsessed asshole that wants empathy from others, but isn’t empathic to others. I could be wrong, I don’t know them. They could have had a heavy reaction because theg freaked out becausr they got called out in a relatable way. That wouldn’t make their response okay, but could be forgivable if they genuinly apologized. If not, fuck them.
About the other friend: if you’re close with them you could try to explain how it made you feel and what you struggle with. See how they repond. They might just be uneducated. But if they don’t respond undersranding/apologetic, you might want to rethink your relationship with them.
I keep switching apps all the time. Right now, I’m trying out Wefwef vs Thunder. They are very similar and I really like both. However, I think I slightly prefer Thunder. It feels a little bit more fluent to me, as it is a native app and it comes with a few more options, like being able to put the thumbnail on the right. I really like that because now I can open pictures without opening the comments. It also does a few things a little bit more sensible in my opinion, esspecially the back button. For instance, in Thunder the back button does what I expect it to do. But in Wefwef It is a bit buggy as it often goes back on the background, without closing a full screen image first. The theming also feels a but more at home on Android, while still being very similar.
Both are great options though and both have it’s pro’s and cons. I’m also trying out Pulse for Squabbles (so not Lemmy), which is also very neat and very similar. Makes the experiences a bit more consistent.
I’m also waiting for both Sync and Boost. I’m really curious in how both of those Ferdiverse versions turn out.