Webfishing is a cosy online co-op game that recently dropped. It's light on demands for system resources and it has a pretty strong Animal Crossing vibe.

I was thinking it might be a nice place to make a private server to hang out and chat with comrades, particularly to use as a low key positive mental health space/peer support space. People seem to recognise my username these days so I guess some people would be aware that mental health is a thing I'm interested in. I have worked as a peer worker previously, including in the mental health sector, so this sorta thing would be within my wheelhouse.

I dunno. I have a lot of ideas and most of them are garbage. If you've ever seen me with a good take it's only by virtue of the fact that I have a mind that constantly flings shit at the wall and I have a high filter for it so I only express the top 0.1% of ideas that stick. And even then, the ideas that do make it past the filter are hit-or-miss. I'm not sure if this idea is one that should have been caught in the filter or if I might be onto something.

On the positive side of running a private server there:

  • It might be a useful way to offer support to the community.
  • Having a real-time space that is a bit sheltered from the wider fediverse might make it more comfortable than it is talking about tricky things on a platform where anyone can access it at any time.
  • It can be really hard for people to access decent mental health supports, sometimes downright impossible, and I feel capable in some small way of providing another avenue for people to seek support.
  • It would be very low pressure. Less than a formal group support session because it would basically be like an online drop-in peer support space.
  • I struggle a lot with writing comments and often I get massive writer's block which paralyses my ability to write out comments in a permanent space, and this would be a way for me to get around that.
  • You can do stuff like draw on the pavement with chalk in-game.

On the negative side:

  • Opsec needs to be given serious consideration.
  • There are always risks inherent to peer spaces and group spaces (although I'm very seasoned when it comes to group facilitation).
  • It requires a steam-capable device.
  • The game costs a couple of bucks to purchase (though if the price of entry was prohibitive to a comrade I'd be willing to foot the bill).
  • My health is trash and there are going to be decent periods of time where I wouldn't be able to make it happen.
  • Being online means I likely won't know the local mental health services to refer people out to nor the emergency response services.
  • It's a fishing game so it's mildly NSFV, although you don't have to participate in the act of fishing and it's far from being a realistic fishing simulator.

I'd be interested in hearing people's thoughts on this.

Edit: Ah fuck it, I think I'm just gonna give it a shot

        • ReadFanon [any, any]
          ·
          7 days ago

          Btw don't take it as a snub when all of this posting time of mine could be better used towards Peer Support server time; posting is easy but I have to marshal quite a bit of energy to run the server and do a good job of it.

          I ran the server for about 5 hours last time. I know what you're thinking. All the info about this was at the top of the post :P

          I make a commitment to run the server for a certain period of time as a minimum and if there's demand and I have the energy to keep it running, I will. I remove the lobby code and delete the post once the party's over so you can always check because you never know if it will still be running after you are free from other commitments.

          If there's interest, I could be convinced to run the server just as a hangout space for comrades (minus the offer for peer support from me since because that way my level of engagement and moderation won't be nearly as taxing on me).