Hi comrades,
I'm excited to announce that I'm running an online drop-in peer support space again!
You're invited to come and join to hang out or to use the server to chat about what's on your mind.
Here's the lobby code:
84NFAB
You will need to enter it when you start the game here in the server menu:
How long will the drop-in server run for?
I'm planning to run it for approximately two hours unless there is demand for it to run longer and I have the spoons for it.
This post will be deleted when the server has closed for the day.
Will you hold it at a more reasonable time for North America/my time zone?
I plan to. I intend on holding this drop-in server at different times to cover different time zones so that it's suitable for folks wherever they happen to be.
What is Webfishing anyway?
It's a new little cozy game that's based around fishing and feels a lot like Animal Crossing.
How does it work?
It's basically like a chatroom that has a little game attached to it. You don't have to play the game if you just want to chat. The game itself has a very relaxed vibe without any time pressure or specific goals you have to achieve.
Where do I get the game?
It's available on Steam for around $5 USD, less if you're in a developing country.
What if I can't afford to buy the game at the moment?
If it's the one thing that's stopping you from joining, send me a DM and I'll buy a code for you to use as long as you are a Hexbear user with an account that isn't brand new.
Can I join if I am a lurker, if I do not have a Hexbear account, or if I found this via another part of the Fediverse?
Of course. As long as you adhere to the Server Ground Rules listed at the bottom of this post you are invited to join the server.
You are not expected to be an active Hexbear user with an account in order to join the server - everyone is welcome.
What are the system requirements?
They are reasonably low. You need a device that can run Steam (like a PC, a laptop, or a handheld device such as a Steam Deck or similar.)
You can read more about the specific system requirements on the Steam page to see if your device is up to the task of running the game.
Can I join the server straight after downloading the game?
There is a brief, mandatory tutorial that the game makes you do when you play for the first time. It should only take you a few minutes to play through though. After you have completed the mandatory tutorial you will be able to join a server and start chatting/playing.
Do I have to RSVP? How long do I have to stay if I join?
You don't need to RSVP, just show up whenever you're ready to while the server is running.
You don't have to stay for any longer than you want to. You can even just pop in to say hello and then head off straight after if you like.
If you mention that you are interested in joining the server for this event in the comments section below, I will ping you when it goes live.
If you want to be part of the main ping list, just say so and every time a new post about the next upcoming peer space gets posted I’ll ping you so you get a notification that another one is happening soon.
Do I have to use my Hexbear username?
No. I'd recommend that you don't so that way you have some separation between your account here and your character in Webfishing.
Will it be moderated?
You bet it will be. I will be in there the whole time and I will moderate the space to maintain its safety.
Is there an age requirement to join the server?
I cannot guarantee with 100% certainty that the server will be safe or suitable for minors so you are only permitted to join if you are 18+.
I will do my best to ensure the server is safe but people may chose talk about heavy subjects or topics that are inappropriate for minors and I do not want to expose minors to undue risks.
I cannot check your ID at the door but please keep in mind that you need to be an adult in order to join.
What can I talk about?
Almost anything.
Don't dox yourself or others, don't be abusive or make threats against others, but basically if it wouldn't break the rules here then it won't break the rules in the server.
For more a detailed and explicit explanation of the rules, the Server Ground Rules can be found at the bottom of this post.
What if I don't have anything to talk about?
I don't mind. You can just hang out in the server and play the game or be a part of the group.
Why are you offering this?
I used to be a peer worker and I have worked in the disability and mental health sectors. This is something that I have done professionally (only face to face, not online) and it's a way of providing support to this community if there is anyone who would like to chat or to seek peer support.
It can be hard to access mental health supports for a variety of reasons. This is my modest attempt to make accessing mental health supports a little bit easier.
Is this like a life coaching/neurodivergent coaching thing?
No. While I have been trained in different coaching methods, as it is a group space and as there isn’t necessarily continuity in how your accounts will appear to me in different sessions if you choose to change your details, along with the fact that there is no accountability and goal-tracking being offered alongside consistent bookings (not to mention that I will not be keeping casenotes on my end), formal coaching is beyond the scope of this server.
I may draw upon coaching methods in the server as I see fit but this server is not a suitable space for an ongoing coaching mode of support.
Are you a qualified therapist or doctor?
Absolutely not and I'm not attempting to be one.
I can offer support as a peer, I can share based on my own experiences and understanding of things, but I cannot be more than that.
Is this space a crisis service or an emergency service?
Absolutely not. I am not equipped to handle a mental health crisis for pseudo-anonymous people remotely via an online co-op game.
If you are in crisis, you will need to access the local crisis services available to you.
If it is an emergency, you will need to call your country's emergency number.
Is it a secure platform? How do I protect my identity in this game?
The public info on your Steam profile page will be visible to others so I strongly recommend setting your profile page to private and choosing a profile pic and setting the username to something that doesn't identify you and is generic to make it effectively unsearchable (e.g. using a name like Krupskaya or Azerty or Salton Sea). You can also make a burner Steam account for additional privacy if you like.
The platform is not secure (nor is this one that you're on now), so it is not like Matrix/Element. I strongly recommend using a VPN to conceal your IP. I cannot guarantee what the game has on the back end. Treat it a you would the Hexbear Visual Cuisine on cy.tube.
Be very careful about giving out too much info or info that is too specific. You can be vague, you can throw out false info about your situation, and you can simply choose not to divulge info at all.
How many people are permitted in the server at any given time?
There is a maximum of 12 people allowed in the server currently and it is first come, first serve.
I will try and keep an eye on the numbers and in the unlikely event that the server hits 10+ guests then I will invite people to consider whether they are ready to move on in order to allow other people to join.
I may choose to revise these numbers downwards based on the demands for moderation, my PC’s ability to cope with the demands of hosting the server, and to ensure that people in the server get a chance to chat with me.
What's the server's position on ableism?
Ableism targeting another person is strictly forbidden.
The use of ableist slurs and the denigration of people based on ability/disability is strictly forbidden.
Unfortunately our culture and language is deeply ableist. Casual use of ableist language is discouraged but it is not policed; examples of casual ableism are: "Is it dumb to feel this way?". "I feel like I'm stupid for not figuring this out earlier", and "My boss went completely psycho at me".
There are alternative words that can be used however this space recognises that self-expression is fundamental to its functioning and I cannot demand that people change their use of language instantaneously or to treat communication in the server like it's some sort of crossword puzzle they have to solve in order to get their message across.
"You are dumb" is absolutely not permitted. "[x group of marginalised people] are dumb" is absolutely not permitted. "Why do people have to act so dumb just because they see a guy wearing nail polish?" is a tolerated form of casual ableism in the server—although it is not condoned—while creativity and the use of alternative non-ableist terms is encouraged.
You will be able to prompt me to yap about this topic for as long as you care to listen if you happen to ask me about it in the server.
Are you insured for this?
No.
The pleasure is mine but the liability is yours.
Do you offer refunds?
Sure, but it's a free service so it's not worth asking for a refund on that.
Due to the current limitations of the time-space continuum, I will be unable to refund you your time.
Server Ground Rules:
- No oppressive speech - no racism, sexism, queerphobia (including transphobia) etc.
- Be respectful of others - be kind, don't be a jerk.
- Don't record the server, don't spread the things that another person has said in the server around to others - if you have any concerns or complaints about my conduct or anyone else's then let me know either in the server or on Hexbear so I can address it.
- Verbal warnings/kicks/bans are up to my discretion - adhere to the first three ground rules, keep the space safe for yourself and others, and you'll be fine.
- Use of a VPN is strongly encouraged
- Keep your OpSec practices in mind at all times
- Consent is fundamental to every part of the server - you are always allowed to say that you don't want to do something or that you don't want to talk about something. Your choice will be upheld in the server.
- I am not a therapist or a doctor and I cannot be a replacement for them
- This is a casual peer support space not a crisis or emergency service.
- There is a maximum of 12 people allowed in the server and it is first come, first serve
- The server is for people who are 18+
- Anyone who agrees to these ground rules is welcome to join the server
Hope to see you there!
You know what? It's really not my style of game either and it's so outside of my preferred genres that I had to make myself go through a crash course to figure out the basics of it (I think I've played a sum total of one hour on Animal Crossing throughout my existence).
But it suits my purposes, which is to have an online co-op game that is very relaxed and which allows for chatting. I had been kicking around the idea of using VR Chat but that seems to be a lot more resource intensive and while you can play without VR gear (at least I think you can) I didn't want to create a very visible distinction between the people who can afford VR gear and people who cannot, nor to expect that everyone can afford a gaming rig (I know I can't) or a suitably specced-out computer.
So it's basically a proletarian VR Chat surrogate that I'm using to hold an online peer support space in.
If people want to hang out and play in the server then that's a bonus and, in my experience, having a drop-in space is always miles better if there is something else, anything else, to do besides just chatting because if it's exclusively chatting without any other activity then it can get pretty awkward and the drop-in starts getting the same vibe as sharing an elevator or being in a waiting room with someone else. Since the game allows you to fish, run around and explore the world, buy stuff and customise your character, do metal detecting, do chalk art, and play guitar it's a big plus because it means that there's probably an in-game activity that people can engage in that they don't mind doing.
If you absolutely cannot stand fishing games that's cool, you're still very welcome to join just to chat or to try the other activities. I'll try and make sure I have enough in-game cash to buy any items that are required for the minigame activities so I can give them out to people who don't want to do the fishing but want to do a different activity.
And if it doesn't appeal to you whatsoever that's cool too, I respect that. I'd make it suit everyone if I could but the best I can do is to settle on something that has the broadest appeal while fitting with the purpose for an appropriate drop-in peer support space.
That's fair, it does seem like a good way to chill and socialize in a third space, especially with the drama going on here lately. I just have enough on my plate as is, and I wouldn't want to take up the slot of someone who's actually neurodiverse.
It's only the second round at it and the time slot is unsuitable for most North Americans so I'm expecting a very small turnout this time around. (I don't want to turn people off by giving the impression that it isn't popular because there's something wrong with the space but honestly I'm expecting maybe one person to drop in this time. If it's zero, I wouldn't be surprised. If it's two people then I'd be thrilled. But three people? If that happened I'd be writing about that in my diary with boundless enthusiasm.)
Also this has been a soft-launch of the peer space. I didn't want to go all-in and overcommit only to underdeliver because I didn't have my shit all sorted out. I figure that most neurotypical people aren't really spending much time in here so I figure it's a little corner that I can work away in where I'm not getting the full attention of Hexbear's larger comms prematurely. Plus I think I have an established reputation with this comm's users so there's some trust and goodwill I'd hope that I've built up which I can lean on if there are any hiccups. So with all that said, it's not a neurodivergent-only space and it was never intended to be that way.
This isn't like me to talk about myself like this but I'm actually really comfortable in negotiating competing demands on myself in this sort of space so I know how to make a queue and how to negotiate meeting different/conflicting needs in a group setting in a way that is collaborative with everyone in the space. If you are considering dropping in then don't worry about taking "someone else's" place. I can virtually guarantee you that I'll be sitting in the server by myself on waiting mode, twiddling my thumbs or practicing guitar while I await someone coming in. If this is your concern, I'd be happy to come to an agreement with you that as soon as I'm overloaded I will let you know and I'll politely ask you to bail on the server.
But don't let me convince you either way. You're welcome to do as you please. I'd be happy to see you in there but if you decide it's not for you then I'm glad that you know what you're looking for. Just don't convince yourself that you don't belong or you are somehow less worthy of using the space than others - that's the exact opposite of the spirit of this peer space.
I looked more closely at the time and unfortunately I work grave shifts, so I'd be at work while it's going on. :/ I hope some comrades decide to stop by though, I'm sure it'll be fun
Thanks for the support!
Hopefully I'll plan a session that fits your schedule soon.
I'm going to shift around in the time slots to cover different time zones/shifts for people. If I'm lucky there will be enough interest one day that either a regular timeslot will naturally appear, or people might even start asking me for when they want it to happen.
Who knows? It's early days so I'll keep my expectations low and my hopes high.