It’s a taste of the real world need we have for second-order relationships, i.e. neighbors. I grew up in a close knit homogeneous small town three hours drive from the nearest proper metro area. It was simultaneously suffocating and comforting to have real neighbors.

I recently became active in precinct-level party politics (im in USA) precisely to meet some IRL neighbors. I stick around lemmy for an online taste of the same thing. It fills a basic social need.

Hi, neighbors!