And so yesterday GPlus died.

I wasn't engaging with it a lot in the last month, but I had already felt that what I've found interesting, motivating and empowering for me as an individual was moving away.

When I first met people from the #RPG communiy in #GPlus I was in a time and mood where I was thinking about quitting RPG as a hobby.

What I was able to do through GPlus and Google Hangouts ignited back again the passion in me about games and telling stories. It is strange how a social media platform changed my life, but I cannot think about the connections I've made and mantained during the last years without GPlus. It allowed me to be exposed to a world of active, interesting and motivated creators, players and enthusiasts.
Without the connections that GPlus made possible for me, I'm not sure I would be where I am today. For sure I would not have been exposed the way I have been to some people and concept that allowed me to view the gaming activity with different eyes and perspectives.

The point is, GPlus was not perfect, but it did a simple thing: It allowed me to know people and communities. Some of these people are now close to what I would define family for me, others are good friends, the ones you want to talk to, share quality time with and that you care about. Some of these communities are now my communities too.
It allowed me to be exposed to a lot of interesting posts and conversations from brilliant people I learned from.
Whitout GPlus I would not have ever tried to write and run games, nor games in the #LGBT space at all.
Games have been a great way to explore and become aware of my identity.

This is something I've not yet found in other social media platforms. Facebook is only noise, echo chambers and advertising. I cannot really relate to people by interests there. I've never got to be engaged in Twitter. Instagram maybe is nice, but it is another thing.

In the end, GPlus was a tool. I hope to find another good tool here in the Fediverse.

#GPlusRPG #GPlusRefugee