Posts by evan@cosocial.ca
(DIR) Post #B2ceSBRDP5Y86VwJM0 by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-24T21:25:35Z
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Should expatriate citizens of your country have the right to vote? #EvanPoll #poll
(DIR) Post #B2d5csh08W8JujeHtQ by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T01:06:15Z
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@EricLawton "emigrants" is also a good term.
(DIR) Post #B2d5cu0XFNLvzbnOym by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T01:10:14Z
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@EricLawton I think when you are talking from the perspective of the country they left, "immigrant" (in + migrant) is inaccurate. Other terms we use: overseas citizens, citizens abroad.I'm not actually across a sea from my birth country, unless you count the St. Lawrence Seaway, so I don't use that term often.Abroad sounds like it could mean temporarily away, like on a long vacation .
(DIR) Post #B2d5cw97IRPCcnpHdI by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T02:23:35Z
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@clacke @EricLawton you should put that in your poll when you write it!
(DIR) Post #B2esSSXDLHlK7WEkPA by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T22:33:35Z
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So, the Fediverse is going to be chock full of updates from Brussels for FOSDEM and EU Open Source Week this week.I know that can lead to some FOMO if you wish you could be there too. There will be live streaming and lots of updates on the related hashtags.We have a lot of other events throughout the year, around the world. Fediforum does a great job tracking Fediverse-related events:https://fediforum.org/events/
(DIR) Post #B2esSZ09IcTMAzowL2 by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T22:50:00Z
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I know there will be mean-spirited attacks from the usual suspects, trying to make Fediverse developers and enjoyers feel bad for getting together and talking about the things we love.Every movement has its gatekeepers who don't want to do anything, but also want to keep the rest of us from doing anything, either. 🤷🏽But I hope for people who actually care about the Fediverse, you know that you're wanted in this movement, and we can find ways to connect.
(DIR) Post #B2etBpcoL8fslTURAe by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-24T23:24:13Z
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Once again, Fediverse liberals are rehashing exactly whose lives and human rights should have been sacrificed to make Harris win the 2024 election.There's only one right answer.UPDATE: The right answer is "nobody". I'm really sorry to hear that this wasn't obvious to everyone.
(DIR) Post #B2euDzXiXKG43dhXW4 by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T23:35:27Z
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@wjmaggos I used "moderates" instead. I don't think people who talk about the relative merits of stripping others of their rights really count as "liberal", anyway.
(DIR) Post #B2euhfcHBfCUwbzA4u by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T14:30:56Z
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@fabio say "emigrant" then. If you're living outside of Brazil, you're not an immigrant to Brazil.
(DIR) Post #B2euhhlZC5ovc0Lbpw by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T15:55:58Z
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@mayintoronto @fabio In Canada, some people who work and live abroad are called "Canadians abroad":https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/living-abroadI also like "snowbirds" for the very specific set of people who live abroad only during the winter.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowbird_(person)
(DIR) Post #B2euhlGACn4sRlgaRc by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T14:40:20Z
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@fabio I intentionally chose "expatriate" as an accurate and clear term for describing citizens who live outside their nation of citizenship."Expatriate" and "emigrant" are almost synonyms, but "emigrant" is less well known and suggests the immediate aftermath of leaving.I considered "overseas citizens", "voters abroad", and other terms, but I settled on expatriate because it's clear and accurate.
(DIR) Post #B2euhrMPWTdjMsef0y by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T14:43:32Z
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@fabio I am aware of the concern you expressed.People from richer countries living in poorer countries often have the luxury of defining themselves by their relationship with their home country, so they call themselves "expatriates" and expect others to do so too. People from poorer countries don't have that luxury. They are defined by people in their new home country, so they are called "immigrants". Association with their country of origin is highlighted as a sign of unworthiness.
(DIR) Post #B2euhxhtvUOZ3GkuLQ by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T14:47:29Z
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@fabio in this poll, I am specifically talking about the relationship with the country of origin. We are not talking about how people are viewed and defined in their country of residence. There are other terms, like diaspora, used for this kind of population.So, I'm OK with using "expatriate". It represents an unfair power dynamic in some situations, but not this one.
(DIR) Post #B2eujMAwRGizEF0JY8 by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T17:48:02Z
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@rakoo @mayintoronto @fabio there are some other words for French citizens living abroad that are used here in Montreal.
(DIR) Post #B2eukYVO5B35l58ggy by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T15:48:26Z
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@mayintoronto @fabio Great, you should definitely make that poll!
(DIR) Post #B2eupXr1vixnBgdppI by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T16:02:50Z
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@renata @mayintoronto @fabio also, as far as I can tell with some quick searching, Brazilian emigrants are in fact called "immigrants" even in Brazil. There's definitely a good research paper in that!
(DIR) Post #B2evXSaWs2itb2rbea by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T16:36:13Z
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@renata @mayintoronto @fabio So, when you're in Brazil, how do you talk about brasileiros no externo ? I think it's a pretty big population, about 5m people? That's a big percentage of the total citizenship, around 200m, right? Is it an identity that you embrace, or do you mostly say "I live in Canada" or "I'm Canadian"?
(DIR) Post #B2evXU3dPJbC9bUMeu by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T17:53:24Z
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@fabio @renata @mayintoronto I grew up in the US, where the idea that you would retain any sense of belonging to your country of origin was considered at the very least backwards and ungrateful and sometimes borderline treasonous.Thankfully, I think our world is developing a more complex idea of migrant identity that encompasses both country of origin and country of residence, and maybe others.
(DIR) Post #B2evpF5TnyGmw9ostM by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-25T15:50:38Z
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@renata @mayintoronto @fabio Expatriate is a problem in a context, and I am not using it in that context.
(DIR) Post #B2fMxpPfKRXEg5a1bM by evan@cosocial.ca
2026-01-26T04:57:26Z
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@wjmaggos @Castopod and reply!