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    <pre class="document-text">## Assertions

    a simple website showing where to learn, where to learn, things
        the overarching concepts to understand
        linking to free resources where people are doing it for the love of the game
            like, free and open source and accessible
                if we find an older and useful resource, we can help by making it more responsive and moving their website to a modern domain


    saying "learn a skill" is too broad and overwhelming
        and typing this into a language model makes things too broad
        instead, learning where the best places to learn things
            and how to go further and research your own applied info
        makes the learning journey a bit more human

	builds problem-solving ability
	offers progressive learning pathways
		calming the mind (breathwork, meditation)
		local stuff such as recognising local fauna + flora
		developing practical, social, technical skills
	ultimate aim → help people discover what they're passionate about
		ties into quiteasily as repositories for exploration
		provides continuity for those moving on from isolating addictions



### Categories

	the whole point of these categories is simplicity
		almost every skill in the world fits into one of them
		which makes the entire project feel less overwhelming
		instead of “infinite skills,” you have nine gentle streams

	skill streams that cover broad needs

		Civic → local animals, plants, local history
		Social → conversation, confrontation, events, romance
		Practical → cooking, knots, reading, driving, public transit
		Spiritual → breathwork, meditation
		Creative → drawing, painting, photography, writing
		Health → cycling, food, running, sports, weightlifting
		Survival → edible plants, signalling, weather, gear
		Technical → computers, hardware, programming
		Scientific → anthropology, biology, mathematics, psychology, history

	these nine streams give shape to the whole library
		they make browsing calm
		and they give each learner a sense of
			“oh, this is all manageable”
		which is the real value

	each skill = one short markdown file
		one or two words
		clear
		light
		easy to browse
		easy to add to
		easy to understand at a glance


### Obsidian publish as version one

	version one is deliberately simple
		just text files
		organised into folders
		published with Obsidian Publish

	why obsidian
		Obsidian is a note-taking tool built for linking ideas
		it uses plain text + Markdown
		so everything you write is lightweight, future-proof, and portable
		no lock-in, no proprietary formats
		just files you own forever

	why this matters
		for a project about learning
			it makes sense to choose a platform that behaves like a second brain
		Obsidian grew from the Zettelkasten method
			originally a physical system of thousands of notes
			connected with references stored in filing cabinets
		Obsidian brings that same idea into software
			each skill file is its own idea
			each idea links naturally to others
			and the whole network forms a calm, simple map of knowledge

	what obsidian publish does
		it takes the Markdown vault and makes it public
			in a clean, minimal website
			for $8/month
			no heavy development
			no complex setup
		people can read the guides immediately
		volunteers can edit the files directly
		new skills can be added without changing anything structural

	why this is the ideal base layer
		because everything is text
			we can iterate rapidly
			we can keep things fluid while the structure forms
			anyone can contribute
		it keeps the project honest
			no distractions
			no inflated interface
			just the knowledge
			laid out clearly

	version one = stability
		version two = eventual interactivity
		but both rely on the same Markdown core

	open collaboration
		the vault can be mirrored to GitHub
			so people can fork, remix, or build their own local versions
		knowledge stays open
		contributions stay clean
		and the whole system remains transparent and adaptable

	this foundation lets everything else grow
		when we eventually build our own front-end (groovy design, interactive things, etc.)
		it will simply read the same text files
		meaning nothing is wasted
		and the project evolves without friction


in the future we can move to an Astro site we have built ourselves and such
	since everything is just a text file at heart
	refining things in text is easier, as to get the template correct first
		whole thing can be rather fluid
	later, can use the guides we've developed as text to move to something we make
		(but still keep them as text files at heart)


### Articles

	short, accessible guides
		each guide is one simple idea
			cooking
			physics
			knots
			photography
			reading
		the goal is clarity, not completeness

	structure
		each article follows the same pattern
			1. **intro → brief overview**
				what the skill is
				why people enjoy it
				what makes it interesting
				what it helps you notice or do in everyday life
					(e.g. physics → “the rules that explain how the world behaves”)

			2. **overall concepts**
				the big ideas behind the skill
				kept simple, friendly, and non-technical
					cooking → heat, flavour, texture
					knots → friction, loops, stability
					physics → motion, energy, forces

			3. **how to start learning**
				a calm, practical on-ramp
					try one small thing
					build confidence with tiny wins
					avoid overwhelm
				light guidance on shaping a learning journey
					“learn one basic principle, try an example, repeat”
				and a reminder that exploration is allowed

			4. **useful resources**
				best free options first
					good videos
					open courses or best-in-class resources
						for example, languagetransfer.org for languages
					clear explanations
				and local suggestions when relevant
					community courses
					libraries
					societies
				kept short — just the few things that actually help

			5. **next steps**
				a gentle “if you liked this, you might enjoy…”
                    or, where to go futher or connect knowledge
				branching into related skills
					knots → camping, climbing
					cooking → nutrition, baking
					physics → maths, electronics
				this is not a progression ladder
					just a way to keep exploring

	intent
		every article is a small doorway
			not a textbook
			not a full roadmap
			just enough to spark interest, reduce fear, and help people begin


#### Voice contributions

		voice notes collected in bulk
			voice inbox receives messages
			AI processes internally
				transcription never shown
				output = a clean summary
			moderation filters block offensive content

		idea
			anyone can send a short voice note with a skill, tip, or method
			no writing or editing required
			AI converts it into a standard entry
				we host the models ourselves within datacentres in Australia
			we would not keep audio or transcripts, just summaries
				raw audio deleted immedaitely after transcription
				transcripts deleted immediately after summaries
                    (removing personal data)
				just summaries
					safe for long term retenton, we can see which topics are most popular
					cuts costs (summaries are just text files)

		flow
			1. learner sends a voice note
				- “how to cook eggs in a rice cooker”
				- “a knot that works best for camping”
				- “a line that helped me start a conversation”
			2. AI transcribes internally
			3. summary generated with three parts
				- what the skill is
				- how to do it
				- considerations (time, cost, context)
			4. only the clean summary is stored
				voice + transcript discarded after processing
			5. entry added to the database, tagged to a pathway

		benefits
			lower barrier → anyone can contribute
			each entry arrives in a consistent format
			knowledge stays light, simple, useful
			local variations surface naturally
			content grows continuously without heavy curation

		ethos
			what you see on learnstuff.today = distilled wisdom
			no messy raw transcripts
			no overhead for contributors
			simple loop: speak → clean entry → live in the library
			AI drafts possible, but final curation is human


### Pathways

	the pathways page is a small, simple starting point
		not a rigid plan
		just a gentle way to give people direction
		so they don’t feel overwhelmed by endless options

	overall flow
		0. settling the mind
			a few practices to feel calmer, more present
			diaphram breathing
			quiet noticing exercises
			helping people feel grounded before anything else

		1. feeling the world around you
			simple local skills
				spotting plants
				walking routes
				recognising birds
			ways to participate in community gently
				saying hello
				joining a small activity
				sharing something you learned

		2.  exploring skills at your own pace
			practical, social, creative, technical
			little wins that build confidence
			you try things, see what feels good, and keep what sticks

		3. finding what you’re drawn to
			the goal is not mastery
			it’s to notice what lights you up
			and let that pull you in the right direction

	structure
		each pathway is made of small, optional steps
			learn a tiny thing
			apply it
			see how it feels
			move on when you want
		people can hop between pathways freely
		the point is to help them feel less lost
			and give a sense of “oh, I can try this next”

	integration
		pathways connect naturally into
			quiteasily “post-addiction what now?”
			how to cook for reasonable diet
			calm.college meetups
			how to help the hexagons around you
		the feeling of one ecosystem of useful projects



### Version two

	we don’t know yet

	what comes next will be the best version of the thing
		not just a directory of skills
		but something built on the simple truth
			that everything we do is a result of learning

	this part is a collaborative process
		there are countless ideas about how people learn
		so the only way forward is to work together
		to create something easy, calm, fair, (less) and good

	our aim is simple
		to make a beautiful way to learn anything
		in a way that feels light, human, and fun

	we can’t wait to build it

	in the meantime
		one thing is certain:
			text will always be useful
			it is simple, adaptable, and easy to share
			any useful text will stay useful for version two

	so we build the resource first
		and whatever the future looks like
			it can grow from there




### Culture and sharing


	learnstuff.today is the least-stigmatised public surface
	learning small skills is culturally universal
	humourous, wholesome, post-ironic content travels farthest
	people share what helps them
	this becomes the main social media engine of the ecosystem


#### In the Moment

		social media sort of has no alternative
		we want people when they're in a moment of distraction, to do somehting different
		if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or useless, go learn one small thing today.


#### Social media

		the central cultural layer
			where most people first encounter peaceful foundation ideas
			without knowing there are deeper projects underneath
			skill-sharing feels safe, fun, and low-stakes
			virality emerges naturally

		in the moment
			goal
				when people feel restless, the instinct becomes
					“i’ll check learnstuff.today”
				learning framed as the cool, casual default
				not serious study
				something fun to try with friends

			casual references
				reasonable.diet → “i learned how to cook from learnstuff.today”
				learnstuff.today → “learned this bowline from learnstuff.today”
				calm.college → “we tried a conversation game from learnstuff.today”
				quiteasily → “after quitting, i picked up sketching on learnstuff.today”
				hexagons.world → “we’re learning skills to benefit our community”

			everyday hooks
				simple, funny, useful skills
					knots → “tie this in 10 seconds”
					plants → “spot 3 weeds near you”
					conversation → “use this line to start talking in class”
					drawing → “sketch your water bottle in 2 minutes”
					meditation → “5 breaths before your next scroll”
					tech → “keyboard shortcut that saves 30 minutes a week”

			making it cool
				learning as a flex → “check what i can do now”
				social proof = friends seeing skills in action
				vibe = half-meme, half-practical
				status = knowing stuff, not owning stuff
					cheap
					portable
					repeatable


#### Showing People What Might Be

        showing that with a couple of small choices, consistently, the world could be completely different (for you)


##### Normal Ideas About Normal Content

		normal ideas about normal content
			story templates → “today i learned…” with casual flexes
				knots, cheap meals, sketches
			reels → lo-fi, authentic clips
			carousels → “3 things you can learn in 5 minutes”
			tag + repost loops between friends

			making video explainers

		aim as a wholesome surface for social media content
			low-effort
			low-pressure
			high-shareability
			people post because it’s useful and fun


##### Weaponised Wholesomeness

			Get as many people to learnstuff.today as possible.

				This naturally produces:

					- shitposts
					- weaponised video edits
					- abrupt mid-sentence derailments
					- jarring transitions
					- ironic heart-to-heart moments
					- “your life sucks because you don’t know basic skills” bits
					- emotionally-manipulative comedic timing
					- bizarre, overproduced reels that randomly end with “learnstuff.today.”

			Post-ironic self-improvement.
			A troll movement that teaches you things.
			A cultural hack to push people toward competence.

		“confused? start here."

		this layer gives peaceful foundation its public voice
			wholesome
			chaotic
			useful
			endlessly remixable
			equal parts joke and sincerity
			and both make the skill stick


##### Expected Platform Censorship

			at some point platforms will quietly quieten this very useful movement
				sort of like how they do about extremely serious issues
                        companies, not people, control the algorithms
                        after all, algorithms shouldn't dictate people.
				but we have adaptability around such a thing

			our aim is to start an arms race
				as a platform's censorship will illustrate the overall problem
					public outcry
					because there is nothing that could actually justify censorship

            mechanisms
				.lrnstf (image format)
				QR codes hidden inside memes
				ASCII art
				CAPTCHA proof-of-humanity memes
				“find the hidden URL puzzles”

			this issue is mitigated by the fact we will release eventual social methods of communicating also

		this is an expected phase
			not a threat
			nor a crisis
			just part of the culture



##### Offline

		in real life
		learning more stuff
		sharing stuff with people

		classroom mentions → one shout can spark eight to nine people
		ambassadors demo in their lives
			cook a meal, tie knots, run plant walks
		stickers + chalk markings
			cheap, informal, persistent

	    after all, the world is offline, too.
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