It’s’ time for yet another Ask Leo! experiment. 
I’ve set up a Discord server, and you’re welcome to join me: askleo.com/discord will get you there.
Discord?
To quote their marketing materials:
Discord is the easiest way to talk over voice, video, and text. Talk, chat, hang out, and stay close with your friends and communities.
Think of it as a online chat room or group instant messaging session. We won’t (initially at least) use voice or video, but from participating in text chats in other venues I think you’ll find it’s a pretty effective and fun communication method.
Why?
Two things come to mind right away:
- If I’m around (which is a lot of the time) you can ask your questions right then-and-there. I’ll do my best to answer.
- If I’m not around, feel free to talk amongst yourselves and help one another out.
We’ve got a great community of people, and I think this could really help a lot of people with their technology.
I might also announce a few things a little sooner here than elsewhere. Or ask YOU a question or two about things I’m thinking about. Or let you know what I’m working on. Or who knows what else?
Patrons!
The Ask Leo! discord server has multiple “channels” (you’ll see them when you sign in). One will be exclusively for Ask Leo! patrons — my way of saying thank you for supporting me. If you’re an Ask Leo! Patron, once you get on the server drop me a message there and I’ll grant you access.
How?
Visit askleo.com/discord, and sign up. (You must use that link to be able to access the Ask Leo! Discord server.)
You can optionally use the app via the web, download and install it on your computer, or install it on your mobile device.
Once you’ve signed up and are in the Ask Leo! Discord server, you’ll be in the “#general” chat.
If you’re a patron, right click on “AskLeo!” over on the right with the list of other users. One of the options will be to message me. Message me your email address and that’ll let me associate your Discord username (which I don’t know) with your email. Thanks!
Isn’t Discord for gamers?
Yes and no.
It’s certainly used by gamers a lot — in fact, when I’m actively in World of Warcraft you’ll be able to see my status change to that — but it’s grown dramatically and is currently being used by many, many other people in many, many other ways.
As I said, it’s all an experiment, and I hope to see you there soon!
