I'd been a netizen (what an incredibly dated word) for 5 years at that point.

At least I still have my original hips!

I think you underestimate the number of us old farts still lingering around. One of the great things about the Fediverse is that it gives us the old Web 1.0 vibes which we appreciate because we remember the early Net when all this was fields and you could buy an ice cream for a penny and still have change to catch the matinee down at the pictures and... Where are my bloody slippers?

Yes, but it's eternal, so here we still are.

Wazzat