For example, talkbass.com for bass players, both electric and upright. Yes, this is a shameless plug, but it's an example of the sort of sites I look for.

https://geminiprotocol.net/

https://geminiprotocol.net/docs/faq.gmi

Lagrange is a geminispace browser similar to modern-day http browsers.

https://gmi.skyjake.fi/lagrange/

Aside from a few narrowly focused technical sites where discussions of politics and religion are not welcome, DU is my only "social media."

Instagram, reddit, facebook, the-site-formerly-known-as-twitter, etc., are excluded from my private universe.

I've been on the internet since the late 'seventies. These days I just want most of it to get the fuck off of my lawn.

several weeks ago I'm going by subjects.
No problems there either.

Complex algorithms shield their more discerning customers from the worst of it.

Fully moderated "Web 1.0" sites like DU exclude the multitudes who would piss in the pool.

What constitutes "pissing in the pool" is well defined here.

A lot of us here on DU experienced firsthand the rapid collapse of DU's "open to all points of view" sister site Discussionist. It was an overflowing pool of stale piss when it was shut down.

Facebook doesn't care if they are river of raw sewage or not. All they care about are the numbers and they'll do whatever it takes to hold you there.

It is a free extension that filters facebook. I've been using it on my laptop for at least 9 years. On my facebook I see my shortcuts on the left side of the screen, the feed in the center, and active contacts on the right. I get promotional ads in my feed, but I can block them or ignore them. For the most part, if there is something in my feed, it's because I don't mind it being there. I'm on WhatsApp, Bluesky and Threads, but rarely use them. I had a twitter account that I canceled when skum took it over, but I didn't like it and didn't use it. I like using as many words as I want to write out my thoughts.

The Fluff Busting Purity team work constantly to adapt the extension to the changing algorithms that fb tries. I really appreciate their effort. If anyone doesn't like facebook because of the crap, Fluff Busting Purity might improve your experience*

*I don't own stock in Fluff Busting Purity, and it's 100% free.

I want to get away from the toxicity of Facebook, Reddit, etc. I feel like those sites bring out the worst in people. It’s also so overstimulating to me as a Neurodivergent and autistic person.

Forums used to be pretty low key because everything on a page wasn’t constantly trying to grab your attention or be as obnoxious as possible or try to bait you into clicking it. Somewhere, something changed.

Some Subreddits for hobbies are still good! I read them all the time. However, Reddit is increasingly becoming overrun with garbage, and, I’m not sure how long even hobby subreddits will last.

I go off and do other (non internet) stuff.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php

...for several years!

...site was out there. Yes there a few sites....They're peanut butter sandwiches..DU is prime porterhouse steak, Lobster.
I DO love facebook, especially when people talk about how we've never gone past the firmament or out into space and
the moon landing was faked with actors.
Plus the smart people talk how the earth is flat and for something special....
"IF the earth was round, all the water would fall off into space"..
Jesus Christ!....Yeah.......

But, there are a couple of musician forums that I like.

https://www.metafilter.com/