what do you do when you think you're following someone so you initiate a conversation but you check and it turns out you're not following them, but you don't want to look like you only followed them because of the conversation
@monorail oh! that's an easy one
panic and follow, decide that was too fast and unfollow, then follow again because that probably gives the wrong idea too, then think about the situation periodically for the next two decades
@monorail on a more useful note, honestly, it's probably fine to follow!
even if it might come-off as for the wrong reason, they probably won't think much about it in like a week
even if they do wonder, they'll probably look at your profile and see this thread, which would explain everything
@thingywott hmmmm. points for accuracy but i guess what i was really asking for was less "what do i do" and more "what SHOULD i do"