#asknostr
Overview
#asknostr is a hashtag convention used widely across the Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) network. It allows users to pose questions to the broader community, request recommendations, or crowdsource information in a decentralised, public timeline format.
Unlike traditional social media platforms where question-and-answer threads are siloed inside a single website, #asknostr posts live on the open Nostr relay system. Any nostr:naddr1qvzqqqrcvgpzp925xvyklj3z8u56ml2j5rpduparc5htdq8eknv7kmzxmyvkc4qwqqzkummnw3eq3q8xf0[Nostr] client can read and respond to them, making the conversation portable and censorship‑resistant.
How it works
A user creates a short note – often called a post or event – and includes the hashtag #asknostr somewhere in the text. The note is then broadcast to one or more Nostr relays. Anyone following that relay, or searching for the hashtag, can see the question and reply.
Replies are typically posted as separate notes that reference the original event ID, forming a thread. Many Nostr clients automatically group these replies for easier reading.
Because Nostr is relay‑based, there is no central algorithm deciding which #asknostr questions get seen. Users choose which relays to connect to, and clients can display questions in simple chronological order, by popularity (e.g. zap count), or using custom filters.
Common uses
People use #asknostr for all sorts of everyday inquiries, including:
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Technical help – “#asknostr Which Nostr client has the best zap splitting feature?”
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Product reviews – “#asknostr Has anyone tried the new Damus update on Android? Any bugs?”
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Travel tips – “#asknostr Best beach camping spot between Brisbane and Byron Bay? Go.”
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Local knowledge – “#asknostr Where to find a reliable bike mechanic in Melbourne’s northern suburbs?”
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Light‑hearted banter – “#asknostr If you could zap only one person forever, who would it be?”
Why #asknostr is different
No corporate moderation – Questions are not filtered by a central trust‑and‑safety team. Individual relays may apply their own rules, but users are free to switch relays at any time.
Portable identity – Your Nostr public key (npub) follows you across clients. You don’t need to build a reputation from scratch on each platform.
Zaps for answers – Nostr’s lightning‑native zap feature allows people to send small bitcoin payments as thanks for helpful replies. A well‑answered #asknostr can earn the responder real satoshis.
Threaded replies without lock‑in – Even if your favourite client disappears, your #asknostr questions and their replies remain on the relays you published to. You can view them with any other compatible client.
Etiquette and best practice
While Nostr is permissionless, regular users of #asknostr have developed a few common‑sense guidelines:
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Be specific – “#asknostr What’s the best client?” will get ten different answers. “#asknostr Best iOS client for following only people I zap?” is more useful.
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Zap good answers – If someone takes the time to give a thoughtful reply, even a tiny zap (e.g. 21 sats) shows appreciation and encourages helpfulness.
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Reply publicly – Private DMs defeat the purpose of crowd‑sourced knowledge. Unless the question is sensitive, keep replies visible.
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Search before asking – Many Nostr clients and relay‑search tools (e.g. Nostr.band) let you check if your #asknostr question has already been answered this week.
Limitations
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No guaranteed answers – Because Nostr is voluntary, nobody is obliged to reply. Your #asknostr might get no responses if it’s too niche or poorly timed.
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Relay coverage – If you only post to a tiny, private relay, nobody outside that relay will see your question. Stick to public, widely‑peered relays (e.g.
relay.damus.io,nos.lol,relay.primal.net) for better reach. -
Spam – Because it’s open, #asknostr can attract off‑topic or commercial junk. Most clients let you mute users or keywords, and some relays filter obvious spam.
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Thread fragmentation – Not all clients display replies identically. A good reply might exist on a relay your current client isn’t connected to.
See also
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Nostr – The underlying protocol
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NIP‑01 – Basic event flow
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Zaps – Lightning tipping on Nostr
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Nostr band – Search engine for #asknostr and other hashtags
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